Chapter 4

Piper

It’s Saturday afternoon when I hear my doorbell ring. And for some reason, I think, or I rather hope it's James. I rush downstairs to see it's not, but I’m still shocked to see who it is. "Oh my gosh, what are you doing here?" Donovan Stone is standing on my steps. I never expected to see him come to Chicago. He owns his family’s ranch back in Iowa and is usually very busy.

"I just got off the phone with your grandma, and I'm in town so I figured I'd stop by,” he says with a shrug of his broad shoulders. My grandma probably wants me to fall for him. She’s always had a soft spot for him.

“C'mon In." I close the door behind him and stand there for a minute in surprise before locking it. Just in town please I don't believe it. He’s got more work than most. I know it’s winter and this is his free time, but for him to be here of all places since he hates the city life a bit unbelievable. My grandmother probably sent him here to check up on me.

"How's it going?" he asks, taking off his scarf and opening his coat.

"Everything is great. Would you like something to drink?" I ask, brushing my hair back behind my ear.

We went to the same high school, but he's from the next town over. He's handsome and a really great guy, but we're nothing more than friends. People say guys and girls can't be friends, but we are.

"Anything you got is good," he calls out looking out the window. I come back with a bottle of water.

"Sorry, I didn't buy anything to drink. Can't believe I forgot it at the store yesterday,” I explain, feeling like an ass. I have to get my boss out of my head, or I’ll never get anything right. I’m a total mess. It’s only my fourth trip to the store because I seemed to forget everything.

"This is good. You know…how about I take you to lunch?" he offers, tilting his head and smiling at me innocently.

“Sure. There’s a good pizza place down the street.”

“Let’s go, ma’am. I’m starving,” he orders, buttoning up his coat back up.

“Fine. Take a seat and give me five minutes. I need to get ready.” I just got home from the store and didn’t get undressed yet, but I kicked off my boots and unpinned my hair.

I hurry and get ready in six minutes. He taps his watch playfully, so I flip him off. “Chill out,” I mutter, nudging him as I slide my crossbody purse over my head. “Did you drive here?”

“Yes, I did.” He points down the street, and I see his F350 looking sleek in the bright sun that’s beaming down. The damn sun is deceiving. It seems like it could be seventy out instead of thirty degrees.

“Did you get a car wash when you got here?”

“Yes, I did. There’s one at the gas station.” My salt covered car needs a wash, but I’m going to wait until the weekend when it warms up.

“I’ll drive,” he says, leading me to his truck. The sidewalk’s been shoveled by my neighbors early this morning. They tell me not to bother since I’m a single female living alone. The family that lives beneath me just does it.

“You live in a nice little neighborhood,” he remarks.

“You sound shocked,” I tease.

“Not at all. Just trying to make some conversation. Now tell me where I’m going.”

“Okay, so you’re going to make a left and go straight until the light then turn left again and follow that road, and I’ll tell you where to turn.” We make our way to Connie’s within five minutes. Once we’re seated inside, I ask, “What brings you to Chicago of all places?”

“Actually, I’ve come to meet with a marketing team to build up the farm. I figured doing in person would be more beneficial. We have a meeting on Monday.”

“How’s your family?”

“They’re good. My dad is loving retirement, and my older brothers are loving living far away from the farm,” he grumbles out the last part. It sounds like I touched a nerve. I didn’t mean to do that.

“Damn, I’m sorry to hit a sore spot. I thought you loved the farm.”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong, I love it. But for the first time, I’m completely alone. I jumped on this trip to deal with actual people.”

“You do have ranch hands and stuff,” I remind him, and he’s not the kind of rancher who doesn’t work alongside them. He’s hands-on and hangs out with them after they finish busting their asses.

“You know what I mean. I want to meet a woman.”

Just then the waitress comes up and takes our order. I go with the chicken fettuccini alfredo while he goes with a small deep dish. As soon as she’s gone, I get back to our conversation. “Well if you stay long enough, my Christmas party is Wednesday night, and we can bring a plus one.”

“What about your boss?” he questions. Damn that was loaded.

“Oh hell. What did my grandma tell you?”

“Nothing except you’re having a hard time at work and that you could use a visit.”

“Oh, so this is a pity visit,” I challenge.

“You know that’s not true. I’ve missed you,” he adds with a smile.

“I’ve missed you too. We barely get a moment to talk.”

“Well now that we have it. Tell me about that jackass boss of yours.” I go into the story leaving out the nasty things he snarled at me before the fire alarm went off.

“So he’s been avoiding you even during the day?” I nod and take a drink of my water. “Damn, I would tell you to start looking for a job soon. If you want you can come back and be my office manager. I could really use one.”

“Thanks, but I’m still going to bust my ass. If he cans me, I’ll find something else. It’s kind of weird to have time on your hands with nothing to do.”

“Well, I’ll go with you.”

“Thanks.”

We finish up our meal, and he drives me back to my place.

He waits until I’m inside before he drives off to his hotel. I offered to let him stay in my apartment, but I’m guessing a king-size bed is better than my sofa.

As soon as I get inside, I get a ping on my phone. It’s from James. He’s holding the cutest baby. The message says: Wanted you to see Little man before he went to bed.

He has a son? Wow, what? I don’t know if that picture was meant for me, but I respond even as my heart breaks: He’s adorable with a heart emoji.

I’m ready for bed even though it’s only five. My phone rings and I see Mr. Smith on the ID. I hesitate but answer before it ends. “Hello,” I say with a distracted tone.

“Sorry to bother you, Piper. I meant to send that to my sister. I’m babysitting my nephew while they go Christmas shopping.”

I turn beet red and grateful that I’m only talking to him. The misplaced jealousy feels foolish which is what I always am when it comes to thoughts of him. “Oh, I forgot that you had a nephew. Silly me. I thought he was yours.”

“No, no kids yet, but I plan on having a baseball team worth soon,” he adds with confidence in his voice.

“Really?” So he is seeing someone special, and my heart is breaking.

“Yes,” he grunts out. Then a loud wail comes from the other end.

“Sorry, Piper. He needs me. See you Monday.”

“See you,” I whisper, hanging up before he can hear the cracking in my voice. Maybe Donovan is right. I should be looking for another job.