Page 35 of Love Affair in London (Once Again #12)

P iper’s scent lingered on Jared all day, bringing back memories of the night—the sweet taste of her lips, the silk of her skin, the luscious feel of her mouth on him.

It left him buzzing, his exuberance spilling over as he navigated the endless glad-handing, fielded questions during his presentation, and endured the constant schmoozing.

The day almost over, Jared stepped out of the exhibit hall and into the relative quiet of the mezzanine. He needed to deal with last evening’s call from Liam. Scarlett would be between her first two classes. Popping in his earbuds, he tapped his daughter’s icon.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he said when she answered.

Scarlett’s pretty face appeared on his screen, bouncing slightly as she walked. “Hey, Dad. What’s up? You never call me. Is this an emergency?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “I know you prefer texting. But I had something I wanted to talk to you about. Do you have a few minutes before your next class?”

“I’m heading there, but yeah, we can talk.”

“Here’s the scoop. Your brother called me yesterday, and he’s not happy about the new guy your mom is dating. I just wanted to get your take on it. Does he bother you?”

She pulled a classic teenage face of disgust. “Honestly, Dad, I don’t know what Mom sees in him. Actually, I do.” She rolled her eyes. “But let’s not discuss that .”

Revulsion dripped off her words, and Jared didn’t need to hear what she meant either.

“I want to make sure he’s not abusive to you or your brother behind your mom’s back.”

She shrugged, a typical move that was supposed to mean something but said little.

“I wouldn’t call it abusive .” She chose her words carefully, like the thoughtful girl he’d raised.

“He just likes to boss us around, like he needs to exert control. Show he’s the big man.

It’s like he turns into a different person when Mom’s not in the room.

And sometimes he even does it when she’s there.

Like, if Mom asks if we want something—a Coke or whatever—he’ll jump in.

” Her voice dipped into a manly drawl. “You shouldn’t make your mom run after you. Get it yourself.”

Jared had to admit the guy wasn’t entirely wrong, but maybe it was the tone. He stayed quiet, not wanting to interrupt Scarlett’s flow.

“And he’s just so over-the-top smarmy-sweet with her. He’s like two different people—one with her and another with us.”

“He doesn’t do or say anything that makes you feel… icky?” It might be an outdated term, but she’d know what he meant.

“Not that kind of icky,” she said. “Just like a whole lot of slime is oozing out of him.”

Jared couldn’t help laughing. “I guess you feel the same way about him that Liam does.”

“Yeah. We’ve talked about it. We’re just hoping it clicks for Mom real soon.”

Jared wondered if Erica would ever see through the guy’s facade.

“You, me, and Liam should talk when I get back. You guys are with me next week.”

“Yeah, Dad. Let’s talk then. I gotta go or I’ll be late. Bye.”

Just like that, she was gone, as quickly as Liam had left last night.

Rather than return to the noise and stuffy atmosphere of the overcrowded exhibit hall, he stepped into the quiet corner of the lobby Starbucks and called Piper—a video call, because he wanted to see her.

She answered, the phone close so that all he could see was her face. But what a beautiful face it was. “Hey. Where are you?”

Her voice was as soft as her expression. “I’m walking with the dinosaurs.”

He chuckled, confused for a moment, until she added, “Let me just put in my Bluetooth earbuds. It’s so quiet in here I feel like I’m disturbing the peace if I talk too loudly.”

The phone jostled, the image swirling until she reappeared. “Okay, that’s better.”

“Did you have a good day?” he asked.

She gave him a slow, knowing smile. “I had an especially good day after the way it began.” Her tone was low, seductive, and it stroked his nerves, branding itself into his memory.

He felt deliciously cocooned with her in his corner of the coffee shop, despite the growing bustle of tourists coming in from a day out or heading off to dinner. “This morning energized me all day long too. How are the dinosaurs?”

“They’re amazing,” she said. “I seem to remember, a long time ago, there used to be dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum in Golden Gate Park, before it became the Academy of Sciences.”

“I think I remember that too.” His parents had often taken him and his brothers there.

“The British Museum was incredible,” she continued. “The Elgin Marbles are marvelous.”

“How about the mummies?”

She held the phone far enough away for him to see her shudder. “Scary and incredible. I had goosebumps the whole time I was looking at them.”

He loved the way she made everything an experience to savor. “None of them tried to attack you?”

“They did.” She gasped, then quickly beamed a beautiful smile at him. “But I had my trusty mummy repellent with me.”

“I should’ve been there to save you, like your knight in shining armor. But it seems you handled it yourself.”

“And here’s T. Rex.” She turned the phone to show him.

“He’s a beauty. Though he’s too big to bring home and put in the backyard. Otherwise, my son would love him.”

“Oh!” Her eyes lit up with enthusiasm as she turned the phone back. “I found a little something for him in the gift shop.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“You can tell him it’s from you.” An impish smile flirted on her lips. “And I got one for your daughter too. It would’ve been rude to get something just for your son.”

“That’s so thoughtful. Thank you.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I couldn’t resist—I bought one for myself too.”

She had him curious now. “What is it?”

“I’ll surprise you tonight,” she teased.

That made him remember he wouldn’t see her until late. “I’ve got dinner out with everyone after the conference wraps up for the day. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

She shrugged, a move that reminded him of Scarlett. “I understand. I’ll be here.”

“I’m sorry I can’t take you out for dinner.”

“That’s okay. I saw an Indian restaurant a couple of blocks away. I fancy a lovely curry.”

He dropped his voice lower. “I’d rather be with you, having curry.” Then he remembered. “Hey, I talked to Scarlett.”

She raised a brow. “How did that go?”

“She confirmed the same things Liam told me. I said we’d all talk about it next week when I get back.” He paused before adding, “But like you said, I don’t want them to expect me to butt into their mom’s life. That’s not right.”

“You can all decide together if there’s a real problem that needs to be addressed. That’s the main thing—letting them know you care and that you’re involved.”

He agreed. “And that they can tell me anything.”

“Exactly. You don’t want them to stop coming to you with their problems.”

Warmth spread through him. “How did you get to be so smart?”

Her eyes sparkled. “Because it’s not my problem, so I can spout all the wisdom I want.”

“I love your wisdom.” He didn’t want to let her go, but he had to get back upstairs. “I’ll text you when I’m on my way back tonight.”

“Sounds good.” She waggled her fingers at him. “Bye for now.”

“Bye.” He reluctantly ended the call, forcing himself to put his phone away.

But there would be tonight.

She sat for a few minutes among the dinosaurs, letting the day settle over her. It had been good. Even as she’d experienced so many moments when she wished Jared was with her.

She’d thought of him all day, even in the gift shop. Finding tiles with dinosaur footprints, she couldn’t resist them, convincing herself that Jared’s son would love one. She got one for Scarlett’s tile wall too. Then she had to have one for her townhouse’s small yard.

Jared seemed pleased when she told him, but a part of her wondered if she’d overstepped. Did it seem like she was trying to wedge herself into his life? She shook off the thought, reminding herself that this would all end when his conference wrapped up, and he flew home.

She was too old. God, she was old enough to be those kids’ grandmother.

The nights she spent with Jared were electric, but it wasn’t as if he’d explicitly said he wanted to see her after London.

Honestly, even if he had, she’d have to say no.

She couldn’t bear the way people would look at them .

Twelve years. She’d graduated from university before he’d even started high school.

It was fine when the man was older because men didn’t seem to age as quickly.

Women, though, had menopause to contend with.

Excuses swirled in her head, each one trying to drown out the truth.

It stomped her like a dinosaur’s foot slamming her down: she was falling for Jared.

Their days and nights followed the same rhythm, and soon it was Saturday, the last day of the conference.

The farewell dinner included spouses.

A couple of guys on his team had brought their wives, tacking on a few extra days in London. At lunch, Jared called Piper. He wanted her at the dinner. The food would be excellent, and there’d be dancing afterward. The wheeling and dealing over, it was time to play.

But he hesitated. Would dinner with his colleagues be too much for her?

He hadn’t tired of making love to her—not at all—but he was tired of rushing through everything else.

Their time together had become a cycle of long days apart, sweet nights of lovemaking, and mornings where he had to leave again.

Not that he didn’t adore their nights, but he missed the first few days—touring the city, laughing, talking, flirting.

And damn, she’d been so sweet buying those gifts for his kids. She was just so… perfect.

Tonight, he wanted to savor her , not just the time they spent in bed.

He found a quiet corner of the mezzanine and called her. “What are you doing?”

She laughed, her voice warm and familiar. “I’m at the Barbican Conservatory. It has an amazing glass roof. I’d say this is just as beautiful as Kew Gardens.”

“Send me a selfie.”