Loved by You
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Loved by You
Sophia Knightly
Copyright © 2017 by Sophia Knightly
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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For the amazing women in my life:
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Wonderful editor and dear friend, Martita, whose insight and support mean the world to me.
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My daughters, Genevieve and Jacqueline, smart, strong women with beautiful hearts.
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And as always, my mother, Emilia, who was my biggest champion and lives with me in every story I write. She was the inspiration for Sadie.
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A heartfelt thank you to my husband, Paul, whose passion for tennis fueled this story. Your love makes life exciting.
Contents
Books in the Tropical Heat Series
Roman and Piper - Loved by You (Tropical Heat, Book 5)
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Excerpt - Kissed by You
Look for these books by Sophia Knightly
About the Author
Click to check out all the Tropical Heat Series.
Linc and Isabel
Clay and Marisol
Marcos and Gabriela
Alex and Georgiana
Roman and Piper
Roman and Piper - Loved by You (Tropical Heat, Book 5)
Sometimes the lion’s cage needs to be rattled…
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Former tennis champion Roman Spenser is back in town and hellbent on making amends with the woman he wronged years ago. polishing up his tainted reputation. His upcoming charity event will give him the media boost he needs to polish his tainted reputation. But he suddenly has his hands full when his widowed mother begins to behave oddly. The only person he can turn to for help is the one woman he shattered years ago.
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As a co-owner of a senior concierge service, Piper Chandler is a bleeding heart nurturer. She’s never been known to turn away a senior citizen in need, but she balks when the man who broke her heart suddenly comes into her life seeking her help. Unable to resist the sexy "Roman Lion," Piper finds herself growing closer to him--and his mother all over again. But as strange events occur, Piper realizes that something is amiss. Someone is out to sabotage Roman's event, and Piper is determined to uncover the truth.
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Can the “Roman Lion” convince Piper to put the painful past behind her and look forward to a second chance with the one man she's always loved?
Chapter 1
There it was again, another maddening text that set Piper’s teeth on edge. She tried to ignore the second time her iPhone buzzed, interrupting her conversation with her best friend and business partner, Georgiana Kincaid, but she finally gave in and glanced at the screen.
“Nope. It’s not going to happen,” Piper muttered, setting her phone facedown on the cobalt blue tile tabletop.
Georgie hiked a brow. “What’s not going to happen?” Together they owned Comfort Creatures, a concierge service for senior citizens in Naples, Florida. But more importantly, they were besties and nothing escaped Georgie.
Piper sipped her passion fruit Margarita while Georgie studied her with keen blue eyes, curiosity on full alert. They normally didn’t drink at lunchtime on a workday, but on this bright, sunny January day, she and Georgie were celebrating at Tacos & Tequila Restaurant. Georgie was engaged to gorgeous Dr. Alex Cortes, and she had just asked Piper to be her maid of honor at her upcoming wedding in May.
The large, open floor plan of the trendy Mexican restaurant tucked into a strip mall near Vanderbilt Beach encouraged patrons to throw a beach cover-up over their bathing suits, dust the sand off their flip-flops and stop in for fresh grouper tacos or any of the tasty Mexican dishes. It was warm enough to sit outside and every single table was filled with delighted patrons, many of them snowbirds escaping the cold weather in their hometowns.
Piper poured fresh salsa from a mason jar into a small painted ceramic bowl, scooped some up with a salty blue corn tortilla chip and popped it in her mouth. She pushed the bewildering text from her mind and concentrated on enjoying her time with Georgie.
“Piper Chandler. What did the text say? Who’s it from?” Georgie prompted, waving a hand at Piper’s phone.
“Never mind about the text. I don’t want to ruin our celebration. Have you found a dress yet?” she said, changing the subject.
“Not yet. Will you come shopping with me and help me decide?”
“Of course.”
Georgie’s voice bubbled. “I never thought all this would happen so soon. I can’t wait to be Georgiana Kincaid Cortes.”
Piper smiled fondly. “I’m so happy for you and Alex! You’re perfect for each other.” She had met Georgie at an outdoors art show in downtown Naples, where Piper’s jewelry booth had been situated beside Georgie’s booth of portrait paintings. Right away they became fast friends. Georgie’s kindhearted nature soothed Piper’s often temperamental one, and as artists they discovered they had a lot in common.
Within months, they’d formed Comfort Creatures to subsidize their individual artistic passions. Four years later, the business was growing, and they’d added a new employee who was working out great.
Georgie put her glass down and leaned in, her light brown brows knitted over searching eyes. “Enough about me. Tell me what’s going on, Pippi Longstocking,” she said, calling Piper by her favorite nickname.
Piper grabbed another chip, dipped it in salsa and savored each crunchy bite before she dropped the bomb. She dabbed her lips with the cocktail paper napkin and crumbled it in her hand.
“Well?” Georgie raised her shoulders and spread her hands, encouraging Piper to dish. “I’m not leaving until you spill. Who just texted you?” The stubborn set of Georgie’s jaw showed she meant it.
Piper’s upper lip curled as she threw the wadded up napkin on the table. “It was Roman. He’s trying to get me to meet up with him.”
Georgie’s mouth dropped open. “Roman, your ex-boyfriend? Why now after all these years?”
“I know, right?” Piper mumbled, turning over the same question in her restless mind.
Georgie’s eyes softened as she regarded Piper protectively. “Do you think he wants to get back together?”
Piper’s heart groaned at the wariness in Georgie’s question. “I doubt it, and even if he did, I wouldn’t,” she said in a toneless voice. “Just when I was beginning to feel whole again he comes crashing into my life. I don’t want to open that can of worms.”
“I doubt R
oman would appreciate being referred to as a can of worms,” Georgie said, amusement dancing in her eyes.
“I’m not kidding, Georgie. I don’t want to see him. It would be messy.”
“Maybe not,” Georgie, the optimist, demurred. “Why do you think he’s reaching out?”
“Who knows? His last message said it was urgent. Something about his mom.” Piper gazed into the distance warmly recalling Sadie, Roman’s mom. “He knows how much I love Sadie. It’s underhanded of him to dangle her like bait.”
Georgie fiddled with her napkin, twisting it into a baton, and untwisting it again. “What if it really is urgent? Have you answered any of his texts?”
“Nope. I haven’t seen him in ten years, and I plan to keep it that way,” she said, the sharp hitch in her chest rousing unwelcome memories.
Roman had shattered her heart. When she first met him in high school, she’d fallen hard. Two years older than Piper, he was already a star tennis player and president of the senior class. He had sat next to her in the lunchroom and from that moment on, her feet never hit the ground when she was with him.
He’d told her she was exotically beautiful, even though she’d been a skinny, huge-eyed girl with a mop of long, wild curls that the other girls mocked. And when he’d complimented a necklace she’d made from stones she’d strung together from random pieces she’d picked up at the Goodwill, she’d been bowled over. In no time, she fell hard for him, and he became her whole world.
Piper looked down, gulped a shaky breath and unclenched the balls her hands had formed on her lap. “When Roman dumped me, it was the worst day of my life. I believed he was different from my father, but I should have known better. Men can’t be trusted, not even fathers.”
Her father abandoned them when Piper was five and sick with the flu. She had been running a high fever in the midst of an asthma attack. He’d yelled at her to shut up and stop being a baby, and then left, slamming the door behind. If it hadn’t been for her big sister Beth calling 911, Piper might not have made it. Her asthma attack had been so severe they’d kept her overnight.
Georgie gently laid her hand on Piper’s. “I’m sorry you’re reliving the pain.”
“Don’t be. It was the slap of reality I needed to wake up. No more pipe dreams for me. I’m wiser now.”
“Wiser means you can be happier.” Georgie sipped her frozen Margarita and smiled encouragingly. “It doesn’t sound like Roman is going to give up. Why don’t you see what he wants? If it’s a ploy to get back into your life, you can always walk away.”
“Like he did?” Piper hated the cynicism in her voice, a bitter little pill of rejection. “When Roman’s text popped up on my phone, the past came rushing back, and my heart hurt so much I could scarcely breathe.” She swallowed hard. “No guy has ever made me feel as loved as he did.”
Georgie grabbed Piper’s hands and looked into her eyes. “You’ll have that again someday,” she declared in a firm voice.
Piper bit her lip. “Maybe, but I’m not holding my breath. I hate being such a wuss, but I dread coming face to face with him.”
“This doesn’t sound like you. You’re usually strong and outspoken. Why are you letting him get the best of you?”
“I don’t know.” She lifted a shoulder with a self-deprecating grin. “Stupid, I guess.”
“Nah, you’re far from stupid. It might not be a bad idea to see him. You need closure so you can get serious about dating again.”
“Dating? Meh.” Piper blew a raspberry to cheer Georgie up and was rewarded with her peal of laughter. “I’m taking a break from men. The last five guys I’ve met online have made me want to swear off dating altogether. Remember how bad the last one was?”
Georgie nodded with a pained expression.
“Married with two kids. Thank goodness for the Internet and my digging skills.” Piper’s mouth twisted. “I hate guys who lie.”
“Not all guys are like that,” Georgie countered.
“Alex is an exception, Georgie. Most guys are ego-driven.” Piper rubbed the silver and gold bangles on her wrist. “I’ve had so many disappointing dates that all I want is to create beautiful jewelry and make our oldie goldies’ lives easier,” she said, referring to their Comfort Creature clients.
Georgie’s brows rose with skepticism. “Is that really all you want?”
“I love creating jewelry. It makes me happy.” She looked away, shoulders slightly slumped. “Deep down I do crave love and security, but I already made one mistake. I should’ve never married Brad on the rebound from Roman. Thank God he found someone who really loved him after we divorced.” She gulped the rest of her Margarita. “Anyway, men are complicated and the dating scene is the pits these days.”
“I hear you. I was ready to throw in the towel before I met Alex.” Georgie smiled dreamily. “On Christmas Eve of all days. Miracles do happen.”
“In your case it did. You deserve every bit of happiness Alex brings you, Georgie. But in my case, Roman needs to go away. It’s selfish of him to pop back into my life and lay a guilt trip on me about his mom.” She exhaled a burdened breath. “And of course, now I’m worried about her.”
“Why don’t you bypass him and reach out to Sadie instead?”
“I was going to, but look at this.” Piper brought up Roman’s last text on her phone and showed it to Georgie.
“Do not contact my mother until I’ve had a chance to talk to you – in person. You’ll understand why when I tell you what’s going on,” Georgie read out loud. Her forehead creased. “Sounds more like an order than a request, especially the ‘do not’ part.”
“Yeah, he’s probably pissed that I’m ignoring him.” Piper downed the rest of her drink. “Unfortunately, he’s got me on this. I owe it to Sadie to find out what all the fuss is about.” She toyed with the empty glass and gave into her nagging inner voice. “I’m going to have to see him.”
“Awww, you’re a good egg, Piper.”
“More like a fried egg,” she grumbled.
“Hardly. It’s no wonder everyone loves you.”
Piper snorted. “You may love me, but not everyone does. Certainly not the Roman Lion.”
Georgie choked on her drink as she nearly spewed the contents. “Is that what you call him?” she said, coughing.
“Not me, the press. He was such a hot shot tennis champion, they dubbed him The Roman Lion because he was so ferocious when he competed.” Piper gritted her teeth. “Now he has the nerve to leap back into my life and demand to see me.” She dug her tortilla chip into the salsa so vehemently it splintered.
Georgie waved a merry hand. “It’s gonna be OK, Piper. Don’t forget you have the upper hand now. He wants to see you.”
Piper’s phone beeped with a new text.
Meet me at The Bearded Dragon at 6. I’ll make it worth your while. Are you coming?
Georgie scooted forward and read the message. “Wonder how he plans to make it worth your while? Are you going to go?”
Piper threw her napkin on the table. “Yeah, I’ll go. If you don’t hear from me by midnight, call the cops.”
A slow grin spread over Georgie’s face. “If I have to call the cops, it’ll be because Roman needs them, not you.”
Piper snorted. “You got that right.”
“Aren’t you going to text him back?” Georgie prompted.
Piper fingers quickly typed a terse response. “There. That’ll drive him crazy,” she predicted with a grim smile.
“What did you put?”
“One word – maybe.”
“Good one.” Georgie’s eyes danced. “I love that you’re giving him a hard time.”
“Yep. I’m going to make him wait for me. I’ll get there late and make him wonder if I’m ever going to show up.” Piper put her phone on silent and tossed it into her large tote.
Georgie snickered. “Do you really want to rile him that much?”
Piper set her jaw. “Absolutely. Karma is a bitch.”
&
nbsp; Chapter 2
Piper parallel parked her red Camaro convertible in one of the few spots available outside the Bearded Dragon Ale House. The wood-paneled open structure on the bay side of Bonita Springs looked like a huge beach shack with distressed gray walls and weathered slate awnings.
Why had Roman chosen this bar to meet at? It wasn’t exactly conducive to conversation, especially on Thursdays when they offered happy hour drinks all day.
Piper slowly walked into the Bearded Dragon Ale House and paused at the entrance. The rustic décor and casual atmosphere were perfect to unwind in after a day’s work. Many patrons, mostly in their late 20s and 30s, were clustered around the large nautical themed bar, swaying to reggaeton music, guzzling beer and munching on bar food – spicy Buffalo wings, steamed shrimp, crab cakes and beef sliders.
A fit of nerves hit Piper full force as she searched the room for Roman. She filled her quaking lungs with a steadying breath when she spotted him at one of the tables on the right side of the dance floor. Leaning back in his chair with athletic ease, he chatted with a young girl in tight ripped jeans and a snug white T-shirt with a bearded dragon drawn over her full breasts.