“I can deal with that.” He caught her by the elbow and ducked under the fall of her hair to steal another quick kiss. “See? We can kiss without brushing our teeth.”
She smiled and a flush of pink appeared on her cheeks. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that. And for the record, Florida was fun. Delightful, like a dream.”
“Therapeutic?”
“Very.”
He couldn’t stop himself digging for more information. “So you’re fully cured now? Over the ex?”
“You mean Stanley.”
“If that’s what the loser is called.”
She raised a fine eyebrow and lifted her chin. “You don’t know anything about him.”
The fact that the guy existed and had hurt Piper was enough to make him want to slap the guy hard. “He dumped you so he’s obviously stupid.”
She laughed. “I just hope I don’t bump into him with the spray-tanned girl. The town is way too small sometimes.”
“His loss, big time.” He slid his arms around her waist and pulled her tightly against him. “And he’ll be sick as a dog when he sees you with me, all dressed up and looking utterly gorgeous.”
Her face dropped and she pushed hard against his chest to escape. “Thanks.”
“What did I say?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She wriggled free and made for the stairs, then froze halfway there, turning around and sending him a furious look. “You have quite an ego going on there, Matt DeLeo, but Stan didn’t want me at Christmas, so he’s unlikely to be eaten up with jealousy and regret now. And…and I’m pretty insulted that you think dressing me up as some kind of trophy girlfriend arm candy would be enough to change his mind.”
He lifted both hands over his head with exasperation. Any thoughts he might have had about suggesting they have a full-on fling in the next few weeks went up in smoke. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“But maybe you’re right, maybe a tight little designer dress, neon yellow acrylic nails, and a Brazilian wax would have made all the difference to our relationship. It seems to feature pretty highly on your list of priorities, too.”
Before he could answer her allegations, the upstairs bedroom door slammed shut and he was alone. “That went well,” he muttered to himself and glared at the coffee machine as it gurgled and hissed, almost as if it was laughing at him.
Piper pulled open the drapes and blinked as the ice-white brightness of a calm, clear winter morning flooded into the loft. The morning view from the kitchen was sensational—mountains, sugar-coated pine trees, and an impossibly clear blue sky—but this room was directly positioned in front of a picture-perfect waterfall.
The wispy white and blue ribbons of a pure mountain stream tumbled over gray boulders, sprinkling the mossy rocks and overhanging branches with diamond-bright drops that glittered in the morning sunshine. It was beyond beautiful and a world away from the treacherous wilderness the place had been during the big storm.
“That’s nice.” She sighed as the cat slithered around and between her ankles in spite of the plastic cone around her neck, her cool fur like silk against her skin. The cat’s pelt was strikingly silver and white with bold black markings in the shapes of rosettes and spearheads. Limpid green eyes stared up at her with black whirlpool irises and her purr was a deep, throaty rumble. She’d be perfectly camouflaged outside in the snowy Colorado wilderness. “Look at you, waterfall cat, so beautiful but dangerous, like rapids. I think I know what I’m going to call you.”
The cat made a tiny squeak as she picked her up and kissed her on the back of her neck. “Aspen. I’ll call you Aspen. Now that’s not too corny, is it?”
“Sure beats Felix.” His deep mellow voice from behind made her heart rate kick up and she tensed as she heard him draw nearer.
“Glad you approve.” She gently lowered Aspen to the floor. “Even though it was a private conversation.”
“A private conversation with a cat? That’s crazy cat lady stuff.”
“Do you think I really care what you think?” She shrugged and focused her attention on Aspen, aware of how sharp her reply had sounded, how distant she must now appear. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she didn’t really want to be his arm candy for the next few weeks, either. She just wanted a quiet life, making and selling her pretty, harmless trinkets and earning enough money to cover the bills. For now.
“I couldn’t see the driveway leading up to your house this morning. There must be tons of fresh snow out there. Do you think we’ll be getting back to Passion Creek today?”
“Do you want to go back so soon?” She felt his hands move to either side of her neck and onto the dip of her shoulders. “We have enough food, drink, and fuel for at least a month.”
He wasn’t going to seduce her back into being all sweetness and light that easily. She wanted an apology. “And I have a business to run, not to mention an urgent requirement to get a new wedding guest outfit.”
“Which you wouldn’t be able to do if you were slaving as an office temp over a hot calculator, so what’s the difference? You must have had to shut your store up while you worked in my finance department, right?”
“I would have had nights and weekends free to keep things going, but fortunately I share floor space with four other artists so we cover for each other now and again. The rents in Passion Creek are so high that none of us can afford to have a shop of our own.” She twisted her neck and coolly looked him up and down. “Greedy landlords, you understand.”
“Ouch.”
The lopsided grin on his face showed that her sarcasm hadn’t affected him one little bit, so why had she felt even slightly guilty about hurting his feelings? He was a corporate monster with a rampant libido. But her brief glimpse of him revealed that his hair did look really good, all choppy and tousled, jet black and damp from the shower. Soft, bronzed, inked skin. And he smelled of black pepper and ginseng. And hell, he was still only dressed with a towel around his hips…
She swallowed hard and looked out the window again, crossing her arms tightly over her chest, aware that her nipples had stiffened with obvious interest at the mere sight of him. “And my sister is supposed to be putting in a few hours in lieu of rent.”
His fingers started massaging the knotted muscles above her collarbones and a treacherous bolt of hot lust pleasured its way to the apex of her thighs. “I’m sorry if what I said in the kitchen offended you,” he said quietly, and her eyelids fluttered shut as he kissed her shoulders with the lightest touch, like a butterfly’s wing. “I didn’t mean it to sound like that. I would just love to make that asshole Stanley squirm for hurting you.”
“It’s not your battle. And I don’t give a damn about Stanley anymore if it makes a difference. I just don’t want to have to see him again, that’s all, and it’s not going to be easy. We were together a long time and have a lot of mutual acquaintances.”
“How long?”
“Seven years.”
“Hell, being together that long is practically married.”
“Just as well we weren’t, huh? Divorcing someone is a lot messier than dumping them.”
His fingers stilled. “Do you still have feelings for him?”
She shrugged and felt his hands fall away. “Truthfully? I’m not sure what I feel. Hurt? Cheated? Humiliated? I’m getting used to not having him around. I’ve allowed myself to get angry a few times, angry at how he ended things, angry at how he treated me over those seven years. Furious that I let him do it…so I guess that means I don’t love him anymore.” Matt watched her silently, leaning back against the end of the single bed, his hands gripping the brass work behind his back so that his torso formed a perfect triangle. “I don’t think I ever really loved him, or him me. Looking back, everything was kind of toxic. Too much, too young, too fast.”
“Sounds familiar.” The gap between his dark eyebrows narrowed as he studied her. She wondered what he was thinking, and what had happened to him to make him say that. But she wa
sn’t going to ask, didn’t want to start an emotional journey down an exciting-looking road that led nowhere. Another dead end.
“Anyway, that’s enough of me being miserable and self-indulgent. What’s done is done.” She forced a bright smile. “I think she could use some breakfast.”
He tickled the cat’s back. “I’ve fixed something especially for you, Princess Aspen.”
“We can call her Princess if you’d like,” Piper said before her rational brain could engage and stop her. “Seeing as you’re paying the veterinary bill,” she added quickly, and hoped her cheeks wouldn’t betray her by going tomato red. “Although, maybe I should pick it up, now that I think about it.”
“I said I’d pay the bill even if she is your cat,” he said with an enigmatic smile. A smile that was also conciliatory, even pitiful maybe, not surprising as she’d just come off so needy. “But I might just call her Princess anyway.”
“I’m sure she won’t mind one little bit.”
He looked awkwardly from side to side. “Your clothes are dry. Where do you want me to put them? I’ll start breakfast while you’re getting ready.”
“I’ll get them if you tell me where they are.”
He sighed. “It really isn’t a problem. I’ll put them in the bedroom, so if you want a shower—”
“Thank you, I will.” She rubbed at the corner of her eye. The fatigue and the stress of the last few days were taking their toll. She glanced at the towel around his hips again and felt a flash of shame as he caught her doing it. “Give me a holler when you’re dressed and out,” she added quickly.
It was a relief putting her own clothes back on; she couldn’t cope with wearing his clothes any longer. His sweatpants slithered down over her hips whenever she walked down the stairs, for goodness’ sake. When she stepped into the kitchen, she saw Matt crouching over Aspen, stroking her and cooing as she scooped up her breakfast like a backhoe loader.
“You’re spoiling her,” she said. “She’ll think she really is a princess at this rate.”
“It’s just a little chicken breast,” he said quietly and ran his large hand down her narrow back. “She still seemed hungry after her canned salmon.”
Piper giggled. “Double breakfast? If she’s sick, you can clean it up.”
“She won’t be sick. She’s eating for at least two.”
“I wonder how many babies she’s got in there? Maybe they’ll be able to tell us when she has her operation.”
“Maybe.” He stood up and stretched. “She made the funniest noise while she was eating earlier.”
“Like she was saying nom nom?”
“I’ve never heard a cat do that before.”
“Yep, she’s definitely an odd creature.” Piper kneeled down to pet her. “Makes a barking noise sometimes, too.”
“For real?” He poured hot coffee into two cups. “Are you hungry? There’s toast, eggs, bacon, and cereal.”
“I’m still stuffed from dinner,” she said as she accepted the cup of steaming liquid. “And I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m eager to get out of here and back to real life again.”
“I looked around outside and I think we can make it to the main highway if we take it nice and slow, but I’m not letting you out of my sight until I know you’re completely safe.”
“I’m a big girl these days,” she said with a frown. “Been on the planet twenty-six years, I think I can look after myself.”
“Your car is buried somewhere in the snow and needs rescuing. You’ll get a fine if you just abandon it, and I’m sure you want your wheels back so it can get fixed. Also, your furnace won’t have repaired itself overnight unless you have very special mechanic fairies in downtown Passion Creek. And getting big fat Princess into a pet carrier and down to the vet’s is a two-person job. Agree?”
Piper sighed and nodded. He was right—she was up to her neck in practical problems. She should be gracious, not stupid, and accept his offer of help. “So what’s your plan?”
“Today we need to dig out your car, and tomorrow we have to take a certain somebody to the vet, start getting you photographed for the launch campaign, and attend an art gallery event. We’re completely booked.”
“Hm.”
“And somewhere in between we need to get you something to wear, unless you’ve already been shopping.”
She could feel herself bristle. “I’m sure I’ve got something I can wear that won’t completely shame you.”
“It’s not me, Piper, I like you with no clothes on, but there’s a good chance there will be a lot of cameras and a few famous names around. It’ll be less intimidating if you blend in with the rich list.”
He was right, but she wasn’t going to let him know that. Big fancy social occasions hadn’t featured highly in her life and she hated things like weddings at the best of times. The whole thing was going to be stressful enough without having to endure people looking down their noses at her for not being smothered in designer labels. “Okay, I give up, you take over. My brain can’t cope with all this.”
He smiled and bit down onto the hot toast he’d just buttered. “You won’t regret it, I promise.”
Chapter Eight
Piper felt dizzy as she slumped down into her own sofa for what seemed like the first time in weeks. It hadn’t been that long, of course, but her normal, boring life had been superseded by a whirlwind of activity and new experiences with a man who quite literally took her breath away. Not only was he the sexiest, most charismatic male she’d ever encountered, he was equally infuriating and exasperating in the way he went about everything. Matt was the ultimate “can do” person.
Nothing seemed impossible to him.
Piper figured it was a characteristic of high achievers with high intelligence. He must’ve been super smart to be a self-made billionaire by the age of twenty-eight, if he wasn’t lying about his age. And she didn’t think he was lying about his age. He was totally fit and there wasn’t a hint of gray in those lustrous black locks. A few delicious laughter lines around the eyes, but definitely under thirty.
He’d sent a twenty-four-hour furnace specialist to her condo and settled the bill without her even knowing what had been done and how much it had cost, and now she and Aspen, fresh from the operating room, were warm and snug. The car had been recovered from a snowdrift by another of Matt’s many contacts and was in the garage having its ignition coils and spark plugs replaced. It was terrifying to think she could have been frozen solid inside that car if she hadn’t been rescued.
Being pampered, preened, and photographed by the hippest studio in the county had also been a revelation. She’d been made to feel like a film star and the end results had been incredible, even though they’d had to work at top speed to get enough shots in time for the PCB No. 68 campaign. There was a memory stick full of photos of her wearing some of her best jewelry pieces, too, all sultry and sophisticated—right up there with the best of the glossy magazine ads. She could never have afforded to have it done on her own. Things were certainly going better than she had ever imagined.
She glanced happily at a big pile of flashy-looking shopping bags and boxes piled up in the hall: at least three brand new designer outfits, down to the underwear to unpack and marvel over. Matt hadn’t insisted on coming shopping with her, but had sent her off in a chauffeured car with the promised company credit card and strict instructions not to economize. She felt exhausted, but in spite of herself, pretty happy. Spending other people’s money was fabulous once you got the hang of it. No wonder her wedding planner friend, Mel, loved her job so much.
She closed her eyes and gave herself a little hug as she remembered the white silk pantsuit she’d be wearing that evening to the opening of a prestigious new art gallery. It had cost way beyond anything she would even dream of paying for an outfit, but the store manager who’d guided her through all her choices was adamant that she’d been briefed to deliver the absolute best. There had been something about the woman that persuaded Pipe
r to just give in and not argue. After all, the woman was good at her job and the commission on this would probably be a big deal to her.
And the finished result, even if clichéd, had blown her away. Red hair, green eyes, and pale skin wasn’t the easiest combination to dress, but the ice-white silk, deep red, patent leather skyscraper heels, and matching glittery clutch ensemble was amazing. She’d have to ask Matt if she’d get to keep the best outfit she’d ever set eyes on when their deal was at an end. Her instinct was that he wouldn’t even bat an eyelid, which just went to show what different lives they led.
Three hours later, the doorbell rang and she was more than ready to go out and party. Matt lounged against the outside railing as she opened the front door. He looked as relaxed as a tomcat lazing in the sun in spite of the biting chill. He oozed sophistication and confidence in a jet-black dinner suit, like a panther with silk lapels and covered buttons on the cuffs. A snow-white shirt did little to tame the striking effect of a thin black tie loosened at the neck, the top button of his shirt undone, screaming suppressed rebellion. His dark hair had been artfully tousled into film-star nonchalance and his full lips formed a straight line as he looked her up and down as well.
He let out a low whistle of appreciation and excitement ricocheted up her spine.
“Will I do?” she said, and was surprised at how sexy her voice had sounded for a second. Dear God, did a pheromone spike do that to a woman as well as make her go weak at the knees?
He eased his body away from the railing. “I think we’d better step inside before I drool all over your steps.”
She laughed. “You have such a way with words, DeLeo. You’d better come in and get over your dog tendencies.”
He closed the front door behind him and slid his arms around her waist before she could turn round. “You look incredible, Piper. I don’t think I can share you with anyone tonight looking so hot and sexy. No man in his right mind is going to be able to keep his eyes off you. It could spell trouble.”
Blackmailed by the Billionaire Brewer Page 8
