Definitely (maybe) Dating, page 15
“You okay?” he asked.
She was now. “Yes.”
Without another word, he shimmied her right up against the wall, making her the middle of a Josh sandwich. The air around them became sex charged.
“I thought this was a strictly date five conversation.” His gaze slid all the way down to the tip of her thigh-high boots, then back up, taking his time everywhere in between.
It felt different than earlier. She wanted him to look, had worn these exact boots for him. So she bent one knee, resting the heel of her boot on the wall behind her, and said, “I changed my mind.”
“Do you think maybe you could have warned me?” His hands slid to her hips. “I came here expecting date two boots, and you jumped directly into date five. How is a man supposed to prepare?”
“Some of the best things in life are unplanned, Mr. Assistant District Attorney,” she said, although he didn’t look like an assistant district attorney tonight. In a dark blue Henley, button fly jeans, and enough male pheromones to seduce a nuns’ choir, he looked like sex-on-a-stick.
“I’m beginning to see that.”
“Eyes up here,” she said, but he kept them on her boots.
“I’m good.”
“If you’re looking in the wrong place, you’ll miss it.”
This got his attention. “Wouldn’t want that to happen.”
She shook her head, then planted one on him so bold and big his hands immediately launched into action until she was plastered against his body.
He slipped a finger under her spaghetti strap and traced it from front to back, then trailed it down her arm. “Pretty.”
Right then, she felt pretty.
“Who is this person you wanted to introduce me to?” she asked conspiratorially. He leaned further into her, all the way into her, and she may have sucked in a breath. “Oh, we’ve been acquainted. Just the other night, on my front porch. It was brief but memorable.”
“He remembers.”
“He?” She laughed. “Does he have a name?”
His hands swept down her back and lower until his finger was toying with the bow at the back of her boot. As difficult as it was for her to lace up, one tug of the ribbon and they’d undo like a corset. “Depends on if these boots are going to stay on.”
“And that depends on”—she paused, unable to finish that thought. “It depends on a lot,” she whispered.
His expression went serious. “I’m good with a lot. I’m good with whatever makes you comfortable.”
She cupped his face. “You make me comfortable.” And this time when they kissed, it was a gentle exploration, a promise. She didn’t know what kind, but for once the idea of a promise didn’t scare her—all that much.
“I can do this all night,” he said against her lips, then proved it by languidly driving her right out of her mind. “I don’t want to hog you. I know Darcy has been asking all night if you were going to make it.”
Piper laughed. “She has it in her head that this is girls’ night.”
He took her hand and kissed her fingertips—every one—teasingly nipping as he went. “Then let’s not disappoint her.”
“You don’t mind?”
“I’m with you. Why would I mind?” he said, and she almost snorted. There wasn’t a guy on the planet who would be okay with his almost-sister-in-law cock blocking him. But when Josh said it, the way he said it, Piper believed him.
And that was how Piper found herself in a booth wedged between Darcy and Jillian. Both women were shooting question after question about Josh, who was standing at the bar a few feet away, talking with his brothers. Every few minutes, he’d glance over at her, gauging how she was doing, then send a secret smile where his dimples popped out. Which was incredibly thoughtful. And sexy.
Piper was engaged in one of those silent conversations from across the room fantasies, where the connection was stronger than the distance.
“I knew there was something going on between you two,” Jillian said. “I saw it at the party. The way he smiled at you.”
“He never smiles.” Darcy sounded amazed. “Like ever. He’s so buttoned up and serious.”
A month ago, Piper would have said the same thing. But she’d come to learn that there was a wonderful emotionally in tune man beneath the suit and tie. A man who liked to hold hands and go for walks in the park. A man who shared his opinion but respected hers. A man, if she weren’t careful, she could totally fall for.
“He’s like that Fifty Shades guy,” Jillian said.
He’s like my guy.
Piper froze, unsure where that came from. There was this insane chemistry between them, and they’d shared some personal conversations, but as for him being her guy? When did she start thinking like that? The moment he’d kissed her, that’s when.
“He’s his own guy,” Piper said, realizing that was the truth. Yes, he had a high-profile job, which defined his public persona. And yes, he belonged to a tight-knit family. But those were only parts to the multi-faceted man. When it came to the people in his life, he listened, and he loved. Not for the first time, Piper wondered what that must feel like.
“And tonight?” Jillian waggled a brow. “He practically dragged you through the bar.”
He hadn’t had to drag her anywhere. Piper had gone willingly. The moment he’d put his arms around her at, her brain misfired, and all she could think about was touching him.
“The guys joke that Josh is married to his job. And from what I’ve seen, he keeps it strictly casual with women.”
“Are you telling me I should be careful?” Piper wasn’t ready to walk away, but she had the distinct feeling Darcy was delivering a warning.
Darcy reached across the table and rested her hand on Piper’s arm. “He’s a great guy with a huge heart, and when he falls, I know he’ll fall hard. He’s an all in kind of guy. Look at his career. What kind of thirty-something runs for District Attorney?”
The kind of guy who went after what he wanted. And while he’d made it clear he wanted Piper, she wasn’t sure if it was more than physical. A terrifying realization.
She’d already shared far too much with him—secrets she’d never told another living soul. Not even Faith, who had been Piper’s best friend when she’d desperately needed one. He was so easy to talk to. When they were apart, all she could think about was Josh. When they were together, all she could think about was kissing him.
Warm tingles made themselves known in her belly. Stupid tingles.
“We’re just having fun,” she said, not feeling the fun at that moment.
The other two women exchanged another look, like there was an entire conversation happening at the table that Piper wasn’t privy too.
“It’s okay if it’s more,” Jillian said.
“It’s not. Now, can we talk about something else?” Unable to look at Darcy when asking such a huge favor, Piper closed her eyes. “Like how my permit fell through.”
Darcy’s eyes went as big as saucers. “How?”
“I didn’t meet the timeline and criteria for an emergency permit.”
“I am so sorry, Piper,” Jillian said. “I know how much this meant to you.”
“Thanks. And it does, which is why I’m going to ask the Ladies of Portland to merge their charity event with Urban Soul’s art showcase. But I need to get your support first, Darcy.”
“I think it’s a great idea.”
“Before you say yes, there’s more. I know you said I could use the grassy knoll, but I was hoping”—unable to look her friend, Piper closed her eyes— “to use the observatory.”
“If the LOP agrees, I don’t see why not,” Darcy said. And when she realized Darcy was dead serious, she opened one eye.
“Seriously? Because I can’t pay much.”
“Of course.” Darcy laughed. “Not only will it help a charity that means a lot to you, but you’re my friend.”
Piper swallowed past the emotion building in her throat. “I don’t know want to say and—can you two stop that whole convo through the ether thing you do?”
“Sorry. It’s a mom thing,” Jillian said. “We’ve had to get good at talking without actually talking when the kids are playing.”
“We used to spell things out, but preschool ruined that. And mouthing to each other is a joke. The other night, Gage mouthed, “Lace or silk?” and Kylie turned and asked me what silk was. I told him he was in trouble, and his solution was for me to ditch the panties all together.”
“In my house, the word panty refers to cotton.” Jillian sighed dreamily. “Oh, to have someone to buy lace and silk for.”
Piper felt her face heat. She’d bought some silk and lace just today—and decided to wear them tonight. After that kiss, she had a feeling she’d be showing them off soon.
“How did you get the Ladies of Portland to agree?” Darcy asked, referring to the society group Margo belonged to.
Piper grimaced. “I haven’t.”
“Oh boy. You do know that this event was started thirty years ago by Margo and, up until this year, she’s had full control.”
Piper let her head thunk against the table.
“I told Josh it would be a no go, and he assured me Margo would cave.”
“Josh, huh?” Jillian teased.
Piper looked up. “We moved onto a new topic, remember?”
“You moved on to a new topic. I’m still caught up on you and Josh.”
“There isn’t a me and Josh. Fun, remember?”
“Barely.” Jillian sighed.
“You did it,” Piper said to Darcy, remembering how Margo watched her Ps and Qs around her. Gone were her horns and bad attitude, leaving a pleasant mother-of-the-groom. Grandmother. “What magic did you weave?”
“My adorable daughter.”
She thunked her head again. “So there’s no hope for me.” She looked up. “Actually, failing isn’t an option. I have a whole lot of people who I refuse to let down.”
“Then you have to get her to think it was her idea,” Darcy advised. “Tell her stories of the girls she’ll help. And if you can’t appeal to her softer side, don’t be afraid to show your fangs. Margo is like a bulldog with a bone when it comes to her ideas. She’s only playing nice because of Kylie. But for her to agree, you’re going to have to make a good case.”
“That shouldn’t be hard. The girls’ art won’t be anywhere near her auction.”
“My advice? Meet on neutral ground and go into the meeting with a few votes in your pocket.”
Jillian took a sip of “mommy juice” then leaned in to whisper as if anything could carry over the crowd. “How is it that all the Eastons are so freaking hot? Every single one. It must be some recessive gene. There’s not an average one in the group.”
“Any one in particular you find hotter than the rest?” Darcy asked, and Jillian was suddenly interested in her drink. “That’s what I thought.”
“Who?” Piper asked, relieved to be out of the hot seat.
“Clay, that’s who. Every time he’s around, Jillian gets all flustered and finds a reason to go to the opposite side of the room.”
Jillian rolled her eyes. “I don’t get flustered. Besides, I’m like a married-divorced-and-single-mom older than him.” She looked at Piper. “Plus, flirting with a guy who’s in my social circle is nothing but trouble.”
“Then flirt with someone else,” Darcy said. “You’ve been divorced over two years, it’s time you had some fun.”
“Agreed,” Piper said, and Jillian became flustered.
“I’m more interested in who Josh wanted you to meet earlier,” she said.
Piper shrugged. She wasn’t going there.
“My guess, it was a rouse,” Darcy said.
“Based on the lack of lipstick and the way she’s turning beat red I have to agree.”
“Do you think this is a date?”
“Absolutely,” Darcy said. “First, maybe second. She still has that collided with an Easton look about her.”
“Seriously, I’m right here,” Piper said. “And I don’t blush.” But she was so blushing.
“Here’s how Girls’ Night works,” Darcy explained. “Either you spill or we keep asking questions until we figure it out.”
“Plus, I haven’t been on a date since Obama was in office.” Elbows on the table, Jillian stacked her hands under her chin. “Let me live vicariously.”
Piper looked over at Josh, who was looking back. He lifted a questioning brow and then, as if he knew exactly what was happening, sent a cocky grin her direction.
You like me, he mouthed, and she rolled her eyes, then looked back to the table of awaiting expressions.
“We may have agreed to be here tonight at the same time,” she said, hoping Fate didn’t strike her dead for that lie.
“That sounds like a date,” Jillian said.
“Not a date so much as being alone together.”
Both women exchanged looks then laughed. Darcy was wiping the humor from her eyes when she said, “That’s an Easton explanation if I’ve ever heard one.”
Piper swallowed the lump in her throat. “Like a line?” Because it hadn’t felt like a line. Nothing between them felt as shallow or in-passing like a line.
“Not at all,” Darcy assured her. “Josh would never put something like that out there unless he felt something.”
“I don’t know if we’re at the feel place.” Another white lie. “But he’s sweet, and I’m enjoying whatever this is.”
“You two have totally kissed.” Darcy leaned forward, her eyes going narrow as if trying to gather information from the cosmos. “And tonight wasn’t the first time.”
“What? Is this some parlor trick? Let me guess what base you’ve slid across?”
“No,” Darcy said at the same time Jillian said, “Yes.”
They both looked at Jillian, who shrugged. “What part of “since Obama” did you guys miss?”
A server came by and asked for their order. The girls were ordering another round when Piper’s phone pinged.
Josh: Do you need to be rescued?
Piper: Are you offering to be my Prince Charming?
Josh: I like the term ‘Knight’ better.
Piper: Prince Charming gets to kiss his lady. ‘Knight’ rides off. Alone. With only his sword for company.
Josh: Have I mentioned that knights are overrated?
Piper considered carefully what she wanted to say next.
To his core, Josh was a savior and she didn’t subscribe to the whole concept of being rescued. Her mom spent her entire life waiting for a man to save her. To make her happy and solve all her problems. She wound up a miserable and lonely black out drunk. Piper wouldn’t make that mistake.
Piper: So are princes.
Josh: . . .
The dots disappeared, and she felt his gaze on her. She wanted to look up and show him that she meant what she said, but in the end she wasn’t able to look him in the eye. Afraid she’d blown it, she was about to call it a night when the dots reappeared.
Josh: Maybe you’re not the one who needs to be rescued.
16
🖤
“Are you following me?” Piper teased as she climbed out of her car.
“I’m following the boots.” Hot damn, those boots. “And their owner,” Josh added as he walked over to hold the door open for her while she rummaged through her back seat. He couldn’t help but stare at her fine ass as she bent inside to gather up her things, the skirt riding high on her thighs. The further she disappeared into the back seat, the more skin he saw.
“You were trying to get away from your brothers.”
That too.
“You need a new power steering pump,” he said. “It was like you were sending smoke signals to the entire downtown.”
That wasn’t the only kind of signal she was sending. They’d been slowly undressing each other from across the room all night. It had been so blatant at times his brothers gave him shit. But he didn’t care. The second he spotted those mile-long-legs sitting at the bar, encased in toe to mid-thigh suede, he’d been a goner.
Josh was an ass man all the way, with legs coming in a close second. However, Piper in those boots, with her never-ending legs, was causing him to reassess the exact order of his Hell Yeah list.
“POSH and I have an understanding.”
She straightened, and he slammed the door, the car letting out a low groan. “Like a death pact? Because she’s one strip of duct tape from the giant junkyard in the sky.”
He took her bags out of her hands, halting when he noticed one missing. The one she never left home without. “Where’s your other camera?”
“Oh.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I must have misplaced it.”
Josh held her gaze. She was upset but trying to hide it. “Where’s your camera, Boots?”
She let out a huge sigh. “Before you say I told you so, I think Rebecca took it.”
He cradled her head. “I am so sorry.”
She shrugged as if it were no biggie, but he could sense just how upsetting this was for her. “All I do know is that I hope she’s okay.”
A frustration grew in him. Piper had opened her house up to a virtual stranger who’d taken advantage of her and stole what was likely the most treasured item she owned.
“If you want to press charges—”
“No way! She made a mistake, plus we don’t know for sure she was the one who took it. I might have left it somewhere,” she lied.
“I can at least have someone come over so you can make a report. That way if it’s found, they’ll know who it belongs to.”
Piper met his gaze. “You and I both know it won’t turn up unless someone wants it to. And I’m not going to do anything to put Rebecca in danger. I promised I wouldn’t call the cops.”
“That was before she stole from you.” What was so hard about that? Josh understood the loyalty and why Piper was hesitant to press charges, but it was better Rebecca was given a slap on the wrist then get into serious trouble later.
