Page 72 of Love Beyond the Illusion
Over the next hour, we tried multiple samples of wine and toured the property, where we ended up in the garden. String lights cross from each end of the tree-lined walkway. Hand in hand, we stroll down one of the secluded paths with a clear night sky hovering above us.
“This garden is beautiful. I’m surprised we’re the only people out here.” Piper swings my arm in hers as we walk.
“I don’t mind it.”
“Of course you don’t. You’re introverted and rather be left alone.” She playfully twists on one foot.
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting my own space.”
She squints her eyes. “You must love having me around twenty-four-seven then.”
I hear Piper’s words hit the air, but a different thought occupies my mind. I slowly stop and turn to face her. The moonlight shines between us, adding shadows and definition to the landscape of her face.
She’s breathtaking.
My eyes roll over her petite nose, large hazel-green eyes, and naturally puckered lips. Taking one hand, I caress her cheek with the back of my knuckles. “I don’t think I formally thanked you for doing this for me.”
“Of course. But you are paying me to be here.”
“Oh yes, the money.” I rub my lips together. “That’s true.”
“And the divorce free and clear,” she adds.
I nod, frowning. “Yes, that too.”
With a gentle grab of my shoulders, she pulls me in. “I’m kidding!”
I need her to understand how much I appreciate that she’s taking time out of her own life to be with me—and as she so eloquently reminded me, I am paying her. But the more I get to know Piper on the inside, her character and her heart, I believe she would’ve helped me anyway—with or without payment. Because that’s who she is.
“I know.” I laugh, looping an arm around her waist and tugging her into me.
“Besides, I have nothing else going on in my life right now.” She shrugs.
Taking my free arm, I lightly grip her chin between my thumb and index finger, tilting her face up. “You’renot looking forward to getting your own time and space back?”
“Isolation is overrated.”
Crickets in the night and the faint sound of dinner guests from the event behind us are the only things I hear outside her short breaths. The hunger to taste her on my lips again pangs my insides. I dip my head, bringing my mouth to hers, but only stopping to suck in her tiny breaths like it’s the only thing giving me life.
“Thank you,” I whisper, then kiss her deeply. A tingling sensation slowly runs up my spine while I feel Piper shiver at the same time. I dive into her mouth, begging for more. The intimacy passing between us could light up this night sky.
Piper’s nails digging into my back tell me we both need more, but not here. I reluctantly peel my lips from hers.
She slowly opens her eyelids like they have weights attached to them. “You’re welcome.”
“We should head back in. They’ll be starting dinner and acknowledgments soon.” I release my arm around her neck to slip it back into her hand.
“I’m already getting hungry,” she says, intertwining her fingers in mine.
“You’re always hungry.” I shift on my feet and head back toward the cask room with Piper attached to my side. Her hands are safely tucked into mine while the other clutches my wrist above our embrace.
Everyone had already taken their seats by the time we got back into the event space. It looks like the President of the Wine Growers Society, also the master of ceremonies for the evening, has begun addressing the room. I peer down the long table briefly before landing on two empty chairs next to each other, presumably ours. With Piper’s hand in mine, I lead her toward our place, which happens to be in the middle of the table.
Without causing a disruption, we quickly move to our seats. I quietly slide out Piper’s chair.
“Jack Bradley from Bradley Wines is here with us tonight.” Bending to take my place next to Piper, I hear those words blast through my ears like a megaphone.
Fuck.
