Epilogue
Six Months Later
As Mason andPiper were ushered to their table in The White Tower, he glanced at the ancient suits of armor that stood against the old stone walls. “I thought you were joking when you said your parents had hired the Tower of London tonight.”
Piper squeezed his fingers as they reached their table. Everything was decorated in purple and silver, from the tablecloths to the chairs and the small gift wrapped box at each place setting.
“You saw the invite. And don’t think you’re wriggling out of the rest of the celebrations, either. If I have to go, then so do you.”
The silver and purple embossed invitation to the Thomas’ twenty-fifth wedding anniversary dinner had arrived two months ago, and he’d been speechless to see his name included on Piper’s formal invite. Sure, her parents knew they were dating and he’d met them a few times. And while everything had been very civilized, he hadn’t expected them to embrace him so easily.
Especially when, as Mrs. Thomas had told him, space for the dinner was at a premium because how on earth could one whittle one’s closest friends down to a mere eighty guests?
Peyton sat next to him, and her date for the night sat on her left. He couldn’t remember the guy’s name, but he was the son of one of Piper’s parents’ oldest friends. Peyton didn’t look thrilled about the arrangement. Maybe she’d wanted to bring one of the guys she’d started seeing lately. Piper was really happy her sister was dating again, even though he didn’t think Peyton was having much fun with it all.
“So was the latest place you looked at any good?” Peyton raised her eyebrows at him and Piper.
“I liked it.” Piper threaded her fingers through his and gave him that smile that always turned his heart inside out. He’d been a bloody idiot, thinking she’d turn up her nose at his studio. She didn’t care about things like that. After he’d recovered from the accident he’d put his flat hunting on hold. There was no rush anymore.
Until about a month ago. He knew what he wanted. A life with Piper. And the first step was getting somewhere they could really call their own.
He surreptitiously tugged at the knot of his tie. He wasn’t used to being so dressed up and the thought of what he wanted to ask her tonight wasn’t helping with the whole throat constriction thing.
“It’s the best we’ve seen.” He glanced at Piper. Had she told her sister that she was moving in with him when they found somewhere? He guessed she had. They told each other everything.
Funny how he’d always assumed she was the one who’d wanted to settle down when she was seeing his brother. And while he didn’t have any doubts that she was committed to him, he wanted more.
He wanted it all. He just wasn’t sure if she was ready to leave her whole engagement phobia behind her yet.
“It’ll be great when you have your own place.” Peyton smiled, and although the sisters were identical, her smile was nothing like Piper’s. “No more having to keep the noise down in case you wake up Alfie.”
“Thank you, Peyton.” Piper sounded so prim as she shot her sister’s date a glance, that he had to stifle a snort of laughter. “Why don’t you just stand on the table and announce it to the whole room?”
Peyton shrugged. “Don’t dare me. I might just do that.”
He leaned in close and brushed his lips against Piper’s ear. “You’re not worried about what your parents might think, are you?” Despite her fierce streak of independence and determination not to ask her parents for any help, she was very close to them both.
“Of course not.” She looked amazed that he’d even asked. “They think you’re wonderful.”
Yeah, I wouldn’t go that far…
“Anyway, it’s not my parents I’m worried about. It’s yours.”
Okay, he hadn’t expected that. “What’re you talking about? They love you. If anything they’ll think I’m trying to corrupt you. Living in sin and all that.”
She gave him a wicked grin. “Too late for that. You’ve already corrupted me beyond redemption.” Then her smile faded. “I’m serious, Mason. I know they’ve been great about the fact we’re seeing each other, but moving in together? They might think I’m taking things too far…”
It’s not about my parents at all.She was trying to tell him she didn’t want to move in with him.Take it slow.He’d never rush her, not like the way Colton had tried to rush her.I’ll ask her the big question at Christmas.
He took her hands and pulled her around on her chair so she was facing him. “Piper, if you’re having second thoughts about us moving in together—”
“No.” Her voice was urgent. “It’s nothing like that. I want to be with you. I just don’t want to upset your parents.”
For a moment he was speechless. She really was concerned about how his parents would take it. Didn’t she know she was the reason he’d spent more time with them over the last six months than the whole of the last five years combined?
Hell, if it wasn’t for her he’d still think his parents blamed him for Colton’s death. He’d never have guessed they blamed themselves if they hadn’t started talking after his accident, when they found out he and Piper had been seeing each other.
Guilt was a crazy son of a bitch.
