Page 26 of Captivated

I follow her out the door as she turns back to see me trailing her. “What are you doing?”

“I’m walking you to your car.”

“I’m a big girl, I can do that myself.”

“I don’t care how much of a badass you think you are, Piper. It’s dark and you’re a woman walking to her car alone. I’m not going to leave until I know that you’re safely inside.” This protective instinct comes out of nowhere, although I would do that for any lady. But the rush of possessiveness I feel for making sure Piper is safe is a surge that almost knocks me down.

“Well, okay then. Thank you.” She opens the trunk when we arrive at her car to place her bag inside, fetching her phone from it first, before she slams the lid shut.

“I’m gonna wear you down, Piper. There’s nothing I love more than proving someone wrong,” I say, placing my hands in the pockets of my jeans so I’m not tempted to reach out and touch her, pull her into me and slam our lips together again. Does she want that? With the way she’s been sneaking glances at my lips while we talk, I think her mind is in the same place as mine.

“See, that’s the problem. I’m a challenge to you, Cash, a conquest. I’m probably one of the first women to say no to you and you don’t know how to handle that. Am I right?” She shakes her head with disappointment before turning to open her car door to leave.

Fuck if this woman isn’t just as perceptive as Birdie, calling me out on my shit so honestly, it makes me hard. Thank God my hands are in my pants so I can discretely adjust myself. Think, Cash. Show her something, anything to convince her otherwise. Something that gives her a glimpse of the other side of you.

“I moved to Emerson Falls to be closer to Birdie.”

“Huh?” Piper tilts her head back to face me as I continue to speak.

“Birdie was my housekeeper/nanny growing up. My parents had money and we lived in a rich town and surrounded ourselves with other families where appearances were everything. My mom and dad barely showed me attention, especially as I got older, so most of my time was spent with Birdie. She was more of a parent to me than either of my biological parents were. Before I graduated from high school, Birdie had already decided to retire in Oregon, so I chose a college down here, away from Washington, where I’m from, and I followed her. I graduated, joined the academy, and applied for a position in Emerson Falls to be close to her. She is my family, the only person who matters to me in this world, and that’s why I’m here.”

By the time I’m done speaking, I feel like I need to catch my breath. I’ve never told anyone that, and by the look on Piper’s face, I’d say she’s just as shocked by the truth that came out of my mouth as I am.

“Wow. That’s…”

“That’s me. I may be crass and cocky and a shameless flirt, Piper… but I’m loyal to a fault. And hell if I know, but there is something about you that I’m drawn to. You’re beautiful and smart, caring and confident. You’ve captivated me from the moment I met you. I know you’ve seen some not so pleasant sides to me, but you are more than just a challenge, Piper. I have this inherent need to show you that I’m not this asshole you think I am. And all I’m asking for is a chance.” I feel like my heart is going to pound out of my chest with my words. I’ve just bared an honest part of me to someone I don’t even know, yet it feels right to give her that truth.

Piper faces me completely now, her body lining up to mine. She takes a few steps, landing so closely before me that her breasts are brushing against my chest, her arm rising as her palm lands softly on my cheek—quite a difference from the slap she gave me a few nights ago.

“Cash… you are…” she starts and then closes her eyes while she contemplates her next words. When her eyes finally pop back open, she continues. “Thank you for sharing that with me, sincerely. I’m shocked by your story and how strongly you love Birdie, and it definitely makes me see you in a different light. But you are a complication, a glitch in my plan, my reason for being here. I appreciate your honesty, but I’m sorry. Nothing can happen between us. I know we kissed a few nights ago, and it was… something else,” she shakes her head, shutting her eyes again at the memory. “But I just don’t think this is a good idea. Good night.” She drops her hand from my face and then steps back, reaching for her handle, opening her door, and sliding inside her car.

I watch her drive away, a dull ache in my chest as I process her words and mine, the words I’ve never uttered to another soul. But I don’t feel regret. No. I feel open for the first time in my life. Never have I felt the urge to bare a part of my life to another soul, and Piper gave me that. She may say that nothing can happen, but I felt her internal war, her struggle to put her desires before whatever it is that she is fighting.

I’m a complication? A complication to what? I can sense her fear—there’s something she’s scared of, and I don’t just think it’s me. Her wordsshouldmake me want to retreat, throw my hands up and walk away from the puzzle Piper is proving to be. But all they did was light a fire under my ass to wear her down even more.

Chapter 10

Piper

Six Months Earlier

“Mason? Are you home?”

Stepping inside the colonial-style beach house that Mason’s parents purchased for us in the Hamptons as an engagement present, I twist my head in search of my fiancé. White-paneled wood covers the walls on the outside of the structure while the dark grey roof and royal blue shutters offer pops of color. Inside, the house feels open and airy, complementary to the beach landscape right outside of the French doors that lead to the back of the property. Canvas portraits of Mason and I from throughout the years adorn the walls and light grey and blue accents complete the space.

I listen for a response, but silence fills the home, the place I expect to return to every day for the rest of our lives, a thought that should bring me more excitement but somehow falls flat. It’s not that I don’t love Mason, I do. But lately, something feels off. Of course, my head has been buried in books and studying for my NCLEX exam for the past few months, so my attention has been elsewhere. I just need to focus more on our relationship, which will be much easier to do once my exam is done. In fact, I’m almost finished with a prep course one of my instructors from nursing school suggested. Desperately feeling like I needed to invest some time into my relationship, I rushed home to spend the night with my fiancé, hoping to reconnect and bring our dull romance back to life.

“No, please. Just… give me some more time…”

The rumble of Mason’s voice pulls my attention to the hall where I can sense that Mason is inside of his office, most likely on the phone.

“I know. I owe you a lot… but, I need a few more weeks to come up with it.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I tiptoe down the hardwood, landing gently in front of his office to press my ears close to the door to listen better, all the while attempting not to make a sound so he doesn’t know I’m overhearing a conversation I suspect I shouldn’t be a part of.

“I don’t have any more money. I’m tapped out….” Silence fills the air before he finally shouts, “Christ, okay! Listen, I may be able to get some money from my fiancé’s family… does the last name Winters ring a bell?”

My parents? Money? What the hell is going on?

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