Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
I walk onto the roof, the wind whipping at me, over to the helipad, then turn so that the company’s helicopter is in the frame behind me. “I’ve been trying to find somebody to take on a helicopter date for some time now… But I haven’t found the right person. Do you have any ideas?”
Piper: You’re playing with me, Logan. Are you seriously asking me on a HELICOPTER date?
Piper:
Laughing and heart emojis fill the screen.
“We’ve got some time before the end of the workday; that’s plenty of time for me to dream up something romantic. I’m sure I can look in my dark heart and dredge something up.”
Piper: Dark heart? Are you kidding? You’re the warmest guy I know.
“Only with you. What do you think?”
Piper: That it’s probably a bad idea.
“That doesn’t sound like a no.”
Piper: It’s a ‘maybe.’
“A ‘maybe’ is good enough to start making plans.”
CHAPTER 18
PIPER
Iwork for the next couple of hours, doing my best not to fantasize about a helicopter date with my brother’s best friend. Staring work at Do It All has already contained more drama than my entire time at college. The heat, the connection, the lust, and now security trailing us in anticipation of an attack from the mob.
Not to mention the Ruby-Elliot bombshell. Oh, sanity, where art thou?
Elliot walks into the office, standing over my desk, with a tight smile. “Can we talk, Piper… alone?”
“Sure.”
I stand up, following him into the stairwell. When he takes out his vape, I know he’s been to see Ruby again. He sees me looking at the vape and puts it back in his pocket without taking a drag.
“Ruby told you,” Elliot mutters.
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Why haven’t you slapped me across the face, then?”
“Because I meant what I said to her, Elliot. I want you both to be happy. I want you to find somebody. Ruby’s never had much luck with men. You’ve never had much luck with women. I don’t want to stand in the way of something good.”
He runs a hand through his hair. “You’re something else, Piper. Seriously. All this time… I thought you were going to hate me, hate us.”
I shake my head. “I could never hate you,” I tell him. “Ruby’s face lit up when she talked about being with you. She tried to hide it, but she couldn’t.”
Elliot pulls me into a hug. His heart pounds so heavily I can feel it against my chest, thundering against my ribcage. “Thank you,” he whispers. “You don’t know how much this means to me. I love you, sis.”
Could this be the perfect moment to tell him about me and Logan? I try to blurt out the words, but they just won’t come. I’m not using this as a ploy, anyway. I genuinely support their relationship and want them to be happy.
“I love you too,” I say.
“Do you want a ride later? Or, if you’re working late, you can catch a ride with the security Logan has insisted on hiring.” Elliot shakes his head ruefully. “That man is too damn proud. He’s hired security for us, but not himself. He thinks he can take the mob alone, even after the stuff with The Clam.”
“Maybe he knows what he’s doing,” I mutter.
Elliot tilts his head at me. “He’s just one man.”
No, Elliot. He’s the best man I know. He’s fierce, confident, stubborn, and poetic, and he’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
“I don’t need a ride,” I murmur.
Once Elliot is gone, ignoring the guilt trying to swirl in my belly, I shoot a text to Logan. It contains no words, just a single emoji.
Piper:
“Don’t worry about the pilots,” Logan says, leading me across the roof with his hand on the small of my back, his palm warm as it presses through the material of my shirt. “They’ll say nothing. And I’ve already informed security you’ll be with me so they won’t freak out.”
I look up at Logan, loving the way he watches me, the attentiveness.
He leans down and kisses my neck, tingles shimmering over my skin.
“We’re going on our own adventure, Wrath-style.”
“Okay, but remember, I’m not breastfeeding any strangers.”
He chuckles, kissing me just under the ear, then whispering so his warm breath caresses my skin. “There’s only one person who gets to kiss and lavish attention on your perfect breasts, Hardcover. That just so happens to be a CEO.”
He helps me into the helicopter, then climbs in after me. As he straps me into the seat, his hand brushes over my breasts, my belly, and my hips. When I squeeze my legs together, he smirks and looks down, acknowledging my lust.
He sits opposite me, strapping himself in. Then he pulls his headset on.
“Are you ready?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I murmur.
He leans forward, touching my knee. “I’m right here.”
“I’ve never been in a helicopter before.”
His eyes glint playfully, dangerously somehow. “This evening’s got a theme, then: first times.”