One Summer in Santa Fe - By Molly Evans Page 0,34

to the opera?” she asked, and sat straight up in her seat, her eyes wide, bubbles of surprise shooting through her like champagne.

“We’re going to the opera. I promise it won’t cross your eyes, though.”

“What is it? What is it?” she asked, eager as a child, and patted him on the arm.

“Mama Mia.”

“Oh!” She flopped back against her seat.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like that? I know it’s a musical, not an opera, but—”

“Oh, yes. I’ve been wanting to see that for ages, but I’ve never been in the right city at the right time.”

“Then I’m glad I picked this show.” He found a parking place, then turned to face her.

“Thank you, Taylor.” She stroked his cheek and tried not to be too overwhelmed that he had chosen this evening for her. No one had so gone out of their way to treat her in such a very long time. What a sweet gesture. She gave a mental sigh as she looked at Taylor. Wasn’t it time she did something, took some time, for herself? Putting her life on hold for eight years was long enough.

He popped a quick kiss on her cheek. “You’re welcome.” Although going out of his way to take someone on such a special night wasn’t something he usually did, this seemed the right thing for Piper. And surprising himself, Taylor wanted to do it. They might not have much time together as her contract lasted only six weeks, they could have a good time while she was here and then say their goodbyes. There was no harm in that. They were adults, they could deal with it.

After the show, on the way home, Piper’s cell phone rang. After a few seconds, she gripped it in her hand. “What?” She sat upright in the seat, intently focused on the conversation. “No, no, no. You can’t do that, Elizabeth. I won’t allow it.”

A horrified gasp sprang from her throat. “What do you mean, ‘I don’t have the right’? I have the right because I’m your sister, and I’m paying for your school and—”

Piper snapped the phone shut and stared straight ahead, trying to collect her thoughts and settle her breathing, embarrassed that Taylor had witnessed the exchange.

“You hung up on her?” Taylor asked.

“Uh, no. Other way around.”

“Something you want to share?” he asked.

The sound of his voice was so gentle that tears tried to prick her eyes, but she resisted the urge to play the delicate female. She was tougher than that, and she’d figure this out. Somehow. “I can’t believe she’s doing this.” Piper tucked her phone into her purse and clutched it in her lap. “She’s ruining everything I worked for.”

“How?”

“She’s leaving school for a man! She’s only twenty years old. How can she do that?” Piper covered her face in her hands, the joy of the evening gone in an instant.

Taylor turned the car into her apartment complex and parked in front of her building. “I’m sorry. Do you want to talk about it?” He let the question hang. “This was rather unexpected, I take it.”

“Yes, it is.” Piper unbuckled her seat belt, but didn’t get out of the car. “Why don’t you come up, and I’ll make some coffee?”

Taylor followed her into the apartment and watched as she puttered around the kitchen in her evening gown. This fretful woman wasn’t the Piper he knew, but he wanted to help her. Even if it just meant listening. Something new for him, but he was game to try. Too many times he’d bolted at the first sign of feminine emotions. He didn’t need them, didn’t want them, and he damned sure wasn’t going to play games. But this time was different. He couldn’t just walk away from her. Piper had helped him out when he’d needed it. He could help her out a little tonight without giving himself a hernia. “Why don’t you go change, and then we’ll have coffee?” He nudged her away from the sink to finish the job himself.

“But…”

Wide blue eyes filled with distress, worry, and something else, maybe relief. He turned her and gave her a little push toward her bedroom. “Go. I know my way around a coffeepot.” But not his way around a woman’s tears. Those unnerved him in an instant. He’d rather have an ER full of hostile patients than one upset woman on his hands. That was enough to make any determined bachelor run for the hills.

“You’re still in your suit.” Piper’s eyes were bruised looking and defeated.