He took the coat, but their fingers brushed and—dammit. The spark was there again.

Only this time, he was staring straight in her eyes when she felt the spark. And with a sinking heart, Piper realized—

“You feel it,” Eric murmured.

Oh, shit.

“But then, I figured you must. After all, that kiss we had was something, wasn’t it?”

He had not just referenced the kiss. The kiss that she had begged him to never, ever talk about. A kiss he’d sworn to keep secret.

“Did Ben ever find out about that?” Eric asked her as he tilted his head and studied her with his dark, deep eyes. “Or does he still think he was your first?”

She stared at him for a moment. Just stared. Then she smiled. “Okay, then.” Piper gave a firm nod before she turned on her heel and reached for the doorknob. “I’ll just be on my way.”

“Piper.”

His hand closed around her wrist.

“You are such an ass,” she told him, meaning the words with every fiber of her being. He’d promised to never bring up the kiss. Promised.

“I know I am. Mostly because I’m a jealous dumbass when it comes to you.”

He was jealous? Since when? She turned her head and squinted at him. If he was mocking her, she was so not in the mood.

“It’s been a really shitty night,” he muttered. “You don’t know what it was like when I thought—the call from him…” But his voice just trailed off.

Piper rolled her eyes. “Shitty night. Check. Because someone broke into your home and wrecked all of your things? Slashed your underwear? Scared the crap out of you?” She let mock surprise flash on her face as she stared at him. “Oh, wait, no, that was me.”

He flushed. “I’m sorry. I’ll show you to the guest room. Just follow me.” He turned and started doing his silent walk away routine.

She was bone-weary, scared, and frustrated. Piper was pretty sure it was close to eleven PM, and she just wanted to collapse. For the moment, she decided to simply take the guest room.

Yet as she climbed up the spiral staircase after him, she remembered what he’d said at her place. The guy had thought she and Ben were going to reveal big, romantic news. “Why would you care if Ben and I did get married? I mean, what’s your deal? Do you think I’m not good enough for him?” And that hurt.