Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Reese
C howder may never forgive us for the cabin stunt.
The second Griffin releases him from the carrier inside the ranch house, my spoiled orange tyrant bolts for his cat condo, curls up like a king on his throne, and fixes us with a glare that could curdle milk.
“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter under my breath as I trail behind Griffin. “We betrayed you. You’ll survive.”
It’s the strangest thing. Yesterday, the ranch was a virtual ghost town, but today is a different story.
Everyone is here, and it seems they’re all waiting for one thing—me.
I’m pretty sure the ranch residents know what happened to me in New York, but I opt to wear my sunglasses and scarf another day. For now, it’s a bandage against the ugliness I endured.
But the bruises will fade. Until they do, I plan on holing up at Rockin’ Rodeo Ranch, where I finally feel safe.
Doesn’t hurt knowing Griffin’s here to protect me.
Capri spots us in the foyer, her sharp eyes widening as she strides toward me. “You’re back.”
But she doesn’t wait for my reply before pulling me into her arms.
Wait a damn minute.
Capri is hugging me? What alternate universe have I fallen into?
I stiffen for a moment, startled, before melting into her embrace.
Her voice is low in my ear. “Are you good?”
“I’m great.”
She pulls back, confusion marring her features, but it morphs into a wide smile when I hold up my left hand.
Her eyes dart between me, Griffin, and the ring. She claps her hands once, triumphant. “Didn’t waste any time, did you, Griffin? Well, I’m not surprised. Not one bit. I knew it from that first day.”
Griffin’s mouth curves as he slides his arm around my waist. “You’ve always been a good judge of character. Maybe you should start a matchmaking business.”
Dorian enters the room, his giant frame leaning against the doorway. “Now that is a damn fine idea, Capri. Any ideas for your first victim—I mean, client?”
Capri cuts Dorian a side-eye before returning her focus to my ring. “Why? Do you have someone in mind?”
The big man chuckles and strolls over to congratulate us, but his attention remains firmly on Capri. “I do, actually. But she’s stubborn as hell. Might take some convincing.”
Capri scoffs and folds her arms over her chest, but there’s no missing the flush creeping across her cheeks.
Seems the rumors are true.
Griffin and Piper both mentioned how these two shared one hot night together and judging by the way he’s boring holes into her while she refuses to meet his stare, I’d say the feelings are still very much in play.
In fact, I’ve never seen Capri flustered, but right now, she’s damn near giddy, and I know it’s not just because of our happy news.
Interesting. Very interesting.
Capri steps away and presses the intercom on the wall. “Geraldine, can you put together a special lunch today? We have something special to celebrate. Seems love hasn’t abandoned the ranch after all.”
“Love has always been here, Riri.” Dorian’s response is offhanded but both Griffin and I catch his pet name for our boss.
I shoot Capri a look, brows raised, but don’t say a word.
I don’t have to. Her face says it all as she mumbles an excuse and beats a hasty retreat to her office.
“Way to make the boss squirm,” I tease, lightly punching Dorian in the arm.
“Someone has to. Hey, your sister is back. Just got here an hour ago.”
Griffin presses a kiss to my temple, his arm tightening around me. “Let’s go share the good news.”
Dorian’s stare locks on mine, dark and steady. “Just so you know—we protect our own.”
Griffin’s arm cinches around my waist, his voice a low rumble against my hair. “Always. And anyone who hurts someone we love? We make damn sure they pay.”
I lift my chin. “You two need to let it go.”
They trade a glance—silent, unyielding. A promise.
“Fine,” I sigh, forcing lightness into my tone. “But today is a special day. No death plots, no arrests. Deal?”
“Deal,” they echo—way too fast to be believable.
They’ll never let this go. Not until Vander is buried in an unmarked grave, and honestly, that’s exactly what the man deserves.
“Come on.” I give Griffin a light hip check and motion down the hall. “Piper is waiting.”
We stroll to my sister’s door, which sits slightly cracked.
Pushing it open, I screech to a halt. What the hell? The room looks like it’s been gutted. Half-packed suitcases sit open on the bed, toiletries and clothes scattered in neat little piles.
“Piper?”
My sister emerges from the bath, bottles clutched in her hands.
But the second she sees me, she drops them, letting them scatter across the floor.
She dashes across the room and crashes into me, arms tight around my shoulders as she sobs into my neck.
“It’s okay. I’m okay,” I murmur, stroking her hair as she weeps.
When she finally pulls back, her gaze rakes over me, taking in the scarf, the shadows, the bruises. Her face hardens. “Son of a bitch. I’ll kill him.”
“Stand in line.” Griffin’s voice rumbles low from the doorway.
“Neither of you are doing anything,” I say firmly, brushing at Piper’s wet cheeks. “We’re all going to live beautiful lives here in Tangled Vines, far away from that maniac. That’s the best revenge.”
“Not exactly.” Piper gestures to the yawning suitcases.
Panic claws at my throat. “I thought you were only taking a few days away.”
“Originally, I was, but I mentioned my situation to a client who’s become a friend. He’s an import-export genius and offered me a long-term arrangement, traveling with him.”
“Traveling where?”
“Dubai, to start. Then Europe and Asia. It’s going to be a grand adventure.”
My sister always loved adventure, but this time, she’s not seeking new horizons. She’s trying to outrun a broken heart. “Is this because of Colton?”
Piper slumps her shoulders and fixes her gaze on the carpet. “I saw his ex-wife yesterday and she’s just starting to show. And I…” Her voice cracks. She turns away, pressing a hand over her mouth. “I can’t look at that right now.”
The words stab through me. I know what she doesn’t say out loud. What she’s always carried, quietly, since we were kids. Piper can’t have children. Not after everything her body survived.
Most days, she celebrates other women as they give birth, but this is different. I see in her face how much she cares for Colton, a man who is now beyond her grasp.
I pull her into a fierce hug. “Oh, Pips. I’m so sorry.”
Her arms tighten, desperate. “I just need to be anywhere but here. At least for now. Maybe I’ll come back some day.”
I slide off my sunglasses to wipe my tears. “What am I going to do without my baby sister?”
Piper shoots Griffin a knowing smile. “I’m sure you’ll be more than busy enough with your future husband.”
“Wait, how did you know?” I cut my gaze to Griffin, my mouth dropping open. “Did you tell her?”
Piper releases a squeal. “Let me see the damn ring.”
Griffin closes the distance and wraps his arms around my waist as I show off my ring. My gorgeous padparadscha sapphire, the most beautiful stone I’ve ever seen, given to me by the world’s most perfect man.
“No way I was saying no to this guy.”
Piper tilts my hand, oohing and aahing as it catches the light. “Well done, Griffin. This is stunning.”
“Kind of like your sister.” Griffin drops a kiss to my hair and I snuggle deeper into his embrace. “And Piper knew about it, Reese.”
I tilt my head up to meet his gaze. “She did?”
Piper nods. “Griffin is old school. He called Mom and Dad, too.”
I spin in his arms, resting my chin on his chest. “I adore you. When did this happen?”
Griffin shrugs, smiling over my shoulder at my sister. “This morning. It’s three hours later in New York, so I hit them up at breakfast. Wanted to make sure they were okay with it.”
Piper engulfs us both in a hug. “They were more than okay with it, especially after I told them all about him.”
“That’s it. Now we need to have a proper wedding. So Piper will have to come back, and Mom and Dad can meet their future son-in-law.”
Griffin tips his cowboy hat back as a slow grin upturns the corners of his mouth. “I thought we were going to Vegas.”
“What if we do both?”
The smile on his face melts me every damn time. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
“Good. Because you are goddamn gorgeous in a tux.”
He groans and steps back, waving his hands. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. I never agreed to wear a tux.”
“But you will.” I counter with a wink.
Piper cuts between us with a dramatic flourish. “Can we move the wedding conversation somewhere else before I drown in the syrupy sweetness?”
Griffin jerks his hand toward the door. “Capri’s throwing a celebratory lunch downstairs. Didn’t plan on it being a going-away party, too.”
Piper’s smile falters, but she lifts her chin. “You two could always visit me abroad.”
“We might be able to make that happen,” I concede, although I’m not sure when we’d find the time with Griffin starting his business.
That was the beauty of Piper and me being in the same town for the first time since high school. She was here. I could talk to her, dance with her, hug her.
I’m not ready to let her go again. Seems I’ve spent my life watching her leave in search of new places. New people. New opportunities.
But that’s Piper.
She never wanted roots, but her free-spirited ways brought me home.
For that, I’m eternally grateful.
I grip my sister’s hand in a tight squeeze. “Promise me you’ll come back for the wedding or I’m locking you in the closet.”
Her lips twitch, eyes glistening. “Deal.”
Griffin excuses himself from the room, leaving me alone with my sister.
She shakes her head and grins. “You look so happy. You’re glowing.”
Warmth spills through me, so big it aches. “That guy finally helped me figure out what happiness is.”