I give my best grin, with my swagger out in full force, as I sit on the sofa across from Piper’s grandmother who is examining the gift I brought her, completely welcoming the fact that I showed up unannounced and without Piper’s knowledge.
“Don’t worry, I made sure it was top quality,” I assure her as she sets the bottle of vodka, ideal for martinis, to the side. Adjusting my suit jacket, I didn’t put it on for her, but I know this outfit gives me an extra edge.
“You get points for the initiative. My granddaughter has no idea you’re here, and I think I like that. Although she will be here soon.” The woman’s red polished nails tap the sofa arm.
“Well, my schedule is a bit tight these days, and I’m in the city, as our season is about to start. I had an hour to spare and figured that I should cross some essential meetings off my list,” I explain and insinuate meeting her.
She understands and a smirk spreads on her face. “My granddaughter talks about you, and don’t take it personal that she hasn’t dragged you to meet me. I can be… opinionated.”
“You have good judgment.”
A sound escapes her as she stands and walks to a tray of crystal glasses and alcohol choices in well-designed bottles that hold expensive alcohol along the side of the living room. She goes straight for a scotch, stopping mid-pour to look at me and question with her eyes.
“I never let a good-looking woman drink alone and my driver is downstairs.”
I may be laying it on thick, but I can tell she likes to play along, and a minute later when she hands me a glass of amber-colored liquid, she pauses to study me once more before returning to her seat.
This place screams old money or at least decorative tastes that take you back to another era.
“So, what really brings you here, Hudson Arrows?” she asks before taking a sip.
I lean back, confident. “Truthfully, I’m being a selfish man. I’m crazy about your granddaughter, and I figured that I would throw in some tradition. It might make Piper blush like a rose, but I’m used to that.”
Ruth snorts a laugh. “I’m sure you keep her satisfied.”
My eyes bug out slightly, as this lady’s humor is on par with my own. “If I wait for Piper to invite me, then I may be waiting a while, and I know you’re important to her.”
“Piper has reason to hesitate, as I’m sure you know about her past relationship. But she also hesitates to accept anything good that enters her life. It’s in her nature. When she had her bat mitzvah, she questioned me for six weeks if the necklace I gave her wasn’t too much. She has a kind heart, but make no mistake, she has a backbone and can be stubborn and confident when needed.”
“Couldn’t agree more. I’m just a little stuck, as my niece wasn’t thrilled with the news about Piper and myself, and I know it’s keeping Piper down.”
She waves off my notion. “April and Piper will find their way back to one another. Something will bring them together again.”
I hum at the thought. “I think so too. Maybe I should do more, I’ve kind of stayed on the sidelines.”
Her eyes stay fixed on me and don’t blink. “As much as I’m sure my granddaughter’s friendship suffering from her choice of gentleman suiter is a topic of discussion, I’m more interested in your mention of being a traditional guy.”
I laugh, as she sees right through me. “Fair enough. I’m sure you’ve done your research on me, so I don’t need to go over my backstory.”
“Certainty have, and the media loves you, as do the women at my Tuesday-night book club.”
“Fun.” I move quickly on. “I just need you to know that my intentions are honorable, and I hope when the schedule allows, that we can have dinner together. Until then, I promise that I’ll take care of Piper, always.”
She lifts her nose and folds her hands over her skirt. “Sounds like some long-term plans.”
“They are. I’ve made it clear to Piper what I want in life, and she’s still around which tells me she thinks I’m a keeper.” I tone down my cockiness for a second.
“You’ve kept her busy the last few months, that’s for sure. I have a talent, they say. I can judge someone’s character within ten seconds, and my thought about them will never change. Unlucky for many, but exceptionally lucky for Piper, as I’m never wrong.”
The corners of my mouth twist while I wait for her to continue.
“I have a good feeling about you.”
“Only good?” I joke.
“You would get an extra point if you tell me you have a Jewish grandfather or something, but meh.”
I chuckle because her face is dead serious. “If I say I have every intention of making her my wife, would you still have a very good feeling about me?”
She wiggles her long finger in the air. “I don’t change my opinions of people.”
Ah, she agrees with me.
“You may think I’m moving fast, but I’m not getting any younger, and I live a life where my days revolve around a game that you always want to win. No room for error, nor opportunity to slow things down. So the moment that I put in the effort for something, then everything goes out the window. That’s it, I want it until I have it. For the first time, I put in the effort with a woman, and it’s because I can’t imagine my life without her. I wouldn’t even know how to let go if I tried, nor do I plan on stumbling either.”
“You sound like Piper’s grandfather. He had the same demeanor. Also, older than me and a smooth talker. I understand where you are coming from. It may scare Piper like crazy, but sometimes we need someone to take us out of our comfort zones, albeit in a positive way.”
“Couldn’t agree more.”
In that moment, we hear the front door to the apartment open, and our attention turns to the entrance.
“They only had roast beef. Simon swears you didn’t have an order in for this week,” Piper announces as she juggles a bag and her purse. When she drops the bags and looks up, she stops in her tracks, and her mouth parts open in surprise. “Hudson?”
I stand to greet her. “In the flesh.”
She slowly walks to me and looks between her grandmother and me, a nervous smile appearing on her face. “What are you doing here?” I hear the disbelief in her voice that she walked in on this surprise.
I’m quick to give her a kiss hello, far too chaste for my liking. “I had a little free time and thought I would introduce myself.”
Piper’s eyes have a hint of shock. “Oh, uhm, and you thought to take matters into your own hands?” I can’t quite figure out if she’s mad or entertained.
“See, Ruth, she is a smart woman this one.” I play into the amused side.
Her grandmother focuses on Piper. “Relax, dear, we were having a good discussion. About you, of course, and we covered the essentials. I mean, I’m just going to assume his package is up to my standards.”
Piper’s face turns near white. “Oh my.” She shakes her head and walks to the tray of alcohol. “This is why I was petrified of this scenario.” She pours herself a decent drink.
“I didn’t even do an inspection and my special sense told me that he’s a keeper within ten seconds.”
“What in the world is the inspection?” Piper looks petrified, but I can only laugh.
Her grandmother stands. “Well, I haven’t asked, and I was kind of hoping, but you know what? I think I’ve given up that particular criteria, and being circumcised is more for your enjoyment than tradition, but it’s fine. Besides, I have a feeling this guy would be the type of guy to ask for my input on wedding rings and maybe name my first grandchild after me, so we are good to go.”
Piper takes a long gulp.
I walk to her and bring my hand to her upper arm. “Are you okay?”
“Of course she is, she has you in her life to take off those lacy pieces she designs.”
Piper’s mouth falls open again when she looks at her grandmother. “Tone it down.” She looks at me. “It’s not that I didn’t want you to meet, I just know she has zero filter, and it requires like a few hours of mental preparation for dealing with you two in the same room.”
I rub her shoulders. “And now you’ve had no mental preparation. I like the element of surprise.”
“She’s fine. She loves my candid honesty. It’s more likely she was afraid that I might not like you and now she can relax because you have my seal of approval,” her grandmother announces.
Her head perks up. “You like him?” Piper’s voice turns soft, and her eyes fill with that familiar glimmer of hope and admiration that I’ve seen a few times now.
Her grandmother nods, and that’s what it takes for Piper to relax and smile an honest smile.
“I’ll give you two a minute while I do some things in the kitchen. And if you need a moment, just use the guest room at the end.”
“Well, that’s a special offer,” I retort.
When Ruth is out of the room, Piper’s head falls against my shoulder. “Are we not allowed any normal family meetings?”
“That wouldn’t be fun.”
Piper looks up at me, and I’m quick to cradle her face in the palms of my hands and kiss her soft and long until she’s murmuring into my breath. I haven’t seen her since the other week, and while she knew I was in the city, we didn’t set a time in stone for when we would see one another.
“It’s a busy time, and I wish I could stop the clock,” I admit.
“Me too. I hate city life now, and I hate sleeping alone or at least not knowing the pillow next to me smells of you.”
I kiss her forehead. “You can always stay in Lake Spark, even if I’m not there.”
“I know. Maybe I will head there sometime in the coming weeks. I can focus on work, hang with the knitting ladies since April is still MIA from my life, and survive on coffee with jellybeans.”
“Could be a solid plan.”
Piper stares at me and her eyes flutter, and I know her soft playful voice is about to come on. “You should be in trouble for this move.”
I pull her flush against my body and wrap my arms around her. “Sometimes you need a little push, and I wanted to be a little traditional.”
“Should have done this before you spanked me in the bedroom then.” That fucking sexy voice.
My brows raise from her boldness, and I pull her tighter against my body. “I’m a little late on that, but I can spank you harder next time.”
She purrs into my neck and loops her arms around my neck, then she tilts her body against my dick. This woman is being a little vixen.
“Stay for dinner then we can leave together?” she offers.
“I wish, but I have a dinner with sponsors and won’t finish until late. Football season isn’t going to be on our side.”
She sighs and nods in understanding. “I get it.”
I crook my finger under her chin to tip her face up. “There are 168 hours in the week, of which about 115 of those hours are coaching and 35 for sleeping. I hope every sleeping hour you are next to me, and any hours left in the week are for you, but even so, it depends on where a game might be. But it doesn’t matter, as you are always on my mind.”
“I know. I’m getting used to it.”
Piper’s grandmother interrupts us. “You know if you marry, the coaches’ wives have an association.”
We both look at her, and she shrugs her shoulders.
“How much have you heard?” Piper wonders.
“Enough.”
I scoff a laugh again. “You’re something special, Ruth.”
“I know.” She doesn’t hold in any modesty.
Looking back at Piper, I’m happy that we can strike another milestone off the list.
* * *
Holding my phone to my ear, I wait for my sister to pick up. My driver is getting me to my next location for the day, so I have some time to kill.
“Oh dear, what have you done now?” Catherine greets me on the other end.
“Love you too. Can’t a guy call his sister?”
“You can, but you’ve been occupied lately. Speaking of which, I hear April is still giving you and Piper the silent treatment.”
I look out the window where we are stuck at a traffic light during rush-hour traffic on the north side of Chicago.
“She is, but I’m hoping to rectify that, as Piper and I are not going to fade away. I was hoping they could sort it all out, but that doesn’t seem to be happening, so I’m tapping in. I need your help.”
Catherine hums. “You understand where April is coming from, right?”
“Partly, but not enough that it’s an issue. Look, I know she hasn’t had the best of romantic endeavors lately, but even more reason why she could use her friend, and I need Piper happy too, especially now that she’s losing me to the football season schedule. I’d feel better knowing she has her best friend back.”
“For selfish reasons, you call, but luckily I love you, and you did promise that I could have a spa day at the Dizzy Duck Inn on your account—”
My body sits up in reaction. “That’s it. You’re a genius. See, I knew phoning you would be a good idea. Thanks!”
“Wait, what? What just happened? I’m confused.”
“Gotta go, need to call April.” I hang up and quickly dial April’s number, even adding video.
I wait and wait, but eventually April answers.
“Yes?” I hear attitude which only makes me smile.
“You can’t stay mad at me. We’re family, and my son is connected to the best winery around and I coach your favorite team, so you need me.”
She holds her hand up. “Oh, don’t worry. Drew isn’t getting my silent treatment since he didn’t sleep with my best friend. Why did you, my cool uncle, have to become a cliché?”
“I’m not a cliché. I found a beautiful woman who I want to spend my life with, and she just so happens to be your age and your friend. I can’t apologize—”
“I know. You have no problem staying firm on your stances. It’s why you’re a coach.”
I smile at her thought. “I know somewhere in your smart head that if you look at it more, then you would understand. Anyways, it happened and here we are, and I just wanted to invite you to Lake Spark sometime soon for a spa day. I promised your mom it would be on me and thought I would extend the invitation.”
April looks at me, intrigued yet doubtful.
“Will Piper be there?”
“No. Would it matter, though? I know you miss her. I mean, she misses you. Just the other day she was in a mood because she saw a dog and said it reminded her of you.”
“Was it a beagle?” April nearly smiles.
I nod and see we are approaching our destination on all counts.
“Listen, I’ve got to run, but will you make it happen? Visiting Lake Spark?”
“I mean, I guess I can cram it into my busy schedule of ice cream, ripping up photos of my ex, and wondering where I went wrong in life.”
I cringe at that thought. “How are you doing with that?”
“Swell,” she says, sarcastic.
“You deserve so much better, and you will find someone.”
“If I had a penny every time someone told me that, then, well, I would be swimming in coins.”
I unbuckle my belt as the car comes to a standstill. “All the more reason to have a nice escape. Just send me your available dates.”
“Fine.”
“We’ll be in touch,” I say as the car door opens.
“Bye.”
“Bye, kiddo.”
Satisfaction spreads on my face because I have every intention of trapping April and Piper together, and I know they will thank me later. After that, we can just all move forward, because surely we’ve crossed every possible blip off the list.