“James Taylor sounds like he’s hungry for information.”
Another questioning look from Piper.
“Insurance fraud,” I clarify. “You’d be surprised how many cases I’ve had to deal with. People really are willing to go to thatextreme, risking lives of innocents all for money and brand-new rebuilds.”
“Really?” Piper hitches an eyebrow up to her hairline. “What if they have a plausible reason?”
“Bad people never have plausible reasons.” I take a moment to note Piper’s eyebrow, rising higher still into her hair.
She wouldn’t be capable of setting her own house on fire.
It’s not in her character.
But just to be on the safe side… “How are finances going for you at the moment?”
Piper rolls her eyes and scoffs. “Jeez. You sound like the insurance guy.”
“I’m delighted to hear that.” I fold my arms over my chest. “I’m asking as a friend.”
“We’refriendsnow, are we?”
“We have to be if you and Sonny are staying here.”
I know what she’s thinking.
Friends don’t leave.
Friends don’t lie.
“Finances are fine,” she says, keeping her responses short. “They always are when you live in a town miles away from civilization.”
“Fair enough.”
Then I do something I’m not proud of and straight-up lie to her face.
I guess it’s not the first time. But I need a way out.
“I have cases to file upstairs in my office. I’ll see you later.”
I trudge upstairs with great effort and lock myself away in the office. There are no cases to file, but I needed to escape before I did something regrettable.
Her lips are looking awfully kissable today.
Fuck.
I slip out my phone and check in with my anonymous girl who’s been giving me the silent treatment ever since last night.
It felt good to relieve some tension, but I’m right back to where I started—compulsively thinking about Piper.
That bare shoulder has no reason to turn me on. Today she’s wearing lazy clothes—a simple white tee paired with gray sweatpants. She clearly threw on the first items of clothing she saw this morning, to rush outside and get started on the insurance. Is shethat desperateto get out of here?
My cock remembers our eye contact before the insurance assessor interrupted. Fate brought him to my door for a reason—to dissipate the tension swimming between Piper and me before it got too out of hand.
My testosterone levels were reset…
Until this morning when I saw her looking like a three-course meal insweats.
But it was never about the clothes. It was more about the womaninthem.
