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I do a double take, and it’s not the gigantic Toblerone that catches my eye, it’s the beautiful young woman with long, shiny brown hair and bangs. Doe eyes behind black-rimmed glasses. Pillowy cherry-red kissable lips that hint at something less than innocent that’s waiting to bloom or hiding just beneath thesurface—I can’t tell which, and I bet she can’t either. Same miniskirt and tights as she was wearing at Times Square.

It’s definitely her.

It’s PiperThanFiction.

Biting her lower lip as she blatantly lusts after a Godiva chocolate bar, and witnessing this does unexpected things to me. However chaste our emails have been, seeing her in person immediately conjures up thoughts that have nothing to do with PG-13 romantic comedies and everything to do with watching her mouth water for my cock. Jesus, what is this feeling? This longing to know a girl as sweet and genuine as she seems to be while simultaneously wanting to be the one man who gets to do filthy things to her. To make a good girl feel good in ways she didn’t know was possible.

She’s here. In a candy shop. If this isn’t a sign that I should talk to her then there is no such thing as signs. My sister made me watchSleepless in Seattlewith her yesterday, andeverythingis a sign. Everything’s a sign that I need sugar and to get laid, apparently. Standing behind a display of neck pillows, I pull my Yankees cap down, adjust my aviators, and pull out my phone to send a message to Piper. But there’s a text from my sister.

RORY:Okay, I didn’t tell you this yesterday, but when I said I was going out to meet a friend, I went to Times Square again and pinned a wish on the Wishing Wall for you and Piper!!!

I keep an eye on Piper while calling Rory.

She answers on the second ring. “Don’t worry—I didn’t write out your name on the confetti paper, world-famous movie star.”

“She’s here,” I mutter.

“Who is? Where?”

“At the airport.”

She gasps. “Piper?!”

“Shhh. This is bizarre.”

“OMG. I made this happen.”

“Yeah.Thatmakes sense.” I watch as Piper chooses two bars of chocolate and takes them over to the cashier. I like those boots and I like the way she walks.

“Oh, well, I guess it’sfate, then. Either way, you need to talk to her.”

“I do, right?”

“Are you asking for my permission or something? You have it. Hurry up!”

“Okay, I’m going to talk to her… Hello?” She hung up on me.

I slide the phone back into my pocket and step away from the rack of neck pillows.

Piper, who’s facing away from me, paying for the chocolate, pulls out her ringing phone just as I’m about to walk over. “Hey, Dad.”

Nope.

Back into the shadows I go.

“Yeah, I’m on my way to the gate,” she says. I like her voice. Friendly and girlish, but there’s that raspy hint of something not so innocent. “I just got a snack…”

Sheisa snack.

I can hear her getting closer.

“Yeah, I still have the weirdnutcrackahgingerbread man she gave me, but I threw out the leftover chicken before I went through security—don’t tell her… I know, Daddy, but someone’s optioning one of my scripts, so I probably won’t need a job at your company next year. But thank you.”

Optioning one of her scripts?

She walks right past me, talking into her phone. Doesn’t notice me at all. I follow a few feet behind her as she heads down the concourse.

“You should concentrate on driving. Miss you already too… Yes, I’ll text you when I’m on the plane like I always do. Love you. I’m hanging up—bye.”