Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
PIERCE
When Tinsley’s father knocked on my door, I didn’t think I’d be returning with him to his home.
Especially with his daughter's heels and dress still on the floor of the hotel room.
The pile of tulle and sparkly shoes was unmissable.
Tinsley has a way of leaving her touch everywhere she goes.
Even the bed had specks of glitter from the body spray she was wearing.
Her dad entered my room and glanced around before telling me that I needed to come and meet his wife. That had been all he said. A man of few words with a daughter that has so many of them. Tinsley must take after her mother.
“Thank you,” I tell Piper, taking a sip of the coffee she brought me. She had insisted I call her by her first name, saying Mrs. Blake made her feel old.
I wouldn't have guessed her to be over forty, with blond hair, the same as Tinsley. They bear a striking resemblance, and it’s a peek into my future. As for her father, he's a big man with dark hair and eyes, with a full beard that has some gray in it.
“So, Pierce.” Piper sits down on the couch next to her husband.
His attention is on the television, watching a football game.
The season is over, but New Hope didn’t get the memo, or they don’t give a shit.
They really do march to a beat of their own.
One that us common folks can’t hear. “Any family?”
“Just me.” Piper’s face falls at my response.
“I see.” She dips her head, trying to hide a smile that I’d swear is knowing. I’ve gotten more than a few of those. “New Hope has a way of luring in people who are alone in the world.”
“I’ve heard people say there’s magic here.”
“Only if you’re to become one of us.” She gives me a serious look. Yeah. Tinsley definitely gets her humor from her mom.
“You make it sound like he’s getting abducted by aliens.” Buck finally speaks, not that his quietness bothered me. I used to enjoy the quiet. Not so much anymore. I look forward to Tinsley rambling on and on.
“I mean, that would account for all the strangely interesting people I’ve met here.”
“Oh, you met Mittens.”
“Can’t say I have.” That one's not ringing a bell.
“Oh, well, if you’re here and she’s missing, ignore it. She always turns up.” I don’t ask. “But you must have met Gertrude, then. She is, uh, yeah. You know.”
“I don’t have—I haven't met her either. Should I have?”
“I’m not going to ruin that for you.” Piper pats my knee. “You don’t have to share, but—”
“He’ll share,” Buck grunts, his attention never leaving the television, letting me know I’ll be telling her my life story if she wants to know it.
I have learned fast in my line of work when to push back and when not to. I won’t be pushing back with Piper on this one, but that doesn’t mean when it comes to Tinsley that I won’t.
"My memories of my mother are hazy, but when I was about eight, I was dropped off at a police station, and that was that.
" There's not much more you can say. I’m not a person that usually opens up to others, but Buck and Piper are family now. They’ll be the grandparents to my kids, so they are entitled to know about me.
"Oh my goodness, honey. I'm sorry." I can see genuine sadness in her eyes.
"It doesn’t matter. What I can recall is the foster system was no better or worse than when I was with her.
" I swear I have vague memories of more family at one time, but I don't know if they’re real memories or ones I'd made up or possibly gotten people confused.
There was a lot of shuffling around even when I was with my mother.
"Sorry to hear that too." This time it's Buck who speaks, and Piper gives him a warm smile. He rests his hand on her thigh. The love they share is palpable.
"Thanks."
"Tell me more. I would like to know all about you.
Where did you go to school?" I give her the CliffsNotes of getting into college and how I dabble in finance and investments.
I tell her the names of a few invention items my name is attached to that she's likely heard of or might even have.
"You're very driven, Pierce." I feel a strange twinge in my chest at her approval.
"When I see something I want or know it's worth the chase, I don't hesitate. That's how things can slip through your fingers." That same intuition is why I'm here in New Hope.
"Tinsley can be like that. She has two modes: full force ahead or getting the hell out of Dodge." A small laugh leaves her. "But the run-off is short-lived. She'll hatch a new plan and be heading for it once again. She’s always been that way.”
"I've noticed." Tinsley will be crawling all over me one second and then trying to get the hell away from me another.
"She can be hard to keep up with, but I can tell you one thing: New Hope is a part of Tinsley."
“She’s a part of the charm around here.” I take my voice up a few notches. “You think she’ll stop hiding in the hallway?” My little spitfire will learn very soon that I can sense when she’s near.
“I wasn't hiding.” She pops right into the opening to the living room. The house is older but holds a rich history, the same as the bed and breakfast. “I was lingering.”
“I take it you had a good evening,” Piper says before glancing at me. “I’ve never caught her sneaking out of my window here, but the town caught her creeping out of yours.”
“It was daylight. When I used to sneak out of here, it was in the cloak of shadow deep into the night.”
“Eleven, she means around eleven p.m., and she was back by one,” Buck says. Picking up the remote, he flips the channel.
“At least I’m not sneaking around making out in corners like teenagers,” Tinsley tosses back at her dad. Last night she told me about her parents and their growing PDA. She may have been complaining about it, but I can tell that she loves the way they love each other.
“I guess she hasn’t seen the pictures from the bar because that’s a bold accusation to assume.”
“There are pictures!” Tinsley squeaks, her eyes going wide. “Mom.”
“My favorite is the one of you dipping her on the dance floor,” Piper says, turning to her husband. “We should go dancing one night.”
“Any night you want, cookie,” he tells her.
“What are you even doing here?” Tinsley puts her hands on her hips. She knows exactly what I’m doing here, but if she wants to play it this way, I’m more than happy to.
“Buck and Piper invited me.”
“The hell?!” Her ire swings over to them. I don’t think she meant to say that out loud.
“I guess they wanted to meet their new son—-” Before I know it, she launches herself at me, slapping her hand over my mouth. I kiss her palm. She’s quick on her toes.
“He’s a bloodsucking lawyer, and you just let him into our house.”
“He’s also your husband.” Buck counters by dropping the remote onto the coffee table with a loud thud.
“How did you…” She trails off, her hand dropping away.
“You have a ring on your finger,” her mom points out to her.
“It was a joke, all in good fun.” Tinsley nods adamantly like that will make her words more true. “You know, these things happen.” An awkward laugh leaves her.
“I’m not mad, honey,” her mom tells her.
“Really?” She glances between her parents.
“I would have liked to have been there, but I know how you can get wrapped up in a moment. We can still do the whole wedding.” Piper reaches under the coffee table, pulling out two thick books.
“Mom, no!”
“What? It will be easy to plan a quick make-up wedding when you’ve been planning this one since you were a kid.”
Fuck, that does make me feel like an asshole. Her parents should have been there, and she should have gotten all the bells and whistles. Of course a girl like Tinsley would want that.
"We're getting an annulment."
"Why?" Piper's eyes flick from me to Tinsley.
"What do you mean, why? He's my enemy." Her mom waves her off, likely no clue why I’m the enemy.
"She has a knack for the dramatics. When she's with Katherine, it's a whole other level. You've been warned." Piper laughs. "Here." She hands me one of the books. "Where in the city did you meet? How long have you been dating?"
Tinsley snatches the book her mom had given me, and gold sparkles falling from it land on my lap and the floor. "It's complicated." Tinsley holds the book close to her chest, like a shield.
Her reaction only makes me more curious and determined to find out what’s in that book. Not because I’m being nosy, but I want to make all of her dreams come true after I already messed one up with the wedding.
"To be honest, we haven't known each other long, but I knew instantly she was the girl I was going to marry."
"We're not married. I can't marry a lawyer."
"What's wrong with a lawyer?" her mom asks, confused.
"I don't know, just because." It's her excuse, and it's flimsy.
"Well, lucky for you, I'm not a lawyer." I smirk, like this is all a joke, and hell, maybe it is.
"Tinsley, he told us about being in finance, investment banker things." Piper shrugs as she says it, not really sure what I completely do as a whole.
“What?” Tinsley’s brows furrow together as confusion takes over. “I need a word with him.” Tinsley grabs my sweater by the arm and tugs. I'm probably getting up. “We’ll be back.” She marches, still tugging me along out of the living room.
“Keep that bedroom door open,” Piper calls after us, followed by teasing laughter.
Tinsley doesn’t stop until we’re in her bedroom, closing the door behind us before releasing her hold on me. That sweet vanilla smell of hers engulfs me.
“Your mother said—”
“You shut it,” she orders. “Are you a lawyer or not? What's going on?” Tinsley stares at me. "Are you going to answer me?" She actually stomps one of her feet. How does she manage to be even more adorable when she’s mad?
She's changed into black stretchy pants and slippers that have a pink unicorn horn on them that matches her oversized sweater that falls off her shoulder, letting me know she still hasn't put a bra on.
"Hello." She waves her hand in my face, making her tits sway. I can see the peak of her nipples pressing against the fabric.
"You told me to shut it," I remind her.
"I don't have time for games." An uncontrollable bark of laughter leaves me. "Okay, I don't have time for your games."
"Is that so?" I step over to her bed. The purple comforter is half hanging off it, and there's a pillow on the floor. I sit down on it. "Because I've got all the time in the world."