Page 23 of Breaking Free

“You’re sidestepping my question,” he charged, reading her correctly. “I’d like an answer.”

Responding to the forcefulness of his tone, she explained. “These aren’t real tears. I was rehearsing for an audition.”

Several moments of silence passed before he asked, “You can make yourself cry on demand?”

Piper shrugged, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. “It’s a weird little knack I have. I think of something sad from my childhood and blink a lot. It works every time.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, unconvinced. “It sounded like you were in distress.”

“Great! That’s what I was going for.” Smiling, she thanked him for his concern. “It was nice of you to check on me though.”

He nodded, still with his ever-present frown. His gaze drifted over her head once more. “You should keep your drapes shut at night.”

She glanced at the trees thick with leaves. “Who’s going to see in? The blue jays? Besides, it’s only my living room.”

“You can’t see it in the dark, but there is a walking path beyond the trees that circles the property. At night with the lights on, anyone passing by can see in. You don’t want to invite unwanted attention.”

Piper tensed, her back stiffening like a fireplace poker. Now, where had she heard that before?

Trying not to sound overly harsh, she spoke up, even though he had never shown her the same consideration. “No offense, but I already have a big brother.”

He threw his hands up, palms out. “I work in security, remember? You can take my advice or leave it. But I’d prefer not living next to a potential crime scene.”

It stung how quickly he could switch from neighborly concern to biting criticism.

“I’m going in,” she informed him. “I’ll try not to bother you with my fake distress.”

Once inside, she double-locked the sliding door and closed her drapes. She also cursed herself for doing so because he was standing at the railing, watching to see if she would.

“Why does he have to be such a jerk?” she muttered, seething.

After some thinking, she conceded Tristan was right. She had been careless, thinking the trees afforded her privacy. Despite living and working in the LA area for months, she was still very much a fish out of water and unenlightened to the many dangers of the city. Grudgingly, she felt a sense of gratitude, knowing he was looking out for her. She didn’t appreciate his brusque, no-nonsense, often hurtful way of doing it, however.

Chapter 8

TRISTAN PULLED INTOthe last available reserved spot in the parking garage and killed his truck’s engine. Instead of rushing eagerly inside as he once would have done, he leaned back, eyes closed, appreciating the silence.

Freshly back from a week-long skip trace in Oahu, he was glad to be home. Few people would complain about an all-expenses paid trip to paradise, especially since he had squeezed in some personal time after turning his fugitive over to local law enforcement. More than hitting the surf and drinking in the sun, sea, and fresh air, he wanted to sleep in his bed and regain a sense of normalcy after a hectic month. And to address something on his mind while away: how he’d left things with Piper.

Even though the advice he’d given her on her balcony that night was sound, the crack about living next to a crime scene was way out of bounds. Some of his clients took things to the extreme, constantly living in fear and seeing danger lurking at every turn. That was no way to live. Without a known threat, it was enough to take sensible precautions and avoid unnecessary risks. But the girl next door, who was used to small-town life, seemed to lack any sense of self-preservation. This was the city, not rural Iowa. Still, he’d seen the hurt in her eyes at his caustic remark and regretted it immediately.

If discouraging the spark between them was his goal, mission accomplished. But he couldn’t leave it alone. She hadn’t answered when he knocked on her door before leaving for the club. He’d have to keep trying.

Squeaky brakes echoing through the parking garage stirred him into action, and he hauled his tired, unenthusiastic ass out of his truck and went inside.

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