Page 42 of The Right Woman

Thanks I’ll check them out

Sean sent a link to a website, but the URL looks long and complicated. My eyebrow raises as I hold the phone up to her. “Did you look at this website?”

Her green eyes flick to my face for a moment, then focus on the screen. “No. Not yet.” She lifts a finger to press on it, but I take a step back.

“Don’t. I’m worried this is a virus or scam.”

Confusion paints her expression. “Why would my sister’s boyfriend send me a virus?”

The timer goes off on the oven, and she hurries over to pull the tray out, setting it on the cold stove burners.

When she catches my gaze this time, we match each other’s confused expressions. Tapping on the phone, I point to his picture. “I seen this kid at the club…” I suck in my cheeks, not knowing how much of my night to expose. “He didn’t seem very trustworthy. Made some remarks about your family not being, uh, good enough for him and that he was working tofixit.”

Piper’s blush lips pinch tight, and she takes the phone back from me, then plops onto a bar stool. “He’s an asshole. But he’s never bothered me. Notreally. Not enough to do something like send me a phone virus. Or…”

“Shoot at you? Steal your purse?”

She shrugs. “No. No way. I can’t see that. Though…”

Sipping my coffee, I wait for her to work through whatever has come to her mind.

“Though he could probably get away with a lot, knowing who his father is in the community. But I wouldn’t think he even owns a gun or would know how to use it. Not like my dad, who goes shooting all the time.” The whites of her eyes flash as she rolls them, then she freezes. My heart pounds harder, too.

“Your dad owns a gun?”

Her throat bobs as she swallows. “Yeah. And he was having an affair with that woman. But I really don’t understand whatIhave to do with anything, let alone why my own father would…” she trails off, and it makes me think she’s come up with a reason her own family wouldwanther dead. Instead of dread, there’s fear behind her expression as her shoulders stiffen.

I slide behind her and wrap my arms around her, but she jumps suddenly. “Sorry. What is it that he has against you?”

“It’s not him. It’s mainly my mother and sister. They just—” Her chest rises as she straightens up. With a deep inhale, she lowers her voice. “Something bad happened to me and they don’t believe me. They blame me, or whatever.”

“What happened, Piper?”

She squirms out of my hold and darts away. “I want to eat my cinnamon roll. Want one?”

I let a small smile greet my lips and nod. “Yeah, definitely. But, hey. I’m not bothered by you keeping this to yourself. For now. I hope to make you feel safe enough to tell me one day.”

She bites into one of the rolls and hands me one.

“Damn, Rosy. This is the best cinnamon roll I’ve ever had.”

Pausing her bite, she licks her bottom lip of some icing and blinks at me. “Really?”

“Fuck yes. I wouldn’t lie.”

A cute flush covers her cheeks, and she bounces again like she’s happy at the compliment. I just hope she stays here and makes more stuff like this.

“I put some chai spices in the dough. I like the exotic flavor.”

I polish off another one, involuntarily moaning and grunting with every bite. “It’s amazing! You love to bake, huh?”

The force of nature turns a bit shy as she cleans up some flour. “Yeah. Sometimes, while I’m creating things in the kitchen, I pretend I own my own bakery.”

The confession makes me want to thank her for sharing a piece of herself with me. I can’t get enough of these revelations. But these pieces of information aren’t enough. I need more. I think I’ll always need more.

“Tonight, I want to take you to a fancy place. Some place nice like you deserve.”

“Deserve? Was my blow job that good? ’Cause I was sort of out of practice.”

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