Page 29 of Tell Me No Lies

“I don’t think you should go too crazy. Maybe pick colors that have a similar feel so it’s not jarring going from room to room.” She shifts around the strips between us, separating a few out to one side. “It would be nice if they felt like different rooms, but not different houses.” Piper picks up a chip in a deep, blue-based burgundy, bringing it closer for inspection. “You know what I mean?”

“I know exactly what you mean.” I pluck the color from her hand. “You seem to like this one. You keep picking it up.”

“I saw someone on Instagram paint their kitchen cabinets that color and thought it looked really pretty and unique.” She takes it back from me. “But if it’s too dark, I can pick something else.”

“Not too dark.” I take the chip back, putting it off to the side with the other colors she seems to favor. “There’s plenty of windows to keep it bright.”

Her lips twist into a little smile. “Now that you took the sheets off them.”

“Maybe I took them off so you could get a better look at what’s going on when you spy on me at night.” I reach for a dark teal color, holding it out to her as I continue. “You don’t have to watch from Christian’s house. You can always come over if you want to see what I’m doing.”

Piper takes the swatch, her fingers barely brushing mine. I’ve just given her a blanket invitation to my house and she’s going to take it. I can see it in her eyes.

“I—”

“Fancy seeing you two here.”

The familiar voice freezes me in place and my stomach drops like I’ve been caught doing something I shouldn’t be.

Technically, I have.

Nancy stands at the end of our table, eyes swinging from me to Piper and then back to me again. “Must be the night to get wings.”

“It is.” Piper’s voice sounds off. A little too sweet. “I ran into Tate at the home improvement store. He was having a hell of a time picking out paint for his house.” She leans Nancy’s way, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “You know how men are when it comes to decorating.” She scans her paint samples, shifting them around. “So I told him I’d help in exchange for wings.”

Nancy looks between us a few seconds more before giving Piper a little smirk. “Make sure he knows all greens don’t match just because they’re green.”

Piper’s head tips back on a laugh that is as fake as her claims. “I’ll do my best.” She gives Nancy a little wave. “See you tomorrow.”

I watch Nancy walk away, waiting for her to get out of earshot before leaning across the table. “You didn’t run into me in the paint aisle, Piper.”

She continues fiddling with the samples. “So? It’s not her business how we got here. We’re off the clock.”

“It doesn’t matter. We probably shouldn’t be here at all.” All the reasons I was supposed to be keeping my distance from her come flooding back. “You’re still my employee.”

Piper lifts her eyes and her brows. “So?”

“So there’s a power imbalance between us.” I rake one hand through my hair. “It could make you feel like you couldn’t tell me to go fuck myself.”

Piper’s eyes narrow on me as she leans closer, voice low and a little terrifying when she says, “If that’s what you really think, then you can go fuck yourself.”

12

SEEK AND YE SHALL FIGHT

PIPER

"I KNOW YOU'RE really not gonna like hearing this, but you can’t wear that brace to Mountain Oak." Myra points down at my sparkly pink brace. "It’s pretty, but definitely won't fly there. Women aren't supposed to do anything that will call attention to themselves."

I rub my temples, trying to ease the throb starting between them. "I feel like a hot pink brace is the least of what will call attention to me."

I've been in Myra's room for the better part of two hours going over all the instructions she has for me. Earlier today, she got a call from her friends in Arkansas letting her know there’s some sort of get together happening this weekend. Lots of people will be coming into town for it, so Tate and I will have an easier time flying under the radar.

In theory.

"Just be quiet. Don't look around. Definitely don't try to talk to any of the men when you’re in a group, including Tate."

I hold one hand up, closing my eyes as I take a deep breath. "You should probably stop telling me this, because I'm just getting more and more pissed off and that’s only increasing the chances of me walking right into that place and shanking somebody with a screwdriver."

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