In Bed With His Rival - Katherine Garbera Page 0,1

those plans were up in the air.

“Yes, but I can’t really share that with you,” Ava told her in a terse tone. “I know you’ve never been married, but this really isn’t the kind of conversation anyone wants to overhear on their wedding day.”

“Of course, Ava. I see Zeke and Reagan waving me over. I’ll catch up with you later. I’m sure you need to circulate as the mother of the bride, especially since Trent is not here.”

Trent Wingate’s death had left a hole in all of their lives, and Piper knew that Harley missed her beloved father terribly. She’d escaped to Thailand to start her own business, which was thriving now.

Piper knew her words hadn’t been nice, but her sister had a way of making her react like a...bitch. She turned, thinking she should apologize, but Ava had already moved away. There were times when she wondered if anyone could melt the ice around her sister’s heart. Piper didn’t want to impose on her nephew and his new wife, so she drifted toward the bar.

“Buy you a drink?” a man asked. His voice was dark, sexy and straight out of dreams that she channeled into her art.

She turned to see Brian Cooper standing behind her. He was tall, over six feet, and had thick, close-cut black hair that made his face seem all strong, masculine angles. He had an easy smile and his eyes beamed with intelligence. He’d asked her to coffee more than once and she’d always said no.

He ticked a lot of her boxes. Whip smart with oodles of charisma...and the innate ability to make her forget things that she shouldn’t. She really believed in the adage older and wiser. Which was why she had decided to stay away from him.

But it wasn’t just the age difference—she was nearly eleven years older—but also the fact that he was Keith Cooper’s nephew. Keith had gone from being a family friend to Ava’s overprotective friend, and that complicated things. Piper preferred to keep things simple. It just was easier.

“It’s an open bar,” she pointed out.

He waggled his eyebrows at her. “I know. Figured this way you wouldn’t say no.”

He was effortlessly charming with the kind of square jaw and impish grin that made her pulse beat a little bit faster. She’d tried to be subtle when she turned him down, but as she’d already observed, Brian was a very smart man. “I’d love tequila straight. But Ava would have a fit if I had one, so sauvignon blanc please.”

“Do you always do what Ava wants?” he asked. “She has so much power over everyone in her circle.”

“Even your uncle,” she pointed out. Keith had been rumored to be taking Ava’s decision to distance herself from him without grace.

“Yeah, I guess. I don’t really see that much of him normally. I have been busy opening my own law firm in Dallas,” he said, then he groaned. “Did I really just say that out loud?”

She had to laugh at the way he said it. “Yes, you did.”

“I wasn’t bragging. I was just trying—”

“It’s okay. What do you want to drink?” she asked as they moved forward and were next in line at the bar.

“Grey Goose on the rocks,” he said.

“Damn. Now I’m beginning to rethink my promise to be classy and have white wine,” she lamented.

“Why not just be yourself and have what you want?” he asked. “But then again, I’m not related to Ava Wingate...”

Piper appreciated Brian’s acknowledgement of that, and yet at the same time, he reminded her that it had been far too long since she’d just let go and been herself. That thought was at the top of her mind as she stepped forward and ordered their drinks, getting the tequila for herself.

She turned to Brian and handed him his glass as they walked away from the bar toward the side of the dance floor. The band was playing and couples moved to the music, but they stood far enough away that they could still hear each other.

“I think I am a bad influence,” Brian remarked. “But I don’t regret it. Cheers.”

“Cheers,” Piper said, clinking her glass to his. Although she didn’t comment on his admission, she had to admit the tequila tasted way better than a glass of wine would have. And truth be told? She felt like herself instead of the perfect sister she tried to be every time she arrived back in Royal. Piper hated that she was forty and still trying to get