Chapter 19 Everett
Everett
Piper giggled.
Shaking my head, I sipped my beer. Piper Ellis giggling was not something I ever expected to hear.
She set her wineglass on the coffee table, next to the empty plates from our dinner and dessert. I had to admit, the new chef was quiet and grumpy, but the man could cook.
“I swear, I feel the need to whistle every time I enter Ro’s office.” This time she snort-giggled. “Just in case he and Tessa are getting busy on his desk. I’ve never seen two people so into each other.”
“They’re in love and happy.”
“Sickeningly, so. Ro actually takes time off now.” She shook her head.
I was damn glad she’d relaxed a little over dinner and forgotten about her brother and his mess.
But when she reached for the bottle of wine again, I nudged it out of her way. “You’re cut off. You’re drunk.”
“I am not,” she said primly. “I’m tipsy.”
I just arched a brow.
She rolled her eyes. “I missed lunch, so that’s why it hit me so fast.”
I frowned at the thought of her missing lunch. I’d need to keep an eye on that.
Then she let out a gusty sigh and flopped back against the couch cushions. “My life sucks.”
“Successful career woman who makes good money and travels the world. Not to mention your extensive shoe collection. Yep, your life is terrible.”
She curled her legs up under her. She’d changed out of her tight-fitting skirt into some expensive-looking, pale-pink lounge pants, and a silky-looking, cream sweater that bared her elegant collarbones.
I’d never really thought about a woman’s collarbones before.
I’d always been a leg man, with a healthy appreciation for a round ass.
She frowned. “Sometimes, it’s great, but I studied hard, worked hard, and I never go on vacation. Well, except for my annual trip where I take my mom and grandmother to a spa and yoga retreat. Mexico, Florida, Montana. Last year was California. Mom had always wanted to go to Monterey Bay.”
“So you take them where they want to go?”
“Well, I travel the world, so I don’t mind a week of quiet with them.
I don’t care where we are.” She smiled. “Mom worked so damn hard to support us when I was younger. Getting her hair cut was a luxury, let alone going to a fancy spa. Then Gram pitched in as well, dealing with teenagers when she should have been slowing down to relax and garden, or catch up with her friends.”
“I highly doubt she minded having the people she loved being with her.”
“I know, but when I finished college, I vowed to give back to them both. I got a job at a hotel in New York and worked my way up to assistant manager. I was working my tail off to pay off Gram’s mortgage and help mom retire.
” She paused. “Getting the job at Langston Hotels was huge. I knew I’d never have to worry about providing for them again.
Then Gram got sick. Not a heart attack, but close.
She was in the hospital and needed surgery.
” Piper stared at the fire. “I was so scared. She looked so pale and frail. Mom was out of her mind with worry.”
“And Chance?”
Her mouth tightened. “I couldn’t get ahold of him at first. He was in Mississippi somewhere.
He came, but Gram was already out of the hospital by then, and feeling better.
It made me more determined to ensure Gram has calm and zero worry in her life, and I want the same for Mom.
She’s earned it. This current situation with Chance…
” Piper shook her head. “They will never know about it. I don’t want Gram having a heart attack. ”
Her fucking brother. Anger filled me. He didn’t care about anyone but himself. I wanted to punch the guy in the damn face. “And what about you?”
She turned her head, her eyes wide. “What about me?”
“When do you get time for yourself? To do what you want?”
“I have a plan. In another five years, hopefully, I can take some more vacations.”
I thought of my mom. Of the retirement plans to do all the travel that she and my dad had dreamed about.
“You don’t always get later, Piper.”
She looked back at the fire, curling in on herself. Then she glanced my way again. “I got the dog carving you made for me. I love it. Thank you.”
Such a small fucking thing and she was acting like I’d given her diamonds. “Glad you liked it.”
“One day, later, I’m going to get a dog.”
Shit, I couldn’t not touch her anymore. I slid across the small distance between us and draped my arm across her shoulders.
She didn’t pull away or say anything. No, my slightly tipsy city girl snuggled in and put her head on my shoulder. She made a small, contented sound.
I settled in, breathing in her perfume, and watched the fire.
Damn, this felt good. I felt like I was right where I supposed to be.