Chapter Five
Piper turned up the radio and rolled the window down. It was mildly chilly out, but she found the air invigorating. In a few months, she would miss this, when the air was sweltering and her car’s broken A/C offered no relief. She patted the steering wheel. This car had gotten her where she needed to go over the years, and she appreciated it. But once she landed the job with Josh, it would be time for an upgrade.
She pulled into the drive-thru of the Pine Ridge Bank, noticing they were fixing the sign. About time—only half of it lit up at night. She took one of the three open lanes and put the car in park, digging through her purse for her check from the Silvermine, the upscale Pine Ridge restaurant that had put her through college. She’d enjoyed being a server there, and made good tips, but the late-night hours had been a killer for her social life. She could almost count on one hand the number of dates she’d had in the last year.
For some reason, this thought summoned a certain pair of chocolate brown eyes in her mind. She batted the image away as she filled out the form and placed her check in the plastic holder, pressing the button to send it shooting up the tube.
Piper relaxed back into her seat, knowing she’d be waiting a while. It always took the loveable bank employees an eternity to respond. One of her favorite songs came on the radio and she turned up the volume, singing along as she used the rearview mirror to reapply her lipstick.
Someone cleared his throat and Piper gave a small start, nearly dropping her lipstick. She turned in surprise to the bank teller on the screen outside her window. He stared at her with an amused smile, his chocolate brown eyes laughing.
“Sorry . . . am I interrupting?” Drew asked.
Piper flushed and fumbled with her lipstick tube before turning off the radio. “No. Sorry. I was just—” She turned and swiped at the corners of her mouth before facing him again, “I wasn’t expecting such a quick response.” She cleared her throat. “How long have you worked here?”
He grinned, making a dimple appear in one cheek. “You’re one of my first customers.”
Her stomach fluttered. “Oh, well. Lucky me.” She forced a little laugh that even to her, sounded strained.
“I was just thinking the same thing.” He smiled again and looked down. “I see you’re making a deposit today?”
She squirmed, embarrassed he could see how small the check was. How small her bank account was. So many mortifying details, it was hard to pick which one was the worst. She made a small choking sound. “Actually, I forgot . . . I, um—need to add something. If you want to send it back I’ll swing by later.”
His fingers were already clicking the keys as he looked away from the screen. “Oh, sorry. I already deposited it for you.” More clicking. “Would you like any cash back?” His eyes flicked to hers.
She swallowed, appreciating that there was no teasing in his expression as he held her gaze.
“No. That’s fine,” she said.
“You’re sure?”
Too late anyway. “Yeah. I’ll just come back . . . later.” Much later. She was already planning to switch banks. It would be worth driving into Denver to avoid this humiliation in the future.
“I’ll just send your receipt back then. Is there anything else I can help you with today, Miss Robinson?”
She smiled at his overly businesslike tone, trying hard not to notice how good he looked in his shirt and tie.
“I believe that’s all for today. Thank you, Mr.—” She squinted at his nametag, pretending she didn’t already know his last name. Or have his phone number memorized. “Mr. Carson,” she finished with a smile.
He laughed, and the sound sent delicious shivers along Piper’s spine.
His twiddled his pen in the air. “Listen, I’m not usually this forward, but running into you twice in twenty-four hours feels like more than a coincidence.”
Piper held her breath, her heart thudding as she waited for him to continue.
One corner of his mouth lifted as he leaned forward, his brown eyes searching hers across the screen. A man walked behind him and Drew looked over his shoulder. “I’ll have that information for you in just one moment, miss,” he said, resuming the businesslike tone as he gave Piper a teasing smile. She giggled while he scribbled something on a piece of paper and held it up to the screen.
Have lunch with me?
Piper bit her lip. What was it about this guy that was so irresistible? She had to admit, it did seem like more than a coincidence, running into him again like this.
When she hesitated, he scribbled again.
Just as friends, of course.
He gave her a rakish smile and Piper forgot how to breathe. She managed a nod and his smile broadened, showing his dimple again.
“Excellent.” He winked, somehow managing to make it charming, before resuming his businesslike expression. “I’ll send the information over to you now. But before you go . . . can I verify I have the correct phone number listed on your account?”
She smirked. Very smooth. “Sure. Though I feel I should tell you—as one of your first customers—that I don’t usually verify my information on a routine deposit.”
He straightened his shoulders, which stretched beautifully under his dress shirt. “It will only take a moment of your time. Is this your number?” He read the phone number and Piper nodded. “Your cell number?” he pressed.
“Yes.”
He sat back with a satisfied nod. “I wouldn’t want to mess anything up—your account means a lot to the National Liberty Bank.”
Piper frowned. “Wait. You mean the Pine Ridge Bank, right?”
His neck flushed slightly under his collar. “Of course. I get the name confused . . . new job and all.”
Her face relaxed. “It’s understandable.”
Drew wrote something down on a piece of paper and stuck it into the plastic holder, sending it back to her. “It’s been a pleasure serving you today, Miss Robinson. I hope we’ll be seeing more of you in the near future.”
Piper’s breath caught at the glimmer in his eyes. “There’s a fair chance,” she said with a playful shrug.
“I’m happy to hear it.” He gave her one final smile before the screen went blank.
The plastic tube dropped into the holder beside Piper’s open window and she retrieved it, giggling when she saw that Drew had slipped two suckers in, along with a note.
Henry’s in fifteen minutes? I’ll text to confirm.
Piper put the car in gear and slowly pulled out of the drive-thru, her stomach doing funny flips as she gave a little squeal. Was this really happening? Her phone dinged with a text message and it took all of her will power to wait until she hit a stoplight to read it.
This is Drew. Henry’s ok?
She rushed to reply before the light turned green.
Sounds great. See you soon.
I’m looking forward to it.
She gave another squeal and made her way to the popular café, bursting to call one of her friends. Nearly all of the shops and restaurants in Pine Ridge were located along Main Street, so in less than three minutes she was pulling into a parking spot at Henry’s. She grabbed her phone and debated which friend to call first. Savannah would be busy with the wedding, so she opted for Leah. The line rang several times. “Come on, pick up,” she said under her breath.
“Hey, Pipe.”
“Leah!” Piper squealed.
She laughed. “Does this mean you got the job?”
“What? Oh . . . I don’t know, but the interview went really well, so I’m hopeful.”
“What’s got you so excited then?”
Piper could hear the TV playing in the background. Leah’s mom always had it on. “I’ve got a date with the guy I met last night.”
“Dressing Room Guy?!”
“Yes!”
“You called him?”
“No. He works at the bank—right here in Pine Ridge.”
Leah gasped. “He lives here? It’s fate!”
Piper paused. “Maybe. I actually don’t know anything about him.”
“Uh-oh.”
“What?”
“I heard that pause,” Leah accused.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Piper said, squirming in her seat.
“Just promise to give Hottie Dressing Room Guy a chance, okay?” Leah said. “You haven’t been this excited about dating someone in a long time.”
Piper nodded, more for her own benefit than Leah’s. She knew what Leah was talking about. Piper wanted someone special in her life, but every time things started to get serious, she panicked and bolted. She was afraid of getting too close—of letting others see her broken childhood. Or worse still, giving her heart to someone and having them trample it the way her parents had. She closed her eyes. It was just a lunch date. A harmless little lunch date, and Drew made it clear they were only meeting as friends.
“Promise me, Piper?” Leah repeated.
She opened her eyes and blew out a breath. “I promise.”
Chapter Six
Drew read Piper’s text and smiled. He didn’t necessarily believe in fate, but how else could he explain it? The fact that he’d done a little research and found out she lived in Pine Ridge—sure. That was all him. But the fact that his family’s bank was buying out the Pine Ridge Bank, creating the perfect cover for him to come in and oversee the transition? And that she would come by that very morning? Well, Drew was beginning to believe in fate.
“So, who is she?” the teller next to him asked, giving Drew a smirk. “I hope you won’t make a habit of throwing me out of my chair every time a pretty face drives up.”
“Sorry, Pete.” Drew gave him a sheepish smile. “I promise it won’t happen again. I just ran into that girl last night and really wanted to talk to her. And I didn’t throw you—exactly.”
Pete shrugged. “Throw, jerk, toss—whatever you want to call it.” He grinned. “I haven’t seen anyone scramble that fast around here since free doughnut day.”
Drew laughed and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. As soon as he’d seen Piper’s face on the camera, he’d practically shoved Pete out of the way so he could serve her. “I guess I was kind of abrupt. Sorry about that.”
Pete leaned his head back. “It’s okay. We’ll call it even if you find out if she has any single friends.”
“Will do.”
Drew liked Pete. He worked hard, was friendly and a great people person. No one knew Drew’s background, and Pete had been nice to him right off the bat—something Drew valued. He would have to look into getting Pete a promotion once the transition was final.
Drew checked his watch, a totally unimpressive timepiece he’d bought at the mall last night. He turned to Pete. “It’s time for my lunch break. I’ll be back in about an hour. And I’ll find out if she has any friends.”
Pete gave him a high five and Drew strolled out of the bank, his stomach doing strange things which had nothing to do with hunger and everything to do with the prospect of meeting up with a certain gorgeous redhead.
***
Piper waited in the entrance of the busy café, clutching her camel-colored purse which matched her heels. She was grateful she’d run into Drew while still wearing her cute interview outfit, which was doubly perfect for an impromptu lunch.
“Sorry I made you wait.”
She turned and her heart climbed into her throat. Drew stood there, looking like some kind of dark-haired super model in his shirt, tie, and slacks. Even with her heels on he stood several inches taller. She caught the faint scent of his cologne and her pulse stuttered. Trouble.
“I’ve actually never eaten here before, but my coworker recommended it. What’s good?” he asked.
Piper found her voice and turned to the menu printed above the ordering counter. “The Henry’s Special is always a hit, but you can’t go wrong with anything here.”
He nodded. “The special sounds great. Do you know what you want?”
“I’ll have the same.”
He smiled and stepped up to the counter, ordering two of the specials. They watched as the workers behind the counter began constructing the panini sandwiches, salads, and soups, asking questions about the orders as they worked which left no room for conversation.
“For here or to go?” the cashier asked.
“Here,” Drew answered, reaching for his wallet. He stopped short, his face flushing.
“I can pay for mine,” Piper said, rushing to calm the panicked look on his face.
He turned to her, his eyes tight. “I can’t believe this—I think I left my wallet at the bank. Let me run and get it. It’ll take six minutes, tops.”
Piper shook her head and ignored the impatient sighs of people in line behind them. “Don’t be silly. I’ve got it.” She reached into her purse and handed her card to the cashier who swiped it before Drew could protest.
He scratched the back of his neck, looking adorably flushed. “I’m so sorry. I’ll pay you back.”
Piper shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.” She threw in a smile for good measure, trying not to think about the unexpected hit to her already shrinking bank account. The amount of which Drew now knew to the penny.
“Here’s the receipt,” the cashier said, handing it to Piper.
“Thanks.” She paused, her eye catching the delicate bracelet on the girl’s wrist. “I love your bracelet, by the way.”
The girl beamed. “Thanks. I made it myself.”
Piper’s eyes widened. “Seriously? Can I see it?”
The girl held her wrist out and Piper examined the silver bracelet with a tiny silver heart at the center. “Do you sell these?”
“Nope. I just make them for fun.”
Piper looked at her. “You should. It’s darling. I would totally buy one.”
The man standing behind them cleared his throat and Piper realized she was holding up the line. She smiled at the cashier, glancing at her nametag. “There are tons of places to sell jewelry online. Think about it, Sarah.”
Sarah nodded. “Thanks. I will.”
Piper was about to grab the tray, but Drew beat her to it.
“I’ve got it.”
“Thanks.” She followed him, trying hard not to admire his muscular form from behind as he carried the tray through the crowded café.
“Where would you like to sit?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder.
Piper gestured to the open-air seating in the back. “Mind if we sit out there?”
“Looks great.”
They weaved past tables to the outside patio. This was Piper’s favorite place to sit at Henry’s. She loved their stone water feature and the backdrop of the mountains behind it.
Drew set the tray on the table. “Can I get you anything else?”
She shook her head. “I think I’m all set.”
He hesitated as if anticipating she might change her mind, then slid out the metal chair, taking the seat across from her. “I still can’t believe I let you pay for my lunch.”
She smiled. “Don’t worry about it.” She undid the paper wrapping on her napkin and utensils, placing the napkin on her lap. “So, I have to ask, do you live here in Pine Ridge? I haven’t seen you at the bank before.” And she would have noticed.
Drew reached for his napkin and she was glad to see the flush fading from his neck.
“I’ve just moved here.”
“From where?” She took a bite of salad, waiting for him to answer.
He shifted. “From back east. I recently finished my degree in business administration and thought it would be a good time to see the Rockies. I’ve always heard about them, but nothing beats seeing them in person.”
Piper nodded. “I couldn’t agree more.” She took another bite, allowing him to eat before she asked another question. “So, you moved here with your sister and got a job at the bank?”
He took a sip of water. “It’s a starting point. Olivia decided to come with me last-minu
te when her boyfriend—” He stopped cold.
Piper gave him a sympathetic nod. “She told me she’d had a recent breakup.”
He relaxed. “Yes. She wanted to get as far away from that guy as possible, so she decided to come with me. She’s looking for something here in Pine Ridge while she finishes her degree online.”
Piper tilted her head, frowning. “Unfortunately, there isn’t as much variety here as there is in Denver. What kind of job is she looking for?” Maybe she could take Piper’s waitressing job when she quit.
Drew shrugged. “I think she’s open to just about anything.”
“I’ll ask around and see what I can find. I’ve been looking myself—in fact, I had an interview just this morning.”
He leaned forward. “Really? How did it go?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I think it went well. He said he’d be in touch with me soon.”
“He?” Drew quirked an eyebrow.
“Josh Graydon. He owns a local real estate company and is looking to hire an assistant.”
Something flicked across Drew’s face, but he quickly erased it. “Well, I hope you get it. He’d be a fool to pass you up.”
Piper smiled and looked down at her plate, her pulse dangerously unsteady at the look in his eyes. “Thanks. We’ll see.”
The hour passed quickly as they talked and ate. Drew was easy to talk to and Piper found herself wishing she could pause time for a while as his lunch hour was coming to an end.
He checked his watch and frowned. “I guess I’d better be getting back. Can I walk you to your car?”
She nodded and began gathering the dishes on the tray. One side of his mouth twitched as he watched her.
“You seem to be an expert at this.”
She blushed. “I work as a server at a steak house here in town. I help clear tables when we’re short-handed.”
“Cool. Which restaurant?”
For all the admiration brimming in his eyes, one would think she’d just explained that she’d won the Nobel Prize.
“The Silvermine.” She laughed when he continued to look impressed. “It really isn’t a big deal. Besides, I had lots of experience doing the dishes growing up.” As soon as she said the words, she wished she could retract them, but Drew didn’t seem to notice her embarrassment.
Lucky You (Pine Ridge Romance Book 1) Page 3
