Chapter 11
I t took Piper a full minute after he left to catch the breath he’d stolen from her lungs with his sweetness. She might want to tell herself this wasn’t about love, but with every minute she spent with him, it was getting harder to deny that’s where it was headed.
Half an hour later, showered and dressed for work, she went downstairs to check in with Laura at the hotel’s reception desk.
“Funniest thing just happened,” Laura said.
“What’s that?”
“A sexy state trooper came down my stairs in full uniform. I said, ‘Officer, is something amiss in my hotel?’ He just grinned and said everything is just dandy. Do you know anything about what that hot cop was doing in my hotel first thing in the morning, young lady?”
Piper was trying her best not to bust up with laughter at Laura’s teasing. “I’ve got to move out of here ASAP.”
“Don’t do that! How will I know that Hot Cop spent the night—again—if you leave?”
“I feel like my mom is catching me doing the walk of shame.”
“So was it shameful, then?”
“Laura!”
She lost it laughing. “You’re so cute when you’re mortified.”
“I must be flat-out adorable right now,” she muttered.
“You are! You’re glowing. So things are going well, I take it?”
“Duh.”
Laura let out a yelp that would’ve been a scream if they weren’t standing in a hotel lobby. “This makes me so happy!”
“Tell me how you really feel.”
“I just did. I love when great people find each other in this world and do wicked, wicked things in one of my beds.”
“I’m getting my own place.”
“How come?” Owen asked as he came down the stairs, toting all three kids and making that look easy, as only he could do.
“Your wife is harassing me.”
“Hot Cop just left,” Laura told him. “Again.”
“Ah,” Owen said, grinning. “I see. She’s obsessed with this new romance unfolding under our roof.”
“Which is why I need to move out.”
“Don’t go,” Laura said in a dramatic tone. “I need you here with me.”
“Then you have to leave her alone about Hot Cop,” Owen said as he put Jon down to run around.
Piper used her thumb to point at Owen. “What he said.”
“You guys are no fun. I’m an old married lady. I’m living vicariously through you, Piper. How can you shut me off this way?”
Before Piper could answer her, the front door opened as Dara Watkins and Erin Jackson came into the lobby. Erin carried a massive bouquet of flowers.
“Ladies!” Laura said. “What’s going on?”
“These are for you to thank you for your hospitality during the storm,” Erin said. “We got the first batch off the boat this morning.”
“They’re gorgeous!” Laura juggled the flowers as she hugged both women. “But you didn’t have to do that. We loved having you.”
“We sure did.” Piper had enjoyed getting to know both women during the storm.
“How’s it going with Hot Cop?” Dara asked.
“Funny you should ask,” Laura replied. “We were just talking about how there was a very handsome state cop in full uniform coming down my stairs this very morning.”
“I’m going to muzzle you,” Piper said, even though she was amused by Laura. She’d never had girlfriends quite like the ones she’d found on Gansett Island, and she adored them.
“Oh, do tell,” Erin said.
With all three of them looking at her, Piper said, “I have no idea what she’s talking about.”
“Liar,” Laura said.
“I’m getting my own place,” Piper told Erin and Dara. “This is like living with my mom again.”
“I’ll behave if you promise to stay,” Laura said, “and if you promise I get to see Hot Cop in that uniform at least once a week. That’s better than coffee.”
“I can hear you, dear,” Owen said with a chuckle as he chased Jon, Jo and Holden, who ran toward their toys in the family room.
While the others laughed, Piper hoped that she wasn’t getting her hopes—and Laura’s—up about Jack prematurely.
“Are you okay, Piper?” Dara asked.
Dara’s question made her feel madly vulnerable, but since she was among friends, she spoke the words weighing on her heart. “It’s scary, you know?”
“What is?” Erin asked.
“All of it. I’ve been down this road before. Didn’t work out so well for me.” Her fiancé calling off their wedding had been among the more shocking things to ever happen, even if she’d since come to realize he’d done the right thing for both of them. If how she was feeling about Jack was any indication, Ben had definitely done them both a favor by ending their engagement.
“But this is kinda different, right?” Laura asked.
“Yeah, it is, and that’s the scary part. It feels…”
“Bigger?”
Piper nodded as she bit her lower lip.
“I know it’s super scary, but bigger is a good thing. I promise.”
“Was it like this for you with Owen?” Laura had met Owen shortly after her first marriage had ended in dramatic fashion.
“God yes, it was so big from the get-go that it scared me to death. But he kept showing up and proving I wouldn’t regret those big feelings. Not with him. I never have, in case you’re wondering.”
“Anyone who knows you two can see there’re zero regrets.”
“After what my ex-husband did, it was hard for me to even think about taking that kind of risk again, but with Owen… It wasn’t a risk, you know? It was just right.”
“It helps to hear that. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Just be happy for this moment, Piper. This isn’t something that comes along every day.”
“She’s so right,” Erin said. “The last thing I thought I wanted was what I have now with Slim, but it’s the best thing ever. We all want that for you, too.”
“Thank you guys for talking me off the cliff.”
“Any time, pal,” Dara said. “Speaking of romance… My sister Monique just texted that she wants to come back soon because she’s still talking to Linc.”
“Linc, as in Coast Guard Linc?” Laura asked.
“One and the same.”
“Oh wow. I didn’t realize they met while she was here.”
“They did, and she was cagey about the details, which isn’t like her. She’s fresh off a messy divorce, so I’m not sure how serious she is about anything.”
“Well, you’ll have to keep us posted about that,” Laura said.
“Of course I will.”
“Did you guys hear that they think they found Jim Sturgil?” Piper asked.
“Oh God, no,” Laura said. “Poor Tiffany—and Ashleigh.”
“I know. It’s terrible.”
“I was thinking I’ll make them dinner,” Piper said.
“That’d be nice.”
“What are you hearing about Jeff and Kelsey, Laura?” Dara asked.
“Both are doing better. They’re working on getting him moved to rehab in the next couple of days.”
“So glad to hear they’re on the mend.”
“I’ve got to run to meet Slim and Mac to talk about repairs to our house, but maybe we’ll see you later at the McCarthys’?” Erin asked.
“We’re hoping to go,” Laura said.
“We are, too,” Piper added, realizing she was speaking for Jack, which was still strange but oddly elating, too.
“See you there,” Dara said as she followed Erin out the front door.
“Where do you need me today?” Piper asked Laura.
“Front desk for the morning, and then we’ll see what the day brings. We’re gearing up for a busy weekend, but today ought to be slow.”
“That’d be nice.”
“Because you didn’t get much sleep, am I right?”
“I’m quitting you, Laura.”
Laura walked away, laughing, as Piper settled in for a morning at the reception desk. She’d be needing some extra coffee that morning after having had very little sleep. But it’d been worth it. So very, very worth it.