Page 53 of Worth the Risk

My palm flies up. “Donotfinish that sentence. Geez, have we not established boundaries?”

“There is no harm in talking about sex, dear. You design lingerie, for crying out loud. I don’t live under a rock. I’m sure you model your collection for him, as you should with those legs.”

I haven’t blinked in the last thirty seconds as I sit here with a blank face.

“So April doesn’t know. You think she will not be pleased?”

“I don’t know what to think other than the dynamics make it an awkward situation.”

She waves a finger at me with a tsk, and I feel like I’m eight again and stole candy from her jar. “Be bold.”

“I’m going to be. Hudson thinks like you, says things are only complicated if I make it that way.”

“What does this wise man do?”

“He coaches football.”

My grandmother’s eyes grow full of interest, and she grabs her phone from the arm of the sofa. I roll my eyes because I know exactly what she’s doing.

“Want me to save you the trouble? He coaches the Winds.”

Her finger scrolls the screen with vigor. “My goodness, Hudson Arrows is a looker. Certainly has quite a few articles that I shall read later. I’ve heard about him, I mean who hasn’t in this city, right?”

I hold my hand up. “Me. I didn’t,” I answer blandly.

“I could see you on his arm. He must be good to you if you’ve cancelled on me more than once lately.” She looks up with a contrite smile before resuming her research. “I expect to meet him as soon as possible.”

“May be hard, as it’s training season and they train up by his lake house on Lake Spark.”

Her mouth falls open. “That’s where you’ve been hiding away? It’s beautiful there. Your grandfather used to take me there for romantic weekends. Is there still that old inn by the water?”

I nod. “Yes, and there is an old-fashioned candy store. Everyone seems nice up there. A refreshing change from the busy city.”

“Sounds like a perfect match then.”

“You know, it feels good to share this with someone. At first, I wasn’t sure if we were just… well, anyways, something inside me keeps telling me to take little steps.”

My grandmother leans back and taps her fingertips on the sofa. “A good strategy considering your history, but don’t let one bad apple make you hesitate for life. Don’t be afraid to take risks, Piper.”

“I think I’m slowly realizing that.”

“Good. Now that I know your secret and plan on finding out every detail about your prince, then you have no reason to come up with ridiculous excuses for not visiting me.”

I smile nervously. “The conference on organic fabric in Wichita was a giveaway, huh?”

She pulls at her earring. “I mean, it was creative, dear.”

“I just hope April sees all of this as a positive too.”

“Go. Go talk to her. Falling in love is better when you can share the news with a friend.”

I stand up. “I think so too.”

And I’m not sure, but I think both parts of her statement ring true; sharing with a friend and falling in love.

* * *

Apriland I wait for the bagels that we ordered from the deli counter.

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