Mason shoved hismobile into his pocket and went back to the real estate agent. He was jumping the gun looking at property, but his mortgage application was going through and he didn’t want to waste any time. It was becoming an obsession to own his own place; somewhere he could take Piper that wasn’t a shitty rented room.
If she saw where he was living now, she’d think he was still the dead beat brother with no ambition or prospects. No way was he going to risk that.
“Anything else I can help you with?” The agent smiled at him and leaned in closer than professionally necessary so the side of her breasts brushed against his arm. A month ago he would’ve taken up her unspoken offer for some extra-curricular activities, but that was before Piper.
“No, I’m good.” He pulled out his car keys. “I’ll be in touch.”
She handed him a business card. “My number’s on the back if you need anything.”
He pocketed the card without looking at it and the rain stung his face as he walked up the high street. It was dark, even though it wasn’t five yet, and the shop windows spilled bright lights into the wintry February afternoon. A display of mushy red hearts and Valentine Day’s crap caught his eye in a gift shop and he paused.
I’ve got it bad.He’d never bought a Valentine’s Day card in his life, and here he was looking at cute teddies and crystal flutes and photo frames etched with sickly sweet declarations of undying devotion.
He stepped inside. Biker boots and leather jacket.Bull in a china shop. He edged past gifts and cards, without a clue what he was doing there. What kind of thing would Piper like? He picked up a pair of pink fluffy handcuffs.What would Colton have bought for her?He shoved the specter of Colton to the back of his mind. He’d look online and find her something so perfect she’d forget he was the substitute brother.
*
The rain hadeased off by the time he arrived at Piper’s flat. She opened the door wearing a long winter coat, buttoned up right to her throat. He’d never seen anything so demurely sexy before in his life.
“Where are we going?” She snuggled against him as they went back to his car. Her elusive scent drifted on the chilly air, and his dick rose to the occasion.
“Just a family run bistro I know.” He wanted to take her to the Ritz. But that wasn’t going to happen, not when he wanted to buy his own house and set up his own business.Give it time.In five years he’d give her the world.
It didn’t take long to drive to the bistro, which wasn’t that far from his studio flat. Not that he intended telling Piper that. She might expect to go back there afterwards. As they walked toward the door a black cat appeared from the shadows and wrapped itself around her ankles.
“Hey.” She crouched down and tickled it under its chin. “You’re friendly.”
“Belongs to the owners.” He’d gone to school with the son, but they’d never been best buddies. It was just enough of a connection that he knew he’d get good service tonight.
“You come here often?” She glanced up at him, as the cat went into raptures. Weird. On the few occasions he’d crossed its path the cat ignored him like he was beneath contempt.
“Not really. I sometimes grab a takeaway from here.” It sure beat fast food or cooking for one all the time.
Piper finally stood up, much to the cat’s disgust. “Alfie’d loveyou.”
For a second he frowned, until he realized she was talking to the cat. He opened the door, and the warmth wrapped around them as they went inside. It wasn’t big, and the dark Corinthian columns that separated the dining area from the service area were battered, but the white tablecloths were pristine and the atmosphere friendly.
He slung his arm around Piper’s shoulders and tugged her close. “Surprised you haven’t got a house full of animals, working at a vet’s.”
“Tell me about it. But I knew once I started I’d never be able to stop. So I promised myself I never would.” They reached the counter and she rested her arm along the edge. “Although we’re thinking now that Alfie’s older we might get a rescue kitten. I just hope I can stop atone.” She laughed and he grinned back because how couldn’t he when she looked like that?
Their table was in the corner, giving them some privacy just like he’d asked for. Piper draped her coat over the back of her chair. Her black dress looked like a long tight fitting sweater, covering her from throat to wrists and ending half way up her thighs. The whole thing sparkled whenever she moved. It was kind of mesmerizing.
“So, is this a date?” She glanced up from the menu and gave him a look he couldn’t figure out. What did she mean? Hadn’t they been dating every time they went out together?
Sure, they hadn’t gone out anywhere flash. Come to think of it they’d hardly been out together at all, but he’d had a lot of overtime lately.
Jesus. He’d spent years running from girls who wanted to get serious and date, and the one girl he thought hewasdating didn’t have a clue.
Take it slow.Somehow he’d forgotten that over the last four weeks. She might want a hot hook up but that didn’t mean she was ready to commit. Talk about karma kicking his butt.
“Wouldn’t know.” Wasn’t that the truth. “Never dated before.”
She blinked a couple of times and her long thick lashes momentarily distracted him. “Never?”
“Relationships aren’t my thing.” Obviously. He’d have to do some research so he knew how to go about it without scaring her off.
“Well,” she gave him a strange little smile as the waiter came over to take their order. “Relationships are overrated, that’s for sure.”
