He set the bill in the folder and closed it, running his hands down his thighs. It was because she was so special, he couldn’t slip up. He had to see if she was willing to like him for him. Drew. Not Andrew Livingston III. He would explain the generous tip away, but after this he vowed to play the part of regular old Drew.
He watched as she exited the kitchen, effortlessly balancing three foam boxes in her hands. His pulse raced at the smile she gave him.
Dang. He swallowed hard. Don’t mess this up, Drew.
Chapter Eleven
Piper handed Drew the dessert boxes. “Thanks for coming in. You won’t be disappointed with the dessert.”
He held her gaze. “I’m sure I won’t.”
Piper wanted to get lost in those chocolate brown eyes, the look in them hungry for more than dessert.
“What time do you get off?” he asked.
She lifted a shoulder. “You’re my last table, so I’ll probably take off in a few minutes.”
“Mind if I walk you to your car?”
Her heart thudded. She should say it wasn’t necessary, but her brain wasn’t getting the memo. “Sure,” she said.
One corner of his mouth lifted. “I’ll wait here.”
“Okay. Let me just make sure they don’t need anything else and I’ll be right back.”
“No rush.”
She pointed to the Styrofoam box. “You should have a bite of that while it’s still warm.”
He dipped his head and obediently opened the box. Piper smiled when she saw his eyes widen. One cake could easily serve three.
He stared at her. “You didn’t mention how ginormous these things are.”
She laughed. “You didn’t ask.”
He shook his head and she giggled again, heading toward the kitchen where Romero was still sulking over his lost queen. Piper tried not to gloat as she leaned against the counter and addressed the kitchen staff and servers within hearing range. “Is it okay with you guys if I take off right now?”
Laura folded her arms. “Depends. Is it to go spend time with him?” She gestured toward the dining room.
Piper couldn’t fight the smile. “Possibly.”
Laura shook her head, tiny braids swinging from her ponytail. “Girl, I hope you know how lucky you are.” She smiled. “I doubt anyone else is coming in, but if they do, I got you covered.”
Piper grinned. “Thanks, Laura.”
“No problem.” She lifted a finger. “But if you kiss him, I want details. Got it?”
The guys in the kitchen whistled and made catcalls. Piper blushed. “Guys, I just met him, okay?”
Laura laughed. “Maybe so, but the way he’s been lookin’ at you?” She gave a knowing nod. “Details.”
Piper rolled her eyes and waved a hand at them as she went to get her things. She checked her phone and saw she’d missed another call from her mom. And there was a voicemail. She frowned and pocketed the phone. Her mom hadn’t made contact of any kind in weeks, and now two calls in one day? Worry needled its way into her, but she fought against it. If it was an emergency, her mom would have texted too. Unless she’d neglected to pay her phone bill again and couldn’t text. Piper shook the thought away and exited the kitchen, ignoring the continued teasing from her coworkers.
Drew stood when he saw her coming. “Something exciting going on in there?” He nodded toward the kitchen, an impish spark in his eyes. He clearly knew what Piper was being teased about.
“It’s nothing,” she said, giving the flirty look right back to him before changing the subject. “So how did you like the cake?”
“Amazing as promised. And speaking of which—this is for you.” He handed her a box.
She blinked in surprise. “For me?”
He nodded. “I thought you deserved a little after-work treat. Don’t worry, I gave you one that hasn't been touched yet."
Truthfully, she wouldn’t mind sharing food—or a fork—that had touched Drew’s lips. She smiled. “Thanks, that was really thoughtful. I hope Olivia likes it too.”
His forehead wrinkled at the mention of his sister and Piper knew he was in a hurry to get back to her.
“You really don’t have to walk me to my car,” she said. “I feel bad making her dessert cold.”
“It’s fine. Our place isn’t far.”
They neared the exit and the host gave Piper a head nod. “See you, Piper.”
“See you, Phil. Good luck with your hockey game tomorrow.”
Phil smiled. “Thanks. Have a good night.” His eyes flicked to Drew and back to Piper with a little grin.
Once they were outside, Drew nudged her softly. “How do you do that?”
She turned. “Do what?”
“You’re really good with people. Always giving them compliments and talking to them
like you’ve known them forever.”
She laughed. “I have known Phil forever. I’ve worked here since I was fifteen.”
He shook his head. “Not just him. I watched you interacting with the people you served. And that cashier at Henry’s earlier. You have a gift.”
She gave him a sideways smile and shrugged. “People are easy to like, I guess. Maybe that’s why I majored in public relations.”
He nodded, his eyes warm. “A good choice. What do you plan to do with it?”
She paused at the question. There were many things she wanted to do, but none of them outweighed her desire to stay in Pine Ridge. She shrugged. “For now, go to work for a successful real estate company.”
“You’ll be great.” He smiled, though it seemed a little forced.
She glanced at him, tilting her head to the side. Maybe it wasn’t glamorous, but neither was being a waitress. “After that, who knows?” she continued. “Public relations was the right path for me, but when it came time to find a find career in that field, my options weren’t as broad as I’d hoped.”
“Especially if you want to stay in Pine Ridge,” he finished for her.
She gave a half-smile. “Exactly.”
They were slowly making their way around the front of the restaurant to the back parking lot. The spring mountain air was chilly, but she was in no rush to finish the walk. Drew seemed to feel the same way, taking slow steps. A breeze rustled through the pines and Piper hugged her arms against herself. Drew noticed immediately.
“Cold?”
She nodded. “It’s okay though. Don’t you love the sound the wind makes through the trees?”
“There’s nothing like it.” He wrapped his free arm around her shoulders and Piper’s heart stopped. She could smell his cologne and her senses reeled at his closeness. His arm fit perfectly around her.
“Is this better?” he asked, his face dangerously close to hers as his brown eyes searched for her answer.
“Yes,” she managed. “Thanks.” “Better” didn’t even begin to describe what she was feeling. Her pulse hammered and she hoped he couldn’t hear the way her heart raced around in her chest. She looked away from him to clear her head. “So . . . your place isn’t far? Where is it?”
He paused and she realized that might sound like a proposition so she rushed on. “I mean, for Olivia’s sake. So her dessert won’t get cold.” Dumb! With his arm around her she couldn’t seem to think straight.
Drew blinked. “Right. It’s an apartment on Canterbury. Do you know that area?”
“Yes. That’s a nice new complex.” Her pulse slowed slightly and she was grateful for the neutral topic. “Jade’s fiancé owns the construction company that built it. How do you like it so far?”
“We’re still moving in, but it’s fine.” He glanced at her sideways, sending her heart racing again. The magnetic charge passing between them was impossible to ignore. From the look in his eyes she knew he felt it too. She had to do something to put some space between them so she could think.
“There’s my car,” she said, subtly pulling out from under his arm as she fumbled inside her purse for her keys.
; “I recognize it from lunch,” he said.
She grabbed the keys and pointed the fob at her car to unlock it in an almost desperate motion.
He tipped his head, as though amused by her sudden urgency. “Can I help you hold anything?”
“Thanks, but I’ve got it.” She opened the back door of her car, which gave an embarrassing rusty squeal.
He scraped his shoe on the pavement, pretending not to notice, for which she was grateful. She tossed her bag and purse onto the backseat, carefully placing the Styrofoam box in before slamming the door shut to avoid another squeak.
He met her eyes, the moonlight illuminating his strong features as he took a step closer. “Thanks for dinner. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night.”
She swallowed, backing up a tiny step. “Me too.” If she could just get in and drive away, she could think rationally again.
He gave an adorable side smile and set his boxes on the trunk of her car, then reached out and pulled her into a hug. She drew in a deep breath of his cologne, savoring the feel of his strong arms around her. All desire to run away evaporated and she held him closer. Fireworks ignited all over her body.
He drew back, his brown eyes slightly wide as he scanned her face. Then her mouth. He leaned in and she stilled, closing her eyes.
“Piper! Hold on!” a voice yelled behind them.
Her eyes flew open and Drew reluctantly let go of her, turning to see who it was. Piper straightened, willing herself not to be disappointed when Laura jogged toward them, waving something in the air. “You forgot your money!”
Piper covered her mouth, staring at Drew. “I totally forgot to ring you up.”
He laughed. “I didn’t even think about it.”
Laura reached them and gave the money to Drew. “Your change.”
She gave Piper a loaded look and Piper shifted her weight. She was totally busted.
“Enjoy the evening, you two.” Laura winked and jogged back toward the restaurant.
Drew handed the bills to Piper. “This is for you.”
Her eyes widened at the amount. It was way more than twenty percent. She shook her head. “You bought me dessert, so we’re even.”
He squinted. “You don’t want my money?”
She couldn’t describe the expression on his face, but it definitely wasn’t disappointment. She lowered his hand. “It’s fine. Really.”
His face cleared and he shook his head. “I insist.”
She planted her feet and crossed her arms. “It’s too much.”
He held her gaze, one side of his mouth turned up at the corner. “I’m not leaving until you accept it.”
Part of her was flattered that he was insisting, but the stubborn part of her wouldn’t back down. She shrugged. “Fine.” She slipped a twenty from his fingers. “But I’m not taking more than this. You can stand here all night if you want to.”
He shook his head and slid the remaining money into his pocket, keeping his gaze locked on hers. “You’re used to getting what you want, aren’t you?”
She lifted her chin and smirked. “Maybe.”
His eyes smoldered, the look in them sending delicious shivers down her spine. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them as he lowered his voice. “So am I.” Before she could answer he took her in his arms, capturing her mouth with his.
Explosions rocked through every nerve in Piper’s body as she returned the kiss, fisting her hands in his dark hair. His firm chest pressed against her as the kiss deepened. Piper’s heart pounded, new and exciting sensations spiraling through her like tiny lightning bolts. She drew him closer, wanting more. But he pulled away, his eyes searching hers.
They stared at each other for several heartbeats, both of them trying to steady their breathing. Piper was too overwhelmed to speak. She wanted to reach for him again. His eyes dropped to her lips like he was thinking the same thing, but then he stepped back, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“I’d better get back. Liv’s dessert will be cold.”
“Right.” Piper’s mind reeled and she felt the loss of his touch like a splash of cold water. She put a hand to her chest. “I should probably get to bed. Don’t want to be tired on my first day.”
“Good idea.” His expression clouded, contradicting his words. He leaned back on his heels before grabbing the Styrofoam boxes. “Are we still on for tomorrow night?”
She nodded. “Definitely.”
Their eyes held each other for a few seconds until Piper forced herself to turn and open her car door. If she didn’t leave now, she would be tempted to throw herself at him again. They’d only just met. She rarely kissed on a first date, and she wanted this to be more than a passing fling.
“See you tomorrow,” she said, avoiding looking at him as she climbed in and closed the door. She keyed the ignition and turned to see him give her a parting wave. She waved back and he smiled, like some gorgeous magazine model, before he backed up a few steps.
She swallowed and put the car in reverse. As she headed out of the parking lot she blew out a long breath. “Piper Robinson, what are you thinking?” she said out loud. She glanced in the mirror and saw Drew walking to his car, his stride long and confident. Even the way he walked was sexy.
She shook her head at the butterflies swarming her stomach and grinned, focusing on the road again. “So much for being just friends.”
Chapter Twelve
Drew walked into the two-bedroom apartment he shared with Olivia. “Liv?” he called.
“In here.”
He could hear the TV going in the living room. He took the box with her lava cake and tore off the lid, placing the container in the microwave for a few seconds to reheat the gooey center.
She walked into the kitchen, her eyes red and puffy. His heart sank. Without saying a word, he pulled her into a hug. It was the only way he knew to make his sister feel better when she was down—wrapping her up as if he could shield her from any pain. His jaw flexed. It was a good thing Spencer wasn’t here, or he would give him a pair of matching black eyes.
Liv sniffed and tightened the hug. “I’m okay,” she said, pulling back with a watery smile. “What’s in the microwave?”
“Something to make you feel better.” He held his finger up for her to wait and opened the microwave. An impressive amount of hot fudge and caramel oozed over the top of the cake. He removed the box and held it out to her with a smile. “Presenting, the Mother Lode.”
Liv choked out a laugh. “Wow. How did you know a mountain of chocolate was exactly what I needed right now?” She took the box from him. “Thanks, Drew. Do you want some?”
He held up a plastic fork. “Nope. I had mine on the way here.”
“Good, because I didn’t really want to share.” She smirked and slid onto a barstool. “Did I tell you you’re awesome today? Because you are.”
“I know.” He smiled, happy to see her good spirits returning. He handed her the fork and took the barstool next to her. “How did your night go? Besides the phone call, I mean.”
She shrugged and took a bite of the cake before answering. “Mmm.” Her eyes rolled back in rapture before she swallowed. “This is so good.”
He nodded. “But it’s missing one thing.” He stood and went to the freezer, which at the moment contained only one item: a carton of cookies and cream ice cream. He was a sucker for the stuff.
“Ooh, good thinking,” she said as he pulled it out of the freezer.
He removed the lid and dropped a giant scoop of ice cream atop the cake. “Now it’s perfect.”
“Thanks for sharing your special stash with me.” She scooped up another bite. “I made a trip to the grocery store earlier so we won’t have to keep eating out.”
“But that’s my excuse to see Piper,” he argued. He put the ice cream back and leaned against the counter.
“How did it go? Did you walk her to her car?”
A slow grin worked across Drew’s face at the memory of hol
ding Piper in his arms. Man, that girl got his heart pumping.
Liv’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth. “You kissed her?!”
He nodded once and she squealed.
“Drew! You really like her. I can tell.”
“I didn’t plan for it,” he shook his head, “especially after Lindsay. I was ready to swear off girls for a while.” She nodded, her eyes tight with sympathy. He blew out a breath. “But—something happens to me when I’m around Piper.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I do like her, Liv. A lot.”
Her face softened and she leaned her head on her hand. “I know. You never kiss on a first date.”
He cocked his head to the side and gave a wry smile. “Technically it was a second date. I took her to lunch, remember?”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. The point is, you saw her in the mall the other day and now she’s all you can think about. It’s like she cast a spell on you.”
He looked down, not denying it. His stomach did little jumps at the thought of Piper—the way she interacted with people. Her smile. The way she felt in his arms. Her kiss.
“Just promise you’ll be careful, okay?”
Drew’s head snapped up. “What do you mean?”
Olivia swirled her fork around in her cake and ice cream, not meeting his eyes. “I’m not trying to burst your bubble. I just don’t want you to get hurt, you know?”
He knew exactly what she was referring to. “Liv, you don’t have to worry. She’s nothing like Lindsay.”
She nodded, still not meeting his eyes. “But you hardly know her. Just make sure you go into this with both eyes open this time.”
“I will.” He met her with a steady gaze, tucking away the seed of doubt her words had planted. She was right, he still hardly knew Piper. And the fact that she wouldn’t talk about her parents was a concern. His elation over the kiss began to dissipate and he shifted. “Any luck on the job hunt today?”
She eyed him at the change of subject. “Not yet. It’s looking like I’m going to have to drive into Denver if I want to find something beyond minimum wage. This town is pretty, but there’s not much by way of work.”
Lucky You (Pine Ridge Romance Book 1) Page 6
