Page 64 of Red Wine and Roses

“Yes. You’re right. It is. Anyway. I’m sure it’ll all work itself out. In a couple of weeks, I’ll no doubt be sitting around at the lake and not be seeing him or flying for him anymore and wondering why I didn’t just enjoy it all while I could.”

Laura laughed. “Then enjoy it while you can; don’t question it all so much—just have fun.”

“I’ll try. And what about you? I’m here whining about all the great things I’ve got going on when I should be asking about your honeymoon. Did you have a great time?”

“The best! It was so great to just check out of reality for a week. We had so much fun. We shut down to everything. We both forgot about work and just enjoyed each other.”

Piper laughed. “I bet you did.”

Laura laughed with her. “Yeah, I’d like to say we spent the whole week in bed, but we didn’t. There was the shower and the beach and the …”

“Enough already! Too much information, thank you.”

“Sorry, but we had a lot of catching up to do. We so rarely get any time alone together. It keeps us hungry for each other.”

“Well, I’m very happy for you, but I don’t need to hear all the details.”

“I’m sure you’ve got plenty of details of your own.”

Piper felt the heat in her cheeks as she thought about that night on the beach.

“See,” said Laura, “you’ve gone quiet on me.”

“Yes, because I’m more modest than you.”

“Aww, but I thought you were going to catch me up on all your news.”

“Oh! How could I forget? There is one bit of news I’m happy to share with you. I found a house. I moved in already.”

“That’s great. Where?”

‘Out on Cedar Lane.”

“Really? Smoke must be paying you well. That’s a fancy neighborhood.”

Piper laughed. “He is, but not that well. I got a great deal because the owners are going overseas. They’re more interested in having a great tenant who’ll take care of the place than in how much they’ll make on the deal.”

“Good for you. You’ll have to invite us over when you come back.”

“I will; I just don’t know when that will be. I’m flying for Cam this week. Then there’s his charity dinner this weekend; then I don’t know what happens. I know Gene won’t be back for a while, but I don’t know if they’ll want me to stay on to cover for him. I’m supposed to be helping out at the airport.”

“I know. Do you want to stay on there?”

“I don’t know yet. I do, and I don’t.”

“Well, don’t forget that you get a say in it all, will you? You being there is doing a favor. You’re helping Cam because Smoke asked you to. If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to.”

“I know, but I want to be able to help, and there’s definitely an upside to it for me.”

“I know, but make sure you’re doing it because it’s what you want, okay?”

“I will.”

“Oh. I’ve got another call coming in. I have to go. I’ll call you soon.”

“Okay. Bye.”

Piper hung up and took a sip of her coffee. She did want to help Cameron out. She did want to fly for him. She did want to be around him. She knew that much. The trouble was, she was starting to think that she liked him a little too much. She could end up getting hurt. She blew out a sigh. She didn’t need to figure it all out right now.

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