Page 58 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

‘Sure.’

She followed me to the booth at the far end of the square where they were selling water bottles, sweet tea and lemonade. When we got close to the front of the line, Piper noticed Greta sitting at a table with Silvio.

It struck me again how sweet the two of them were. Janice at the office told me they’d both been widowed a long time, lived their own quiet lives, until Greta started harassing Silvio about climbing ladders and lifting too heavy boxes at the hardware store. Their bickering turned into coffee dates and then real dates.

As I watched them chat, all I could think was I was glad she had him. That he was encouraging her to take the medicine. Having him steady by her side would make getting used to her new normal a lot easier.

‘Do you mind?’ Piper tipped her chin to their table. ‘I want to check in with Old Mrs V.’

‘Not a problem. What do you want?’

‘Lemonade, please.’ She flashed me a bright smile that made me take a thick gulp. Did she have any idea what that did to my heart?

She moved in the direction of the table and I couldn’t help but watch her go.

‘You’re holding up the line eyeballing my little sister like that.’

Beck stepped up to my side. His expression was a complicated mix of caution and suspicion.

‘Oh, sorry,’ I said, trying not to act like a busted teenager.

‘Saw you two dancing. You look good together.’

‘It’s all her. I was only following her lead.’

‘That’s bullshit. I saw you spinning her around. You know what you’re doing.’

‘Cotillion,’ I mumbled.

‘What?’

‘Forced cotillion classes will do that to a guy.’

‘Oh, yeah. You’re from Harpeth Manor, right?’

‘Yep.’

He nodded like he was sizing me up. ‘I’m always leery of anyone who wants to be near Piper. But you…’ He sighed. ‘You already know the situation.’ The fear in his eyes said more than he thought. ‘She’s asked me a million times not to meddle in her life. Said she’s in a good place. I believe her.’ His gaze moved to where Piper laughed at whatever Silvio was saying. ‘How long are you helping out at the clinic?’

‘Until October.’

‘Are you headed back to Nashville or Harpeth Manor when you’re done?’

‘No, I’m going to Senegal to do humanitarian work.’

He scrubbed at his jaw. ‘Does Pipe know that?’

‘We’ve discussed it.’

‘She’s been through a lot of shit. Deserves someone who can be a friend. A partner. Someone…’ His dark eyes narrowed. ‘Who’s going to stick around.’

His meaning was brutally clear. That someone was not me.

‘We’re friends. Neighbors. That’s all.’

The lie stung but I wasn’t about to tell him I’d had more than one hot dream featuring his sister.

‘Yeah, Diego told me you live in the other apartment above the law office.’ His shoulders loosened. ‘That explains the bandage over her head that was too perfectly placed. She said something about a falling shower rod?’