Page 38 of Worth the Risk

I’m quick to get up and walk to her. “Hey. I didn’t hear my security app ping me.”

As soon as I reach her and touch her shoulder, I notice she seems out of sorts.

“Yeah, there was a construction worker keeping the gate open so they could get a truck of cement through, and your front door was unlocked, so I just kind of rolled right in… Security fail,” she quips as her eyes stay fixed on Spencer.

Ah, I realize we have an audience, and she is slightly uncomfortable.

“This is my neighbor, Spencer.”

Spencer stands and walks to her with his hand out to greet her. “Hi there. Spencer Crews. You must be...” He’s waiting for me to make an introduction.

“This… is Piper.” I think for a second. “She’s a friend of April’s and…” I have no idea why I’m trying to hide this. I have no desire to, but I’m following Piper’s cues.

“I came here to discuss…” Piper seems to be coming up with a story. “A bridal shower that I need to throw for April… here.” She bites her bottom lip.

I rub a hand across my jaw while Spencer looks between us and snorts a laugh.

“Well, aren’t you two obvious. You may want to come up with a better cover story.” I notice Spencer is looking between Piper and me, studying us. A droll smile forms when his brain seems to connect the age difference, and he clearly approves.

I clear my throat before Spencer makes a joke because I know he will. “Spencer here plays baseball.”

Piper looks between us, bewildered. “Okay.”

I love that she is completely unaffected that a star athlete is in front of her.

“Piper isn’t into sports. Your name means nothing to her,” I explain to Spencer.

Spencer looks at her, impressed. “She’s a keeper.”

Piper politely smiles in response.

Spencer points a thumb at me. “Hope this one has enough stamina for you?” There it is. The age reference.

Piper chuckles under her breath but also blushes at the same time. “Perfectly in shape.”

My neighbor flashes an overdone smile at her answer. “I’ll leave you two alone. I need to head back to the city anyhow. Nice meeting you.” He tips his head slightly with a little wave.

“Likewise.”

“Good luck with your game this weekend,” I call out as Spencer disappears.

I then turn my attention to Piper who I’m beyond happy is in front of me.

“I wasn’t expecting anyone else but you,” she mentions.

I wrap an arm around her middle and walk her over to my chair. “Relax. He’s my neighbor, friend, and a pain in my ass sometimes. He won’t tell anyone that you’ve come here to get your Hudson fix.”

She gives me a tight smile, but all worries get thrown out the window when I sit down and pull her onto my lap, with her arms looping around my neck.

“Hudson fix? Is that what I’m calling it?” She has a cute-as-fuck curious look on her face.

“I don’t care what you call it, just kiss me, because I’ve been starving for you for days.” I lean in to capture her willing mouth.

Kissing her again brings back the feeling of being with her. Instinct has me believing that her in my arms is where she is supposed to be, because despite every angle that I’ve tried to look at it, with her I feel grounded.

She murmurs a sound of satisfaction before dragging her lips along mine. “The entire drive here I couldn’t stop smiling,” she admits.

I retreat a little to allow myself to look at her face, and I run my fingers through her silky hair. “That’s promising. I was worried we might need a pinecone to hit you on the head again to knock sense into you.”

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