Page 93 of Breaking Free

The atmosphere of the set was noticeably more laid-back without Dirk’s arrogant smirk and irritated scowls to contend with. In her two scenes that day, which featured her without her costar, the mystery plot took center stage, and she got to keep all of her clothes on. She had to give kudos to the wardrobe department; her outfits fit perfectly and looked amazing. As an added bonus, she finished for the day before five.

She and Axyl had just walked in her front door when his phone rang. His deep, Sam Elliott rumble echoed in the hall as she retrieved a pitcher of lemonade from the fridge and poured them each a tall glass. She was on her way to the balcony to relax with her drink, since she had three hours before she had to leave for the club, when Axyl stopped her.

Holding out his phone, he simply stated, “Tristan.”

Piper froze, realizing she had never spoken to him on the phone before. Why was he calling now? Was he canceling their plans for tonight?

Axyl overcame her hesitancy by picking up her hand and laying his phone on her palm. Then he disappeared down the hall, giving them some privacy, which only increased her worry.

“Hello?” she answered tentatively.

“I’m hung up with a case and probably won’t get to the club until 9:30. Is that too late? Do you have an early call time tomorrow?”

Though he spoke with a sense of urgency, his voice lacked its usual gruffness and was surprisingly soothing. It reminded her of the demonstration, the first time she had seen him in rope-master mode. She wondered if he pitched it lower deliberately, to put the woman he was tying at ease. It would certainly have that effect on her. Perhaps not so much if she was dangling upside down with the blood rushing to her head. Was that what he had planned for her tonight?

“Piper? Did I lose you?”

His question snapped her out of the shibari tangent her brain had taken. “I’m still here.”

“Is everything okay? You sound distracted.”

She quickly searched for an excuse other than admitting she had been fantasizing about tonight. “Um...we just got home,” she explained, which was true. “Nine thirty works fine. Unless...would you prefer to reschedule?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted offering the option. The mere taste he had given her wasn’t nearly enough.

Silently, she pleaded,Say no. Please say no!

“I’d rather not do that. We only have tonight and tomorrow as it is.”

“I’ll see you at 9:30, then,” she said brightly, her excitement renewed.

“Meet me in the lounge. You won’t be allowed past the monitor at the playroom doors without me.”

As if she’d dare enter the Decadence dungeon alone.

“Before I go, I wanted to share some other news. We’ve cleared Hunter.”

Piper sank into a kitchen chair, weak in the knees from relief. “How? When?”

“We canvased the neighbors, if you remember. Hunter said he was out of town the night of the break-in, and his story checked out.”

“You don’t know how relieved I am to hear that, but I wondered. Did you mention he was a suspect? He hasn’t so much as looked at me since it happened.”

He’d been to their table reads, and she’d seen him on set when she’d been in for wardrobe fittings, but they hadn’t spoken. It made things awkward, and she didn’t need that. Her nerves were on edge already.

“He knew he was on the short list, Piper. He was a neighbor, knew your schedule, it was his pool party, and you shot him down when he asked you out, which could have given him motive, although that was a stretch.”

“I didn’t shoot him down, exactly. I was very polite. But I don’t remember telling you about that.”

“You didn’t. You told Detective Lloyd, and he shared it with me, although you should have been the one to tell me. If we want to solve this mystery and catch your stalker, you need to be transparent—about everything. Is that clear?”

The sternness in his authoritative tone was palpable. It compelled her to address him as “sir,” but she reminded herself they weren’t at the club and their arrangement ended there. She answered with a simple, “Yes.”

“I hope so,” he replied. “We’ll discuss it more later.”

She was about to ask if it was really necessary, but he didn’t give her the chance.

“I have to go if I’m going to meet you on time.”

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