Chapter 11 Piper
ELEVEN
Piper
In the kitchen, I started opening cabinets. “I swear the kettle was here somewhere. Ah ha.” A survey of a lower cabinet revealed an aluminum antique, bright blue with the classic splotches of white.
As I stood, I bumped up against him. The kitchen was tiny, and he was right behind me. His hand reached out to steady me.
Then his arm brushed my shoulder as he reached around me, pulling a box of tea bags from a shelf. “We’ll need these too,” he murmured.
I cleared my throat. “Thanks.”
I busied myself filling the kettle and setting it on the stove, hyperaware of every movement he made. He was glancing through the cabinets, and when he opened the corner one, he made a sound of amusement.
“Instant coffee crystals,” he said, holding up the jar like it was a dead mouse. “I’m guessing this isn’t yours?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Ew. I’d rather drink a cup of muddy water from the backyard.”
“I figured.” He set the jar back in the cabinet and closed the door. “The espresso at Silver Linings is fantastic, by the way.”
“Should be. I buy my beans from the best regional roasters.” When I glanced over, I found him listening intently. “Costs have been going up though. My margins have been getting a lot tighter lately. That’s why I decided to finally rent this place out again.”
I hadn’t told anyone else about my financial stresses. Not even Grace. But after a few minutes alone with Grayden, the words had just tumbled out.
“I overheard some of your phone conversation earlier,” he said quietly. “With your ex.”
I stiffened. “How much did you hear?”
“Enough to know he owes you child support.”
I huffed, grabbing two mugs and rinsing any lingering dust under the faucet. “Yeah. Danny is the king of bad investments. He cares more about whatever new scheme he’s dreamed up to make a quick buck than about his son.”
“What does he do for a living?”
“He’s a dentist.”
Grayden’s eyebrows shot up. “A dentist? Aren’t they supposed to be stable and boring and make a great income?”
“You’d think. But Danny managed to get himself into debt, which of course he blames on our divorce, and then he pissed off so many people in Silver Ridge that he had to leave town.
Moved his practice hours away, which is a common excuse for why he can’t get here to see Ollie.
He also loves bringing up the fact that Teller is dating a superstar now, so I should just ask my brother for money if I need it. ”
Grayden was nodding along. So he’d clearly heard about Teller dating Ayla. “But you won’t.”
“Last resort. I know you feel a similar way about Grace and Callum. You said you don’t want anyone feeling sorry for you. Or to feel like you’re a charity case.”
“True.”
The kettle started to whistle, and I poured water over the tea bags, watching the liquid slowly take on color. I set the kettle down and handed him one of the mugs, and we sank into chairs at the kitchen table.
“Danny failed to show up to spend Thanksgiving with Ollie last week. Now he wants me to look for some box that belonged to my mother.” I shrugged, thinking of his odd request. “Supposedly it has something valuable in it, though of course he won’t explain himself. Not that I want to know.”
After Mom died, Danny pawed through her belongings like he might find some priceless antique buried here. He was disappointed then, so why this sudden interest in my mom’s things?
“But Danny rarely cares about what I want,” I went on. “He expects me to do what he says or else.”
Grayden rubbed his jaw. “That sounds ominous.”
Clearly I hesitated too long.
“Piper?” Grayden’s voice was still a low rumble, but far more dangerous than soft this time. “Has Danny ever hurt you?”
“Not physically,” I rushed to say. “That’s not what I meant. Danny’s said plenty of cruel things. That’s his favorite way to manipulate me. But he’s not physically violent. He definitely wouldn’t ever hurt Ollie. Mostly I’m just frustrated with his failings as a father. Ollie deserves better.”
Grayden studied me another moment. Then he said, “From what little I’ve seen of your son, he’s an amazing kid. Protective of you. It’s sweet.”
That made me smile, the tightness in my chest unwinding again.
“He is pretty amazing. Sometimes he still acts like a little kid, wanting cuddles and bedtime stories. And then he turns around and seems to think he’s going to fight the whole world to take care of me.
” My voice went soft. “I love him like crazy. I’d do anything for him. ”
Tears pricked at my eyes, and I blinked them back. But before I could pull myself together, Grayden reached across the table and put his hand on my arm.
The touch was gentle, warm through the sleeve of my sweater. It lingered for a moment, his thumb brushing against the inside of my wrist, and then he pulled away.
“Ollie’s not the only one who’s protective,” he said. “The kid behind the counter at Silver Linings this morning nearly bit my head off when I asked for you.”
I set aside the brief rush of pleasure I felt, knowing Grayden had been asking about me, and focused on his words. “That must’ve been Dillon. If he’s protective, it’s because he lost his older sister years ago. His father too. They died in a house fire.”
Grayden’s expression went serious. “Fuck. That’s awful.”
“It was ruled arson, and the culprit was never found.” I wrapped my hands around my mug again. I hadn’t even taken a sip, but it felt nice to hold. “Anyway, Dillon tries to look out for me and the other employees at Silver Linings.”
“Especially the female ones?”
“I know how it sounds. But it’s not like that.”
“Maybe,” Grayden said slowly. “Or maybe the kid just has a crush on you.”
I nearly choked on my tea. “What? No.”
“Why not?”
“I’m his boss. He’s eight years younger than I am. He’s not truly a kid, like you keep calling him, but he’s way too young for me.”
Grayden leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’m more than eight years older than you.”
The implication hung in the air between us, thick and weighted. Heat crept up my neck and into my cheeks.
“Dillon’s not interested in me,” I said firmly. “If he was, I’d shut him down.”
“Good to know. Are you seeing anyone else?”
“No.”
“That’s surprising.” Again, there was so much more meaning in Grayden’s tone than the simple words suggested.
Did he mean… Was Grayden flirting with me?
My heart was beating up into my throat, and desire spread all over my body as I imagined Grayden touching me. Tilting my chin with those thick fingers and kissing me. Nitro fuel for my former teenage fantasies.
There was definitely chemistry between us. I’d wanted him for a long time, and it seemed the attraction was mutual now.
If I’d met Grayden somewhere different, in some other life where he wasn’t Grace’s brother or Teller’s former best friend, I wouldn’t have a problem letting him know I was interested.
But when it came to sex, I usually liked to keep things simple. If I had a rare night to myself, I would find a handsome guy at a bar and go home with him. Get sweaty and satisfied, then say my goodbyes.
Falling into bed with Grayden would be anything but simple.
“So. The lease application.” I got up and grabbed the copy I’d printed from the kitchen counter. “I’m open to negotiation on the rent given the work involved in cleaning it up. It needs some drywall, plumbing and electrical repairs. This isn’t a small project. Are you sure you want it?”
“I’m handy, and I’m fine taking on a project. I think the original rent you asked is fair.” He was quiet for a moment, his jaw tensing like he was chewing on something he didn’t want to say. “Unless any of your neighbors has a problem with you renting to me.”
“The neighbors can mind their own business.”
“I’m well aware most of the town doesn’t like me. Not that I mind them taking Ashford’s side. The thing is, I don’t want there to be sides. I don’t want to cause problems.”
“People are live-and-let-live on this street. Just like when we were kids. That much hasn’t changed.”
“Alright. I have some savings to get through the first few months of rent. And you probably want a security deposit as well.”
“That’s not necessary. Just first and last months of rent, and we’re good. You can let me know about materials for repairs. I’ll subtract them from next month.”
“No deposit in case I trash the place?”
“Look around.” I gestured around us. “Besides, I trust you.”
Those words had come out all breathy, like I was a flirty, innocent ingenue in a movie. Good lord.
His sexy little smirk said he’d heard the same thing.
“I’ll fill out the application right now,” he said.
“It’s just a formality. We can sign the paperwork next time I see you.”
“Yeah? That’s fantastic. I’ll get you the check. Actually, would you mind if I start on clean-up today? Sooner I can get out of the Pine Cone Motor Lodge, the better.”
I made a face. “That motel is notorious. I’ll leave you the keys, and we can get everything else settled later.”
“Thank you, Piper. I appreciate this. I look forward to seeing you again.”
More flutters. What Grayden was selling, my body was clearly buying.
We shook hands, which somehow morphed into him just holding mine. We stood there for another moment, neither of us moving.
Then I pulled my hand away and shocked myself by saying, “I’ll be at Hearthstone Brewing tomorrow night with Ollie. You could join us if you want. We can exchange paperwork over dinner.”
Grayden’s expression was hard to read. But finally he said, “I’d like that.”
“Great.” I stepped into the sunporch and grabbed my coat from where I’d left it. “Around six?” I called out.
“I’ll be there.”
“See you then,” I said over my shoulder. “Leaving the spare key on the hook here! Good luck with the mess!”
The moment I was outside, I rolled my eyes at myself. I’d nearly lost my mind over just holding his hand.
But inviting Grayden to Hearthstone didn’t have to be a big thing, right? I was just being friendly. Proving that I didn’t have any issue with him, and I wasn’t picking sides.
Just landlord/tenant stuff.
Shit, this could be bad.
Yesterday, Dillon had asked me if Grayden was dangerous. I’d said no. But now I might change my mind.
Of course, Grayden wasn’t a threat in the way Dillon had meant. The danger wasn’t physical. It was in the deep timbre of his voice and his intense stares. Those sexy-as-hell tattoos.
Grayden called to my former bad-girl side, and she was far too eager to answer.
And if he put those glasses on again? Gah.
I was going to have to be very, very careful with this man.