Page 51 of Whiskey & Honey
Somewhere around the time I managed to get Piper out of her shirt and on her back, we found our way to bed. I kept my promise and only used my mouth. Of course, not just on her lips. There’s no way I could not have more of her, but I also recognized that I’m going to have to take this slow with Piper. I have to show her how good we can be.
The sun has risen and the light is setting off prisms in the room as I lay here watching her sleep. If she wakes up and sees me, she’ll likely accuse me of being some sort of stalker creep. I’ve just never seen something as wonderful as Piper Lawrence lying next to me with her perfect lips pursed and her breathing shallow. She fell asleep with me spooning her and I swore in that moment that I would do everything in my power to find a way to make this how I fall asleep every night.
A few months ago I was starting over and secretly wondering if I’d made the biggest mistake of my adult life moving home. Then this woman came into my life, back into my life, and nothing has ever felt more right. The realization that I should leave before anyone sees my truck parked outside hits me about the same time she releases a sound that instantly hits me below the belt and the jeans I’m wearing suddenly feel like a strait jacket to my groin. Regardless of how much I, or my dick, want to stay here with her, the last thing we need is for the Lexington Rumor Mill to get involved.
I’m deciding on whether to wake Piper up or just leave a note and let her sleep when her eyes begin to flutter open. Doing what has somehow become my response to anything she does, I push the hair that has fallen in her face behind her ear and she smiles at me. Her smile is sincere and pure. Like her.
I remember once when Laurel hosted her book club at our place. The topic of conversation turned to the deal breakers for each of the ladies with the types of books they would read. Personally, I didn’t understand a word any of them were saying – tropes, forbidden romance, second chance romance. The one phrase that stuck out to me that I thought was ridiculous and wondered how anyone could take it seriously was “insta-love.” When I asked Laurel about it she said that was her favorite and made it difficult for her in the group because the other ladies hated an “insta-love” book. I agreed with those women and said any book where the lead characters fell in love after a few days was completely farfetched and ridiculous.
Then I saw a beautiful woman across the room of my local watering hole and my perspective changed. As ridiculous as it sounds, I know that Piper Lawrence is it for me. That’s the first time I’ve admitted it to myself and, truthfully, it feels good. Damn good.
“Hey,” she says with a raspy and fucking sexy voice. Kill me now.
“Morning. I think I’m going to head home.”
Her smile drops and my heart leaps. Placing a gentle kiss to her lips, I pull back before responding. I recognize it is morning and I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.
“I don’t want to go. I’d never leave this apartment if I had a choice. It’s just that I figure someone will see my truck out front and that doesn’t do much for our whole secret friendship plan.”
Relief washes over her face and she smiles again. “Okay.”
“I’ll let myself out, you just go back to sleep. I’ll call you later? Maybe we can do something tonight.”
“Kay. I am really sleepy.”
Before I can respond her eyes close again and I know I’ve lost her to sleep. Carefully lifting myself from her bed, I find my discarded boots. Before I let myself out, I spot the key Piper pulled from below the mat last night. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let her keep sleeping with this door unlocked. As much grief as I gave her for it, I reluctantly place the key under the mat after locking the door.
After a few steps toward the stairs, I stop. I’m not even going to second guess my instinct. I retrieve the key. I might as well make a spare for myself so Piper isn’t leaving keys out for any crazy to find. It’s what a good friend would do.
Yeah, Ben, keep telling yourself that.
Once I’m in my truck I realize how little I slept last night. Honestly, how little I’ve slept the last few weeks. Avoiding Piper became like a second job and now that we’ve come to some sort of solution for our situation I’m exhausted. Instead of driving through the coffee stand I head toward my parents’ house and my bed.
My dad sitting at the kitchen table with the paper shouldn’t surprise me, nor should the smirk on his face that tells me he thinks I’ve been up to no good.
“Have a good time last night, son?”
I know my dad, and as much as I want some quality time with my pillow, I’m going to need to give him at least a few minutes of my time. Instead of grabbing a cup of the coffee that smells like heaven, I pour myself a little juice and take a seat across from him at the table.
“It was fine. I was out at the house for most of it.” That’s not a lie.
“Well, unless you slept in your truck I’m guessing you didn’t spend the entire night at the house.”
“Dad,” I say with a warning but respectful tone.
“You’re a grown man, Ben. I just wanted to let you know that your sister is parked in your spot so I would gather she’s aware you didn’t come home last night.”
His rustling of the paper signals that he’s done with this conversation. I contemplate unloading on him but think better of it. Piper would likely die of embarrassment if she knew I talked to my dad about us, and honestly I’m a little worried about what he’d say anyway. With that thought I place my glass in the sink and walk toward the hallway, but before I make it too far I hear my dad clear his throat.
“Oh, and Ben?”
“Yeah, Dad?”
“Just tell your mother you slept in your truck. She’s like a dog with a bone.”
I can’t help but chuckle at that comment.
“Don’t I know it. I’m going to catch a few hours of sleep before I head out to the house.”