Page 39 of Too Fast To Fall
I do not have a love life. Emilio and I are friends.
More likefriend-ly. And that’s a recent development.
You’re going to regret it if you don’t sleep with the super-hot Formula One driver when you have a chance.
Sleep with him? That’s a leap. We’re friends. I don’t want to ruin that.
Friends can have sex. It doesn’t have to mean anything.
Was that really true? Piper wasn’t sure. Sex always meantsomething, didn’t it?
New subject, please.
Believe in yourself. Believe in the power of your lady bits.
Piper shook her head.
They’re out of practice.
It’s like riding a bike. Now go get him.
Not happening. Go find something to watch on Netflix. Love you.
I’m calling you tomorrow. Love you, too.
Piper plugged her phone into the charger and stared at her closed door. Sleep with Emilio? Ridiculous. Plus, how would thateven happen? If ever there was someone completely unskilled in the art of seduction, it was Piper. She didn’t have a sexynightgown, and it wasn’t like she’d knock on his door naked. She didn’t have that kind of nerve. Never had. Never would.
Feeling clueless, hopeless and all thingsless, she changed into her pj’s—a cami and a pair of sleep shorts, then stepped into the bathroom and brushed her teeth and washedher face. When she shut the light off, she heard a scratch at her door. She opened it. There sat Gus. This was strange. Hewas normally in Emilio’s room with him. “What’s up, buddy? Do you need to go out?”
Gus looked at her with his best puppy dog eyes, then pawed at the door frame.
“Do you want to sleep in here?” Piper opened her door all the way, but Gus turned and ran down the stairs. Piper crept outonto the landing and looked down the stairwell. A moment later, Gus scratched at Emilio’s door.
Dammit.Piper wasn’t sure how best to handle it, but she was responsible for Gus at all times. She tiptoed downstairs and found Gussitting in front of Emilio’s closed door. “Gus? What do you want?” she whispered.
He pawed at the door.
Piper knocked quietly. “Emilio? Are you still awake?”
“Yes. Come in. Did Gus come upstairs?”
Piper cracked the door, only to see Emilio sitting on the edge of his bed in a pair of black shorts and no shirt. Warmth chargedthrough her body like a conquering army. Gabby was right about one thing—Piper would regret not sleeping with him. “I can’tfigure out what he wants. I thought he wanted to sleep in my room, but then he ran back down to your door.”
Emilio patted the spot next to him. “Come on, Gus. Let’s go to bed.”
Gus hopped up onto the bed and Emilio gave him some ear scratches.
The vision of them together, peering into each other’s eyes, made her heart gallop. Despite the times when he’d been kindof a dick to her, no one would ever convince her a man who loved his dog so much was anything less than a beautiful soul.“I’ll leave you two. Good night.” Piper closed the door and hesitated. She blew out a breath, then returned to her room, feelingfrustrated. She was just climbing into bed when there was a knock.
“Piper?”
She hopped out of bed and padded to the door. Out in the hall was Emilio, with Gus. “What’s going on?”
“As soon as you left, he whimpered at my door and scratched at it. He ran up here when I let him out.”
“Gus?” She bent over and looked the dog in the face. “What is going on with you? What do you want?”
Gus looked at Piper, then at Emilio, then walked over to Piper and pushed on her legs with the top of his head. Piper wasforced to take a big step and nearly landed against Emilio’s chest. His so very well-defined chest.
