Page 56 of Tangled Kisses
He grabs his hat and shoves it onto his head. “Get used to it. This is your new life, remember?”
“When do you getyournew life?” The question slips out before I can stop it.
Griffin’s mouth curves faintly. “Well, considering that was my boss at the stables chewing me out for running late, I’d say right now.”
Stables? Is that code for some kinky roleplay, or are we discussing actual horses and hay bales here?
Thankfully, I keepthatparticular question firmly inside my head.
“The stables?” I ask carefully.
He nods. “I’ve been working there, helping with the horses. Decent money, honest work. Jed’s the one running it—been in the saddle forever. Owns a farm a few miles up the road.”
Relief hits so fast it’s almost dizzying. Not a client. Not another woman. For a ridiculous, dangerous second, I let myself believe maybe I’m not competing with a revolving door of beautiful strangers. Maybe the kiss at the bar meant something to him too.
“You really are a cowboy. Here I thought it was all an act.”
Griffin tips the brim of his hat, the corners of his mouth quirking. “Something like that. You’ll have to come out one day. Meet Jed. See the farm.”
I nod, my heart light and stupid with possibility. “I’d like that.”
He leans in and brushes his lips softly against mine. “Then it’s a date.”
“I say,go for it. Go for Griffin. One hundred percent.” Piper meets my shocked gaze over her sushi roll, before popping a bite into her mouth.
She’s joking, right?
“It’s not that easy. He’s an escort, remember?”
Piper shrugs, returning her attention to her spicy tuna roll. “Didn’t seem to bother you the other night.”
I huff and jab my chopsticks at a California roll, stabbing straight through it like it personally offended me. “But it should, right? It’s not like we can have something together. Hell, you said so yourself. Rule number one: don’t mingle with the locals.”
“You’re not a local. You work at the ranch, so it basically falls under the whole co-worker addendum.” Piper leans forward, resting her chin in her hand, blue eyes glinting. “Fess up, Reese. When was your last terrific orgasm? When was your last amazing lay?”
I choke on my water, coughing at her unexpected segue. “I am not having this conversation, Piper.”
“That long, huh?”
Guess wearehaving this conversation.
“Honestly…” My gaze drops to the table, voice low. “I don’t remember. It’s been forever. The best orgasms I’ve had are with my vibrator.”
“Well, that’s a tragedy. Griffin can fix that for you. Let’s face it. He’s a ridiculously nice and gorgeous guy who has the hots foryou,” she replies with a smug grin. “He wants to treat you like a queen, Reese? Well, let him. It’s about damn time someone did.”
She makes it sound so damn easy.
Sorry to break it to you, sis, but it’s not.
It’s a whole new level of heartache.
I smack my palms down against the table. “That doesn’t erase the fact that he sleeps with people for money. Lots of people.”
Damn, those words taste horrible in my mouth.
Piper chews thoughtfully on her spicy tuna roll, considering my statement. “I’m not so sure about that anymore.”
My brows furrow. “Not so sure? He works at the ranch, and he’s an escort. Pretty straightforward setup.”
