Page 6 of Reconcile
Doesn’t change the fact that I do. That the thought of him touching her makes me want to climb out of my skin.
“Maybe you should go. Maybe you need to see Piper.”
I glare at him, hating that my brother and he seem to think she won’t stab me if I get within a few feet of her. She’s a woman scorned, and I’m not fucking with that.
“No. She wants nothing to do with me.”
“It was a long time ago, man.”
“Trust me, she’s not over it.”
A chill goes through me, thinking about the last time I saw her and the anger flashing through her eyes. He shrugs. “Well, it sounds like Cole misses you.” He grins. “Though I have no clue why.”
I roll my eyes, but smile into my beer. Such an asshole.
Still, as we eat and laugh and bullshit each other, my mind is where it usually is.
With Piper Ward.
4
PIPER
“Good afternoon, Piper.” I look up from my desk and see the least offensive Ross brother standing in my office.
“Good afternoon, Cole.”
He walks further into my office, dressed impeccably in a three-piece suit and tie with his black hair slicked back. He takes a seat across from me. “How are you doing? It’s been a while since I’ve checked in with you.”
I offer a small smile. Cole is five years older than me, so I didn’t see him much in school, only when he would come and drag Sawyer to the family car. Still, the Ross and Ward families are often together in Kansas City high society, and we saw each other at several events. And when I needed a job, I was surprised to hear from none other than Cole Ross.
Brother of my enemy.
Of course, he’s not the CEO of this company. That honor lies with the supreme asshole, Spencer Ross. But somehow, Cole managed to talk him into offering me the job.
“I’m doing fine.”
He eyes me with suspicion. Cole is the quiet one. But that doesn’t make him any less lethal. Maybe more so. “Spencer treating you okay?”
I internally cringe, thinking about Spencer. I can’t stand him. I never could. Still, I need this job, so I pretend he doesn’t make me want to scream whenever I’m stuck in his arrogant presence.
“He’s been fine.”
“Piper.” His response is direct.
“Fine. He’s abhorrent. He treats me like a secretary from the fifties and calls me ‘sweetheart.’”
His eyebrow arches in amusement before he shakes his head. “He’s an asshole.”
“True.”
He stands. “But he knows his shit.”
I bite my tongue because I know he does. He’s ruthless in his dealings. “Also true.”
There’s a knock on the door, drawing both of our attention to the smiling receptionist, Jennifer, as she opens the door wider. “Here he is, Mr. Ross. Then she looks at Cole. ”You have a visitor.”
No.
