Must Love Wieners (26 page)

“This is exactly why I don’t like mixing the two.”

She pulled her arm away, but he gripped both her shoulders and turned her to face him. “If it were something that you needed to know, I would tell you. But this is between Marilyn and me.” He sighed. “I don’t want business to come between us. I don’t want you to be business at all.” He reached up and cupped her face in both hands. “I want you to be one hundred percent pleasure. Let me deal with this.”

“I don’t like not knowing what’s going on. Marilyn left the center in my care.” And look what’s already happened, she added in her head. She pushed away the thought. “I want to make sure everything turns out okay. I’m not used to people doing things for me that I should be doing.”

“It’s not
for
you. It’s
with
you. You have your part to play, so does Marilyn, and so do I. We’ll all work together. You’re not alone in this. We’re a team.”

She sighed, realizing she was turning into a control freak like Zoe. The issue wasn’t so much control as it was accepting help, admitting she needed it—which she totally didn’t, by the way. It tasted of failure, of bitterness, in her mouth. She closed her eyes for a moment, regaining a bit of perspective and tried for an easier-going expression, maybe even a hint of a smile.

“Is that the spirited speech you give your office every Monday?”

Aiden’s expression softened. “Something like that. Did it work?”

“Strangely enough, I suddenly feel like stapling things and sending interoffice memos.”

His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her tight to him, and he dipped his head in for a kiss. Something neither of them could get enough of that day, not after the fire the night before. After coming so close to—

“Mr. Caldwell!” a shrill voice called behind them.

Aiden whipped around to find Holly charging down the sidewalk, the cameraman in her Chanel wake. With a God-give-me-the-strength sigh, he stepped away from Piper. Hey, You fiddled with his equipment and Holly snapped her fingers at him impatiently.

“A little strange to be viewing your investment properties on a weekend, isn’t it?” she asked Aiden. “Or was it something else you were hoping to view?” Her eyes widened and darted meaningfully to Piper.

“Holly, so nice to see you again.” But Aiden’s expression didn’t relay that happy feeling. It was guarded as she waved the cameraman in close, signaling with a flick of her manicured finger to get a shot of the young CEO.

She held the microphone dramatically in front of her. “Holly Hart, here, on location at San Francisco’s Dachshund Rescue Center to report on more bowwow woes. After last night’s devastating fire, the volunteers are hard at work trying to make the best of their dog day. So, tell us, Mr. Caldwell, where do you fit into all of this?” Holly shoved the microphone into his face.

“I’m here to help Miss Summers deal with the aftermath of last night’s fire.”

Holly leapt into Piper’s bubble, leaning aggressively toward her, on the trail of a hot story. “Rumor has it, you were inside the building when the fire started.”

“Ah, yes. I came by to check on the dogs and caught the arsonist setting fire to the place.”

“That must have been terrifying. What did you do?”

“Well, I tried to stop him, but it was too late and he got away.”

“Those could have been some hot dogs. But you bravely put your life on the line and fought the fire to protect the dogs you so love.” Her voice oozed drama. Piper thought she must have been good at her job at the
Gate
.

“Errr, well, I guess. I mean, I started to, but I never would have been able to do that and get the dogs to safety if Aiden hadn’t showed up.”

Holly spun to face Aiden. She grabbed his upper arm, and Piper could have sworn she squeezed his biceps. “That makes you quite the hero, Mr. Caldwell. Not only are you the most eligible bachelor in town, but a local hero.”

“I believe Miss Summers is—”

Holly pulled the microphone away before he could finish. “So what will happen to the residents of the Dachshund Rescue Center now? Where will they go?” She turned the mic back on Aiden.

“The building will need extensive repairs, which will be reviewed later today. In the meantime, Miss Summers has sorted out temporary arrangements until the renovations are complete.” He nodded to Piper, but Holly seemed reluctant to shift the focus away from her target.

“Mr. Caldwell, with your affiliation with the rescue center”—her eyes flicked to Piper, but so subtly she didn’t think the camera caught it—“does Caldwell and Son Investments have any plans to offer the center aid?”

“Yes, the company plans to do whatever it can to assist the center. Discussions have already begun for future planning.”

Future planning? Piper’s gaze shot to him, but he studiously ignored her. Discussions? Piper’s brain scrambled. Maybe that was what he e-mailed Marilyn about. Or was it a vague business term to avoid giving a real answer? Piper sure wanted some real answers.

“There you have it,” Holly said. “The hound hater has struck again, but they haven’t shut this doghouse down yet. Is this dogfight over, or is it just beginning? This is Holly Hart for Channel Five News.”

Her veneer smile shone on her face like a plastic Barbie until Hey, You said, “And cut.”

She spun on her heel to face Piper. “Thanks for the interview. Bad luck for the center, but these stories have really boosted my ratings. The whole man’s best friend heart-wrenching angle has warmed the viewers up to me. Can you believe people rate me as insincere?”

Piper tried to keep a straight face. “Shocking.”

“I know, right?” She rolled her eyes. “Well, let me know if there are any big breaks in the case. I’d like to finish off with a good heartwarming piece. Something uplifting.”

“You and me both.”

“I’m thinking something along the lines of cute puppies and old people or, better yet, babies. You know, happily ever after kind of crap.”

“I’ll be sure to work on that.”

Holly turned and strutted back to the news van and snapped her fingers at the cameraman. Rolling his eyes, he muttered something under his breath before following her.

Piper turned back to Aiden, not quite ready to give up on their earlier conversation—not to mention, Holly’s interview had raised a whole new set of questions—but as she opened her mouth to confront him a BMW pulled up in front of the building. Aiden’s BMW. That would explain why he drove the Jaguar that day.

The driver’s side door opened and Tamara crawled out. Piper groaned inwardly. When Aiden gave her a funny look, she realized her brain-mouth filter had malfunctioned again and her inward groan was an outward one.

Piper thought it was time that she addressed the Tamara issue. She sidled closer to Aiden while Tamara grabbed some documents from the back of the car.

“Why is she driving your BMW?”

“Her car needs to go in for service.” He shrugged like he did that kind of thing all the time.

“I don’t trust her.”

“With the center?”

“No. With me. With anything. She’s different around me than she is around you. That day at your house, she really did attack me.”

He laughed, like Piper was being ridiculous, but kept his voice low. “This is Tamara we’re talking about? She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Not a fly.
Me,
” Piper said. “Aiden, I think she’s jealous.”

His forehand creased. “Jealous of what?”

“What do you think? Of our relationship. I think she might have feelings for you.”

“I’ve worked with Tamara for three years. It’s nothing more than business.”

“But—”

“You know what I think?” He reached out for Piper and pulled her back in. “I think that Tamara’s not the jealous one.”

“What?” Her mouth dropped open. Was he not hearing her? Could he not see what Tamara was really like? But she supposed not. The first time they met, she never suspected Tamara was anything but sincere. Maybe she’d never showed Aiden that other side of her. And he’d known her a lot longer than he’d known Piper. How could she make him see?

“Look, Tamara’s here to help. It’s just business,” he explained. “I have some things to deal with at the office.”

“On the weekend?”

“Unfortunately, one of my deadlines unexpectedly moved up on me.” He chuckled. She threw him a questioning look, but he waved a dismissive hand. “I won’t bore you with the details.”

“Business?” She felt her mouth twist with annoyance.

“Business. But don’t worry.” Planting a kiss on her cheek, he began backing away to his Jaguar in the parking lot. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

“But—” she began, but her cell phone rang, pulling her up short. Taking it out, she checked the display. It was the vet hospital, probably calling with an emergency.

Tamara joined her on the sidewalk with an armload of insurance papers and documents. The moment Aiden was out of sight, the PA hissed at Piper. It was going to be a long day. But Tamara wasn’t even on the top of her to-worry-about list at the moment.

You’ll find out soon enough.

Aiden’s voice had been layered with something she couldn’t name, his expression suppressed of emotion, like a secret pleasure. Whatever it was, obviously he wasn’t going to tell her right then.

Were his company secrets something she could learn to live with? Maybe it really was none of her business. Maybe she didn’t need to know, she told herself, answering her phone before it went to voice mail. But the way he’d said it, like it was some inside joke between the two of them that he forgot to tell her, she worried that maybe she did.

25

Dog Tired

Piper took one last look around the rescue center courtyard, making sure the few remaining dogs had everything they needed before she left for the day. It felt wrong to leave them, like it would be perfectly reasonable to curl up with them and sleep there for the night. But they were all safe in their temporary doghouses that Tamara had ordered from the pet store. They would be fine.

Fine.
The word was beginning to lose its comfort. Like each time Piper thought the word or said it out loud, an invisible question mark popped up behind it.

She let Colin slip out through the gate and into the back alley. He sniffed around, searching for the ultimate place to mark his territory. Some days he acted choosy, like a connoisseur of pee spots. Others he just went crazy, like he owned the whole world.
It’s mine. All mine!
he would declare maniacally as he swung his leg into the air.

Piper shut the gate behind her and closed the padlock, yanking on it to make sure it was secure before turning around. Someone was standing out there in the dark. Her body froze for a half second and her heart jumped into her throat. Had Tamara come back to corner her after dark? Did she not have enough opportunities to harass her that day? Or maybe it was worse. Maybe it was the arsonist.

She got ready to scream for help. Surely the cops stationed in front of the building would hear her. The person stepped out of the shadows and she quickly bit it back. It was just Aiden. She slumped against the fence in relief.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.” She swallowed her heart back down into her chest. “I’m more worried about the dogs.”

“They’ll be okay. There’s no call for rain over the next few days, and they’ve got everything they need. Besides, the police said they’ll still be watching the building.”

Piper nodded, knowing everything that could be done that day was done—and then some. Addison had been in and out all day delivering guests to their temporary lodgings. On top of running to the vet hospital twice for emergency weekend calls, Piper had organized it all while doing the rest of the chores. There was nothing more she could do. Except sleep. Possibly forever.

“Did you just get finished at the office?” she asked Aiden.

“Yeah.”

“That’s a long day.”

“I bet yours was longer. I hope Tamara helped.”

“She did.” There was a definite “but” to Piper’s tone of voice.
But
she insulted me every time we were alone.
But
she threatened to feed me my own hair.
But
she’s bat shit crazy. However, Piper didn’t want to get into that at the moment. Tamara did deal with the investigators and insurance in Aiden’s absence. Although if Piper could take that responsibility on she would have, just so she didn’t have to deal with Tamara all day. But Piper was just a volunteer. It was a job for the landowner.

“That’s good. And I heard from the police today about the taxi.”

“You did? Did they find it?” Answers. Finally. Piper didn’t think she could fit any more questions or worries into her stuffed brain.

“Yes. Along with my briefcase. They think it was just a joyride, or else they were going to chop it for parts and decided not to. Whatever the reason, it seems it had nothing to do with the documents in my briefcase.”

So no answers, then. Just the lack of them. She rubbed a hand over her face and groaned in frustration.

Grabbing her hand, Aiden dragged her away from the fence and into his embrace. His hands rubbed her back comfortingly. The rubbing slowed until it became caressing, exploring, groping. Her brain, exhausted from one of the longest days of her life, relinquished control, and her body responded to his touches like he was her puppet master.

In the back of her mind, questions jingled like loose change. She knew she should pull them out and see what they were. However, like when she searched the bottom of her purse, she knew loose change never paid the bills at the end of the month. Never amounted to much … until you added them up, of course.

But it had been a long day. Piper wasn’t in any mental state to do the math, especially not as Aiden brought his mouth to hers. Questions? What questions?

He drew away. Even in the dark alley, she could see the desire in his half-lidded eyes. He grinned down at her. “You know what you need? Something to take your mind off things.”

“You’re totally right,” she teased. “Maybe I’ll go find something.” She pretended to pull away, but he yanked her back and pressed her up against the fence.