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“I can’t disclose the job in my résumé.”
She crosses her arms. “Why?”
“It was a classified position.”
Piper snaps her fingers. “Right, retired SEAL. Okay, so you finished that assignment, and you moved back to New York. Who told you about the job?”
“It was during an intermission—”
“Intermission? I’m confused.”
“A week ago, I was at your concert. This group was talking about you and Grace. A man mentioned you were some kind of OT or PT and had a practice around the area.”
“You were at one of the concerts?”
“Yes. Mom loved classical music, and in honor of her, I try to go to concerts she might enjoy. The first time I listened to you was at Alla Scala.”
“In Italy?” She scrunches her nose. “I was a child back then.”
I almost scoff. She’s still too young. Probably twenty-four or twenty-five. Way out of my age range. And yet, I can’t help being attracted to her.
“You were, indeed,” I say casually. “I was impressed by your music. You’re very talented.”
“Not as talented as Grace.”
“You’re wrong. Her music is lovely, but yours is magical.”
Her nostrils flare, and she turns her gaze toward her bowl. “I’m still not understanding why you want to work for me and pay an astronomical amount to live next door to the practice. You could buy something with that money.”
I could do so many things, including getting a place for my sister so she can leave my apartment. But I fell in love with the rooftop. It’s like a secret garden within one of the busiest cities in the world. The place calls to me. I believe in logic, but there are times when I let my instincts guide me. This is one of them.
There’s something about the building, the practice, or maybe even Piper that pulls me in. It’s a magnetic force, the call of a bird trying to find its mate. Which is weird since I assume she’s engaged if the ring on her finger is anything to go by. I’m here for a reason, and soon enough, I’ll figure it out. I always do.
“It was the only apartment available in the area that I liked.” It’s not an excuse or a lie. If not here, I would’ve rented a penthouse across from Central Park. “It’s convenient and huge. The rooftop is what sold me on it.”
“You’re not allowed up there.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” I argue. “You can look at the paperwork.”
She groans. “How did you manage to add that to the contract?”
“I know how to drive a good bargain. I signed a three-year contract and paid one year up front, but only if they added the access to the roof.”
“That’s… why would you do that? You could buy an apartment with that money?”
“As I said, there’s something about this place that I like, plus it’s close to work.”
“And if I fire you?”
“What happened to all the exciting things we can do together?”
It’s adorable how she pouts but then shakes her head and continues the conversation. “So the guy you helped… is he okay?”
Is Travis okay? I rub my chin a few times because I haven’t heard from him in a while. He’s still using my credit card. “I hope so?” I shrug.
“What does that mean?”
“It’s complicated. I don’t have much contact with him,”—I pause, giving her awhat can you do about it?shrug—“Physically, he’s doing great. Mentally, he hasn’t reached his goals.”
