Free Playing with Piper (Menage MfM Romance Novel) (Playing for Love Book 3) by Tara Crescent

but until yesterday, I’d been able to dismiss her as a spoiled rich girl who was used to having everything handed to her.
    Now, things are different. She’s had to fight for her dreams, and I respect her for it.
    It makes the attraction that much harder to resist.
    Last night, her eyes were soft and shining. When she thanked us, there had been such a fervent note of gratitude in her voice that I found myself angry at all the people that have made her doubt herself. Piper’s an excellent chef. Sebastian Ardalan would hire her in a heartbeat, and he’s the pickiest fucking employer in the city. She should be ready to kick ass and take names.
    Owen and I had walked her to her apartment. “Are you going to be okay?” I asked her when we got to her front door. “Is your roommate going to be home tonight?”
    She had giggled at that. “If she does come back here, I’d question her sanity,” she’d said with an impish grin. “She’s got two hot men at her beck and call. Lucky Bailey.”
    Her roommate was in a threesome, and Piper wasn’t freaking out? My cock had gone rock hard at that, and Owen and I had exchanged startled looks. Then Piper had swayed slightly, her eyes closing, and that had dashed my hopes of anything happening. “Thank you for believing in me,” she’d whispered. “I won’t let you down.”
    I’d felt like I’d been doused in cold water. I’d been trying to think of ways to get her naked, and she was just grateful she had allies. I felt like a louse. Owen and I had disengaged ourselves as quickly as we could.
    It was probably for the best.
    She needs us to save her restaurant. We can’t make a pass at her under those circumstances. It wouldn’t be right.
    Speaking of saving her restaurant, I need to man up in a hurry. It’s time to call Maisie.
----
    “ M aisie , how’s it going? It’s Wyatt.”
    We’ve exchanged a couple of polite emails since our break-up nine months ago, but this is the first time we’ve talked. Maisie sounds surprised to hear from me. “What’s up?”
    I massage my temples as I consider my words. Our relationship ended on cordial terms, so I don’t really need to tiptoe around her contest, but her rejection had wounded me. I should have never got involved with Maisie Hayes. She was too much of a good girl for someone like me.
    “I need a favor.”
    “Sure,” she says agreeably. “What is it?”
    “I saw your blog post about the contest in Hell’s Kitchen. I’d like to enter a restaurant.”
    “Oh.” Her voice is curious. “One of your ventures?”
    “Yes, it’s a small restaurant called Piper’s .” Or will be as soon as we get the new sign ordered.  “Owen and I just invested in the place.”
    “All restaurants that want to be on the show need to submit an application,” she tells me. “The deadline has passed, but I’ll make an exception for an old friend. Get me the details today, and I’ll see what I can do.”
    “Thank you.”
    “No problem, Wyatt.”
    Maisie broke our relationship off because of my desire for kinky sex. I should have known things wouldn’t work out. She was too concerned about her image, and a threesome would have been bad publicity.
    After the break-up, I made myself a promise. I’m not going to look for anything serious anymore. I’ve tried to keep things casual. My needs are incompatible with anything real.
    An image of Piper flashes in front of me, her blue eyes hazy with desire. Ruthlessly, I dismiss it. She’s my partner. Nothing else.

15
    Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself.
    Richard Bach
Piper:
    T he next morning , my head still hurting from the vodka, my heart still stinging from last night’s rejection, I call Wendy. “I need you,” I tell her. “You’re the most sensible person I know. Help me.”
    “If you really killed them, you need to give me a retainer,” she quips, her voice amused. “What’d you do, Piper?”
    “Not over the phone.” I bang my head