Page 69 of Worth the Risk

She wiggles her long finger in the air. “I don’t change my opinions of people.”

Ah, she agrees with me.

“You may think I’m moving fast, but I’m not getting any younger, and I live a life where my days revolve around a game that you always want to win. No room for error, nor opportunity to slow things down. So the moment that I put in the effort for something, then everything goes out the window. That’s it, I want it until I have it. For the first time, I put in the effort with a woman, and it’s because I can’t imagine my life without her. I wouldn’t even know how to let go if I tried, nor do I plan on stumbling either.”

“You sound like Piper’s grandfather. He had the same demeanor. Also, older than me and a smooth talker. I understand where you are coming from. It may scare Piper like crazy, but sometimes we need someone to take us out of our comfort zones, albeit in a positive way.”

“Couldn’t agree more.”

In that moment, we hear the front door to the apartment open, and our attention turns to the entrance.

“They only had roast beef. Simon swears you didn’t have an order in for this week,” Piper announces as she juggles a bag and her purse. When she drops the bags and looks up, she stops in her tracks, and her mouth parts open in surprise. “Hudson?”

I stand to greet her. “In the flesh.”

She slowly walks to me and looks between her grandmother and me, a nervous smile appearing on her face. “What are you doing here?” I hear the disbelief in her voice that she walked in on this surprise.

I’m quick to give her a kiss hello, far too chaste for my liking. “I had a little free time and thought I would introduce myself.”

Piper’s eyes have a hint of shock. “Oh, uhm, and you thought to take matters into your own hands?” I can’t quite figure out if she’s mad or entertained.

“See, Ruth, she is a smart woman this one.” I play into the amused side.

Her grandmother focuses on Piper. “Relax, dear, we were having a good discussion. About you, of course, and we covered the essentials. I mean, I’m just going to assume hispackageis up to my standards.”

Piper’s face turns near white. “Oh my.” She shakes her head and walks to the tray of alcohol. “This is why I was petrified of this scenario.” She pours herself a decent drink.

“I didn’t even do an inspection and my special sense told me that he’s a keeper within ten seconds.”

“What in the world is the inspection?” Piper looks petrified, but I can only laugh.

Her grandmother stands. “Well, I haven’t asked, and I was kind of hoping, but you know what? I think I’ve given up that particular criteria, and being circumcised is more for your enjoyment than tradition, but it’s fine. Besides, I have a feeling this guy would be the type of guy to ask for my input on wedding rings and maybe name my first grandchild after me, so we are good to go.”

Piper takes a long gulp.

I walk to her and bring my hand to her upper arm. “Are you okay?”

“Of course she is, she has you in her life to take off those lacy pieces she designs.”

Piper’s mouth falls open again when she looks at her grandmother. “Tone it down.” She looks at me. “It’s not that I didn’t want you to meet, I just know she has zero filter, and it requires like a few hours of mental preparation for dealing with you two in the same room.”

I rub her shoulders. “And now you’ve had no mental preparation. I like the element of surprise.”

“She’s fine. She loves my candid honesty. It’s more likely she was afraid that I might not like you and now she can relax because you have my seal of approval,” her grandmother announces.

Her head perks up. “You like him?” Piper’s voice turns soft, and her eyes fill with that familiar glimmer of hope and admiration that I’ve seen a few times now.

Her grandmother nods, and that’s what it takes for Piper to relax and smile an honest smile.

“I’ll give you two a minute while I do some things in the kitchen. And if you needa moment,just use the guest room at the end.”

“Well, that’s a special offer,” I retort.

When Ruth is out of the room, Piper’s head falls against my shoulder. “Are we not allowed any normal family meetings?”

“That wouldn’t be fun.”

Piper looks up at me, and I’m quick to cradle her face in the palms of my hands and kiss her soft and long until she’s murmuring into my breath. I haven’t seen her since the other week, and while she knew I was in the city, we didn’t set a time in stone for when we would see one another.

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