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Piper grabbed her purse and went out to the hall. “Thanks, Mom. We may be out late.”
Mom covered her ears. “I don’t want to know.”
Piper giggled and bounced down the stairs.
Home was lovely but having an adult love life was important. Not consulting with her parents on her evenings out would be awesome. Having her mechanical appliances in one piece would be stellar. So many benefits.
Piper found Mikah out in their garage looking at Dad’s Ferrari project. She hooked her arm in his. “Movie time.” She didn’t know if he was a car guy, but if he was, he and Dad might get caught up for hours, and she wanted Mikah to herself.
* * *
Mikah carried their hot buttered popcorn to their reserved recliners in the dimly lit theater. Piper’s hips swayed as she bent and placed their icy drinks in the cupholders. He needed to explain this was casual. Or did he? This was a movie, not ring shopping. He wanted more, so he had to be clear, but he didn’t want to go on and on like they were in couple’s therapy. This was a perfect time. A five-minute window before the movie trailers started and required them to be quiet. Plenty of time to discuss their relationship. He’d state his position. She’d be thrilled. This would work.
The screen in front of them quietly played ads. Mikah toyed with her hair with his non-popcorn hand. “Come away with me for the weekend?” But just for that timeframe.
Piper raised her footrest to the level of his and angled her body toward him. “Where?”
Somewhere cold where she’d snuggle closer. “We have a game in Denver. Family has a cabin up there. We could make it a long weekend.” There, that was super clear. He was offering a romantic fling weekend, nothing more.
“Okay.”
Hell yeah. Mikah stole a quick, light kiss. Heat and anticipation flashed through his body, bigger than the situation called for. His body’s overreaction to her buttery lips was simply because of all their stops and starts. He was primed to touch her soft skin. This was chemical with a touch of friendship because their temperaments matched, nothing more. Mikah texted his parents about using the mountain house.
A text reply came through within a minute from his parents. “Coming to the game. See you there.”
Damn, his arousal jolted downward in a frustrated direction.
Piper leaned over his shoulder. “If your brother and his fiancée can’t stay overnight together, I’m guessing they’d frown on my being there.”
Mikah rolled his neck. “Not at all, as long as you’re in a different room.” He groaned. Cockblockers. “How can I be twenty-five and still have parents interfering in my sex life?”
Piper took a hand full of popcorn but crunched on a single piece. “I understand. Planning to move out myself next year and end that.”
His frustration levels could not wait that long to have her, and they wouldn’t be together next year. “After Denver, we play Phoenix, we’ll be there two nights.” There, that was a clear invitation with a time limit. Minimal delay. Piper was his.
Piper put another piece of popcorn in her mouth. “I like Arizona.”
Yes. Winner. The auditorium house lights darkened, and the movie trailers lit the screen. Mikah took her free hand, still cold from the drinks. He warmed her fingers between his and placed a nipping bite on her palm.
CHAPTER 23
After the movie, Piper went the practical route and asked her cousin if Phoenix could be a work trip.
Dahlia texted back, “Sorry. Dodo squashed our going to away games after the Vegas bust. Remember Anne Boleyn. Don’t jump into anything. I’m finding all sorts of new things out about Dodo by waiting.” She followed that with a frowning face emoji.
Piper knew not to comment on that, not unless they were having margaritas or chocolate. She replied with a big-eyed emoji. How had people conveyed complex divided thoughts before emojis?
* * *
Piper skipped the Denver trip, but she flew to Arizona on the red-eye landing at one a.m. She had turned in an assignment and then flown in on her own dime, which was why she had such a late landing time. Worth it to meet up with Mikah away from home, the team, and parental observation.
He picked her up at the airport.
Piper clicked her seatbelt.
“Welcome to Arizona.” Mikah leaned over and kissed her.
Warmth invigorated her senses, and attraction transformed her energy. Piper smiled up at him. “Hi.”
