Page 29 of Tangled Kisses
Focus, Reese. Focus.
With a final exhalation, I unlock the clinic door. Even though we only treat minor issues here, the space surprises me—it looks more like a small rural hospital. A narrow exam bed, crisp white linens, a gleaming supply cart fully stocked, a corner bathroom with its own shower. And anchoring it all, the largest wooden desk I’ve ever seen. My hospital back home looks like a broken-down hovel in comparison.
But that’s not what catches my eye.
A massive bouquet sits on the desk, the largest assortment of sunflowers and lavender I’ve ever seen, except for the field last night. The faint, sweet perfume drifts up as I brush my fingers along a stem, a laugh escaping. How in the world did he get the flowers in here without me noticing?
Knowing Griffin, he has his ways.
This gesture, like every other one since we met, clings to my heart. I know Griffin pleases women for a living, but this doesn’t feel practiced. This doesn’t feel like a page from his playbook.
Just sweet. Just him.
Which, granted, doesn’t make not falling for him any easier.
“Already getting flowers? Look at you, sis.”
I turn on my heel as Piper flops into a chair, coffee in hand and a smirk decorating her features. “Where’s my cat?”
“He’s my cat now. Chowder emancipated himself last night.”
“That’s the catnip talking.”
Piper laughs, tucking her legs underneath her. “Are you going to give me shit?”
“Because you’re a sex worker or because you stole my cat? Both are punishable offenses, you know.” I perch on the edge of the desk, sliding a stack of intake forms into a neat pile before pushing my glasses up my nose. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth about the ranch?”
“Would you have come?”
“Maybe?” At Piper’s exasperated look, I sigh. “Probably not.”
“Exactly. You like your life laid out and well-planned, but it’s time to shake the hell out of that concept.” She gestures toward the bouquet. “It appears you’re already making quite the impression.”
“Don’t change the subject. We need to discuss this.”
Piper nods, fluffing her blonde curls. “I know. That’s why I dropped by early.”
I grab a pen, tapping it against my thigh in an uneven rhythm. “So how did you wind up here? Last I heard, you were working on a farm in California. Before that, you were touring the festival circuit.”
“Those got old quickly. I passed through Tangled Vines with the festival, and I loved it here. Met an escort here at the ranch and realized I wanted a new life.”
“Hmm.” Not a judgment, exactly, just surprise. I never pictured this as a path Piper would choose.
Piper pushes up from the chair, pacing a slow line across the office. “You know my history. That whole white-picket-fence scenario? It was never in the cards for me.”
A truth that breaks my heart. And hers, if we’re being honest, although she’ll never admit that fact aloud.
She stops at the desk, her hand brushing the edge of the wood. “But working at the ranch has given me something I didn’t think I’d ever have—options. Freedom. A life without limits.”
I lean over, stealing a sip of her coffee, my nose wrinkling at the syrupy sweetness. “Gah. That tastes terrible. So, is this your long-term plan?”
She snatches her coffee back, shooting me a fake glare. “No. It’s temporary, but I’ve saved up over fifty grand already.”
My mouth drops open. “You’re serious?”
“As a heart attack.” She shrugs. “It’s not conventional, but it works for me. I’m happy and far safer than I ever was on the festival circuit.”
I reach over, catching her fingers in mine. “That’s all I want for you. A good life.”
