Chapter 7

WRIST-DEEP IN RAW CHICKEN , Piper wrinkled her nose and rubbed it with her forearm. It provided little relief, however, leading her to wonder why she always seemed to have an itch when she couldn’t scratch.

With no work or plans for the weekend, she resorted to her usual method of combating boredom—cooking. She had already baked three dozen chocolate chip cookies. Never mind how many she’d eaten. Now, she was working on her chicken enchiladas, one of her favorite dishes. But her go-to distraction couldn’t take her mind off of Tristan and the passionate kiss they’d shared.

He consumed her thoughts. Even her dreams were all about him. And she kept coming back to his warning. Several times in the past few days, she’d come close to storming next door and demanding an explanation. She risked getting the door shut in her face again, but she needed answers to why one minute he was scowling at her or telling her she dressed like a slut—well, not in so many words but close—and the next, he had her up against a wall with his tongue down her throat. Talk about mixed messages.

Since the blackout, their paths hadn’t crossed. Despite their undeniable physical attraction to each other, he was clearly avoiding her. So, instead of subjecting herself to more rejection and insults by throwing herself at her neighbor, she channeled her energy in a different direction.

Piper looked down at the heaping bowl of raw cheesy chicken. In less than an hour, the casserole, bubbly and golden brown, would emerge from the oven. Then, she could indulge in her true talent: eating her feelings.

It served eight. At home, she’d invite friends to help her devour the spicy, calorie-laden dish. Here, she only had acquaintances. She needed to build a social circle quickly or would likely spend all her weekends alone and gain thirty pounds by the end of the summer.

And wouldn’t you know it, her phone rang while she still had raw chicken between her fingers and under her nails. Glancing at the caller ID, she saw it was Cindy Fogelman, her agent. She never called simply to chat. Excited about a job prospect, she used the tip of one finger to answer the call and put it on speaker. She would deal with disinfecting the salmonella and E. coli from her phone later.

“Hey, Cindy! You’re working late on a weekend.” Piper aimed for casual, but her heart was pounding.

“That’s because I have the most fabulous news, darling!”

Cindy’s New York accent and the exaggerated way she swapped her Rs for Hs and said “dahling” was over the top. It made her sound like a caricature of an Old Hollywood agent. When they first met, she’d found it somewhat off-putting, but it had grown on her and now made her smile.

“A casting director friend is looking for a fresh face for the lead role in a new TV drama. I sent her your headshots and resume on a whim, and she thinks you’d be perfect for it. We scheduled an audition for next week. This could be the break you’ve been waiting for!”

Piper froze, unable to believe what she was hearing. She’d always imagined herself on the big screen, but she’d take a TV role in a heartbeat.

Doubt suddenly tempered her excitement. Was she ready to be a leading lady? She’d dreamed of being a star since she was five, but now that opportunity was knocking on her door, she felt entirely inadequate.

“Have I lost you, Piper?” Cindy asked. “Do I need to come over and scrape you off the floor?”

She wasn’t far off.

“I can’t believe this is happening. They know my only lead role was in a high school play, right?”

“Don’t question the process, dahling. Just go with it!”

As Cindy gushed about how this would launch her into stardom, Piper realized this could be a break for her, too. If a client succeeded and made it big, it was a selling point to other clients.

She hung up after Cindy promised to courier her the details of where and when with the audition script. Piper didn’t know how long she stood in her kitchen, staring into space, trying to comprehend this sudden change in fate. This was happening. Of course, she still had to audition and get the job, but wow!

Grinning so wide her cheeks hurt, Piper reached up to scratch the persistent itch on her nose. “Oh, for crying out loud!” she exclaimed, realizing too late that she still had chicken and cheese schmutz and who knew what kind of bacteria all over her. Grimacing, she rushed to the sink to wash.

Feeling as if she might explode if she kept it to herself any longer after she thoroughly disinfected, she reached for her phone and dialed Josie’s number, her heart wildly pounding. After several rings, just as she was about to leave a voicemail, she heard Josie’s breathless response on the other end.

“Hey, Piper.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Nah, I had to stop to answer the phone anyway.”

The unexpected response caught her off guard, since she was the one who had called.

“I’m kidding,” Josie clarified. “What’s up?”

“I called to see if you were free tonight for dinner—chicken enchilada casserole. Not to brag, but it’s pretty amazing.”

“I’m sure it is. Any other time, I’d be knocking on your door with a bottle of tequila for margaritas, but I’ve still got a ton of work to do to get ready for Saturday.”

“I understand. Another time,” she said, unable to disguise her disappointment.

“Clearly, this is about more than enchiladas,” her intuitive neighbor replied.

“You’re right.” She didn’t speak for a moment before blurting out in a rush. “I got called for an audition. It’s for a lead role. I’m over the moon thrilled but gotta say I’m also freaking out a bit.”

“That’s fantastic news! Of course, you deserve to celebrate. Let me finish what I’m working on, and I’ll come over. How does seven o’clock sound?”

“No. I’ll take a rain check after I get the job and after your vendor fair.”

“Are you sure? I can squeeze in a quick break.”

“I appreciate that,” Piper reassured her. “You do what you need to do. I’m good. I can use the time to study my script—if it arrives by then.”

“You’re going to knock their socks off. I feel it in my bones.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Um. Not to sound selfish, but your newfound celebrity status doesn’t change our plans for this weekend, does it? You’re still planning to work the booth with me, right?”

“Absolutely. The audition isn’t until next week. And I’m hardly a celebrity. I haven’t gotten the part and might not. What am I saying? It’s more like a case of probably won’t.”

“Think positive,” Josie urged.

“Okay. I’m positive I won’t get the part.”

“Piper!” she cried. “What happened to my sunshine and rainbows always looking on the bright side of things new friend?”

To be called friend instead of neighbor or acquaintance warmed her inside.

“I’m still here. But I suffer from a trait we share—the unremitting fear of rejection—which is rearing its ugly head.”

Especially after Tristan lit a fire in her blood with a kiss and then stomped her heart flat. But Josie didn’t know she wasn’t only referring to the audition. There was no sense in telling her about a one-sided romance that was done before it began.

“Now I’m definitely coming over!” she declared.

“I’m kidding.” Piper forced a laugh she didn’t feel. “But not about your booth. I’m looking forward to visiting the club.”

“Mm-hmm,” Josie hummed, still not convinced.

Piper quickly changed the subject to leather fetwear and what she could do to help. It turned out to be nothing since everything was cut and only had to be assembled and sewn together, which far exceeded her skill level.

She opened a bottle of wine, drank almost all of it by herself, ate two overstuffed enchiladas, and was in bed by 9 p.m. on a Saturday. So much for her glamourous big-city lifestyle. It was proof you could take the farm girl out of Iowa, but even in the big city, you can’t hide her farm-girl roots. With her acting career potentially taking off and a kink club event on her social calendar, she had hope of changing that, however.

ROCKING BACK AND FORTH with her arms wrapped around her middle, with each hitching breath, her body shuddered.

“I can’t bear this anymore,” she cried, a heart-wrenching sob escaping her lips. “The hole in my heart grows bigger every moment we are apart. How can I live without you here with me?”

“Piper. Are you okay?”

Startled, she spun to face the tall figure on the adjacent balcony, barely visible in the darkness. When he took a step closer to the railing, the glow from the lamp in her living room provided enough light to make out his features.

“Tristan! I didn’t hear you come out.”

Scanning the balcony behind her, he asked, “Who’s out here with you? I thought I heard crying.”

“You did, but it’s not me. Not really.”

“Then why are your cheeks wet?” he pressed.

Her hands flew to her face, and she quickly wiped away her tears. “You have excellent night vision.”

“You’re sidestepping my question,” he charged, reading her correctly. “I’d like an answer.”

Responding to the forcefulness of his tone, she explained. “These aren’t real tears. I was rehearsing for an audition.”

Several moments of silence passed before he asked, “You can make yourself cry on demand?”

Piper shrugged, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. “It’s a weird little knack I have. I think of something sad from my childhood and blink a lot. It works every time.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, unconvinced. “It sounded like you were in distress.”

“Great! That’s what I was going for.” Smiling, she thanked him for his concern. “It was nice of you to check on me though.”

He nodded, still with his ever-present frown. His gaze drifted over her head once more. “You should keep your drapes shut at night.”

She glanced at the trees thick with leaves. “Who’s going to see in? The blue jays? Besides, it’s only my living room.”

“You can’t see it in the dark, but there is a walking path beyond the trees that circles the property. At night with the lights on, anyone passing by can see in. You don’t want to invite unwanted attention.”

Piper tensed, her back stiffening like a fireplace poker. Now, where had she heard that before?

Trying not to sound overly harsh, she spoke up, even though he had never shown her the same consideration. “No offense, but I already have a big brother.”

He threw his hands up, palms out. “I work in security, remember? You can take my advice or leave it. But I’d prefer not living next to a potential crime scene.”

It stung how quickly he could switch from neighborly concern to biting criticism.

“I’m going in,” she informed him. “I’ll try not to bother you with my fake distress.”

Once inside, she double-locked the sliding door and closed her drapes. She also cursed herself for doing so because he was standing at the railing, watching to see if she would.

“Why does he have to be such a jerk?” she muttered, seething.

After some thinking, she conceded Tristan was right. She had been careless, thinking the trees afforded her privacy. Despite living and working in the LA area for months, she was still very much a fish out of water and unenlightened to the many dangers of the city. Grudgingly, she felt a sense of gratitude, knowing he was looking out for her. She didn’t appreciate his brusque, no-nonsense, often hurtful way of doing it, however.