Sound of Silence(53)

       
         
       
        

I ran away so I wouldn't get lost in their world, lose the parts of myself I found throughout the years at boarding school and with Maisie. Now, I find myself on the outside looking in again. The sadness and anger cultivated into a rolling landscape grows jagged and out of form. I stare at my beer, wishing I could drown the night in alcohol, but responsibility wins and I set it on an unused table toward the side of the group.

I'm good at blending in and find myself at the edge of a conversation where a woman rants on about her seventh-grader repeating Spanish because his teacher is French. Not exactly aerospace technology, but her constant chatter allows me to watch everyone else laugh, drink, and tell stories of days gone by. Caden smiles-it's so broad and full of life that he loses the deep groves etched between his eyes. For one second, he's happy. The past looks good on him.

Jealousy needles in around the edges of my resentment when Leah's hand lands on his forearm. His eyes drop to where they touch and then up to stare into hers. He trembles, a slight flutter I've trained myself to see over these last few months. I try not to notice how his T-shirt stretches across his hard chest, or how his jeans cling to every powerful muscle and hang from his hips. Hips and shoulders I clung to last night. It's impossible not to feel how my body pulses to life just thinking about riding him to an explosive orgasm.

I hate him for forgetting.

And I hate myself for the unbridled feelings churning inside my chest.

"Excuse me," I mumble to no one in particular. Stepping to the side, I grab my phone and dial Tess.

"Piper, we're fine. Your boy is just about asleep," she says before I can ask. My heart tugs. I can hear JT fussing even over all the chatter in the bar. "As soon as he's down, I'll call you."

"You're sure, Tess? I'll come get him."

"Stay, have fun. I'll see you in a few hours."

I agree, but as I hang up I know I'm not hanging around. While I slip my cell into my clutch, everyone's gaze is drawn to the door when the biggest man I've ever seen walks in, followed by another behemoth giant.

"Lawless, my brother," the first man bellows.

"Bear?" Caden stands still for two seconds before stalking to the front and lifting the guy off his feet for a hug. I cringe for his lumbar spine, but Caden is all stunned smiles as the two of them swap pats on the back before he grows serious and pulls papers from his back pocket. Conversations resume, and their dialogue is lost amongst the sea of voices. I turn away from another friendship that reminds me I don't belong here, not amongst this kind of revelry.

Just as I'm about to duck out the door, a shiver tickles my nape before I'm awash in cypress and pepper. A warm hand takes my elbow. I turn to find the man I want to connect with looking at his friend instead of me. "Hey," Caden says. "Bear, this is Piper." 

The lion assesses the lamb. I squirm under Bear's burning gaze and the smirk pulling up a corner of his mouth. A scar interrupts his left eyebrow, adding to his dangerous appeal. He's straight lines, a rigid jaw, and good humor rolled into a ginormous toffee package.

"Bear," I say, tipping my head for a better look into his caramel eyes. "Nice to meet you."

"Oh, fuck. Listen to that voice." He grabs his chest and then takes my hand to kiss it. "This is all my pleasure. Damn, Lawless, Justin's girl is prettier than he let on."

I blink past the old reference. My gaze flicks to Caden but his only response is to say, "Yeah, you should see their kid too. Pretty great."

Their kid. Pretty great?

"I bet he is," Bear says. "Don't tell me you're available for diaper duty?"

Caden shrugs. "Someone has to do it."

My heart falls, and then anger replaces my disappointment. His words are crystal clear even though he didn't really say anything. I understand his game. JT and I are good enough to claim when no one from the outside world knows who we are. That's why our dates are always away from Lilyfalls or somewhere in nature. He won't claim me. Well screw you, Caden Lawless. This is the real world where we don't just fucking play house.

"Were you friends with Justin?" I ask Bear.

"Ma'am." He nods. "It was my honor to serve with him. Good man all the way around."

"I think so too. What brings you to Lilyfalls?"

He glances at Caden. Some unknown message passes between them and it darkens his eyes, and then Bear's attention is back on me. "I'm on leave and wanted to pay my respects. Catch up with this big asshole, too. No offense," he throws in, like he just remembered he's out in mainstream society. "I'd like to offer my services if there is anything you need?"