Page 80 of Too Fast To Fall
From there, they returned to London for the first few days of the summer break, then went to Ximena’s house in Spain for anight to drop off Gus for some “grandma” time. Emilio and Piper traveled to Portugal as just a couple, where they walked thebeach and lounged by the pool of their very expensive hotel. They toured a castle and strolled hand in hand through streetmarkets. They had so much sex Piper could hardly walk by the time they checked out.
Even so, that trip wasn’t just about the physical. With everyone and everything else out of the way, they were able to talk.About being together. About the future. About what that might look like, and about how they wanted to be a team. A partnership.
“I think the only compromise is to live in two places,” Emilio said one night over dinner at a lovely little place on thecoast. They had grilled fish and a bottle of verdejo. “London and Florida. I don’t want you to have to be away from familyif you don’t want to. Especially with Meghan’s baby on the way.”
“You need to be close to Mega Headquarters.”
“For sure.”
Piper was busy perusing the dessert list. “I’ve already talked to my mom about a condo. She’s been looking for places.”
“Let’s buy a house. So you can have the really nice place to live that you dreamed about. And Gus will be happier.”
“I can chip in with my money from the Nom Nom deal. Whenever that gets signed.”
“I’m not worried about it.” He leaned over to kiss her softly. “As long as we’re together, it’ll work out.”
Yes, it all happened fast, the intertwining of their lives. That was mostly how things moved in Emilio’s world, although Piperhad always enjoyed traveling at high speeds. Together, they were creating a delicious whirlwind.
And now they were shopping for that home together. They figured they could be in the US for part of the year and in Europefor the rest, and then of course, they would be all over the globe during the Formula One season, whenever Piper was up forattending the races.
Piper walked up to the house and embraced her mom, then watched as her mom gave Emilio a hug. There was a genuine warmth betweenthem, but the real love affair was between Emilio and Piper’s dad. Actually, it was more of a love triangle, between Emilio,her dad and Gus.
“Your dad just sent me a text,” Willa said. “He and Gus went for a walk, then to the dog park, where they apparently mademany friends.”
“Did he have some of Piper’s treats with him?” Emilio asked.
“Always. Then he took Gus to the hardware store, where everyone doted on him like crazy, and finally they went to Starbucksand got him something called a pup cup? I don’t know. Your father thinks Gus is his first grandchild.”
Piper smiled. “Sounds like Dad.”
“Exactly.”
Emilio squeezed Piper’s hand. “Gus is a very happy boy now. That’s for sure.”
Piper knew exactly what that meant. After Emilio came to Florida, he told her exactly how down Gus had been after she left.So sad that Emilio had worried he’d never be the same. But apparently, all of that disappeared in the banquet room of TheGrand Salt Cay restaurant. When the three of them were reunited and everything fell into place.
Piper turned to Emilio and he smiled, making Piper’s heart feel like it might burst. He was the man of her dreams. She’d beenwaiting for him. She just hadn’t known it.
“Shall we go inside?” Willa popped the key out of the lockbox.
“Can’t wait to see it.” Piper stepped into the foyer, which was an odd raised platform with a coat closet off to one side.Emilio followed as she stepped down into the great room. It was sizable and open, with a high wood-beamed ceiling and a viewto the pool and the backyard. Although the layout felt very modern, nothing appeared to have been updated since perhaps the1970s.
“It’s a four-bedroom, three-bath,” Willa said.
Piper turned to Emilio, squeezing his hand. “Plenty of room.”
He nodded, seeming unconvinced. It wasn’t an impressive house. But Piper could see the possibilities. “After London, everythingfeels like a lot of space,” he said. “Let’s keep looking.”
As they went from room to room, Piper felt like her new life was revealing itself. She could see the future. Like never before.“This room is great. Could be my home office.”
Emilio stepped inside and turned around. “Not sure this looks like the headquarters of a multimillion-dollar dog treat company.”
Piper swiped his arm. She wasn’t anywhere close to that, but she had signed a deal with Nom Nom. They were manufacturing thetreat recipe she’d devised and calling them Gus’s Yum Yums. They not only had an illustration of Gus on the package, but aportion of every sale would go to a foundation for animal causes that Piper had started as well. She wasn’t much of an expertin the marketing and sales of dog treats, but she did know animals, and this played to her strengths. They hoped to providefunding to shelters and rescues all over the world. “Plenty of space for a desk and a computer. This will work just fine.”
They walked to the end of the hall to the primary bedroom. It was spacious, with hardwood floors and bright sunny windows.“This is nice. Lots of room for a big bed,” Emilio said. He seemed to be slowly softening to the house.
Willa cleared her throat. “That’s right. Plenty of room.”
