“I’m ready!” Eliza announces as she bursts back into the room, looks between us, and wags an accusatory finger.
“Okay, you two. There’s time for that later. Or maybe not at all while I’m here, now that I think about it. Ew. Just, no. Can we leave?”
I slide my hands away from Piper. “Of course, your highness. I’ll pull the car around out front.”
I hold Piper’s hand the entire time we drive to theboutique. Eliza chats nonstop about her classes, her weekend trips all over Europe, life in her dorm, student drama, etc.
Being appropriately affectionate with Piper comes easily enough as we browse the shop. My arm slips instinctively around her waist, my hand dipping lower to stroke her hip from time to time. At one point, my lips are drawn to hers for a soft kiss when I don't think anyone is looking. But Eliza always seems to be looking. That's the point, after all. To make my sister believe that Piper and I are in a real, committed relationship.
The two of them take every opportunity to talk. The conversational topics are random and, admittedly, I block out most of it, but my ears are on high alert for any talk of my relationship with Piper. She and I didn’t have a chance to go over our cover story, but that’s something we’ll have to do as soon as possible so that we don’t contradict each other when Eliza is playing Twenty Questions. It helps that my sister is nosy, but also scatterbrained. It's easy enough to shift her attention from one topic to another. Look how easily the mention of an expensive handbag drew her away from poking around.
Piper sits a little closer to me on the drive home, her head subconsciously tilted toward me. She doesn't say much, not with words anyway. But her body language is crystal clear, and I catch Eliza waggling her brows at me in the rearview mirror more than once. She clearly buys the fake relationship. Who knew Piper and I could pull it off so well?
When we arrive home, Eliza retreats to her room to get changed again, this time for dinner. I follow Piper into “our” bedroom to do the same. I'm taking Eliza to her favorite Italian restaurant, Rubini. Normally, reservations are difficult to come by. But The Quattuor Group placed the owner's daughter in a very favorable marriage, so we have open invitations to dine in whenever we choose. No advance notice required. I don't always accept perks, but that wasn't one that I was about to turn down.
Piper browses the row of garments hanging in the closet. She doesn't have nearly enough clothing, I realize. I've been buying her a dress here and there, but her wardrobe is severely lacking for the type of appearances that I’ll be requiring her to make. I need to take this woman shopping.
She finally chooses something and comes out of the bathroom looking stunning in a white three-piece outfit. The silky crop top shows off an enticing strip of toned abdomen. The pants hug her hips and muscular thighs, and the long, matching jacket is open in the front, showing off the rest of the outfit. She has gold hoops in her ears and red lipstick on her pretty mouth. Even Eliza keeps complimenting Piper’s sense of style, her dancer’s physique, and her runway-worthy beauty.
My sister doesn't realize how stunning she is herself, I don't think. Though she doesn't shrink beside Piper in any way, she seems slightly self-conscious, checking her hair and makeup frequently in the visor mirror as we drive to dinner. I've never noticed that from my sister before. Maybe part of her new independence in Europe has opened her up to the kind of male attention she’s historically been shielded from. Perhaps that’s something worth speaking to her about.
Once again, when we arrive at the restaurant, I'm acutely aware of other men looking at Piper. And once again, I don't like it. Even when I remind myself that the entire point of this arrangement is to draw male attention to Piper, I can't settle the jealousy that boils inside me.
The hostess shows us to our private table in the back of the restaurant, where the VIPs eat. Piper and Eliza are chitchatting, oblivious to the man sitting at one of the other tables in the private room, but I recognize him immediately.
"Theo. I didn't expect to see you here."
Someone stumbles into my side, and I find Piper trying to help Eliza catch her balance. My brow furrows.
"You okay?"
She brushes herself off and gives a nervous grin. "My Louboutins are too high, that’s all. I'm going to run to the ladies’ room real quick. Piper, want to join me?"
"Sure."
I watch in slight confusion as the women hurry away. What just happened?
When I turn back to Theo, I find him standing with a slightly concerned look on his face. "Was that your sister?"
"Yes. She's visiting for a few days. I’m taking her out for a belated birthday dinner. Are you here alone?"
Theo nods and gestures to the seat across from him. I take it as I wait for the women to get back.
"It seems like those two are getting along well," he says.
A little too well, I think to myself. Earlier, they were talking about having a girl’s day and going shopping. My sister's bubbly personality is infectious, and it takes nothing for her to milk information from people. What if my sister gets the truth out of her?
What if Piper decides to confide in Eliza?
I look at Theo, suddenly mirroring the concern that still haunts his face.
Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.
Until my sister leaves, Piper and I need to be very, very careful.
26
PIPER-LILY
