Must Love Wieners Read Free Page A

talents.”
    She spun around. “Mr. Caldwell.”
    “Aiden’s just fine.”
    He looked strange in her cab. Like someone that successful and poised didn’t fit in her awkward world. People like him didn’t stare at her as if, well, as if they were seeing her, Piper, and not giving directions to a cabbie, or paying a pizza delivery girl, or eyeing up a telegram singer.
    He appeared professional and collected in his designer suit and stylish narrow tie—even with the coffee stain—but in a way that she thought they might look even better coming off. Like when you’re tempted to step on the grass that says: Keep off or to scream in a library. Aiden’s composure certainly reminded her of an orderly, self-possessed librarian. A hot one that you wanted to dishevel behind the stacks.
    Her eyes unconsciously drifted down to his lap where she’d had her hand not fifteen minutes earlier. The memory jarred her like a bucket of cold ice over her crotch.
    “I’m sorry,” she said. “You’ll have to find another taxi.”
    “I wanted to apologize, Amber. I didn’t exactly make that easy on you.”
    “The name’s Piper. And don’t worry about it. I’m used to it.”
    “No, really. That took a lot of courage. Especially after how things started.”
    Piper winced. She laid her forehead against the steering wheel, wishing an out-of-control streetcar would derail and plow into her in the next three seconds.
    Three … two … one …
    But he continued on. “I thought the whole thing was hilarious. But I have to maintain a certain professional attitude in the workplace. I don’t like mixing business with pleasure. You understand.”
    “Then you should probably tell that to Nicole.”
    “Who?”
    Piper snorted. Just your typical privileged playboy. Probably had so many conquests every week that he couldn’t remember their names by Monday morning. She knew his type. And he wasn’t hers.
    Sure, he was rich, but in Piper’s opinion that was more of a con than a pro. Money created a different sort of man, and she wanted no part of it; otherwise she’d be living in Washington with her family rather than living paycheck to paycheck on her own in San Francisco.
    She heard Aiden sniff in the backseat. “Does it smell like pizza in here to you?”
    “Sorry about your shirt, by the way,” she said to change the subject.
    As if he’d forgotten about it, he ran a hand over the dried stain. “No problem. I have two dozen of them that look exactly the same at home. I won’t miss it.” A teasing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “But I thought you’d be more sorry about falling into my lap.”
    “Oh, I wasn’t sorry about that.” Which was a complete lie. “But I forgot to tell you that I charge extra for lap dances.”
    He was being friendly enough, even flirting a little. Okay, so was she. Shamelessly. But Colin was struggling in her arms to greet the newcomer, she wanted to put some clothes on, and as cute as Aiden was, she planned on blocking the whole experience from her memory. It’s not like he’d be interested in her, anyway. Or if he was, she would just be another girl whose name he couldn’t remember.
    “Look. I have to go,” she said. “I’m on the clock.”
    “Well, if that’s the case, I’ll take a ride.” Laying his briefcase down next to him, he loosened his tie and relaxed into the leather seat. She could see a cocky grin spread across his lips in the rearview mirror, daring her to refuse a customer.
    The clock on the dash informed her she was already late. Her volunteer shift at the Dachshund Rescue Center started soon and she still had to get the taxi back to the depot.
    “I’m sorry. I don’t have time.”
    “Please? You can’t say no to this face.” He batted his eyelashes. “I’ve been told that my eyes glimmer.”
    She couldn’t help but laugh. “I thought you were in the middle of a big meeting.”
    “It got kind of boring once you left.”
    “I do know how to liven