Page 137 of Power Play Rivals

Piper:Why?

Me:Because he wants to meet you.

Me:Can I tell him we’ll meet him around eight?

Piper:Fine.

Me:How does La Fleur sound? You’ve been wanting to go there since it opened.

Piper:La Fleur works.

Me:I can pick you up after work.

Piper:There’s no need. I’ll meet you there.

Me:Is everything alright? You sound distant.

Piper:Everything is peachy. Now, may I please go back to work?

My smile vanishes with the cold remark.

Just a mere few days ago, I had my woman moaning out my name on top of this very desk, and now she acts like just talking to me is a hassle. Everything I say or do is met with more resistance than usual. I either get her cold shoulder or monosyllabic responses, both leaving me confused and frustrated as to what I could have done for her to turn arctic on me.

Maybe it’s the holidays.

Maybe this time of the year makes her even more guarded than she already is.

I wish she would talk to me.

And even after I texted Rex explaining that Piper accepted his invitation, a part of me wonders if this dinner won’t bite me in the ass and cause more problems than the ones I already have.

Rex and I don’t exactly have the conventional boss-employee dynamic. He’s been more like a father figure to me than anything else, and the same can be said about how he feels about me.

I love Rex.

He’s important to me.

Just as Piper is.

I’d love nothing more than for the two of them to get along.

I just hope I’m not pushing something on her before she’s ready.

Lord knows how Piper would react if she felt she was being pushed into a corner.

Once Piper arrives at La Fleur, I get up from my seat and give her a tender kiss on the cheek.

“You look beautiful tonight, kitten,” I whisper in her ear while pulling a chair out for her to sit.

Piper doesn’t say anything to me in return, preferring to aim all her attention to our host.

“Thank you so much for inviting me to dinner, Rex. It’s not every day a sports agent can share a meal with the illustrious owner of the Boston Guardians.”

“Fingers crossed, it won’t be for long.” Rex laughs.

“Oh? Are you that eager to get rid of the Guardians?” Piper frowns, bothered by Rex’s excitement in parting ways with the club.

“Be careful what you say, old man. Piper is a Guardians fan first and sports agent second,” I explain with a smile.

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