When We Fall (Take the Fall, #2)(2)

Her nose wrinkles. “I really don’t want to live with them. They’re…loud.”

I am not going to say shit about that. One, that’s my sister, and two, that’s my sister.

“Rowan said you have an opening at work and a room I can rent.”

My eyes almost fall out of my head. “Excuse me?”

“You have an opening at work,” she says slowly.

“Yeah, yeah, we need a bookkeeper, but what’s this shit about a room?” I reach into my pocket and pull out a pack of cigarettes, taking one and lighting it up.

“It would only be for a little while,” she says, and I swear to God her lashes flutter at me.

“You’ll stay here at my place?”

“Oh my gosh, Jase. Thank you!” She beams, misunderstanding me. “I’ll tell Rowan you said yes. She said you might not, but I told her that you were the type to help out a woman in need.”

“She did? You did?” I grin at the last bit. “Yeah, I help out needy women all the time.”

Suddenly, I’m enveloped in expensive perfume, soft curves, and slender arms. “Thank you, Jase. I didn’t know how else I was going to pay for graduate school and living expenses.”

Stunned, I just sit there, not touching her as she continues to hug me. I should be enjoying this, but I’m pretty f*cking sure I not only gave her permission to live with me but work with me as well.

“I’m really good at math and crunching numbers,” she says as she pulls away and stands. “Rowan says your books are a mess, but by the time I’m through, you’ll be set.”

It feels as though a truck has hit me: a truck with a pair of nice tits and long legs. “Hold up. So you’re going to work for Emmett and me as our bookkeeper?” I need to tell her no.

“I’ll be your girl Friday—you know, the woman who can do it all at work for her boss? I’ll work at the front desk, too—well, when I’m not in class,” she says in a rush, looking so pleased with herself that I can’t tell her no.

Really, it’s sick that I can’t tell her no.

“We can create a schedule,” she adds.

I’ve told countless women no. Why should she be any different?

“I’ll be at your beck and call. Whatever you want.”

And that’s not what I need to hear from this girl. Not in the slightest.

Piper takes my hand before I can let her down gently. She traces the tattoos on a couple of my fingers. “Maybe I’ll be brave enough to get one someday.”

I sit there silently, letting her explore. Abruptly, she lets go of me. “If you don’t think this is a good idea, then I’ll find something else.”

For some reason I don’t picture Piper with another job or place to live. I picture someone like Mark Williams with his preppy-ass bow ties putting his hands on her. Guys who live in The Oaks and drive fancy-ass sports cars they have no business owning. Guys like that always get girls like Piper.

Oh, hell no.

But it’s a really bad idea.

Yeah, but what’s the worst that could happen?

You could seduce her and she could sue your ass.

Again, what’s the worse that could happen?

Piper twists her hands together as she waits for me to answer.

You could fall for her and she’ll leave you, once she discovers exactly how bad you really are.

I’m not bad….I’m filthy and have nothing to offer her. But, I’ll keep that to myself. But in the meantime, I’ll lie and tell Piper that we don’t—

“You can move in tonight, if you want. We can talk about a work schedule tomorrow.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I cringe inside. What in the hell have I done?





Piper


I can feel my eyes round. “Tonight?” Holy crud. I didn’t expect to move in so soon. Honestly, I didn’t expect for Jase to say yes at all.

He rubs the back of his neck and my eyes can’t help but stray to the tattoos that are inked on his fingers. “Actually, I need more time to get the house in shape. Give me a couple of weeks, and let me talk it over with Emmett about you working there.”

“That seems fair. Besides, I have to pack my things.” I practically bounce up and down with glee. For the first time in my life, I was bold when it came to Jase Simmons and he didn’t tell me no. “Anyway, I need to get back to the party and finish cleaning up in time for work tonight.”

The thought of never working with the kids at Head’s Up saddens me, but I stayed there as long as I could.

“You’re going to miss working there, aren’t you?” he asks, blowing out a ring of smoke. I step to one side to avoid it—I don’t want to risk a full-blown asthma attack. With a frown, he looks at me, then the cigarette, and then grinds it into the heel of his shoe. He sets it on the bench beside him.

My heart flips at his thoughtfulness.

“I really am.” My parents stopped paying my bills a few months back and have stopped all monthly deposits into my account as well. I’m almost out of money, and I don’t think it’s right to live rent free at Rowan and Seth’s house. Yes, I contribute to the grocery, water, and electric bills, but I don’t think they’re giving me the correct amounts.

“Neighborhood’s not the best, though,” he says, standing.