They both laughed before leaving. Lost in thought, Piper didn’t see the man standing outside by the doorway.
“Oh, sorry.” Sam Ellison blinked and took a step back. “Hello, Piper. It’s been a while.”
She stepped aside with him, not wanting their conversation broadcast throughout the store and not wanting to block the entrance.
“What are you doing here?” Proud she kept her voice civil, she waited, studying the man she’d once loved.
To her surprise, he didn’t look any less handsome. Still tall, dark, and good-looking. Still dressed to the nines. But he didn’t make her heart race, and he didn’t make her feel more than a hint of sadness.
“I’m here to pick up something for Tammy.”
“Can I ask you something?”
He nodded, his eyes wary. “Sure.”
“Why did you wait until the day before we got married to call it off? Why not end it when you knew Tammy had taken you back?”
He flushed. “It wasn’t one of my finer moments.”
“No, you were a complete asshole for dumping me the night before my wedding. And you had the nerve to stick me with the cost for half of it.” She took great delight in watching him squirm. Because really, what defense did he have?
“Well, I... ”
“Exactly. I understand that you had feelings for your ex. Had you been honest with me, I’d still have been hurt, but I’d have understood you were in love. But you lied, you cheated, and you not only hurt me, you embarrassed me in front of friends and family when that could have been avoided.” She studied him like the human cockroach he was. “Why? Is it because I scared you? Because I was more successful than you were?” She no longer cared to dance around his feelings.
“Not at all,” he answered, his voice like ice. “I realized you would never be what I wanted in a wife. Someone soft and tender, smart yet demure. You’re not a lady, you’re a shark.”
Finally. Seeing the true Sam Ellison come to the fore was liberating.
“Thank you for saving me from what would have been the worst mistake in my life.” Imagine ending up giving him half of her income when they eventually divorced, because of course he would be loyal to no one but himself.
“What?”
“What she means,” Grant said from behind him, in a voice loud enough to draw attention from passersby, “is you’re about as loyal as a one-legged fucknut.”
Sam gaped, in shock.
“Once your clients learn what a disloyal fucker you are, your business is going nowhere. Oh, and you have one month to pack up and ship out of your current office in Sisters. The new owner wants your sorry ass out. That or pay the rent increase, which, since you never had a formal lease to begin with, I’m sure has gone way, way up.”
“Who the hell are you?” Sam took a step back, glancing from Grant to Piper and back again.
“I’m your new landlord, shitweasel. Now get the hell gone before I launch your face through that window.”
Sam scurried off. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”
Piper just watched him run. And she smiled.
* * *
“Ho ho ho, motherfucker. Bring it.” Grant watched Piper’s ex scurry away with glee. But when he turned to Piper, he didn’t know what to think. “Well, hello there. I’ve been looking for you.”
Her smile belonged on the trailer for Shark Week. “I want to talk to you.”
He swallowed. “How about we take a drive together and talk in private?”
“A splendid idea.” She followed him to his vehicle and slid inside. “By the way, I appreciate what you said, but I don’t need you to fight my battles for me.”
“I know.” He started the SUV. “I was weak. I tried, but I couldn’t not say anything. I was so proud of you, though. You looked like a gladiator watching over a man you’d conquered and readied to kill. It was awesome.”
