Page 81 of Captivated

“No. The rest isour story.”

Cash presses his lips to mine gently while we absorb the clear skies now that the storm has passed. The darkness that was hovering over us has now evaporated, leaving us with a clear picture of the present. But when he pulls back, I see pain in his eyes. “How did you do it, Piper.. or should I call you Pfeiffer now? That may take some time getting used to,” he says while brushing his hand through his sex hair.

“No.” I reach for him, intertwining my fingers with his own. “Call me Piper. I will always be Piper with you. I was more myself here as Piper in your arms than I ever felt like myself back home.”

“God, I love you,” he whispers.

“I love you more.”

“So tell me… what was it like leaving like that? I mean, Iwantedto leave home, couldn’t wait to get away from my parents and the hate they spewed. But you had a loving home you left behind…”

I shake my head, swallowing down the sorrow I felt during my time away. “It was awful, I’m not going to lie. I would call my parents and beg for them to let me come back home, but my father was so afraid. It was his fear that kept me away. That, and I had the NCLEX to study for, which took most of my focus. And then I realized I had to change my thinking about the entire situation. I started to look at it as an adventure that I never would have been able to experience. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t happy about it all day, every day. But there were moments when I realized I was in control over my thoughts about the situation. And when I finally got my nursing job, I knew I did the right thing. Nursing is my calling, and I couldn’t imagine never getting to experience that.”

“What about your job at the hospital?”

“I called and told them I returned home to heal. They were understanding and said my position would be waiting for me in the event I returned.”

“What about your living situation? I went by your apartment that night and know your parents took all of your stuff back home with you.”

“They actually donated most of it. But yes, I am currently without a roof over my head, if that’s what you’re asking,” I say, searching his eyes for his opinion on that piece of information.

“No you aren’t. You’re going to live with me.”

“Are you sure? I can get my own place, Cash.”

Shaking his head, he pulls me flush to his body. “No way. I went six weeks without you and my entire life before you ever crashed into my world. I’m not letting you go again.” Resting his lips on mine, we stay there for a moment, soaking in each other.

“Okay. If you’re sure.”

“Yes, I am. I fucking love you, Piper. You’re it for me. In fact,” he jumps up from the bed, searching for a pair of pants and pulling them up his legs. “I need to show you something.”

“What? Now?” I look around the room frantically, searching for a clock to check the time.

“Yes, now. It’s almost midnight anyway, so this is perfect.” He reaches for me, pulling me up from the bed and throws my clothes at me. “Get dressed.”

“Yes, sir,” I reply with a mock salute, laughing as I put my clothes back on and follow him to the living room. Cash grabs his keys and then my hand, ushering us outside to his truck.

As we drive, he holds my hand, kissing my knuckles and licking each one with just the tip of his tongue, making me yearn for him again. I must let out a small moan because he starts laughing beside me.

“Patience, baby. We have forever, now. I’ll make you feel good again later,” he winks as we pull into the parking lot of the town hall.

“Come on,” he flicks his head, encouraging me to follow him. Once he locks the truck, he laces our fingers together and takes me behind the building to the park that we walked around during our first date.

“Cash, why are we here? First, it’s late. Second, it’s dark and cold. And third…”

“Will you just let me surprise you? I was on my way to pack to fly to New York when I saw you on my doorstep tonight, okay?”

“You were?” I ask, stopping in my steps.

“Yes. I was gonna pull off the grand surprise and declaration of love, but you beat me to it, woman.”

I can’t help but laugh and then press my lips to his. “I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry.”

“Me neither. But I still have something I can surprise you with, so let me.” He pulls me forward again towards the clearing in the trees where we danced and then discovered the locks on the fence. Sure enough as I let him lead me, the shininess of the metal hits my eyes when I see the sight that mesmerized me that night.

“Why are we here, Cash?”

We stop right next to the fence as Cash turns to face me, holding both of my hands in his. “When you were back home and I was here, waiting for some form of communication from you, it hit me that no matter what you had to tell me or how much time you needed, you would always hold the key to the lock on my heart.”

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