Blended TML Ch 44

Piper knows she gets off on wielding power this way. She likes it when she drives Ines crazy. She likes it that Riley craves her until it becomes annoying. She likes it when Flynn drools over her.

And she likes this, but her guard is still up. While the chances seem slim, Tiffany can still be a serial killer. Indeed, Piper probably wouldn’t go home with her if Mary didn’t have history with her. But given what little she knows, she’s pretty sure that Katya and Brise are alive and well, happily passed out somewhere rather than chained up in Tiffany’s basement or in her freezer or something.

Tiffany doesn’t have a basement. She lives in a condo well back from the water, at the top of a five-story building with a wonderful view. It really is a cool apartment for impressing a date. There are pictures of the daughter, who looks a great deal like her mother. Tiffany’s décor is basic but serious: simple, Brutalist pieces in dark wood. The sofas are white, the lines are clean, and a huge, textured landscape of a rainy city hang over her artificial fireplace. There’s no soft rug in front of the fireplace, Piper notes with satisfaction.

As predicted, there is a wet bar with its own island in the living room.

Piper leans on it. “Nice place.”

“Thanks. Gets lonely sometimes. I downsized when my daughter went to college. I think I need a dog.”

Piper blinks. She has a dog now, and under the circumstances, she has to count on Riley to take care of it. She can’t let that distract her. “I like dogs.”

“You really are a keeper.”

“Pump the brakes, moneybags. You’ve known me less than a day.”

“What can I say? I’m passionate.”

“Relax. You won. You got me here.”

Tiffany leans on the bar, a respectful one foot away. “Oh, no. I haven’t won until I’m making you breakfast.”

“You can cook?”

“Just enough to get by. Can your sugar momma cook?”

“She can. Really well. Better than me,” Piper admits grudgingly.

“Seems like you like her.”

“Is that not allowed?”

“Is it a problem for you to be here?”

“You don’t want to step on another cougar’s toes?”

“Excuse you. I’m a MILF,” Tiffany says, gesturing grandly at the photos on the wall.

“She’s pretty. Is she single?”

“Never for long.”

“She’s beautiful. If I went to school at Princeton, would she and I be friends?”

Tiffany snorts. “No. She takes after me.”

“I like you so far,” Piper says, looking straight at her.

“You’re sweet. She’s like I was when I was her age, and I think you’d still be out of my league, even twenty years ago.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Like I said. You’re sweet.”

“I believe I was promised a drink.”

Her eyes flick to the bottles. “I’m good for it.”

“Tell you what: if you can make a really good cocktail, maybe I’ll let you hold my hand.”