16. Piper
SIXTEEN
PIPER
“Oh my gosh, Piper! You made it just in time! Emery is going to be right behind you.”
Raven frantically waved me over as she unlatched a section of rope.
“I’m so sorry I’m late. We cleaned up after closing, then I had to rush to change.” I could barely get the words out with the frenzy that whirled through my insides.
“It’s totally fine. The only thing that matters is you’re here. That and I don’t have to leave this party to hunt you down. That would have been embarrassing if you got dragged here by a seven-month-pregnant lady.”
Raven was all easy teases.
I glanced to the floor and tried to calm the tumult that pounded through my veins.
I didn’t do this.
I didn’t go to clubs or parties or have celebrations.
The last rager I’d been to was Finn’s second birthday where we’d celebrated with a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake at a park somewhere in Iowa.
But I also didn’t show up at work at nine in the morning the way I did today. A day that had been invigorating and challenging and full of all the joy that Emery exuded.
How could I not show up here to celebrate her?
But oh, how I was currently questioning that decision.
Mayhem whipped around me as I stared into the murky depths behind the ropes that sectioned off the private party.
A mountain of a man who had to be Otto stood wrapped around Raven from behind, edged in casualness, though I could feel the undertow of ferocity that radiated from him.
Another man had his arm slung over the shoulders of a pretty blond woman who I quickly came to the conclusion had to be Charleigh.
River, I was sure, Raven’s older brother.
Muscles bulged under his black tee, and every exposed inch of his skin was covered in ink, the designs riding up his throat, and he had five little stars that danced on his forehead at his hairline.
Right behind them was another guy who was dressed in worn jeans and a white tee with a cap on his head.
Cash, I surmised.
Another of their family that Emery had filled me in on today.
But it was the energy crashing into me from the shadows to the side of him that had my throat closing off and sent hot blood sloshing through my veins.
The outline of his silhouette was barely visible where he stood outside the reach of the lights that flashed and glinted, though I knew he was there.
I felt him like a reckless embrace.
It wasn’t like I was surprised he was there since Emery and Kane had claimed him as family, but no matter how much I tried to convince myself it was fine—that he was just an acquaintance —I wasn’t prepared to find those penetrating eyes staring back at me through the duskiness.
Glinting daggers of moonlight that speared right through the middle of me.
“Hurry!” Raven rushed, giggling as she snatched me by the hand and hauled me through, knocking me out of the stupor. I fumbled forward as she basically tossed me into the mix. I landed in front of the woman I’d assumed was Charleigh.
She confirmed it with a soft, “Hi, Piper, I’m Charleigh.”
She cast me a warm smile as she stepped forward and took me by the hands. “Raven told me all about you.”
I tried not to freak out. To remember this was the whole point—putting down roots. I exhaled some of the strain. “She told me all about you, too.”
Tenderness wafted around her, her blond hair curled in soft waves that brushed her shoulders. “I’m really glad you’re here. I think you’re going to like it. This town is so incredibly special.”
It felt as if she gave me the greatest encouragement in those few simple lines, my chest achy and heavy as I nodded at her.
“This is my fiancé, River, Raven’s older brother.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” I had to force it out around the ball in my throat.
“Nice to meet you, too.” Dark, dark eyes appraised. A shiver rolled through me.
Bodies suddenly shuffled around us, and everyone went silent below the music.
I turned around just as Kane came striding through the crowd with a giant grin on his face.
Childlike excitement billowed from him on waves.
He was clearly hauling Emery along behind him, though he kept directly in front of her to shield her view.
Then he swung her out to the side as everyone behind the rope shouted, “Surprise!”
Shock froze Emery to the spot. It was the kind of shock that took a couple moments to catch up to what was really happening, her eyes darting around in confusion before her expression flashed with dawning.
Then her hands flew to her face, and she barely peeked out at us through her fingers, shaking her head then crying, “You guys, I can’t believe this.”
“Did you really think we were going to let this momentous occasion pass by without celebrating you?” Raven touched her chest as if she were offended by the idea.
Emery laughed as she dropped her hands. “I should have known you were up to something.”
“I’m always up to something.” Raven grinned.
Kane slung an arm over Emery’s shoulders, and the man gazed down at his fiancée with so much adoration I felt the force of it twist through my guts.
“And you,” she accused as she leaned into his side.
Joy pranced all over her face.
“What about me?”
“You’re amazing, and I love you.”
“Well, Little Warrior, I think we already knew that, didn’t we?” The razzing was soft before he dipped down and kissed her hard.
When he stepped back, everyone else moved for her, giving her hugs and congratulations while I hung back.
Or maybe I was just being sucked into Theo’s orbit.
Drawn into the oblivion that he was. My pulse erratic and my breaths shallow as I felt him emerge from behind, his words so low as he murmured near my ear, “What are you doing here?”
It was a fusion of concern, confusion, and greed.
Chills skated down my spine in their wake, and I gathered myself enough so that I could turn toward him, trying to steady myself as he fully came into sight.
All that cruel beauty was amplified in the shadows of the club. The harsh, cut angles illuminated like blades beneath the bare, flashing light.
“I was invited, why else would I be here?”
Amusement plucked along his plush lips, though he was still watching me like I was a riddle to figure out. “I can see that, but the question is how?”
I knew this would be coming, and I shivered at the thought of giving him the truth. I didn’t know why it felt like laying a piece of myself bare. Like it would give him insight into who I was.
“I got a job at Ivy Threads.” It wheezed out of me like a confession.
His dark brow furrowed, and I could see the questions spin through his mind. “You got a job?”
“Yes.”
“When you’re only supposed to be staying for a couple more weeks?” Incredulity worked deeper into his tone.
I ran my hands up my arms like it might be able to calm my frayed nerves. “There might have been a change of plans.”
“What kind of change?”
“It’s not any of your concern.”
He all but rolled his eyes, a knowing smile curving at the edge of his mouth. “Think we can get beyond you telling me that, yeah? Because I think it’s clear enough that where you’re involved, I am concerned .”
Energy hummed around us.
Keening and tugging and prickling across my flesh.
The voices that surrounded us became muted as I was drawn toward him.
Gravity.
The man a reprieve.
A black hole.
I didn’t know.
“Why?” It was barely a whisper. Some kind of plea for him to release me while there was a very stupid part of myself that wanted him to hold me in the safety of his arms.
“Because I know there’s something going on with you that you’re not letting on.”
Trepidation burned through my being.
Get back.
Step away.
My head barely shook. “You don’t know anything about me.”
He suddenly reached out and stroked the pad of his thumb over my cheek, those eyes pinned on mine. Voice so low as he murmured, “Don’t I, Little Liar?”
My chest squeezed, and I was gasping in surprise when a hand suddenly landed on my upper arm. I whirled that way to find Emery smiling her sweet smile, though I could see the curiosity pass through her features as she realized how close Theo was standing to me.
“This is the best surprise ever. I can’t believe you’re here,” she finally said.
I cleared the roughness from my throat. “I would be a terrible employee if I didn’t show up for your grand opening party.”
“Terrible employee? You saved my life today. It would have been a complete shitshow had you not been there.”
She looped an arm around my waist, and she tugged me close as if we were the oldest friends.
“You should have seen her, Theo. This one was a straight-up rockstar. It was a madhouse the entire day, and she figured out the register in like five seconds and was working wonders ringing people up so I was able to help customers while they shopped and browsed.”
Theo’s dark eyes raked over me, peeling me apart without any effort. “Yeah, she’s pretty amazing, isn’t she?”
My nerves rattled, but somehow, I managed a shrug. “The register is the easy part.”
“And here I was thinking my duties were the easy part. I guess that just means we’re a really great team.”
“Yeah. I guess we are.”
“I will not be letting this one go.” She gave me a gentle shake. “I’m keeping her forever.”
I tried to bite back the panic that wanted to rise to the surface.
Raven’s voice broke over the din. “Everyone gather around. It’s time for a toast!”
Emery pulled away. “I better get back over there. I just wanted to tell you how happy I am that you’re here.” She gave me a quick squeeze before she turned to Theo with a grin and swatted his stomach. “And you, too.”
His smile turned easy. “Like I’d be anywhere else. Happy for you, Emery.”
Thick emotion rolled from her. “Thank you, Theo.”
“Emery, get that cute butt over here,” Raven shouted.
Emery giggled as she turned, “I’m coming!”
I followed, slowly moving toward the group that had gathered around Kane, Emery, and Raven.
Kane waved a bottle of champagne in the air before he popped the cap.
Fizz bubbled out the top to a round of cheers before he began to pour it into a bunch of flutes set up on the drink table.
Theo slipped back up to my side. A shiver rolled through me when he leaned in and put his mouth to my ear. “That mean you’re staying?”
“For a little while.” I whispered it out ahead of me.
I could feel the heat of his gaze searing into the side of my face.
I’d never been so sure than right then that this man could see right through me.
That he could wreck me.
Ruin me.
I had the foolish thought of wondering if I was the same for him.
Because I could feel a thousand emotions toil through the middle of him.
Greed and reticence and steely possession.
That dark danger emanated from his spirit like some kind of warning, all while there was an undercurrent that pulled me in.
As if I could reach out and touch the pain and fear that surrounded him.
My chest squeezed, and I muttered, “It doesn’t change anything. You and I are still not going to happen.”
My staying actually solidified it.
I couldn’t get close to him.
Because I knew what happened when I did. I couldn’t risk the pain. Couldn’t risk bringing him into the mess that was my life.
Even though the only thing I wanted to do right then was give in to the possession that blazed in his moonlit eyes.