Page 51 of Love Beyond the Illusion
A small whimper escapes from her, and I can’t help but bite back a smile after hearing that delicious sound. I bring my other hand to her cheek, caressing her skin with my thumb. She’s so tender and so—perfect.
I can’t get enough.
“Umm,” she whispers, nuzzling my nose with hers.
“Yes?”
“This is going to complicate things.” Her voice is shaky and unsure, but it’s enough to snap me back into reality. She’s right. But I don’t want to stop because she feels so goddamn good.
I draw my head back, ready to respond, when Gemma opens the balcony doors. Piper and I whip our heads around simultaneously, forgetting she’d follow us up here.
“Dinner is served, my friends,” she announces, removing two flatbread pizzas and two glasses of water from a tray. We shouldn’t have had to pull away when Gemma showed up. She does think Piper and I are dating. But then why did it feel like we were doing something we weren’t supposed to be doing?
“You are awesome. Thanks so much.” I try to catch my breath, but it’s impossible, with my heart hammering inside my chest.
Piper chugs her water, looking worked up. “This food smells so good. Thanks again.”
“No problem at all. You know I love doing it!” Gemma looks at me. Then, she turns to Piper. “Have a wonderful night, dear. I’ll see you both soon.”
The door shutting behind us is the only sound for some time. My pulse is still racing, and I’m sure hers is too. With a kiss like that, I can’t imagine she didn’t feel the sparks between us. Her lips are even better than I remember, if that’s at all possible.
“Was that the first time you’ve been into your father’s office since his passing?” Piper breaks our silence in an effort to push aside what happened.
Setting my napkin on my lap, I prepare to have this conversation with her. I agreed to have her as my partner, and if anything is going to cool me off, it would be this. If I had my choice, I’d love to refrain from discussing my dad altogether, but I’ve brought her into the fold, and the least I can do is share some of my feelings with her.
I clear my throat before responding, giving myself an extra second to formulate an answer. “I, uh,” I hesitate. “Today was the second time. Believe it or not, being in his office is harder than being in this house.”
“I get that. You, your mom, and your father shared the house. But his office is truly his space. I’m sure he spent a lot of time there.”
I stare at the food in front of me, pushing away memories of running around his office when I was a kid, bringing food down when he was too busy to make it up for meals, and late-night brainstorming sessions with employees while I played with my toys on the floor. My chest tightens. I have to look away briefly.
Piper places her hand on mine as it rests on the table between us. All I want to do is turn it around and weave my fingers through hers. “It will get easier.”
“You seem much more sober,” I reply, changing the subject.
She grins, licking her lips. “Yes, that kiss definitely did the trick.”
I smile at her, enjoying how the color of her cheeks always hints at her true feelings. I know I’ve gotten to her, and it is thoroughly satisfying.
After we finish dinner, we head back to our villa, but this time, we are leaving with different energy between us. Piper returns to Arizona the day after tomorrow, and I’m more than a little upset about it.
Chapter Nineteen
Piper
SinceIgothomeyesterday morning, I haven’t spoken to Jack. It’s weird coming off the high of being with him. I can only describe it as a runner’s high when all your endorphins are released, and you get that shot of dopamine—that addictive sense of well-being, energy, and euphoria. The desire to text him is intense and almost unbearable.
Why is it that everything with Jack feels accelerated? The sense of familiarity with him is off the charts. And having a connection with Bradley Wines is a whole other level of consideration as it goes beyond knowing him. I felt comfortable and safe there, with a soul-reaching, potent sense of belonging.Am I crazy?
I am.
Confusion swirls in my head, making me doubt my ability to think logically. I can’t like him that fast. I haven’t known him for that long. I’m exactly like my mother, falling for a good-looking guy who pays me attention, except she doesn’t let herself develop real feelings, and I can’t either. Roxy’s voice echoes around me, saying that Jack is only using me to benefit his family’s winery. And that his attention isn’t genuine interest. It’s a business deal.
I’m meeting the girls tonight for dinner and drinks. I’ve avoided their questions about Jack since I first mentioned him in our group chat. After I get all those out of the way, I can return to life as usual and free my mind of him—because right now, he’s living in it rent free.
I stand in front of the mirror in the bathroom, fluffing my hair and adding a couple of last-minute makeup touches. My phone buzzes on the counter next to me. Thinking it’s our group chat, I ignore it and head into the closet to grab my shoes. When I hear it buzz again, I poke my head out. Is it them? They will keep coming like a freight train unless I respond.
Swiping my phone from the counter, I see a picture of Jack lying on the king-sized bed in the villa. My heart drops.He contacted me first.
