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Chapter17
Jace dropped that bomb and walked away to punch her order into the computer.
“Girlfriend’s been holding out on me,” Piper Bennett whispered to her. “You and sexy Jace the bartender. Making some progress, huh?”
Cindy shrugged, even as her entire system went haywire over his not-so-subtle comment. “We’re friends. And roommates.”
“Since when?”
“He moved in earlier this week.”
“Convenient. He’s not only sexy, but he’s nice, too. Good for you.”
“We’ll see.”
“I like you two together. It works for me.”
“As long as it works for you,” Cindy said, laughing. “What’s going on with your friend Jack?” Piper had engaged in a summer-long flirtation with Jack Downing, one of the two state troopers stationed on the island.
Piper groaned. “He’s been on the mainland for two weeks. Supposedly, he’s coming back next week, but I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“Have you talked to him?”
“We’ve texted a few times, but nothing major. I’m starting to wonder if the thing between us was one-sided.”
“It wasn’t. I’ve seen you two together. He’s into you, too.”
“You really think so?”
“I do. He never takes his eyes off you.”
“Kinda like someone else we know with you.” Piper used her chin to point to Jace. “He’s always got eyes on you.”
“Does he?”
“Yes,” Piper said, laughing, “and you know it.”
“He gets me all flustered.”
“That’s a good place to start.”
“If you say so. What’s your plan when Jack gets back to the island?”
Piper shrugged. “I have no plan. Part of me wants to just skip the whole thing. I’m so over guys.” Weeks ago, she’d confided to Cindy about how her fiancé had called off their wedding and dumped her and how she’d been attacked by a guy she met on the island earlier in the summer.
“You can’t let a few bad apples ruin the entire barrel for you, as my grandmother would say. Jack is a good guy. He’s nothing like the others.”
“And I know that, but I have zero energy to put toward anything with him.”
“Because he’s not here. You might find some energy when he gets back.”
“Eh, we’ll see. I’m not counting any chickens where he’s concerned. In other news, I heard yesterday that the guy who assaulted me pleaded guilty to a felony charge, so I won’t have to testify against him. That’s a huge relief.”
“I’m so glad it worked out that way.”
“Me, too. Your sister-in-law, Laura, has been such a great friend to me through all of it, from the day it happened.”
“She’s the best.”
