Delaney hiked the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder. “Maybe women don’t stick up for you because what she said is true.”
His smile dimmed a bit. “I realize that.”
She inclined her head and smiled a little. “It might have been a tiny bit fun. I don’t go in for confrontation much, but something got into me.”
A curious twinkle lit his eyes. “Maybe tea with my grandmother? That woman is enough to push anyone to their breaking point.”
“Maybe.” That tea had given her a lot to think about. Like how close the dream of owning her own shop was, and how it was never going to happen. Because it couldn’t without her doing things she’d regret later, but it was fun to dream. Her stomach rumbled. “Okay, despite asking to leave, I am really hungry.”
He glanced down the street. “Town is packed tonight. I’m not sure where else we can get in.”
“Do we have to get in somewhere? Can’t we just grab a slice?”
“Of pizza?” His brows rose. “That’s okay with you?”
“All day long. Then the pet store.” Because while she was fine missing out on a snazzy dinner, she was not okay with Cappy being denied a new toy.
With a laugh, he nodded. “You got it.” He offered her his arm.
She took it, and they started walking. By the time they’d stuffed themselves on pizza, which was shockingly good despite not being made in New York, and bought one of every kind of catnip creation the pet store offered (which Hugh had insisted on paying for), she’d had a great evening even with the rocky start.
Hugh was so easy to spend time with. Maybe once they got home, Stanhill would see how good a mood Hugh was in and she could finally confess her secret. The idea scared the cookies out of her, but he was too nice a guy to keep up the lying.
Hugh drove them home, the banter between them non-stop until he pulled into the driveway and uttered a curse.
An unfamiliar car was parked ahead of them, but it had Georgia plates so Delaney saw no immediate reason to panic. “Someone you know?”
He nodded. “Someone we both know. Unfortunately. Piper.”
Hugh got out of the car and went around to open Annabelle’s door. He’d had issues with some of his exes before, but nothing like this. He was going to put an end to this business with Piper once and for all, because if he was tired of it, he could only imagine what Annabelle must be feeling.
He helped her out of the car. “I will take care of this, I promise.”
She nodded. “Be firm but kind. The poor woman is clearly not over you.”
Stanhill met them at the door. “We have company.”
Hugh frowned. “I saw her car. What room?”
“Library. I’ll be in my quarters.”
“I’d rather you come in with us,” Hugh said.
“You would?”
“In case I need her bodily removed.”
Stanhill gave a quick nod. “All right then.”
Hugh led the way into the house, Annabelle behind him and Stanhill bringing up the rear. Hugh marched straight to the library and yanked the pocket doors wide. His ex stood there in all her tiresome, blond glory. “Piper, what are you doing here?”
She stood, oblivious to his irritation. “You may not want me, but you’re going to want to listen to what I have to tell you.”
Her expression reeked of accusation, but there was no wavering in her movements. If she’d been tipsy at the pub, she was sober now. “I did a little investigating on your new girlfriend. Found some very interesting things.”
Annabelle stiffened. “You have no right to pry into my life.”
Hugh held up his hand. “I already know what you’re going to say.”
Piper frowned. “You do?”
“Yes. Ms. Givens is a client of Eternamate, a match making agency. I know that because my grandmother is the one who contracted Eternamate to find me a match.”
Piper’s eyes rounded. “Oh, I knew about that. Not the part about Elenora setting it all up, though.” Her drawl thickened when she was drunk, this time on power rather than alcohol. “That is rich, I tell you. Rich.”
Annabelle tugged on his sleeve. She looked slightly green. “Hugh, we need to talk.”
“As soon as I get Piper out of here, but if you want to leave, I understand—”
Piper’s laugh cut him off. “This really is turning out better than I expected.” She snapped her fingers at Annabelle. “Stay, sweetie, y’all gonna want to hear this.”
She sauntered toward Hugh. “I wasn’t talking about the match making thing, but that is a nice little tidbit. What I was referring to is your girlfriend here, this Annabelle Givens”—she made finger quotes around the name—“she’s an impostor. A big ol’ phony.”