Page 171 of Tangled Kisses
“Neither of you are doing anything,” I say firmly, brushing at Piper’s wet cheeks. “We’re all going to live beautiful lives here in Tangled Vines, far away from that maniac. That’s the best revenge.”
“Not exactly.” Piper gestures to the yawning suitcases.
Panic claws at my throat. “I thought you were only taking a few days away.”
“Originally, I was, but I mentioned my situation to a client who’s become a friend. He’s an import-export genius and offered me a long-term arrangement, traveling with him.”
“Traveling where?”
“Dubai, to start. Then Europe and Asia. It’s going to be a grand adventure.”
My sister always loved adventure, but this time, she’s not seeking new horizons. She’s trying to outrun a broken heart. “Is this because of Colton?”
Piper slumps her shoulders and fixes her gaze on the carpet. “I saw his ex-wife yesterday and she’s just starting to show. And I…” Her voice cracks. She turns away, pressing a hand over her mouth. “I can’t look at that right now.”
The words stab through me. I know what she doesn’t say out loud. What she’s always carried, quietly, since we were kids. Piper can’t have children. Not after everything her body survived.
Most days, she celebrates other women as they give birth, but this is different. I see in her face how much she cares for Colton, a man who is now beyond her grasp.
I pull her into a fierce hug. “Oh, Pips. I’m so sorry.”
Her arms tighten, desperate. “I just need to be anywhere but here. At least for now. Maybe I’ll come back some day.”
I slide off my sunglasses to wipe my tears. “What am I going to do without my baby sister?”
Piper shoots Griffin a knowing smile. “I’m sure you’ll be more than busy enough with your future husband.”
“Wait, how did you know?” I cut my gaze to Griffin, my mouth dropping open. “Did you tell her?”
Piper releases a squeal. “Let me see the damn ring.”
Griffin closes the distance and wraps his arms around my waist as I show off my ring. My gorgeous padparadscha sapphire, the most beautiful stone I’ve ever seen, given to me by the world’s most perfect man.
“No way I was saying no to this guy.”
Piper tilts my hand, oohing and aahing as it catches the light. “Well done, Griffin. This is stunning.”
“Kind of like your sister.” Griffin drops a kiss to my hair and I snuggle deeper into his embrace. “And Piper knew about it, Reese.”
I tilt my head up to meet his gaze. “She did?”
Piper nods. “Griffin is old school. He called Mom and Dad, too.”
I spin in his arms, resting my chin on his chest. “I adore you. When did this happen?”
Griffin shrugs, smiling over my shoulder at my sister. “This morning. It’s three hours later in New York, so I hit them up at breakfast. Wanted to make sure they were okay with it.”
Piper engulfs us both in a hug. “They were more than okay with it, especially after I told them all about him.”
“That’s it. Now we need to have a proper wedding. So Piper will have to come back, and Mom and Dad can meet their future son-in-law.”
Griffin tips his cowboy hat back as a slow grin upturns the corners of his mouth. “I thought we were going to Vegas.”
“What if we do both?”
The smile on his face melts me every damn time. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
“Good. Because you are goddamn gorgeous in a tux.”
