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“Nothing, I just need to go, s-something’s come up.”
“You look upset.”
“No!” She hadn’t meant to shriek, but it had come out that way. “No... I’m fine.”
“Is Joe in the bar? Need me to walk you over there?”
“No, he’s out of town with the rest of my family.”
“Okay then, how can I help you?”
“Let go of my arms.”
“Normally I’d be the first to do that and avoid whatever is going on with you, but I’m trying to be a better person so my sisters start liking me, which in turn means I need to know what’s going on with you.”
“Nice, but I don’t have time for you to use me as practice. So let me go, Dylan.”
The frown drew a line down his forehead, and he looked genuinely concerned. She’d kissed this man senseless days ago, and he’d kissed every part of her body, but right at that moment he was nothing to her. Her mind was someplace else, in Rummer.
Joanie, dear God!
“At least tell me what’s wrong?”
She was starting to shake, and her body felt cold from the inside out.
Piper needed to go, really needed to get in her car and head to Rummer. She couldn’t afford to delay that; Grace needed her as soon as she could get there.
“News... I had some news. I have to go to Rummer, and my c-car is at home. So let me go so I can run there and get it.”
“Bad news?”
“Yes, damn you! Bad news, the worst kind in fact! Jesus, will you just let me go!” Piper tried to breathe, tried to battle down the panic.
“Okay, simmer down, tiger, I just want to help. I need you to bend over for me now, Piper. Put that head down for a while, just until you calm down.”
The hand on the back of her neck forced her down.
“That’s it, sweetheart, take some breaths for me.”
Piper’s head started to clear. “Let me up now, Dylan.”
He did, his hand helping her upright.
“How about you tell me about that news you had now, Piper?”
“No, okay. Th-thanks for that, but I need you to back off or I—I’ll hurt you.” She couldn’t believe she’d actually said that.
“You could try.”
His face was a mixture of worry and amusement.
“This is important, Dylan, and I need to leave now.”
“Okay, sure, but you don’t look like you should be driving anywhere.”
Looking at his large chest encased in a thick gray wool, Piper thought it would be the perfect place to fall on right now and let go of the tears that were burning for release.
“I’m okay, I-I just need to get to Rummer fast.”
