Page 53 of Too Fast To Fall
“All right, then.” As his grandmother sidled past him, she slid Emilio another look. Another, “get your act together, Emilio”look.
Piper wrapped her arms around herself, looking up at the house and smiling. “She’s amazing. No wonder she means so much toyou.”
“She always told me being a grandparent was easy. You just love and love, without having to worry about the serious things.”
Piper turned to him. “She worries about you. She told me so when you were inside getting Gus his dinner.”
“I know. She worries about the driving.”
“Actually, she said she worries because she knows how difficult the last year has been for you.”
“We all have challenges.”
“Of course, but you’ve really been through it. I’m so sorry.”
“You’ve had similar loss.”
Piper shook her head. “Loss isn’t comparable. It’s different for everyone, and the way it affects us is different, too. AllI’m saying is that if you were feeling a bit lost or like your foundation had been shaken, it’s completely understandable.”
Piper had such a way of cutting to the core of things. “Do you feel like your foundation was shaken?”
She nodded. “I do. But I’m better now.”
“Good. I am, too.”
“I was doing okay before I took this job, but being away from Florida has helped me see things more clearly. Maybe I justneeded a break from the impending wedding.”
“Maybe. Let me put out the fire before we head up.” He retrieved a shovel leaning against the house, then scooped some sandonto the fires. It made him melancholy to see the flames snuffed. This perfect day was coming to a close. Tomorrow, he’d beback to work. Still, he was excited about that. He hoped to continue his positive momentum.
He and Piper made their way upstairs, stopping when they were outside their respective rooms. Piper’s door was open, so shepeered inside. “Looks like Gus decided to sleep in my room tonight.”
He goes where he’s most comfortable. He leaned closer and took her hand. “You were right to say we shouldn’t sleep in the same room. If we did, I would onlywant to make love to you. These beds are old as sin. The squeak would be noticeable.”
A warm and sexy smile crossed her lips. “I’ll take a rain check.”
He reined her in with his arms. Being this close to her and not having her was agonizing, but they’d have privacy once theygot to Barcelona. She raised her lips to his and delivered a kiss that put his whole body on notice. He wanted it to go onforever. “Good night, Piper. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yes. See you then.”
The sun was just beginning to stream through the sheer curtains of Piper’s room when she heard a nearly imperceptible creakof door hinges. “Gus. You came back,” she said softly. She’d taken him out to pee around 4:30 and he’d curled up on the kitchenfloor, presumably to wait for jamón. She’d left her door ajar in anticipation of his return.
“It’s not Gus,” Emilio answered with a voice rich and husky.
She rolled over to see him silently close her door, dressed only in dark gray boxer briefs. It was too early in the morningfor that much sexiness—the sight of his naked chest was enough to make her swoon. “What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Shh.” He held his finger to his lips and carefully slipped under the covers next to her.
A ribbon of excitement fluttered in her belly. It was her body’s natural response to him. She’d been disappointed not to staywith him last night, but fun times had to wait in the name of decorum. “The bed. The squeak.”
He scooted closer, prompting the metallic sound. She silently bugged her eyes at him. He rolled his in return.
“It’s your rain check,” he whispered.
“Your grandmother is awake. I smell coffee.”
“We aren’t going to make that kind of noise. Roll over. Away from me.”
Piper wasn’t sure what she was in for, but something told her she’d be a complete idiot to say no. She did as he asked, beingvery careful not to make any sounds.
