A Moment on the Lips (A Whistle Stop Romance, #3) (5 page)

Piper flashed her friend a brief smile. “Because I’m a terrific boss.”

“You’re also good at avoiding issues when you don’t want to talk about them.”

Oh no. Ana knew something. Was it Mrs. Noel? Had she overheard something? Or had one of her employees repeated what they’d overheard? Come to think of it, anyone could have told Ana. She sighed. She’d been so caught up in her conversation with Joe that it never dawned on her that they might be overheard. Although, this bit of gossip would barely be a blip on the radar compared to the breakup of her engagement. At least, she hoped it would be.

”Okay. What did you hear?” Piper put the mop in the bucket and rolled it out of the way.

Ana’s eyes lit up. “What haven’t I heard? You have the gossip lines burning hot.”

Piper groaned. “What are they saying?”

“That you and Joe are already an item.”

“Fat chance. How do you know Joe?”

Ana shrugged. “We met briefly when he went around introducing himself to the other business owners. He’s definitely a hottie.”

“If you’re into the hard-headed type.”

The smile slipped from Ana’s lips. “So the rumors aren’t true?”

“No, they’re not true. Joe and I are definitely not an item.” Not that the idea hadn’t flitted through her mind once or twice. Even though he had a very long stubborn streak, he was still devastatingly handsome when he smiled. “The part where he bought the vacant shop next door and ruined my chance to really grow my business pretty much killed any chance at romance.”

“I’m so sorry. I know how much you were looking forward to expanding.”

She wished she hadn’t told anyone about her plans until she’d had a signed deal. Now she had to eat her words. Not that her friends, the Bachelorettes of Whistle Stop, as they’d nicknamed themselves, would make her feel bad. In fact, it’d be just the opposite. Ana, Piper, Alexis, and their newest member, Ella, met at least once a week at Ana’s restaurant, the Green Chile Cantina. They commiserated, supported, and cheered on each other through good times and bad. Piper would be lost without them.

Piper shrugged. “It’s my fault. I was being too cautious. I wanted to make sure everything was perfectly in order before I took the next step.”

“Who could blame you? Expanding your business comes with a lot of risks.”

Piper moved to the sink and rinsed out a dishcloth. She needed something to do with her hands. “But I waited too long. Is there something wrong with me that I can’t just rush blindly ahead, heedless of the risks?”

Ana moved to her side and gave her arm a brief squeeze. “Trust me. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you.”

“Then why is Joe already moved in next door and his renovation is well under way? The noise and the hammering goes on all day long.”

“How are you getting along with your very cute, very single neighbor?”

“We aren’t. Getting along, that is. It isn’t that we both haven’t tried. It’s just that—I don’t know—we get on each other’s nerves.”

“Really?” Ana’s eyes lit up. “He gets to you, huh?”

What was Ana implying? That she secretly liked the man? “You’re wrong. I would never be interested in such a stubborn man. He’s unwilling to listen to reason, and he has no interest in anyone else’s opinion.”

Ana smiled. “Wow. You do have it bad for him.”

“I do not.” Did she? She hardly knew the man. Besides, after David, she’d promised herself that she’d keep clear of men. Getting her heart and reputation trampled once was enough for her.

“He is awfully good-looking. And, my, is he tall. You could wear high heels and still have to strain your neck to gaze into his eyes. Did you happen to notice what color they are?”

“Light blue. Like the sky on a sunny day. I’ve never seen eyes that color. They’re very striking.”

“I was right. You like him a lot, but you’re too stubborn to admit it.” Ana wore a smug smile. “Just think of staring into those dreamy eyes every day and night.”

Piper started to wipe off the already-clean counter, needing to keep busy. “And yet another reason to stay clear of him. I don’t need neck strain to go with my aching feet and sore back from standing around here all day.”

“Piper—”

Piper stopped wiping down the counter and turned to her friend. “Drop it. I’m not in the market for romance. And if romance is so great, how come you’re still single?”

Ana’s gaze lowered to the tiled floor. “Okay. I get your point. Sorry.”

Piper sighed. She didn’t want to fight with Ana. They’d been friends too long to let any guy come between them, “Don’t worry about it. I know you only meant the best. I’m just not ready for a new guy in my life. I don’t know if I’ll ever be.”

“David really screwed up. Just remember, it was his loss and your gain. He never deserved someone as amazing as you.”

“You mean someone who gained back all of the weight I lost for the wedding and then some? Trust me, I’m no great catch.”

“You’re beautiful. And someday you’ll find a guy who doesn’t want to change you the way David was always trying to do.”

Her thoughts spiraled back to her first meeting with Joe. He’d said she was beautiful. Had he said that because he felt sorry for her? Or had he meant it? Not that she cared. They were neighbors, nothing more.

Piper met Ana’s worried gaze. “Don’t worry. I’ll never give someone that much control again. I’m a new woman. I make my own rules.”

The worry lines on Ana’s pretty face eased. “Go, you!”

“Now if only those darn cupcakes weren’t so tempting.”

“That’s because you make the best in the county, no, make that the state. I should be going. I still have work to do at the restaurant, and the staff probably wonders where I went.” Ana started toward the door.

“Hey, you never did say why you dropped by.”

“Oh, that. It’s nothing.” Ana waved away the thought.

Piper sensed that it was definitely something. “Ana, tell me.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “If you don’t tell me, I’m sure someone else will.”

“It’s David. He set the date for his wedding. It’s in six weeks.”

“Six weeks? He sure isn’t wasting any time.” With her, it’d taken two years to set a date—time for her to
work on things
, such as lose weight and become the perfect society wife.

“I’m sorry. I know it must hurt. Rumor has it that...”

“That what?”

“That his fiancée is pregnant.”

“That sure won’t look good for a rising politician.”

Ana stepped closer. “Would you like me to stay? We can talk some more. Or I can help you close up.”

Piper shook her head. “I’m fine. Thanks for telling me before I heard it from someone else. You better go before they send out a search party for you.”

After Ana left, Piper clicked the dead bolt into place and switched off the interior lights. The glow from the display case filled the room. There were still a few chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Her weakness.

Tonight she wasn’t even going to try to fight the craving.

Tonight she was just going to enjoy.

♥♥♥

A
black cloud dogged his steps.

Joe hadn’t spoken to Piper since lunch the prior day. The throbbing in his jaw and the shooting pain in his temples had him unclenching his teeth. Not even his morning run, which usually invigorated him, had done a thing to lighten his mood. Nor did the fact his lumber order had been sorted out, and the renovation project was back on schedule. There was something nagging at him, eating at his peace of mind. Not something, make that someone. Piper.

A couple of times he’d considered going next door, but there was nothing he could say that she’d want to hear. He couldn’t break his contract with the other bakery without steep penalties that he couldn’t afford. And, in truth, he didn’t want to. He liked answering to no one. It was best they maintained their distance.

Apparently, his sour mood was obvious, because the workmen kept their distance. Only Bob, the foreman, would have anything to do with him. Joe told himself the less socialization, the more work that got completed. And the faster he’d get the business up and running.

The sound of a circular saw cutting two-by-fours echoed in the enclosed area as the hammering provided a staccato beat. In fact, it was so loud that it made it hard to keep his thoughts straight, which was fine by him. All they did was keep going in circles and coming back to Piper.

He set to work ripping out some rotted wood from the back of the building where he planned to situate his office. His office. He liked the sound of it. He wouldn’t have to share the space with anyone. Soon, his dream would come true. He’d have his own business and his own apartment. There would be no one to butt in. If he wanted to leave his dirty socks on the floor, no one could complain. If he wanted to watch a football game and yell at the screen, no one would glare at him for being loud. And, most all, there would be no one to take it all away from him. At last, he’d be happy.

It was then Joe noticed a distinct silence had fallen over the place. He checked the time. It was only half past ten. Definitely not time for his men to hightail it over to Piper’s for one of her delicious-looking sandwiches. So if it wasn’t lunchtime, what was the problem?

He set aside the crowbar he’d been using to pry off some old paneling. He moved toward the front of the building. He stopped in his tracks when he noticed his mother and Mrs. Sanchez, Whistle Stop’s queen of gossip, making pleasantries with his men.

Mrs. Sanchez was anything but dull. His gaze took in the large woman’s black dress with fuchsia and orange flowers. Peeping out from below the dress was a pair of bright orange strapped heels, and her toenails were painted the same shade of orange.

Most of her conversations were just as colorful. He never, ever wanted to be the subject of one of her talks. Had she heard about his falling-out with Piper? Having their conversation out on the sidewalk probably hadn’t been one of his better ideas. Still, he hadn’t anticipated that he’d totally infuriate Piper to the point of her consistently glancing the other way any time they passed each other.

He quickly escorted the ladies outside, letting the crew get back to their jobs. “Mom, is something wrong?”

His mother’s face grew pale, and her gaze lowered to the sidewalk. “I...I didn’t mean to bother you. I’ll go home.”

“No. Wait. Don’t go.” He hated that his father had turned his mother into a timid field mouse. “I’m just surprised to see you here, is all.”

“Actually, we were talking about you over coffee,” Mrs. Sanchez intervened.

Joe turned to the other woman, at last remembering his manners. “Good morning, Mrs. Sanchez. Should I be worried that I was the topic of conversation?”

His mother spoke up. “Charlotte has a great idea.”

His gut churned. He knew that whenever Charlotte Sanchez was involved, it usually wasn’t something great. And it usually meant a lot of work for everyone but her.

“What would that be?” he choked out, sensing he was doomed.

Mrs. Sanchez’s painted red lips lifted into a wait-until-you-hear-this smile. “We think you should be involved in the town square revitalization project.”

His gaze lifted and moved across the street to the dilapidated town square. When he was a little kid, it’d been the hub of community activity. Over the years, time had taken its toll on the place. The grass was mowed and the hedges cut back, but that couldn’t hide the signs of age and neglect. White paint peeled off the gazebo. Benches were missing slats. The sidewalk was cracked and chunks of concrete were missing in places. The utter lack of care ate at him. He had fond memories of Sunday picnics in the square with his mother, aunt, and cousins. He didn’t have many good memories, but those were some of them.

Someone needed to take charge of restoring the town for future generations, but that someone wasn’t going to be him. A job like that would require someone who could boss people around and push them into volunteering their time and supplies. Someone like...Piper. She’d be perfect for the job.

“Ladies, I’m afraid you have the wrong person. I have my hands full getting my coffee shop ready to open on schedule.”

His mother moved closer. When she spoke, he strained to hear her whispered tone. “Joe, I don’t think you’re looking at this right. By helping out with this project, you’d be helping your business. If people hung out in the square, they’d likely stop by your place for coffee.”

As much as he didn’t want to disappoint his mother, he just couldn’t spare the time. He’d find a way to make it up to her. “I don’t think—”

“And,” Mrs. Sanchez piped in, “people will love the idea of being able to enjoy taking their coffees outside. They can sit on one of the soon-to-be-restored park benches while viewing the new trees and plants.”

Before he could make it clear that they should make these plans without his involvement, Piper strolled past. She wore pink capris with a tiny white tee that hugged her curves. On the front was a pink smiley. She looked cheery. Perhaps she was ready to put the hostility behind them. He hoped so.

She greeted his mother and Mrs. Sanchez with a beautiful smile while discreetly avoiding him. His hands clenched. How long was Piper going to give him the cold shoulder? It wasn’t like any of it was personal. It was business pure and simple.

He turned as though to go after her. After all, they were neighbors now. They couldn’t avoid each other forever. Could they? The thought didn’t sit well with him.

He took a step in Piper’s direction. The sound of his mother’s voice reminded him that he wasn’t alone. He stopped. Righting things with Piper would have to wait.

Still, he found himself turning and watching the hypnotic sway of her finely rounded backside. His mouth went dry. Maybe it was a good thing she was being frosty toward him, because every time he looked at her, his blood heated. He didn’t know how he’d resist her if, by some slim chance, she were to return his interest. He drew the unsettling thought to a close.

“Joe, did you hear what I said?” His mother wrung her hands.

He jerked his gaze back to the two women standing in front of him. Mrs. Sanchez’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. She hadn’t missed how Piper had totally distracted him. What had he been thinking to let down his guard in front of this woman? Now the whole town would hear how he had a thing for Piper. He inwardly groaned. He had to do better in the future.