Page 97 of The Wrong Date Deal

“Correct,” she laughed. “Why would I be sorry that the most interesting, beautiful woman I’ve ever met is turned on?”

“Because you’re not here.”

“Ah, well, I am sorry about that. But, for now, you can touch yourself and think about tomorrow night when I get to have you here, spread out on my bed.”

Piper writhed and moaned and couldn’t resist touching herself eagerly again as August—a little more composed for having come once—took Piper apart with her words and the vision of what tomorrow night would be like.

Chapter Twenty-Two

August’s whole body buzzed as she arrived at Hermes’ apartment with Ford. She hadn’t gotten enough sleep by a long stretch and she couldn’t have cared less. She’d woken up and launched herself out of bed when her alarm clock screeched her awake, and she’d made it to Ford’s place perfectly on time.

As they approached the front door of the building, all she wanted to do was text Piper to let her know she was outside. Ford, however, was excited to ring the buzzer to his new place.

Hermes buzzed them into the building, but the front door to the apartment was still shut when they stepped out of the elevator. Ford knocked loudly, looking like a whole new person as he started this new chapter of his life.

The building was sleek, beautiful, stylish, and a million other things August would have appreciated more if she could get hermind to focus on anything other than the absolute work of art that was Piper and their increasing proximity.

The door swung open and a slightly dazzled Piper stood on the other side, her eyes glancing quickly over Ford and landing on August. Everything around them seemed to dissipate into nothingness. The only thing that mattered was Piper and the way August could barely breathe while looking at her.

They’d had sex last night. A lot. It was real. And, now, there she was, looking so beautifully radiant.

Ford snorted and shimmied around Piper into the apartment. Neither of them really registered his movements, staying locked on each other.

“Hi,” Piper breathed when they were alone.

“Hi.” August smiled. She hadn’t been oblivious to what had been growing between them but she still found herself unable to believe that someone as incandescent as Piper was looking at her like that.

“How are you doing?”

August laughed. “Oh, you know, a little tired, but feeling like it was worth it.”

“Relatable.”

Fingers wrapped around the door and pulled it open wider, and August found herself looking at a woman with Piper’s dark hair, a Patagonia fleece, and a delighted expression.

“You must be August,” she said excitedly. “Piper’s told us so much about you.”

“Great,” August said, shooting Piper a confused look.

Piper, for her part, looked like she was being doused in cold water, like she’d entirely forgotten the woman was even there. August could relate to that.

“Piper,” the woman chided, “are you inviting her in or are you keeping her all for yourself at the door?”

Piper shot August a look that suggested she would love to do just that. But, she stepped aside and let August into the apartment.

“Ah, the gang’s all here,” cheered a man with the bushiest, most vibrant ginger beard August had ever seen, made all the more interesting by the fact that the hair that it bled into was not red. It was dirty blonde and peppered with gray. The effect was unusually striking.

Piper cleared her throat and sucked in a deep breath. “August, these are my parents, April and Todd.”

August cut off the startled laughter that erupted from within her and grinned widely. “Wow. It’s so nice to meet you.”

“Oh, you too, kiddo,” Todd said, nodding in Piper’s direction. “This one’s hadsomuch to say about you.”

“Dad,” Piper warned.

He laughed. “Hey, what are parents for if not to embarrass you?”

“You’re not even here to parent me today.”

---