Piper LeVine, A Gypsy's Truth

by Eris Kelli

  Chapter Six

  Sidney was knocking on my door when I woke up next. Freaking Deception still was not back. Maybe he had learned enough about me and was never returning. “Come in.”

  “It’s just after 9:30 are you ready to get up?”

  “Yes, I’ll get up.”

  “Good, because your mother is on the phone.” She closed my door quickly. I’m assuming because she did not want me to argue about having to talk to Katrine. I crawled down the length of my bed and snatched the phone off its cradle.

  “Hello, Katrine.”

  “I cannot believe you. I have never treated you poorly because of your mother, and the other night was a weak moment. I’ve been your mom your entire life and that’s what you’ll call me.” She breathed angrily into the phone. “I never planned on telling you, Piper. I was upset about the picture, and I didn’t think they were just going to show up like that in the middle of the night.”

  “Are you finished?”

  “No. Your grandmother says you refuse to come home.”

  My heart was hammering in my ears. I had never stood up to my mom this way, and I couldn’t stop. “I am home.”

  “Ridiculous. I’m sending Trina to come and keep an eye on you.”

  I rolled my eyes though she couldn’t see me. “My little sister?”

  “That’s right. She knows how to behave. There aren’t pictures of her all over the media acting like-”

  I gripped the desk. “Let me guess, my mother?”

  “You are such an ungrateful little brat. I took you in and have cared for you the best I could. Now you’re holding that against me? Your mother was going to use you to ruin your father. You were a tool to her. She didn’t want you.” I hung up the phone.

  I dressed in jeans and a button up, short sleeved, blue and white plaid shirt. Everything felt like a dream. Every movement I made did not seem real, and it was bizarre. I laced up my sneakers and left my room. My grandma was standing in the doorway talking to Tony. I turned to use the back door, and I heard his voice.

  Grandma Sidney opened the door wider and there stood Nicholas at Tony’s side. My mouth was open when I stopped at my grandmother’s side. “He says you told him there was an opening here?” Tony asked me, and I cleared my throat to try to buy a second.

  “What I said was there might be a position, and if there was it was only a temporary one. That’s what I said.” The jeans he was wearing were skin tight, and the shirt was an old black Rolling Stones t-shirt. “I didn’t guarantee him a job.”

  “But do you recommend him?” Grandma Sidney asked me, and Tony was looking at me just as hard as she was. Nicholas was smiling at me in an, I dare you sort of way, and I heard myself say that I did.

  “Then we’ll put him to work,” Tony said and clapped Nicholas on the back. “You’ve got to be willing to work, this isn’t a sit-down job.” I was watching them walk away when I realized Grandma Sidney was watching me. No, she was smiling at me.

  She leaned on the doorframe to get a better look at my face. “Where did you meet him?”

  I shrugged so she wouldn’t get any ideas. “At the restaurant last night. He lost his job as a waiter.”

  “Really? He’s quite handsome.”

  I tried to give her an easy smile. “I just felt bad for him. That’s all.” I followed her back toward the kitchen. “He may be terrible with the animals.”

  She handed me an English muffin with eggs and cheese filling it. “You get any thinner and I’ll start force feeding you, understand?” I nodded and took a big bite. “Now I know you’re upset about Rick. I also know your mom is telling you to stay away from boys, but she’s wrong. The best way to get over a boy is to date another one.” I nodded for her benefit. It felt terrible knowing Rick was no longer my boyfriend. It was for the best, but it didn’t feel like it.

  Tony had my straw hat ready for me when I came outside. “This new guy is only a couple of years older than you. He hasn’t even hit twenty yet,” Tony was smiling as he filled me in. “Could be just the boy to take you to your senior prom.”

  I could feel my shoulders rising up. “Probably not.”

  “That boy has already unloaded an entire truck of feed. He did it all by himself.” I followed the direction he had gestured toward with my eyes. I saw solid rippling muscle and raw man. “That there young man is going to save my back.” My eyes were still on Nicholas. He was lifting bags that took two men to carry. Of course, he turned just then and caught me watching him. I reminded myself he was no friend of mine. He was here to hide and use me to do it.

  “Wee-hoo looks like we got a LeVine sanctuary romance afoot,” Johnny hooted from behind me.

  “Not unless you’re interested in him,” I said and started for the horses. I figured this was the safest place for me because Nicholas would make them nervous. Hopefully, he would be smart enough to stay away from them. My iPod only had music that reminded me of Rick, so I stopped listening to it and was considering new genres when Ivan started up the walkway.

  He looked around before he joined me in cleaning out horse shoes. I wanted to leave, but I did not want him to know how badly he scared me. If he knew how deeply he terrified me it would be a victory for him and the stubborn streak in me could not let him have it.

  Ivan cleared his throat. “About last night, that was a mistake. I was drunk. I hope I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable.” He looked around again. “You are a very beautiful woman, Piper.”

  “I know that. This is only one of many reasons I know I can do much better than you.”

  He came to stand close behind me. “We could be friends. I’m not asking for more than that.”

  “Hi there.” Ivan took a step back and we both looked to see Nicholas. “She teachin’ you how to clean out a horse’s shoe?”

  His voice came out friendly and irritated at once. “Yeah.”

  “We haven’t met yet.” Nicholas held his hand out. When Ivan took it, he instantly fell to his knees. “I’m Piper’s insanely jealous boyfriend.” Ivan was trying frantically to peel Nicholas’ hand from his own. “She told me about last night.”

  “I’m sorry,” Ivan screamed. “So sorry.”

  “You should quit, Ivan.” I heard the distinct sound of a bone break, and my hand shot up over my open mouth.

  “I’ll quit.”

  “If you come back Piper will bring charges against you for propositioning a minor. Of course that’ll be after I break this hand off.” The last bit he said through clenched sharp teeth, and I heard another popping sound.

  Sweat and tears poured down Ivan’s face that was filled with pain and pleading. “I’m gone. I swear it.” Nicholas released his hand, and Ivan clutched it with his other hand and got to his feet.

  “Thanks for the clothes.” Nicholas’ smile was big. Ivan did not say another word, and blew right past Tony and Johnny.

  “What’s going on here?” Tony asked, using his boss voice.

  Nicholas shrugged. “I guess Ivan quit.”

  Tony came over to me. “Are you alright?” I realized that I still had my hand over my mouth. “Did Ivan do something to you?”

  “No, he would have tried if he hadn’t stepped in.” I nodded toward Nicholas.

  “My name is Nicholas, or Nick.” He tapped his bare, rock hard chest scowling at me.

  Tony’s dark eyebrows met at the bridge of his nose. “What would he have tried?”

  “I don’t know. Like I said he was stopped, and now he’s quit and he’s not coming back.” I patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, everything is fine. No need to bother Grandma with it.” Tony met my gaze. “He’s gone.”

  “No, I don’t like hiding things.” I followed after him and talked and talked to him until he finally agreed with me that Sidney’s plate was currently overfull. I did, however, have to promise to mention to her what had happened when her load was lighter.

  Heading back to work was not going to be an escape, but I had not
yet put in enough to feel like I had truly helped so I couldn’t leave. I decided to work with the dogs. It was necessary to handle them a lot to get them to trust people again. This way, they could be adoptable. Johnny was the best with the dogs, but I was second best.

  Valentine was a mix of several different breeds, and if I had gone by looks alone, I never would have been brave enough to approach him. Johnny taught me a lot about body language, and that was how I figured out Valentine was not a dog to be feared. I got him on his back and was rubbing his stomach. He got up and licked my face happily for the affection I’d shown him and knocked my hat off my head. I was laughing when I found Nicholas watching me.

  “Hey, Pipey?” Johnny approached. “I put in an order to the storehouse for some supplies, medicine and stuff. Think you can take the truck and get it for me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good. Nicholas will come with you. That way he can load the truck for you.”

  I rolled my eyes, and his devilish grin appeared. “Johnny, I’ve done this for you before. They load the truck for me.”

  “Well, Nicholas needs to see where to go in case he needs to go next time.”

  “He won’t be here that long.”

  His smile fell. “Why not? Says who?”

  Everyone was in love with Nicholas.

  “No one, I’m just saying.”

  Johnny was scowling at me. “Well, don’t say that. You don’t know how long he’ll want to stay.”

  “Oh my goodness, I’m sorry.” I couldn’t help laughing. He tossed me the keys and yelled to Nicholas to go with me. I hopped in the driver’s seat and started the engine. He got in and was looking extra pleased with himself. “I’d like to remind you that you won’t be staying. Do not make yourself comfortable.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I did not ask for your help, but I do thank you.” I turned around and looked behind the truck before reversing out.

  “You want to thank me? Call me by my name.”

  I started the descent down the winding mountain. “Why is that so important to you?”

  “Just don’t like being referred to as the liar.”

  “Can I help it that you are a liar?” The title helped me to remember what he was, and that he wasn’t to be trusted. It was a safety net for me.

  He turned toward me, and I noticed his shoulders rise a bit. “I never lied.”

  “You pretended to be my pet dog.” I was yelling at him, and he reached over and turned the steering wheel a bit to the right for me.

  “You decided I was your pet.” He sighed when I glared at him. “Have you called that little scamp?”

  “I’m sorry, that is not a subject I’m discussing with you.”

  He shrugged and let go of the steering wheel. “I think you should have slapped him.”

  “Well, I’m not you, bone crusher.”

  He grinned huge. “Now that name I like.” I tried to hold onto my angry face, but couldn’t. I was smiling and so was he.

  No, stop it Piper. No being friends with the enemy.

  “We should go shopping while we’re out. I hate these clothes. I can barely feel my feet.”

  The main street was busy, and I laughed while I waited for an opening. “They do look tight.”

  “Been looking, huh?” That killed my laughter and changed the color of my cheeks to bright red. I got to see this change in the visor mirror.

  Awesome.

  “Where were you last night?”

  “I was guarding your property as I promised.” He reached across me and buckled my seatbelt. “Miss me?”

  “You really think you’re pretty wonderful, don’t you? No, I didn’t miss you. In fact, I was afraid you might be snacking on Tony.”

  “Why do you keep insinuating that I’m some kind of serial killer? Or maneater?”

  “Maybe the huge ham bone you left on the plate last night has been stuck in my head. I loved taking the rap for that, by the way. Thanks a lot.”

  Nicholas had the gall to keep smiling. “That reminds me. We should buy some steak and chicken.” He stuck his head out the window and closed his eyes as the wind rushed around his head. Living in California means there is traffic, and that means it takes much longer to go short distances than if you live anywhere else. It took a half hour before we got to the storehouse.

  Nicholas loaded the truck and snapped the lid of the truck on without any assistance. When he got back into the truck he was chuckling. “What’s funny?”

  “It’s August.”

  “And that’s funny?”

  “You were singing Christmas songs.” I glared at him. How had heard me? He’d been loading the truck when I’d started singing to myself. “I like your voice.”

  “Well, I guess you can thank my mom for the voice lessons. Where can we find clothes to fit you?” I didn’t wait for him to answer. I pulled out, and it turned out he didn’t know where to go anyway.

  “Do you know what size you wear?” I drove us to a mall. We tried two stores with no luck. The clerk in the second store recommended a place, and I was waiting outside the fitting room trying not to laugh. He was oohing and ahhing over the fit of a pair of black jeans. I bought him a few pairs of pants, shirts and a pair of work boots.

  “Thank you,” he said when we got to the parking lot. “Clothes that fit are not a luxury I often have.”

  “Why not?” That explained why he was tan everywhere.

  “They don’t last when I change.” I raised my eyebrows. “You’ve only seen my small wolf.” He reminded me and gave me a look that told me I was supposed to be impressed.

  “Are there others like you?”

  “Yes.” He lifted me into the seat, and I did my best not to show that the princess in me was celebrating.

  “Where?”

  “Nowhere you’ve been I’m sure.” He closed the door and walked around to the passenger side.

  “That’s not an answer,” I said when he got into the truck. “You know my deepest secret.”

  “That you were raised by a stepmother? Shocking. If that is your deepest secret-”

  “That I’m the product of an affair. It’s shameful no matter how you paint it.” I started the engine and put on my seatbelt to avoid him doing it. “Last year I found out my father was having an affair.” I gripped the steering wheel. “I called her every dirty name I could think of. Everyone knows my father is married. He’s the Senator. This other woman had to know that she was risking breaking up a family.” My throat ached, and my vision blurred. “I hated her.”

  He didn’t say anything. Nicholas sat there listening without showing a trace of what he thought of what I was telling him. “My birth mother is just like her, and I’m her daughter. I can’t escape that. Clearly, it’s a secret worth keeping.” I closed my mouth and exhaled through my nose. I was also my cheating father’s daughter, but after years of training I could not bring myself to say anything negative about him out loud.

  “Your mother must be a truly beautiful and incredible woman, because looking at her daughter I know she was made from the very best.”

  Of course, he would say something wonderful.

  “If you keep crying I’m going to kiss you and make you forget your pain. I don’t like seeing you in pain.” He sighed in obvious frustration. I laughed to myself wondering how if that were true, he was still here. I’d done nothing but cry since we met.

  “I think it’s important that your family believes we’re dating.”

  “What? No way.” That was just asking for trouble.

  “Ivan wasn’t the guy whose scent I picked up from the other night. You need me close to keep you safe.” I pulled out of the parking lot. No, no, no, this was not a good idea. “It is my part of the deal, and I’m keeping it.” He blew out a breath of air. “I picked up his scent again last night. Your trespasser hasn’t disappeared.”