Chapter 22

Piper sat in bed, eyes open, on Saturday morning . . . hungry.

She tiptoed out of bed, moved slowly just in case, but the nausea never came. It was day three that the nausea fairy didn’t make an appearance, and Piper was starting to think the worst was behind her.

After two bowls of oatmeal and toast, she piled Kit into her car and drove them to a park. Once there, she worked with him, giving commands and rewarding him on occasion with a treat. She liked early Saturday mornings when the park was nearly empty. There wasn’t anyone around to complain to her that Kit needed to be on a leash.

She had one with her, but it was hanging around her neck like Dr. Resnik’s stethoscope.

For the first time in a while, she thought of her obstetrician and didn’t feel an ache in her chest. Maybe she was getting used to the idea that there was an actual human growing inside of her. Maybe it was because she didn’t toss up her oatmeal that morning. Either way, Piper took the peace in her head and heart as a win.

After giving Kit some free time, the ability to run and play, they left the park so she could complete some chores.

First was a trip to the ATM to get some cash.

Kit was at her side, back to the wall, while she typed in her code and collected her money.

“That’s impressive,” the man behind her in line said as they walked away.

“Thank you.”

Without more, they left the bank and went straight to her nail salon.

Kit walked into the place like he owned it.

Dao, the woman who worked on Piper’s fingers and toes every couple of weeks, knelt and welcomed Kit’s kisses. “My favorite dog.”

“I thought it was me you liked.”

Dao shrugged before walking behind a counter and pulling a treat out of a bag.

Kit instantly sat and waited.

After making Kit turn, sit, lie down, and bark, she gave him the treat.

Curled up beside the pedicure lounge chair, Kit made himself comfortable while Piper relaxed. The massage chair rolled up and down her spine while Dao painted her toes.

Her phone rang.

It was Chase.

She had him in her phone as Gazillionaire, but it was Chase. Not a fan of talking on her cell phone while in a public place, she let the call go to voice mail, intending to call or text him back after she was done.

He called a second time.

Dao looked at her and then the phone. “Must be important,” she said to Piper.

Piper answered the phone. “I’m busy right now, can I call you back?”

“Oh, good. You are there.”

“Is something wrong?”

“No. I’m calling to let you know that the car will be there at five thirty.”

“You couldn’t text that information?” she asked.

“And miss talking to you?”

Piper felt her cheeks heat up. “Well . . . get that out of your system now. We’ll be surrounded by your family and work people all night.”

“What are you doing?” Chase asked.

He wanted to chitchat.

Piper rolled her eyes. “I’m getting my nails painted.”

“And I’m interrupting.”

“Yes. You are!” she said sharply.

“Five thirty,” he said again.

“Got it.”

“And, Piper?”

“What?”

“Save me a dance.” And he hung up.

Dance? There was dancing at this thing?

“Was that your boyfriend?” Dao asked.

Piper shook her head. “No.”

“But he’s picking you up at five thirty and dancing with you . . . and not a boyfriend?”

Piper looked at her phone. “You heard all that?”

“He was loud,” the other technician said from across the room.

The woman who sat beside her spoke up. “And you’re glowing. If he’s not a boyfriend . . . maybe he should be.”

“He’s off-limits.” Not that Piper needed to explain.

“Married?” Dao asked.

“No.”

Dao looked at the customer next to Piper and shrugged. “Not so off-limits, then.”

Piper scowled in a playful way. “That tip is getting smaller and smaller.”

Chase had the limo driver park on the street since he knew from experience Piper’s driveway was almost impossible to back out of.

He exited the back of the car and pulled at the cuffs of his tuxedo jacket as he approached her house.

Curtains from inside the second house on the lot moved. Proof that her neighbor was keeping tabs. Pretending not to notice, he stopped at her door and knocked.

Kit barked.

Chase heard Piper inside as she told the dog to quiet.

Then she yelled, “I’ll be right there.”

Chase stepped away from the door and looked up the driveway.

He heard the door open.

“You’re a little e . . .”

Chase turned and ran face-first into heaven on earth.

Perfection . . . Piper was complete and utter perfection. Her dress was black. The top of it covered in lace, with straps and not sleeves holding it up. It dipped enough to show off the curve of her breasts and slimmed at the waist. There the fabric changed to something sleek and flowing . . . silk, maybe, with a slit that came up midthigh. Dainty high heels that had one hell of a sexy strap at her ankle covered her perfectly polished toes. Her hair was piled on her head, and glittery teardrop earrings hung from her lobes. Her gorgeous eyes were outlined in a heavier-than-normal kohl, and her kissable lips were a shade of red that Chase would dream of as soon as he closed his eyes. “Whoa.”

“I thought you said you were sending a car.”

“The car is . . .” He pointed behind him and lost his train of thought. “You’re stunning.”

Piper looked down at herself, lifted the dress slightly. “This old thing?”

“Wow.”

“I need to grab my purse.” She disappeared.

Chase started to follow her in.

Kit stopped him with a growl.

“Okay, buddy.” Chase stayed on the porch.

Piper hurried back. “Be good, Kit.”

Chase lifted his elbow in her direction.

She placed her hand in the crook of his arm and snickered. “I feel like we’re on our way to prom.”

“Without a curfew,” he said.

She glanced up at him. “You clean up well, Stone.”

“No one will be looking at me,” he said.

At the limousine, the driver stood with the back door open.

Chase escorted her to one side, waited for her to get in, and then rounded the other to take his place beside her.

Piper took in the limo with a huge grin. “This is insane.”

Chase couldn’t stop staring.

“Not my normal mode of transportation, but I could get used to it.”

Piper smiled and asked, “Won’t people talk if we arrive together?”

He didn’t care. Welcomed it, if he was being honest with himself. The itch inside of him to know Piper better, to see if she tasted as good as she looked, to smile at her in public and dare anyone to say a thing . . . was something he was ready to risk.

Alex’s concerns rolled in his head, and yes, her worries weren’t completely off the table. If he thought of Piper as a temporary person in his life, he’d heed Alex’s warnings. But he didn’t. Piper wasn’t a date; she was a relationship. He felt that in his core. All he needed to do was get her on board with that.

“Let them,” he said, meaning it.

“Chase . . .” His name was a word of caution in her voice.

“We’ve handled the gossip so far. Now put it out of your mind. We have some networking to do tonight.”

Her smile wavered. “Right. Work . . . this is—”

“And dancing, cocktails . . . dinner. So . . . a little like prom.”

Piper turned to gaze out the window, and Chase casually slid his hand over hers on the seat between them.

The only acknowledgment she gave him was her index finger wrapping around his instead of pulling away.

Piper saw several media members lined up along the entrance to the event before it was their turn to be let out of the car.

“What is with all the cameras?” she asked.

“It’s new for me. Must be a slow day in Hollywood.”

Her heart was pounding.

The limousine pulled up next to the venue, and the driver jumped out to open their door.

Chase stepped out first and extended his hand to help her.

She placed her fingers in his palm and carefully climbed out of the car. The last thing she wanted to do was trip on her gown and do her best impression of a toddler learning to walk.

The second they were out of the car, someone called Chase’s name.

“Mr. Stone, over here.”

He didn’t look at them. Instead, he leaned down and placed his lips close to her ear. “You’re beautiful.”

She squeezed his hand. “Don’t let me fall.”

“Never.”

“Mr. Stone. Just a couple of pictures.”

Instead of ignoring them a second time, Chase stopped, moved closer to Piper’s side, and slid a hand to the small of her back.

“What are you doing?” she said under her breath.

“If we smile at them, they’ll leave us alone,” he told her.

Something told her this was a complete lie, but Piper smiled anyway.

Chase turned them in the other direction, and flashes of lights captured the moment.

With his hand still warming her back, he then urged her toward the venue door.

Inside was another cameraman, this one went about taking pictures without asking them to pose. The invited press, maybe? After all, in order to sell this event to others in the future, you’d want your own photo art.

“Good evening, Mr. Stone.” An older man with a receding hairline and glasses met them at the door. “I’d like to welcome you and your guest on behalf of the Regional Heart Association. My name is Theodore Laughlin.”

Chase extended a hand and turned to her. “This is Piper Maddox.”

She, too, shook the man’s hand.

The man smiled. “First, let me extend my deepest condolences with your father’s passing.”

Chase took a step back to be side by side with her. “Thank you.”

“He was a fine and honorable man, and we will greatly miss his presence at our events.”

Chase stiffened at her side.

“Mr. Laughlin,” Piper interrupted. “Do you know if our other guests have arrived?”

Somewhat at a loss with her question, he stuttered, “I-I . . . Miss Stone is already inside.”

“Perfect. If you’ll excuse us,” Piper said, ending the unneeded praise for the dead man.

Out of Theodore’s orbit, Chase whispered in her ear, “Don’t leave my side all night.”

“You’re going to hear that a lot.”

And so it began.

Their feet barely crossed the reception area doors, and attendees descended upon them.

Occasionally she would recognize a guest and whisper the name in Chase’s ear before they shook hands. Chase always introduced her as Piper Maddox. Not his assistant, his secretary . . . an employee of . . . just Piper Maddox.

Waiters circled the room with trays of champagne and wine. At one point, Chase stopped one of them and asked Piper if she wanted a glass. “I’ll save it,” she told him. For about five months.

She pushed those thoughts out of her head.

Chase excused the waiter without taking a glass for himself.

Piper saw Alex and Vivian standing in a circle of other guests. A man wearing a cowboy hat laughed loud enough to turn heads. Even without looking at his face, Piper knew who it was.

“Isn’t that Gaylord Morrison?” she asked Chase.

A genuine smile warmed Chase’s face when he saw him.

“If you’ll excuse us,” Chase said to the group they were talking to.

With Chase’s hand once again taking up residence on her back, they walked over to Morrison, Alex, and Vivian.

Alex’s gaze fell on the two of them as they approached.

She looked between them both and seemed to hold her breath.

Piper attempted to step out of Chase’s personal space and nearly collided with a waiter walking by.

Chase tapped his fingers on her back but left them there. It was as if he knew how they looked and welcomed the questions that would erupt.

“Wow, Mom, you look fantastic.” Chase let his hand drop and moved in to greet his mother with a hug and a kiss.

A slightly more conservative dresser, Vivian wore a cream midcalf-length dress that had a black lace overlay with cap sleeves. Her hair was twisted up, with quite a bit hanging down her back.

“I told her she was the prettiest one here,” Gaylord said with a wink.

“Stop,” Vivian told him. Her rosy cheeks and perpetual smile said she liked the attention.

Chase moved to his sister. “Keep dressing like this, and I’ll have to start calling you Alexandrea.”

Alex wore gold, with plenty of glittery stones on the dress. Low cut, with sleeves that covered her shoulders but didn’t fall down her arm. The full-length gown had a slit that made Piper’s look like she was in sexy-dress training wheels.

It was simply stunning.

“Don’t you dare,” Alex told Chase.

Chase shook Gaylord’s hand. “It’s nice to see a trusted face in the crowd.”

“Wouldn’t miss it. Even though the invitation came late.”

“Don’t look at us. We just found out about it,” Alex informed him.

“These organizations know how to bait the hook for big bucks.”

Piper liked the Texas in his voice and the sheer presence of the man in the room.

“Gaylord, I don’t know if you’ve met Piper Maddox.”

“I’d remember that pretty face if I did.”

She reached out to shake his hand. “I know all about you,” Piper told him.

“That’s downright unfair,” he said, smiling.

Alex leaned forward. “Piper is our assistant. She worked with our father . . . before.”

Piper felt a slight demotion in her right to be standing there in a three-thousand-dollar evening gown and equally expensive shoes and purse. Like Cinderella, she was at the ball, but she was going back to her one-bedroom guest house and family of animals.

Well . . . animal.

“Tell me, Piper . . . did Aaron have you keep tabs on me?”

“Corporate secrets, Mr. Morrison. I could tell you, but then . . . you know.” Piper made a slicing motion at her neck.

Gaylord busted out laughing, turning heads as he did.

“I like you.” He leaned in. “You ever get tired of working for these amateurs, you let me know.”

“Hey!” Chase said. “Why don’t you use that Texas charm on someone closer to your own age.” As soon as he finished talking, he turned to look at his mother.

“Best idea I’ve heard all day.”

Vivian tapped her son’s arm with her purse in a playful swipe. “Ignore him, Gaylord.”

“Tell you what, Vivian. Why don’t we let these young kids talk, and you and I can find a drink at the bar. They make you pay for the good wine at these things.”

Vivian looked between her children and said, “Why not.”

Gaylord beamed and stepped aside so Vivian could walk in front of him. “If you’ll excuse us.”

The second they turned away, Gaylord’s hand was on Vivian’s waist as they weaved through the crowd.

“Should we start calling him Daddy now?” Chase asked Alex.

“I think she’s the reason he’s here . . . not us.” Alex moved closer.

“He’s been single since his children’s mother,” Piper told them.

“How do you know that?” Alex asked.

“Your father did have me research the gossip that found us from the competition.” She nodded toward the retreating man in question. “Morrison has two children, Jack and Katelyn. He was the one that took custody after his divorce. I forget the mother’s name. It’s been years. He never remarried.”

“Girlfriends?” Alex asked.

Piper shrugged. “Anyone with a camera can snap a picture of you talking to a woman and make the story sound like you’re headed to a church.”

“He’s a little old to be a player,” Chase said.

Piper looked up at Chase and laughed. “Players play until they die.”

“I don’t get that vibe from him,” Alex said.

Neither did Piper.

Alex suddenly shifted her gaze over Piper’s shoulder. “Oh, shit.”

“What?” Piper twisted around and cringed. Melissa Stone stood across the room, talking with the head of Regent Hotels.

“What’s she doing here?” Chase asked.

“She is the widow,” Piper reminded them.

“At least she’s no longer our stepmother,” Alex said.

Piper found a half smile on her face. “Have to give her props, though . . . I don’t think the red spaghetti strap dress was an accidental choice.”

“You think she’s already looking for another husband?” By now, Alex had moved to Piper’s side as they spoke in hushed tones and tried not to stare.

“You know she is,” Chase said.

“Melissa’s allergic to work and likes money. She’ll find another one.” Blonde, petite, and young. The woman had enough money to not look like she needed a man for more. But more was relative, and considering the wealth Melissa had been living with, Piper would bet a month’s salary the woman would be married to a man that would keep her in the way she’d become accustomed to within the year.

With a better prenuptial.

“The good news is . . . she’s not here to make a scene.” Piper turned her back on the woman in question and stood so that Chase and Alex could look at her and watch Melissa without being completely obvious.

“We don’t know that. She wasn’t exactly Miss Manners when she showed up at the house and stole those watches,” Chase reminded Piper.

“You could be right, but if she’s here looking for the next Mr. to her Mrs., she’ll keep the Karen attitude somewhere else. That doesn’t mean she isn’t talking crap. Just not to any potential husbands.” Piper felt pretty solid in her convictions. “And she can’t keep any corporate secrets because she doesn’t know any of them.”

“It’s not the corporate secrets I worry about,” Chase said.

“Oh . . . right.” The brother. “You think she knows about . . . ?” Piper kept her voice as low as she could and still be heard.

“Never know,” Alex whispered back.

The secret that, sooner or later, would be discovered.

Piper smoothed a hand over her dress . . . her stomach . . . and knew that eventually, all secrets had a way of revealing themselves.