Page 19 of Definitely (Maybe) Dating
Still impressive as hell. He couldn’t be more than five years older than her and he’d climbed a whole lot of rungs in the public servant’s ladder. She’d climbed from stock image photographer to exactly one engagement party, and possibly a charity event—which was why she should give him back his jacket and walk away.
This was the highest paying job of her artistic career. She couldn’t afford to be sucked in by a charming assistant district attorney.
“What’s your stance on filing claims against deities and demi-gods?”
“Depends on their offense.”
“Oh, they’re so offensive they’re—”
“Raging assholes?” he finished, and she actually felt a smile threatening. “If I represent you, do you solemnly swear to remove my name off the raging asshole list?”
“You aren’t on it,” she admitted and at his smug grin added, “yet.”
Piper’s phone buzzed. She fished it out and glanced at the screen. “The happy couple has successfully escaped the clutches of a, uh,mothering, mother-in-law.”
He laughed. “You are a terrible liar. Plus, I know Darcy well enough to know you swapped out some adjectives. Are we engaged in a game of Engagement Party Mad Libs?”
They were engaged in something, all right. Piper just wasn’t sure she had a play book for this game.
“The bride has 'verb' the -noun’s- clutches of her -adjective- and -adjective’ mother-in-law.” Even as he said it, Piper knew he was kidding. He wasn’t ignorant of his mother’s shortcomings, but he still clearly loved her in that protective way sons on mobster shows loved their mob boss mothers.
“I plead the fifth.”
“Smart woman.” He winked and,sweet baby Jesus,was he one delicious snack. Piper had to look away so as to not keep staring at his lips. He glanced over his shoulder and followed her gaze into the salon, that was quickly emptying out. “I didn’t mean to keep you.”
“It’s okay. The bride and groom are gone, so I’m off the clock.” The minute the words slipped out, she tried to shove them back in, but it was too late.
Josh lifted a single brow. She was sure he’d call her on it, but in the end all he said was, “You have my card. I hope you use it.”
6
??
Piper wasin the middle of a mid-day crisis.
She’d been summoned to Skye’s the Limit, a safe haven for homeless girls in Portland. Its founder, Skye Arlo, was having a bit of an emergency.
In Skye’s world an emergency could range from a doughnut shortage to blowing up her oven. Piper never knew what she was going to walk into. Not that it mattered. She’d walk through fire for Skye. The woman who had pulled Piper off the street and embraced a screwed up, troubled teen, no questions asked. She was the closest thing to a parent figure Piper had, so if Skye needed cronuts at two in the morning, then Piper would bring her as many cronuts as POSH could carry.
Piper pulled up to the pink and yellow Queen Anne Victorian, and a rush of emotions surfaced. They always did. She’d only lived there two years, but they were the best two years of her childhood.
Skye stood on the front porch in a tie-dyed tunic dress, Tevas, and enough turquoise bracelets to open a jewelry store.
“Thank the Universe you’re here,” Skye said, enveloping Piper in an all-encompassing hug. Even though Piper tensed up like she always did, the scent of incense and mothballs smelled like home.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t like to emote negative energy into the Universe, but I’m so screwed, and I don’t know what to do.”
“You aren’t screwed, because there’s always a way out of things.” Piper had gotten herself out of so many scrapes by wit alone, including the time she was arrested for shoplifting a pair of rain boots. “How can I help?”
“I never wanted to bring you into this.”
“You’re not bringing me into anything. I’m walking in of my own free will.”
“Free will is important, dear.” It was one of the many things most people took for granted and one of the gifts Skye gave back to each of her girls. “Tea. We need some dandelion root tea. All this worry has my chakras out of balance.”
Piper helped the older woman inside and put the teapot on the stove. “Now, what’s going on?”
