Page 3 of Worth the Risk

“Yeah? Dresses?” My lips land on the rim of my glass, then the moment liquid hits my throat, I nearly choke because I swear I just heard her saylingerie. Swallowing with great effort, my eyes don’t blink. “Did you just say lingerie?”

“Yep,” Piper proudly replies. “Well, more pajamas, with a special soft cotton fabric and lace trim, but now I’m venturing into evening attire. That is, well… I’ll leave it to your imagination.”

Fuck me, I only heard lace, and she said it with such simple confidence.

“So, you mentioned numbers, what exactly do you do?” she asks.

“You know, let us stay vague on details. We’ve both had a tough day, and I’m enjoying our conversation too much to bring work into the mix,” I suggest.

She chuckles and throws her olive skewer to the side. “Enjoying our conversation?” She contemplates my answer and taps her fingers on the napkin. “Do you think I’m flirting with you?”

Now I have to laugh. “No. Should I be offended? I mean, am I not flirtable?”

Her cheeks raise and turn a shade of pink. “It’s not that. I just don’t want you to think I walk into bars and try to pick up random older men. Not that you’re old or ancient, I mean, you must be, what, ten years older than me? I’m rambling. That happens sometimes. Sorry.” She seems flustered.

I love this woman’s honesty and ability to speak her mind. It’s refreshing and much like myself. I kind of thrive from speaking openly and making others feel uncomfortable to push their limits toward what I know they are capable of. Except in this moment, while Piper thinks I must be offended, I’m the opposite.

I instantly reach out and touch her elbow. “Relax. Breathe.” She responds to my request and seems to calm. “I don’t think you’re a high-class hooker if that’s what you were implying, and I’m happy to hear that I’m not ancient.”

Her face turns red in embarrassment. “You’re in good shape. How old are you, can I ask?”

“Forty-two. You?”

“Twenty-five and ordering children’s cocktails, really demonstrating my maturity here.”

“It’s okay, you got to the martini in the end, and I won’t highlight that I’m old enough to be your dad,” I inform her. Consciously, I leave out the fact that I do have a son her age, but for now, I don’t want the age factor to be a deterrent for her to walk away sooner than later tonight.

“As long as you don’t ask me to call you daddy.” She says it so casually as she takes a sip of her drink, but the moment she realizes what she said, her face turns cherry red. “Oh my God, I did not just say that. I need to stop jabbering.” She seems mortified.

Her sense of humor makes me grin. I like that her mind may be unintentionally dirty.

Leaning in closer to her, I tease her. “It’s okay, I prefersiranyhow.” I run my tongue along the inside of my mouth because I’m trying to restrain my enjoyment in this unexpected evening.

She looks at me, impressed with my counter remark, and her smirk grows comfortable again before she nibbles her bottom lip.

Something inside of me is eager to push her buttons. “Do I make you nervous, Piper?” I hear the hint of determination in my voice. A need to explore the curiosity that this woman sparks inside me.

I notice her throat bob with a swallow, but then she sits up straight with confidence. “No, Hudson, you don’t.” Her tone is sinfully delicious and firm. I bet she could be a little vixen because her tone was pure challenge.

She doesn’t blink, and I’m drawn into the deep blue of her eyes that has me thanking the fact that this place is lit just right so I can figure out the exact color of her eyes as they seem now more green.

“Do your eyes magically change color with the light?” I ask her, as we seem to be locked in a stare.

“Not that I know of.” Her eyes sideline to her martini, and she is quick to pick it up.

“I take it there’s no man to tell you on a daily basis if your eyes are casting a spell on him.”

She tries to suppress a smile. “That is a ridiculous line, and you know it.”

I chuckle under my breath. “You’re right. But for some reason tonight, cheesy lines are rolling off my tongue.”

Actually, a sort of light ignites inside of me. I’ve been so focused on everyone else that I forgot that I’m allowed to have a connection with someone on a physical level. Piper is the perfect reminder, and I think that I’m enamored with her.

“If that cheesy line was your subtle way of asking if I have a boyfriend, you are a little late in the conversation to be requesting that information.” The remainder of her drink disappears as she knocks back the glass then slides it back onto the bar.

“Why is that?”

“I doubt you would smirk the way you do if you thought I was off the market.”

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