What Piper Needs (20 page)

“You have a keen eye, my friend,” Piper said. “Spotting a player in a room full of servers who all wear black and white uniforms takes talent. But it was totally worth it. It’s a good thing you were one, or you might’ve missed him.”

Michael took her hand and punched off the emergency button. A loud noise buzzed to signal that the elevator was operational again, then he pressed the “door open” button.

The elevator doors spread open immediately.

Right as a waitress walked by with a huge tray of food.

She startled when the doors opened, but recovered quickly. She gave them the barest of nods as she continued walking without glancing back.

“Well, it’s safe to say this isn’t the first time these elevators have been utilized for clandestine encounters,” Michael whispered as he led Piper out, returning the key to its place as they exited. They followed the waitress through the doors and into the main hallway by the bathrooms.

Michael dropped Piper off in front of the women’s room and continued on to their table. He was relieved to see their food hadn’t arrived yet. Their waiter was at another table, but as soon as he spotted Michael, he hurried over. “I hope everything is okay, sir,” he said. “Your starter dish should be out momentarily.”

Michael spotted no knowing look in his eye, no half smile, no chiding.

The guy had no idea what had just happened.

“Everything is fine, thank you. I’d like to order another bottle of champagne. We’ll try the 2010 this time, and I’ll double your tip if you bring out a crème brûlée in the next five minutes.”

“Right away,” he said.

The waiter hurried away right as Piper made her way back to the table. She looked amazing. Nothing out of place, or the least bit rumpled. The best part was her smile. It was radiant. Michael wanted to congratulate himself for satisfying her so well, but really, she was the one who had done the satisfying.

She took her seat across from him, flashing him another dazzling smile that went from her chin all the way to her eyes.

He plucked the bottle out of the bucket and refilled her glass, then his own, emptying it. She picked up her glass and took a sip without saying a word. After her drink, she licked her lips.

When she was done, she set her glass on the table and leaned forward, crossing her arms on the table. “That was nicely done, Mikey. I don’t think I’m going to come down from that high anytime soon. My entire body is one big throbbing heartbeat. I’m going to daydream about that for weeks, and each time I do, it’ll give me a wettie.”

He grinned. “I can see this building from my goddamn desk, and I can promise you that my dick will spring each time I look out my office window. We’re definitely coming back here. On our way out, I’m booking the next date they have available, and I don’t care if it’s six months out. I will count the days with relish.”

“Maybe I should make a paper chain, like I did for Christmas every year as a child. It can be our Elevator Sex Chain.”

“That’s a fucking fantastic idea.”

“You know what I
really
love?” she said.

“What?” He picked up his drink.

“That this wasn’t part of our top ten. It was completely spontaneous. We haven’t been that hot for each other in a very long time, and I think it was because it was unscripted.” Piper started to fidget, lifting her napkin and folding it in her lap for a second time.

Michael picked up on her tension and leaned forward. “Are you trying to tell me you don’t like the top ten we have going on?”

“No, I do like it,” she protested too quickly. “But…I’d have to say I like this better. It feels more, I don’t know, free-spirited? And my adrenaline was off the charts. My heart was pounding so much I thought it might burst right out of my chest. That’s what I love the most.”

Michael thought about it for a moment as he took another drink. His plans to take Piper to the Sexual Underground aside, he was inclined to agree with her. “I think you’re right. Maybe we’re trying a little too hard? Maybe less is more when it comes to this stuff?”

“Exactly!” Piper nearly shot out of her seat. “That’s what I’m thinking, too. I’m voting for spontaneous, adventurous sex from now on.”

Michael inclined his head. “Piper, have you been feeling like this for a while? Trying to think of a way to tell me you wanted to change things up?”

“Maybe.” She hesitated for a moment, then looked out the window. “Probably.”

“Why didn’t you just say you didn’t want to do the top ten anymore?” He was genuinely curious.

“Because I
do
want to do it.” She turned back to him. “I’m totally having fun. I am. But I’ve been a little worried that this might become our new norm—as in, our sex life will forever depend on us planning crazy, over-the-top events, and if we don’t, we won’t have great orgasms. But that rockin’ elevator sex just dispelled all that.” He frowned as she continued, “Honestly, Michael, it’s been so much fun rediscovering our sex life. It’s made me feel whole again in ways I had no idea I needed. But what we just did here, that—
that’s
our golden ticket. I want more of that in our lives.” Piper made a face. “Are you mad? You look mad. This is why I didn’t want to say anything! I didn’t want to ruin what we’ve got going on—or this beautiful date tonight. I really am happy, and if you want to continue doing a list, I’m down with that, too.”

Michael realized he was still frowning, so he made an effort to change his expression. His wife still looked worried. He put both his hands on the table and moved closer. “Do you
really
think I’m upset you brought this up? Or think I’m mad because the top ten is not your thing?”

“I’m not sure. Are you?”

“No! Of course not.” Now he was frustrated. “The reason I’m frowning is because I get the distinct feeling you feel like you can’t talk to me.” He suddenly realized something important. “Piper, how long have you
not
been sharing your feelings with me? Thinking I’d be upset or not on the same page as you?”

She shrugged noncommittally. “
Hm
.” She looked distractedly from the table. “Oh, look, our food is here!”

Michael glanced up to see their waiter scurrying over with the dessert he’d ordered on a covered oval platter. At the table, he moved things out of the way and set it down. Then he swept the top off with a flourish to reveal the dessert. “Here you go, sir. I hope this is okay. I’ll be right back with your new bottle of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin.”

“Thanks.” Michael couldn’t help grinning at Piper’s surprised expression. Once the waiter left, he said, “You know, sometimes I need a
double
dessert before my meal.”

Piper all but clapped. “This is perfect! I’m so happy.”

They each picked up a spoon.

He put a bite in his mouth and groaned. It was
that
good. He smiled at his wife over their dessert. “Piper, you’re not off the hook with this discussion,” he told her. “But we don’t have to keep talking about it tonight. I want to enjoy our night. But I promise you we’re going to come back to it very soon.”

19

__________________________

____________

“D
id you hear the news?” Tabitha stuck her head into Piper’s office. “About all the crazy sex stuff?”

“What crazy sex stuff?” Piper had been focused on a campaign all day and hadn’t left her desk even for lunch.

“The whole underwear thing, which turned into the huge sex-scandal thing, with the masked woman—that stuff. You’re never going to guess who it is!” Before Piper could play the guessing game, Tabitha blurted, “Rory from Web development! He’s apparently a pimp, and he had his girls coming up here to drop off money. They had access to the building and everything. To protect their identities, he made them wear masks! That’s so cool.”

“I’m not sure cool is the right word. Where did you hear this?” Piper stood. “I would think Larry would use discretion and call in certain folks to share the news with them first.”

Tabitha leaned her back against the doorway, crossing her arms. “Cat was out of the bag when the cops came by an hour ago asking about Rory. Apparently, Rory had no idea they were watching the offices these past few weeks. I mean, any shithead here could’ve figured that out! Gossip in this place is free for the taking. But it makes Rory hot in a weird way, don’t you think? A nerdy hipster who codes all day is actually an undercover pimp. It doesn’t get much edgier than that.”

“
Um
”—Piper cleared her throat as she came around her desk—“pimps are never hot. They’re misogynistic assholes who take advantage of women for money.”

Tabitha shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. These girls were likely turning tricks before Rory came around and will likely keep doing it. I’d like to believe he did it as a business venture and treated them well. He must’ve been making hundreds of thousands of dollars! The guy had like a hundred girls working for him.”

“A
hundred
?”

Tabitha shifted her position, unclasping her arms. “Well, probably more like fifty. Gossip is at an all-time high, so it’s not really that reliable. But still, that’s marketing genius, if you ask me.”

“What he’s done is going to land him behind bars. So that kind of negates the genius part right there.”

“Yeah, they’re all set to arrest him, so he definitely fucked up.”

“Did he come to work today?”

“Nope. He must’ve known something was going down, or maybe someone tipped him off,” she said. “It would’ve been epic to see him walked out in cuffs. Man, that crap would’ve gone viral in two seconds.”

“Well, thanks for letting me know, Tabitha,” Piper said as she came to a stop in front of the youngster. “I’m going to go talk to Larry about it now. I’m sure they’ll announce some kind of office meeting soon.”

“Or maybe they won’t.” She grinned. “Word on the floor is they just want this to go away. If our clients find out, it could hurt business in a big way.” She turned and strode out the door. “I hope that doesn’t happen, because this job is a
sweet
deal.”

Before Piper headed down to Larry’s office, she pulled out her phone to text Caroline.

DUDE, I KNOW IT’S ONLY MON., BUT I NEED AN STD HAPPY HOUR. U FREE?

She hit send, hoping Caroline was home.

Almost immediately, Caroline texted back.

I’D LOVE TO! WHERE DO YOU WANT TO MEET?

Piper thought about it for a second.

HOW ABOUT ELISE’S? THEY HAVE A GREAT 2FER HAPPY HOUR.

Caroline replied.

GREAT. WHAT TIME?

Piper typed.

6:30. I’LL INVITE EMMA & GILLIAN. OKAY WITH U?

Caroline hit her back.

FINE WITH ME.

Piper then texted both Emma and Gillian.

She waited a few minutes for their responses, thinking about the crazy news that nerdy Rory Nelson was the mastermind of a prostitute ring right under their noses. And how fucking lucky she was that she hadn’t been dragged into the mess by her night of hot office sex.

Gillian responded first.

HELL YEAHS. I’M FREE. SEE U THEN.

Followed by Emma.

WOULDN’T MISS IT!

It was all set, and Piper was relieved. She and Michael had finished a truly wonderful dinner at Le Repas on Friday night. Their meal had followed their desserts, along with another bottle of champagne.

They’d left feeling fantastic. In a cab.

Michael had awoken the next day and prodded Piper about finishing their discussion about the top ten, but Piper had avoided it. Instead, she’d derailed his inquires with kisses and a very thorough blow job, finished off in the car as to not break their no-coming rule in the house.

Now Piper needed some more STD advice before she had a full heart-to-heart with Michael. She knew she couldn’t avoid talking to her husband much longer. In fact, he’d told her in no uncertain terms that they were going to “solve the sex debate” once and for all. For some reason, she felt panicked every time she thought about talking to him. She was unreasonably fearful of ruining the good thing they had going by stopping the momentum. She knew it was crazy to feel like that, but something was definitely unresolved for her. She almost called Marianne to schedule an appointment this morning, but she decided to give the impromptu happy hour a shot first.

Piper texted Michael to let him know she wouldn’t be home right after work, and then headed to Larry’s office to get the scoop on Rory’s illicit sex ring.

* * *

Michael’s phone pinged with a text from Piper.

I’M MEETING THE GALS FOR HAPPY HOUR. B HOME LATER.

He couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

Ever since their sexy elevator date—one of the best nights he’d ever had—he’d been trying to get his wife to open up about the issues that had surfaced during dinner. To no avail.

In the process, he’d realized some important things. His wife did not want to discuss this topic, and she was a master at deflecting. He’d never noticed before how good she was at it, since he’d always fallen for her charms immediately.

Michael wasn’t sure about how to proceed with her—if he should drop the topic or if he should force the issue.