Chapter 15 #2
Frustration filled her, not knowing what she was meant to do with her life.
She couldn’t help but dwell on the fact that Mila would have a baby come October.
By then, surely Layne would also be expecting.
As much as Piper wanted to stay in her hometown, she didn’t think she could build a life for herself here.
She felt completely unqualified for any kind of job.
She could see the months and years stretching aimlessly in front of her, her friends trying to set her up on blind dates that never worked out because her heart belonged to a man who had left years earlier.
Piper realized she had made a huge mistake leaving the theater world.
If there were one thing she was good at, it was performing for an audience.
She had never tried her chance in New York on Broadway.
At thirty, she had a good deal of professional experience under her belt and the confidence to go into auditions which she would have lacked half a dozen years ago.
She decided as much as she would like to remain in the Bay and try to find a fulfilling job and someone to share her life—even start a family with—that wasn’t in the cards for her.
Determination filled her. She had already saved a good deal of money while living on the road.
Her expenses had been minimal, with her hotel rooms paid for and a meal stipend awarded daily.
While she would remain as manager of the Bay Breeze until Layne found someone reliable to take her spot, Piper would head straight for New York once that obligation was done.
She would give herself a year of auditioning to see if she could land a show.
In the meantime, she could wait tables for additional income.
If after a year she hadn’t been hired for at least a supporting role in a musical or play, she would begin auditioning again for traveling companies.
She had a sterling reputation in the industry and a solid work ethic, along with an excellent voice.
She would need to keep training her voice, though, to be ready.
It was like a muscle, use it or lose it.
Piper couldn’t count on a future with Sullivan, much less one in the Bay.
It was time she looked out for herself. The theater world was familiar to her, and she was wasting her time and talent not pursuing a career in it.
Who’s to say she wouldn’t fall in love with a fellow actor or crew member and actually marry and have children?
The thought of being with a man other than Sullivan, though, left a bad taste in her mouth.
The handsome architect had spoiled her for any other man.
Piper decided it would take time and distance to get over him, but she could do it.
She wouldn’t think about the fact that he lived in New York part of the year because if she did, she would never stand on her own two feet.
No, when he left the Bay, it needed to be a clean break between them.
He would go his way, and she would head hers, no further contact taking place.
Piper spent the afternoon singing, beginning with scales and then moving to songs.
She didn’t try anything which stretched her range too much since she was sorely out of practice.
Gradually, she would need to rebuild her vocal stamina.
What she could do besides that is keep up her physical training.
Exercise had always invigorated her, and she did a long Zumba session now, enjoying building a sweat.
After she showered, she went into town and picked up cookies at the bakery, setting them out, along with lemon water.
She snagged a cookie for herself and then retreated to the common room, opening her Kindle and losing herself in one of her beloved Regency romances.
They had never let her down, always providing a happy ending, no matter what obstacles the leads faced.
She was into a scene at the last ball of the Season, hoping the hero would wise up in time to realize the heroine was the best thing for him, when banging sounded on the front door. Startled, she closed her Kindle and moved from the comfortable sofa, going to answer it.
When Piper opened the door, her heart slammed against her ribs.
Sullivan stood there, a huge bouquet of flowers in his hand. He yanked her to him, his mouth coming down hard on hers for a kiss driven by need. She felt herself responding, wanting to push him away, yet desperately drinking him in.
When he ended the kiss, he immediately began apologizing.
“My flight had mechanical issues. We sat on the tarmac for almost three hours before they had us deplane. I was going to scramble and find another flight, but I left my stupid phone on the plane.”
She saw how upset he was, his usual, steady demeanor gone.
“Piper, I didn’t know your number. I didn’t know anyone’s number. My life was in my phone, and I couldn’t get back on the plane to get it.”
“You could’ve called the Bay Breeze,” she said, sounding calm though her heart was beating wildly, his intoxicating, masculine scent causing her to grow as dizzy as any besotted Regency heroine ever had been.
“I should have. I wound up taking three different flights, and they were a bitch to schedule without a phone. Wouldn’t you know, two of them also had problems. One came in so late that a new flight crew was needed.
By the time they called them in and I landed in Houston, I’d missed the last flight to Corpus for the night.
I almost rented a car and drove from there to here. Just to see you.”
She made a decision in that moment. She wouldn’t continue to push this man away. Instead, she would keep her plans to go to New York to herself and simply enjoy every moment with him while it lasted.
“Come inside, Prepster. Let me make you some breakfast for dinner and hear all about your trip.”