“He seems like a smart guy to me.” He strokes the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. “I’m betting that he’s going to give up more space at the gallery for your sketches. They’re selling like mad right now.”

  I playfully slap my hand across his chest. “Because you’re buying them all.”

  “I’ll drop in tomorrow to pick out a new one for my office.”

  “I can’t wait.” I lean into his kiss. “I’ll see you then.”

  Chapter 43

  Piper

  I’ve been thinking about what happened last night since I got out of bed this morning. I headed back over to Crispy Biscuit for breakfast since Jo had slid another envelope under my door.

  The message written on this one was to the point.

  Be at the diner before 9 a.m.

  I showered, and dressed in jeans and a gray T-shirt before I slipped on a pink sweater and my short brown boots. I was out of the door before the clock hit eight-thirty.

  “You look like you’re thinking about something.” Jo refills my coffee as she clears my breakfast plate.

  Today the special was two waffles with a side of bacon. I was ravenous after my night with Griffin. I ate every last bite in record time.

  “It’s Griffin,” I confess as I empty a packet of sugar in the mug. “We were together last night.”

  “I know.” She winks as she stirs splashes some cream into my coffee. “We passed each other in the hallway.”

  “Did you talk to him?” I don’t want to seem overly nosy, but there was something off about him after we talked about my early days as an artist.

  He was kind and considerate in the moments before he left my apartment, but there was a distance in his demeanor that hadn’t been there before.

  “We spoke,” she says as she reaches to wipe the counter in front of me. “It was passing words about the weather, but he looked sad.”

  That’s not something a woman wants to hear after a marathon fuck session with the man she’s crazy about, but it’s the confirmation that I needed to hear. “We had a great time, but something changed right before he went home.”

  “Some men can’t handle the emotions that come with sex.” She leans her hip against the counter. “It’s too intense for them. My first husband cried after sex, every single time.”

  Griffin wasn’t that extreme and it didn’t feel as though it was related to sex at all. “I’m not sure if that’s what it was.”

  She rubs the back of her neck with her hand. “You like him a lot, don’t you?”

  I nod. “He’s not my type at all, yet he’s everything I could ever want in a man.”

  “I’m not going to pry and ask about what happened last week and why he bailed on you, but keep that heart of yours safe, Piper.” She taps the middle of her chest. “A man’s secrets can be hidden behind a handsome smile. When that fades, the truth will come out and it can bite you so hard you’ll never recover.”

  We’re sliding back into territory that is painful for her. “Is that what happened with your ex?”

  “I saw him the other day.” Her voice brightens. “He came in for a coffee. I hadn’t seen the man in three years, but there he stood by the door with that look on his face that always caved my chest in.”

  “Did you two talk?” I take a sip of coffee, biting my lip at the burn of hot liquid against it.

  “He said I looked good.” She looks down at her T-shirt and jeans. “I said he was still a liar. We laughed and he left.”

  He took a piece of her heart with him again. It’s evident in the faraway look in her eyes.

  “Will you see him again?” I ask tentatively. “Did he say he’d be back?”

  “I won’t be waiting if he does.” She leans both elbows on the counter. “After he left, Jerry asked me to a ball game.”

  I gaze over her shoulder toward the kitchen where the gray-haired cook is hard at work. “Jerry? As in that Jerry?”

  “As in the man who always has my back.” She glances back at him. “After my ex walked out and I turned around to see Jerry’s face, it hit me. It’s not about what’s on the surface. Jerry’s not my usual type, but he looks at me like I’m his everything.”

  That’s how Griffin looks at me.

  “I know every last one of Jerry’s secrets.” She laughs. “They’re sad. I get the sense that Griffin’s are too. Once you get him to open up, you can carry that pain with him. That’s what builds a bond that no one can break.”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you’re wise?” I manage a small smile.

  “I’ve heard it a few times.” She winks as she stands upright again. “We’ll do pizza on the weekend again? We can talk about our boyfriends and braid each other’s hair.”

  I almost choke on the sip of coffee I just took as I try to quiet an uncontrollable laugh. “You’re the best, Jo.”

  “You’re not so bad yourself.”

  Chapter 44

  Griffin

  “Dude, put on some pants.” I toss my keys on the small table in the foyer of my apartment. “I’ve already seen too much naked cock the past few weeks.”

  Sebastian’s hand darts down to cover his groin. “Shit, man. I thought you’d be at work.”

  “I thought you’d be at your apartment.” I stalk past him on my way to my home office. “Were you here all night?”

  I ask because I crashed as soon as I got home. I dropped my clothes on a chair in my room and hit the sheets. I was out within two minutes.

  It wasn’t until I woke up in a cold sweat at two a.m that I remembered the conversation Piper and I had about her need to be an artist.

  I got out of bed, took a shower and worked until I dressed for my early meeting.

  I noticed the door to the guest room was closed, but I didn’t think twice about it.

  “Brad had his kids last night.” Sebastian rounds the corner to my office with a pair of black sweatpants on. His chest is still uncovered displaying the tattoo that covers his shoulder. I fucking hate that thing. It’s a reminder of the night he was shot.

  “Put on a shirt.”

  “No shirt.” He shakes his head. “You know I don’t like hanging around when Brad has his daughters for the night. He only sees them one night a week right now. I want to give him space and time with them.”

  Sebastian has a heart of gold. When Brad, one of his buddies from work, was going through a painful divorce, Sebastian let him move to the extra bedroom in his apartment. It’s a good arrangement until the guy’s daughters show up.

  Those are the nights when Sebastian uses the key I gave him to crash here. I don’t have a problem with it, unless he’s walking around in the nude.

  “Is there a woman here?” I look past him to the hallway. “I’m not going to stumble on some big-titted blonde on my way out, am I?”

  He raises a dark brow. “Once, Griffin. That happened once.”

  Once was enough.

  I came home from work and found a beautiful blonde in my bed.

  I’m not the type to turn down a gift, so I undressed while she spoke some language that I couldn’t understand. French, maybe?

  It didn’t matter.

  My cock understands the language of love.

  By the time I was down to my boxer briefs, I could hear Sebastian calling out to her.

  It seems ‘the first door on the left’ doesn’t translate well. She hopped into my bed expecting Sebastian. I almost hopped in right after her expecting a good fuck.

  She left before either of us got a taste.

  “I don’t bring women here anymore.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m done fucking random women. I’m too old for that shit.”

  He’s thirty-two.

  “You and me both.” I pat him on the bicep. “I have a girlfriend.”

  “The art teacher?”

  I turn back to look at my desk. “Piper. Her name is Piper.”

  “I want to meet her.”

  I pick up a file folder that I forgot to take with me to my office this morning. “We just started going steady last night so give it a day or two.”

  He laughs. “Cute, Griffin. So you’re off the market? First Julian and now you?”

  Julian Bishop, our mutual friend since high school, got engaged to the love of his life, Maya, mere months ago. I made a bet with Sebastian that night that I’d be the last of the three of us to fall in love. I’m headed toward losing that wager.

  I pivot to face him again. “I’m not getting hitched, Sebastian. We’re hanging out and having fun.”

  “It’s more than that. You’ve been different since you met her.“

  I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Fine. I’m falling in love with this woman. I want her but I’m scared shitless that I’ll mess it up.”

  “Why? You think your demons are going to tear the two of you apart?” He inches forward. “You’ve got to trust in what she feels for you. If you can’t do that, you two won’t make it.”

  “I trust her. I told her about my family,” I say, leaving out the details of what I shared with Piper.

  “Good.” He pats me on the shoulder. “I’m glad to hear you’re opening up.”

  I close my eyes. “How is it fair for me to feel this good? I don’t deserve it.”

  “You’re allowed to be happy, Griffin. Don’t fuck yourself over by thinking you don’t deserve a good life.”

  I don’t want to go over the reasons why I’ve never felt worthy of happiness. Not now. I’m about to go to the gallery to see Piper so I change the subject. “You deserve a good life as much as I do. Have you met Maya’s sister yet? Wasn’t Julian supposed to set you two up?”

  “I haven’t met her.” He huffs out a laugh. “Maya told her I was NYPD. Apparently, Matilda draws a hard line at dating a cop.”

  “You’ll charm the panties off of her at their wedding.” I brush past him. “You know Julian’s going to pick me to be the best man, so get ready for that.”

  “Fuck you,” he calls after me. “I’m the best man you know.”

  He is. He’s the one who pulled me back from the brink of despair years ago. I’ll never be able to repay him for that.

  ***

  “We have to stop meeting like this.” I press up against her from behind. “Feel that? That’s what happens the second I see you.”

  Piper wiggles her ass against my erection. Thank God we’re the only two people in the gallery. “I take it that means you’re happy to see me?”

  “Happy?” I echo her tone. “I’m hard as hell here, Piper. I’d call that happy.”

  She turns to face me, her brilliant green eyes lock on my mouth. “Kiss me, Griffin.”

  I’ll never deny her a request, so I slide my lips over hers for a sweet, soft kiss. “You look beautiful. You smell fucking incredible and you kiss almost as good as you fuck.”

  She laughs. “Thank you, I think?”

  I arch a brow. “Show me what you’ve got, baby. I need to be in court in thirty minutes, so this visit has to be quick.”

  “Oh damn. I was going to offer to blow you in the back room,” she pouts.

  I look down at my watch. “If you keep talking like that I may have to leave my client to fend for herself in front of the judge.”

  A laugh bubbles up from her. “I’ll let you go this time.”

  I let her lead me by the hand to the back of the gallery where three of her sketches are now hanging next to Bridget’s portraits. “You’re taking up more real estate back here I see. Your boss knows what’s selling.”

  Her gaze scans the frames. “Bridget’s the best. She offered to give me more space for my work. I jumped at the chance.”

  I look at the sketches. They’re all uniquely beautiful, but one stands out. It’s a woman. The angles of her body are compelling. She’s been drawn from her side, her hair down around her shoulders, partially obscuring her face. It’s a larger piece than the others that I’ve purchased, but it would look amazing in my apartment.

  I point at it. “That one.”

  “This one?” Her finger skims the edge of the frame. “It’s more expensive, Griffin. You don’t have to buy it.”

  “I want to buy it.” I inch closer to get a better look. “I want this in my home. You can have it delivered there, can’t you?”

  “Of course,” she answers quickly. “I’ll arrange that today. I can have the delivery person call you to confirm the best time.”

  “I have a doorman.” I turn to face her. “He’ll hold it until I get home so anytime will work.”

  “I’ll need your address.”

  I tug my wallet from my pocket before I shove my credit card and driver’s license in her hand. “I’ll wait here and admire my girlfriend’s work.”

  She laughs. “I’ll ring it up and be right back.”

  I stop her by the elbow before she can move, tugging her closer to me. I press my lips against hers for a deep kiss. “You’re everything, Piper. You’re becoming my everything.”

  Her breath races over my skin as she tilts her head back to look into my eyes. “You’re becoming mine.”

  Chapter 45

  Piper

  “If Bridget wouldn’t have given me the chance that she did, I would still be back in Denver teaching art class at a community center.” I smooth my tongue over my top teeth hoping to catch any wayward pieces of lettuce that may have settled there.

  Beck nods as he chews. “When she first showed me your work, I was impressed. She said she got a recommendation from one of your professors?”

  “Sally Dorman.” I fork another piece of lettuce but don’t bring it to my mouth. It’s been tough to eat. I’m too nervous. “She had reached out to Bridget a couple of years ago to purchase one of her portraits and they kept in touch.”

  “I asked you to come to dinner because I want to talk about your future.” Beck rests both his elbows on the table.

  I take a deep breath. “What about my future?”

  “Each year I do a new artist showcase in Boston.” He looks to the table next to us where a woman is eating dinner with her daughter. We were witness to their warm exchange when the daughter arrived.

  “I know all about that.” I smile. “Last year one of the artists was Newton Castroni. I’d already been following his career up until that point, but the exposure from your showcase made him a household name.”

  “Newton’s incredibly talented.” He grins. “He’s almost as talented as you.”

  I don’t know if he’s teasing me or not. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say that you’ll be in Boston for the unveiling of your sketches in the showcase.”

  I stare at his lips. “Can you say that again?”

  He chuckles. “Your work is going to be included in the showcase, Piper. Six of your sketches. We’ll choose them together.”

  “No,” I shake my head as tears cloud my eyes. “This isn’t real.”

  He reaches to cup my hand in his. “This is as real as it gets. I’ve already told Bridget. She’s on board for giving you the time off you’ll need to come to Boston for the set-up. She’ll be there too for the unveiling.”

  “I can’t believe this is happening.” I cover my face with my hands trying to fight back the rush of pure emotion I’m feeling. “How can I thank you for this?”

  “Never stop drawing. This is just the beginning of your career, Piper. The art world has no idea what they’ve been missing.”

  ***

  “You’re Piper, aren’t you?”

  I look at the man standing in the doorway of Griffin’s apartment. He’s dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt. He has black hair, blue eyes and is definitely not the person I expected to see standing in front of me.

  I convinced the doorman to let me surprise Griffin. He was wary at first, but when I told him that I was Griffin’s girlfriend and that I had a special gift for him, he agreed to let me come up.

  The deliveryman standing behind me holding my framed sketch might have helped my case.

  “I’m Piper.”

  “I’m Sebastian.”

  “You’re the homicide detective.” I arch a brow.

  He smiles. “You’re the artist.”

  I turn to look back at the man standing behind me. “Griffin bought this today at the gallery where I work. I wanted to surprise him by delivering it myself.”

  He moves to the side and waves his hand. “Griffin’s out for the evening, but please come in.”

  I heave a sigh as I cross the threshold into Griffin’s home for the first time. I never imagined this would be how I’d see the place that he lives. I wanted that to be with him, so I could see his expression as he watched me taking everything in for the first time.

  I do just that. I scan the room. It’s beautiful and spacious. The furniture is dark leather and weathered wood. The kitchen is open with an island that overlooks the main living space. It’s gorgeous and refined, just like the man who lives here.

  The deliveryman places the frame on the floor so it’s leaning against the wall nearest the door. “We’ll take off,” I say to Sebastian while he studies the sketch. “Will you tell Griffin I was here?”

  He shakes his head. “Stay a minute, Piper.”

  I look over at the deliveryman. I never bothered to ask his name when he came to the gallery to pick the sketch and me up after my dinner with Beck. I was too caught up in my own thoughts to offer even the simplest courtesy to the man. I reach into my purse to pull out some cash before I shove it into his hand. “Thank you again. I appreciate you helping me with this.”

  He smiles before he turns and walks out the door, leaving me standing in my boyfriend’s apartment wondering where he is.

  Chapter 46

  Piper

  “How long have you known Griffin?” I ask Sebastian as soon as we’re alone.

  “Forever,” he replies quickly. “We’ve been friends a very long time.”

  I like knowing that. He’s a glimpse into a part of Griffin’s life I don’t know much about. “Do you know if he’ll be home soon?”

 

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