Page 121 of Breaking Free

He reached out and gave him an ear scratch, too. “Jaxx isn’t as clever as he looks if he doesn’t.”

When Tristan sat back, withdrawing his hand, her fickle, furry feline stood, stretched, and promptly hopped in his lap to curl up and resume his nap.

“Traitor,” Piper muttered.

“He’s a man’s cat and an excellent judge of character.”

Not in the mood for teasing, she grunted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, before taking another healthy sip of wine.

“I expected Josie to be here still.”

“She kept nodding off, so I sent her home about an hour ago.”

“You’re okay being here alone?”

“Not really, but what choice do I have? My lease isn’t up for another twenty-two months.”

“You have choices. Leases can be broken or—”

“Where do you go when you disappear?” she interrupted, unable to suppress the question burning in her mind for hours. “You weren’t working. Christian called, looking for you earlier.”

Without disturbing Jaxx, Tristan propped his feet on the rail next to hers, a small smile playing on his lips.

Sure. Now, he smiles when I’m not even trying.

“What’s funny?” Her mother would be appalled at her manners, but Piper didn’t care. She wasn’t in the mood to be polite either.

“Nothing. Just that I like straightforwardness and how you get right to the point.” He met her gaze. “You’re correct. My business today wasn’t work related. It was personal, and it’s time I explained.”

Careful what you ask for,an inner voice drawled.

“I need more wine,” Piper suddenly declared, practically jumping out of her chair.

Startled, Jaxx leaped off Tristan’s thighs then, with a sniff, his tail in the air, as if tired of being disturbed, he walked to the door to be let in. Piper was Johnny on the spot and opened it. Before she could escape inside, too, Tristan caught her wrist.

“Your glass is still full,” he pointed out.

“This is too dry,” she lied, so much for straightforward. “I’ve got another bottle that might be sweeter.”

He slipped the glass from her fingers and set it aside. “Sit. We need to talk.”

“I’m not sure that I want to. That sounded ominous.”

“You’ll want to hear what I have to say,” he reassured her.

“Promise?”

“Yes, and I’m a man of my word.”

She took too much time deliberating. Tristan must have caught her eyes darting toward the door because he promptly pulled her onto his lap.

With a startled “Ope!” when she landed off-balance, falling against his chest, she wiggled and squirmed to get up.

His arms came around her to keep her in place. “Sit still and hear me out.”

She figured she owed him that much after everything he’d done to protect her. Prepared to listen, she stopped struggling, but she didn’t relax. Tense, with her spine as stiff as a broom handle, she braced herself for bad news, especially when he inhaled deeply before proceeding.

“Do you remember the baggage I mentioned?”

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