Page 40 of Secret Match
Yes. She was right, but he had a sense Kiwi needed help. He nodded. “Agreed. Can you both help Kiwi find a marketing and PR person to hire for our company image? I need to face Piper and find out why she put me on the news. She’s called a few times but never said anything to me when I answered. Now I need to know what’s so important that she put a tape out like that.”
Victoria stood taller in her heels as she said, “We’re on it.”
Kiwi dropped her arm she’d been holding to her side. Good. She had her friends. He backed up to head out and finish this with Piper.
Kiwi saw him and stepped forward. “Wait. I’m coming with you, Gio.”
He turned around by the door. “You are? Why?”
She took his hand with both of hers and held it to her heart. “Look, we want to trust each other. I want to be there for you.”
He had nothing to hide. “Let’s go then.”
Caro called out, “Remember that you both matter more to each other than anyone else or what they might do.”
Kiwi waved at both of them but walked with him toward the front door.
His gray Pagani Zonda F Roadster was already parked at the front of his villa. He held her door open for her and then raced over to start his car. As the engine purred to life, he gave her an option to leave if she wanted. “Kiwi, if you go, you might hear more than you want to know about how dysfunctional my relationship with Piper was.”
She pointed toward the road which he took to mean “go.” So he drove but she asked a second later, “What does that even mean?”
Right. He took his hand off the gear shift and patted her knee. “The world thinks we were dating back then but...” He took possession of the wheel and sped off. “She never called it that. Piper didn’t want to be in any relationship.”
His staff at his security company had already tracked Piper down before he’d even asked. Now, he and Kiwi headed toward Milan where Piper was staying. He drove out of wine country as Kiwi asked, “Oh, well did she say why?”
She already massaged her temples, but he needed to be completely honest with her. Lies ruined more than anything else so he explained, “She said I was bad for business.”
The smack of her lips made him glance at her as she clearly expressed her wide-eyed shock. “Bad for--why?”
Kiwi was sweet and honest and just the sort of woman he wanted in his life. He drove a little faster so they could be home faster and done with all things in his past. “Because she didn’t need a billionaire businessman invested in her personal life. Folks wouldn’t like her films where she talked about women standing on their own.”
Her face twitched before she relaxed into her seat and stared at his profile. “My mother told me to never depend on a man. So I get that sentiment, though I’m happy we both have similar interests, Gio.”
If she continued to look at him that way, he’d have to park on the side of the road and touch her, everywhere. With every other woman he had more control, but for some reason he didn’t with Kiwi. He gripped the wheel harder and focused on the road. “Yes, though we both have our guard up. I don’t know if you’ve forgiven me or not truly.”
She swallowed and let out a small sigh as she looked away. “There is nothing to forgive.”
If only that was true and none of this mattered to her, but he saw in her face every detail. So he cautiously said, “Agreed, though you still seem closed off.”
“And you’re perceptive.” She uncrossed her arms. She then leaned over and squeezed his shoulder. “I’m just getting my defenses in order to face Piper.”
But she shut him out in order to do so. He understood that part, even if he didn’t see her urgency in clearing away Piper. He said more quietly, “I won’t hurt you or our daughter, Kiwi.”
She massaged his shoulder and arm. “I see you believe that and I want it too. Jennifer said Piper left a message on the house phone.”
“My staff never let me know that.”
“Huh. I don’t know what to say.”
The long drive passed quickly in his new car—his staff confirmed that Piper was at the same five star hotel she’d always liked and soon he was pulling into valet. Kiwi asked, “So where are we?”
He held his hand to the key but this time he could look at her as he said, “Parked outside my ex-girlfriend’s and about to ask her why she posted a sex tape. Are you ready?”
Kiwi reached for her door as she said, “Yes, I am here to be supportive and I do want to see her in person, but I’ll stay outside if you want. I hope you discover why she put out the tape, so we’ll move on.”
He got out and handed the key to the valet, walking around, though Kiwi had already stepped out on her own. He placed his hand on her back. “You’re sweet, Kiwi Washington.”
With big doe-eyes that didn’t blink she said, “I wasn’t raised to be sweet. I was raised to be independent, but I’m trying to be kinder.”
