Page 43

PIPER

I needed to strip off his clothes and ride his cock hard. Enough alcohol was still in my system to make this seem like a totally good idea. And why not? We were both adults.

“Piper,” Patrick said, tugging me from his amazing kisses. “My mother?—”

I latched onto him again, desperately seeking something I had been missing for way too long.

But he tugged me away again, grinning at me in that sexy way that drove me wild. “Baby, we need to talk.”

“Talking is overrated,” I said breathlessly, trying to get back to his lips, but he didn’t relent.

“We should get some food.”

I slumped back on his lap, unhappy with the direction this was going. “Food.”

“To sober you up.”

I didn’t get it. Two minutes ago, his hand was up my shirt, fondling my breast, and now he wanted food? “But?—”

“Tonight,” he promised, brushing his thumb along my jaw. “I fucking swear to you, it’ll happen tonight, but I cannot let you meet my mother for the first time after you’ve ridden my cock in the back of a car.”

“I would really appreciate that, too,” Chase said from up front.

I spun at the sound of his voice, completely forgetting he was there. “Chase! When did you get here?”

“Been here to the whole time,” he muttered.

I laughed at how intense he sounded. I patted him on the shoulder maybe a little too hard and threw myself back into Patrick’s arms, resting my head on his shoulder.

“Chase, drive around for a little bit.”

“Are we going on a drive?” I muttered, pressing kisses to his neck.

His hand slid up my back, but instead of turning sexual, he just rubbed it soothingly. I let out a contented sigh and wrapped my arms around his neck.

“That’s nice,” I murmured, letting my eyes slip closed.

“Yeah?”

“M-hmm.” The gentle rocking of the car paired with Patrick’s hand on my back sent me into a dreamless sleep that felt like floating on clouds.

When I woke, the car came to a stop and that peaceful feeling thrumming through me was now more of a dizzying feeling that made me want to puke. Groaning, I tore the boulder on my shoulders from his body and tried to hold my head upright.

“Where are we?”

“Denny’s.”

“The restaurant?” I asked, confused by what was going on. I vaguely remembered seeing Patrick and Chase outside the airport and then getting in the car with them, but why was I sitting on Patrick’s lap?

“Did I climb on top of you?” I asked through bleary eyes.

“You did,” he grinned, brushing my hair back from my face. “You also tried to fuck me, but Chase didn’t think that would be a good way to start the trip. You know…in jail.”

I held my head as I moaned. It was like a twelve-piece band was playing in my head, and half the instruments were drums. There were no pretty flutes or violins, either. No, only the loudest, most annoying instruments were allowed at this moment.

“Oh, God. Your mother?—”

“That’s why we’re stopping,” he chuckled.

His thumb brushed soothingly over my leg in small circles, keeping me grounded when all I wanted to do was fall over and puke up my guts.

“Water. I could really use some water.”

“Yeah, I figured. And maybe a bathroom.”

My eyes widened in horror at the implication. “Did I piss myself?”

“What? No,” he chuckled. “I just meant to freshen up.”

Relief surged through me. That would have been really fucking awkward. “I might not be able to fly home.”

“I can see that,” he laughed, tucking my hair back behind my ear. “I won’t be there to keep you from befriending any more men on the flight.”

“Men? Who did I—” And then I remembered the man I basically leaned against the whole flight. He had been so kind and helpful, but he could have been a serial killer. I groaned, flopping my head against Patrick’s shoulder. “That was so bad.”

“Tell me about it.”

“But he was so hot.”

His fingers suddenly tightened on me. “Let’s not talk about other men when you’re in my arms.”

“Jealous?” I smirked, trying to keep from falling over. Man, it felt like the whole fucking car was rolling.

“You walked out of the airport leaning on the guy. You fucking hugged him right in front of me.”

I sighed, flopping down on him again. “I’ll dissect that some other time. For now, I need water.”

“And food. Let’s go soak up some of that alcohol.”

The thought of putting anything in my stomach made me want to puke, but I had to try something.

There was no way I could meet his mother in this condition.

I stumbled out of the car, holding on for dear life as the world tilted around me.

Thankfully, Chase came and offered his arm, even though Patrick snarled at him for the gesture.

“Aren’t you married?” I asked Chase.

“Happily.”

“Then what’s his problem?”

Patrick cut him off before he could answer. “Just because he’s married doesn’t mean I won’t rip his fucking arm off for touching you.”

Chills rolled down my spine at the threat. “Hmm, I like this side of you, but what are you going to do when I leave in a week?”

I meant it playfully, but the joke failed because Patrick’s jaw clenched hard, and for a moment, I wondered if he was actually going to let me leave.

“We’ll just take it one excruciating day at a time,” Chase laughed, tugging me into the restaurant while Patrick took up the rear.

I followed him inside and was about to slide into the booth beside Chase when Patrick snagged my arm and pushed me into the other side, taking the seat beside me. I was only going to sit there because I wanted to look at Patrick’s handsome face, but I guessed I was sitting beside him.

As soon as the waitress came by, I ordered water and coffee, hoping something would help clear my head before I had to meet his mother. Normally, I could charm any parent into liking me, but right now, I was barely functioning.

“So, Piper, how was New York?” Chase asked.

“Ugh. Horrible. Nobody will hire me as a secretary and I’m still living on my friend’s couch.”

“So, go back to school,” he said, simple as that.

“In New York?” I snorted at the thought of the expenses alone. “I might as well just go live on the streets now. Besides, I don’t know what I would go back to school for.”

“Well, you could always give lessons in how to fight off bears.”

I laughed at that, groaning when my stomach rolled. “Let’s not talk about bears ever again.”

“That’s gonna be kind of difficult,” Patrick chuckled. “My mom can’t wait to meet you, and when I tell her you’re the woman who saved my life, she’s going to instantly fall in love with you, and you’ll have to repeat the story over and over again so she can tell all her friends.”

The waitress returned with the drinks, and Patrick ordered for me, making sure to get me lots of carbs to load up on.

I leaned on my hand, sipping my water over the next few minutes.

As my eyes fluttered closed, I felt Patrick’s hand on my back, rubbing soothingly.

That alone was enough to make me feel ten times better.

It was so nice to be back with him again.

Not just for the sex, but because of the way he made me feel.

My eyes popped open at that and I instantly stilled.

“Everything okay?” Patrick asked, concern marring his face.

“Uh…bathroom,” I said, needing the excuse to get away.

He was out of his seat in a flash, making room for me to flee.

I was feeling sick, but it wasn’t because of the massive amounts of alcohol I’d ingested.

No, this horrible feeling coursing through me was because of the realization that I liked Patrick for more than sex.

I was comfortable with him and enjoyed his company.

I like him. Like…really fucking liked him.

I pushed into the bathroom and leaned over the sink as panic pricked at my skin. Heat flashed across my face and I bent over, turning on the faucet to splash cold water over my heated skin.

“Oh God. This is so bad,” I groaned, wishing I could go back in time and tell myself not to come out here.

Nothing good would come from this trip. If anything, I would only become more comfortable around him, and then when it was time to leave, it would kill me. Was I in love with Patrick? Absolutely not. I couldn’t be. I was…

Well, I wasn’t in love with James anymore.

That ship sailed the moment I caught him screwing another woman.

Something inside me had shriveled and died when I realized his love for me was all a delusion.

And over the last few weeks, I found myself wondering if I ever really loved him at all, or if I’d been blinded by the feeling of what I thought was love.

Not that it mattered. My situation with Patrick was different in every way.

He was a friend and I was helping him out.

That was it. There was literally nothing else to it.

I splashed more water on my face and repeated it over and over again until I felt confident I could walk out there and not swoon all over him.

Looking into my own eyes in the mirror, I whispered, “You will not fall in love with him.”

If I said it enough, I might actually believe it. This was going to be a hell of a week on my mind and body, but I could handle it. It wasn’t like I was going to get back on a plane and flee the state. I wasn’t sure I’d ever go near another plane again after what I just went through.

“Piper?” Patrick called out from the other side of the door. “Are you okay in there?”

Panic shot through me at the sound of his voice. “Uh…yeah! Just washing up!”

I closed my eyes and bowed my head, taking deep breaths until I felt calm. Warm hands wrapped around my arms, and I nearly whimpered at his touch.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

His breath caressed my neck as he leaned in close to me. Fuck, I wanted to tilt my head back and rest against him—to feel his arms wrap around me and hold me close. But that would only further the delusion that we could have anything together.

“Yeah, I’m good,” I answered, finally prying my eyes open.