Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Heat rose within Piper, and not the sexual kind. She did her best to keep a lid on her anger as she continued to glare at Sullivan, waiting for an answer.
“Well?” she asked, the one word biting and caustic.
“Not here,” he said gruffly.
She looked around, seeing two construction workers heading their way and knew it would be wrong to confront him at his place of work.
Instead, she turned and headed to the golf cart he had parked nearby.
Getting into it, she sat silently. He did the same, driving it down the main drive, back toward the water. Neither of them said a word.
Unexpectedly, he veered off onto another path and brought the cart to a halt. They had total privacy now, and she wasn’t going to hold back.
Facing him, Piper said, “What on earth got into you, Sullivan? You acted like some rutting dog who’d staked his claim. I don’t go in for that kind of apish behavior.”
“Look, I’m sorry,” he said, and she caught the glint of regret in his eyes.
“I don’t get it. All I was doing was arranging to have a drink with an old friend whom I haven’t seen in more than a dozen years.”
His gaze met hers. “I was jealous. Okay.”
“Of Ty?” she asked, slowly putting the pieces together.
“I didn’t know that you were just friends with him. For all I knew, he was the great love of your life in high school, and you had parted ways, moving on to different lives. I apologize, Piper. I don’t know what got into me. I’ve never been jealous before in my life, much less acted on it.”
She could hear in his voice that he was telling the truth. Part of her was flattered, but the greater part was still mad at him.
“Even if you and I were dating exclusively—which obviously isn’t the case—I wouldn’t want my boyfriend to prevent me from seeing a friend, male or female. That’s possessive, controlling behavior, and it doesn’t sit right with me, Sullivan.”
“You had said you would go out to dinner with me. Take a walk afterward. I know we hadn’t firmed up an actual night, but I was hoping tonight would be it.
” He raked his hands through his hair, clearly frustrated with himself.
“I blew it, Piper. Totally blew it. I don’t know what got into me. I’m more of a gentleman than that.”
She felt herself softening and said, “I know we said we would go out. I’m not sure if that’s a great idea now.
Like I mentioned before, you’re going to be leaving the Bay soon.
I’ve already gone through enough upheaval in my life recently, and I don’t really want to invest any of myself in you, only to see you walk out of my life and never come back.
I know that you’re around Layne and Keaton a lot.
Mila and Carson, too. Why don’t we just agree to be friendly toward another and leave it at that? ”
He placed his hand over hers, causing tingles to dance up her arm.
“I can’t change the fact that I don’t live in Driftwood Bay, but I want to make the most of my time remaining while I’m here. I’d like to spend as much of it as possible with you, Piper.”
No man had ever pursued her in this manner.
It was flattering, yet Piper knew she must guard her heart.
Then again, what could a few, harmless dates involve?
Sullivan Shepherd would be leaving the Bay, while she had made a commitment to stay here because of family and friends.
She would never have an opportunity to be with him again.
She couldn’t help but think back to the kiss they had shared.
How she had yearned for more from him. She was the master of the fast, casual relationship.
Piper supposed she could do it one more time with this man, whom she was really attracted to, and then she promised herself that when the next guy came along, things would be different.
Even if he wouldn’t be Sullivan Shepherd.
“All right,” she began. “I’ll go out with you for that dinner and walk. That’s all it’ll be. Understood? And I can’t promise anything beyond that.”
He squeezed her fingers, a smile playing about his sensual lips. “Understood,” he echoed. “I just want the chance to know more about you. You’re different from any woman I’ve ever been around, Piper.”
She chuckled, trying to make light of things. “I may not be one of your blue-blooded beauties, but I’ll do my best to keep our conversation lively. Deal?”
His gaze met and held hers. “Deal.”
He started the golf cart again and drove to the area where they had retrieved it.
Bringing them to a halt, Sullivan said, “I’m sorry we never made it by Bill’s office. I wanted to introduce you to him.”
“I need to think about things,” she told him. “And if I do decide to pursue an open job opportunity at Tidewater, I’ll do it on my own. I don’t want you to smooth the way for me.”
He nodded. “I understand. You want to make your own impression. Land the job on your own terms.”
They sat in the golf cart in silence until the ferry appeared. Climbing from the cart, they walked down to the dock to meet it. Danny Mayfield steered the ferry into the slip and left his pilot’s station, attaching the ropes to hold the ferry in place.
“Hey, Danny,” Piper greeted. “Where’s Kylie?”
“She had a last-minute fishing charter come up. You’re stuck with me, Piper. How have you been?”
“Trying to get back in sync with the rhythm of the Bay. How’s Denise? You have any kids yet?”
Danny beamed proudly as he took out his phone and showed his lock screen. “This is Amber. She’s three and her mom’s mini-me. Denise is due again in August. We’ll have a sonogram done next month to see who’s up to bat next.” He laughed. “Amber wants a little sister—or a puppy.”
She caught sight of a golf cart coming down the path and turned to see a man driving it.
Sullivan said, “That’s Bill, the manager of Tidewater. He was the assistant manager at one of our resorts in the Bahamas. This is the first time he’ll be in charge of a Wagner resort on his own.”
Bill shook hands with the man accompanying him, who then exited the cart and joined them on the ferry.
“How did your interview go?” Danny asked.
The man smiled widely. “You’re looking at the new head of water sports.”
Sullivan spoke up. Offering his hand, he said, “I’m Sullivan Shepherd, the architect for Tidewater. This is Piper Roberts. She manages the Bay Breeze Inn in Driftwood Bay.”
The new hire introduced himself, “I’m Greg Delaney,” he said, offering his hand and shaking Sullivan’s enthusiastically before turning and doing the same with her. “Nice to meet you both.”
Greg asked a couple of questions, which Sullivan answered with ease.
Piper liked listening to his voice, which was soothing.
She hoped she was making the right decision in agreeing to not only be friends but to go out with Sullivan.
She reminded herself that if she did choose to get involved with him, it would be a temporary relationship.
After all, there was nothing wrong with having a bit of fun with a good-looking guy as she discovered who she would become in this next chapter of her life.
Danny cast off, and the two men continued talking about Tidewater, so she pulled out her phone in order to text Mila and Layne.
Need to catch up with both of you. Coming back from Tidewater now.
It’s truly impressive. Saw Kylie Mayfield on the ferry ride over.
She suggested having dinner sometime with all of us.
Know everyone’s busy, but she seemed eager to connect.
What’s her story? Why’s she back in the Bay? Any night good before the wedding?
Immediately, Layne suggested Sunday evening and offered to host, saying she would send Keaton over to see Carson.
A few minutes later, Mila chimed in, texting that Sunday worked for her.
Piper sent back a message, saying she would check with Kylie and get back to them to confirm if Sunday worked or not.
Even if Kylie couldn’t make it, Piper said she wanted the three of them to get together.
She sent Kylie a text, not expecting a quick reply since she was out on the water with customers.
They reached Driftwood Bay again, and she waved goodbye to Danny, telling him that she would stop by the bakery soon to see Denise.
She got into Sullivan’s car, and they drove back in a comfortable silence.
She was glad she had put her anger aside and was able to be in his company without things being strained between them.
He pulled up to the B&B and turned to her. “Fresh start?” he asked.
Piper nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Then how about dinner tonight? If that’s not too pushy. Something casual, such as Backyard Bites.”
“My mouth is already watering, thinking about their spinach artichoke dip,” she told him, smiling. “What time?”
“It’s a Friday night, so it’ll be a little busier.”
“Let’s say six,” she said. “Although that’s probably early for rich people to eat,” she teased.
“You don’t have to be such a smart-ass,” he fired back good-naturedly. “How about I pick you up at a quarter till so we be there by six?”
“Sounds like a plan. Thank you for taking me over to Tidewater and showing me around, Sullivan. I didn’t have a chance to say this before, but I’m really proud of you and impressed by your work. It’s a beautiful design.”
“I accept your generous compliment and will see you tonight.”