Page 27 of Breaking Free

“Uh... Did you miss the demonstration in the booth across the way?”

Tristan turned and looked. The next booth was #6, the fucking machines. Three were in use, all of which were in plain view if Piper glanced that way.

His friend clapped him on the back. “You’re smitten. It happens to all of us, eventually. Which isn’t such a bad thing, believe me. But you’d better claim her before Thomas does. He’s been in a funk since Arlene moved back East. It looks like your lovely lavender sub might have the power to bring him out of it.”

“She isn’t mine, and she isn’t a sub,” he bit out, his attention returning to where Thomas flirted outrageously with Piper.

“Are you sure?” Eric challenged. “Or maybe she hasn’t realized it yet. The better question is, why haven’t you? Your sub radar must be slipping, my friend.”

No longer frowning but thoroughly amused, Eric walked away. Tristan watched him go, thinking he should follow suit. Without the amusement though. He sure as hell wasn’t in a laughing mood. Instead, he glanced once more at Josie’s booth, instantly regretting it when he saw Piper beaming at Thomas like she once had at him.

He hadn’t seen that smile in a while. Thunder cloud that he was, he’d effectively blocked out her sunshine around him.

“Fuck,” he bit out loud enough for those around him to hear. Before he did something stupid, like throwing her over his shoulder and physically removing her, he stalked out of the playroom, through the empty bar and lobby, and into the sweltering July heat.

No one said a word as he made his exit. Given his foul mood and the frustration rolling off him in waves, it was no surprise.

THE INCIDENT WITH TRISTANleft her shaken. That she’d stood up to the surly, intimidating dom on his turf was sheer bravado. Inside, her stomach was in knots, and her knees were as shaky as Jell-O. After he’d stormed off and everyone looked at her curiously, she drew on her acting skills, plastered on a smile as if nothing unusual had happened, and returned to business. It helped that there was a constant flow of customers, and she blocked it out—mostly—while answering questions, digging through what remained of the stock, looking for sizes, and processing credit card payments. The wide-eyed WTF glances Josie kept sending her way were more challenging to ignore.

Business slowed to a trickle about twenty minutes before the event ended. This was mainly because Josie had completely sold out, leaving her with only her business cards and some swag to offer the remaining customers. There wasn’t enough time to take measurements for last-minute orders since everyone had to leave on time, with no exceptions. The staff needed to set up for Saturday, their busiest night of the week.

While they dismantled the display and stacked the empty storage crates, Piper turned abruptly to Josie and reproachfully accused, “You said Tristan was out of town!”

On her knees, carefully packing her design catalog, fabric swatches, and an order book with all the measurements she’d taken, her friend paused and looked up. Her regret was unmistakable as she slowly rose to her feet.

“I thought he was,” she insisted. “Hunter gets his mail when he’s away for more than a few days, and there was a stack on the kitchen counter. I’m so sorry, Piper.” Josie reached out, her touch gentle as she squeezed her arm. “I’ve never seen Tristan like that before. He seemed so...”

Seeing her struggle to find an appropriate adjective, Piper offered some suggestions. “Unreasonable? Dictatorial? Arrogant, overbearing jerk? I can go on if you want.”

Josie shook her head, her frown deepening. “More like passionate. And, to be honest, jealous.”

“Jealous of me?” Piper sniffed. “That’s ridiculous.”

“What’s going on between the two of you?”

“Funny. I was about to ask the same thing.”

Piper turned at the gravelly Sam Elliott drawl, expecting to see an older man with a distinctive outlaw-style mustache. What she found was quite different—a clean-shaven, remarkably attractive young man only a year or two older than her.

She couldn’t help but stare because he was massive, inches taller than Tristan, who she had to crane her head back tolook up at, and he had the broadest shoulders she’d ever seen. Maybe it just seemed that way because of his snug T-shirt and jeans that clung to his body like a second skin, both in all-encompassing black. Every girl knew monochromatic dressing created a seamless line from head to toe, making you appear slimmer and taller. But that didn’t explain his shoulders.

“It’s none of my business,” he continued when neither she nor Josie spoke, “but I consider Tris a friend and have never seen him react so vehemently to a submissive before, especially a guest.” His astute gaze skewered Piper where she stood. “What’s your connection?”

“He’s my neighbor.”

“Ah,” he replied. “An outside connection.”

“I wouldn’t call it a connection at all except that he lives next door and seems to dislike me intensely but still wants to act like my big brother when the notion strikes.”

“How odd,” he observed, echoing almost exactly what Josie had said.

With no response from her friend, Piper glanced her way to make sure she was still there. She stood frozen, her gaze fixated on the newcomer. As seconds passed, she remained motionless, not even blinking, and seemed incapable of speech.

Piper looked closer to see if she was still breathing. Seeing the rise and fall of her chest, she nudged her with an elbow.

“I, um... If you want...uh, my opinion,” Josie stammered. “I think he’s totally into her but trying to deny it.” She took a deep breath and, with visibly shaky fingers, brushed her bangs out of her eyes. The brief pause to collect herself worked because when she continued, it was with a smidge more confidence. “It reminds me of grade school. You know, when a boy who liked you would punch your arm to cover up his feelings?”

“I bet you’d know something about that,” the newcomer said with a flirtatious wink, making her giggle nervously and blush even more.

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