My ink was eye-catching, that was all.
I lifted the pillow she’d given me. “Thanks for everything.”
Her eyes found their way back to mine. “Don’t mention it.” Her voice was rougher than it had been before. “Happy Thanksgiving.” She turned to go.
“Hey, Piper,” I called out.
When she turned back around, she looked uncertain for the first time tonight. “Um, yes?”
Did she think I was going to proposition her? Not that I wasn’t tempted.
“Look, I’d prefer if you don’t mention tonight to Grace or Callum,” I said. “Unless they ask, and I don’t think they would. The last thing I came here for is anyone’s charity, especially theirs.”
If Grace or Callum heard I’d been ready to sleep in my truck, they’d try to fix it. I didn’t want that. Certainly didn’t want Grace thinking I’d shown up here to mooch off her rich boyfriend.
I was back in Silver Ridge for good, but I intended to do this my own way.
Piper considered me for a moment, carefully keeping her eyes on my face. Then she nodded.
“I just don’t need anyone to feel sorry for me. I had a solid gig in Seattle, and I ran into some issues, but?—”
She crossed her arms. “Issues? Like what?”
I hadn’t wanted to get into that, but I’d also made a deal with myself. If anyone asked me a question head-on, I’d answer it. Full honesty.
Piper had just asked.
I tossed the pillow onto the couch. “I was renting space to see clients in a shop along with a buddy. Another artist. Thought Icould trust him, and it turned out he was selling shit to customers on the side.”
“Drugs?”
I nodded once. “The owner of the shop found out and my supposed friend blamedme. Owner kicked us both to the curb, regardless of the rent and deposits I’d paid. Thank God he didn’t call the police. I can’t afford to be near anything illegal. I’m the one with a record, so who would the cops believe?”
Her lips twisted with empathy rather than judgment.
“But that gave me the push I needed to come back to Silver Ridge,” I went on. “I’m going to make things right with my family.”
“Good.”
“So I don’t need anyone worrying about my welfare.”
“Anyone, such as me?”
Heat flared low in my stomach again. Something about the teasing sarcasm in her tone. Because I liked it.
I shrugged, figuring her question had been rhetorical.
“Just…take care of yourself,” she said.
“You do the same.”
“I plan to.”
SEVEN
Piper
First thingin the morning was my favorite time of day at Silver Linings. Especially a winter morning like this one, when it was still dark out, and the day was fresh and new.
