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I’d been hurt badly. The man who said he loved me dumped me for
     a teenage cocktail waitress on Christmas Eve. It’s not a great excuse, but it’s the
     truth, and for what it’s worth, I’m not particularly proud of myself.”
    Matt screwed up his face in disgust. “What a jerk.”
    “Something like that.” His words pleased her. Stanley was a jerk and not just for
     dumping her like he had. “So you’ll understand why dating, relationships, all that
     kind of thing is totally off the menu for me right now. Probably for good.”
    “But you still have needs, hence Sanibel. I was a kind of sexy tapas, just a taste
     of what could be something much more substantial.”
    “Clever analogy.” She pushed away her glass and looked him in the eye. They were such
     a dark brown they were almost black, like molasses. “But I’m too bruised and bitter
     to do anybody any good right now, however genuine they are, however pleasant or attractive
     they may appear.”
    “Is that a back handed compliment?”
    She sighed and looked out of the window at the front of the bar. Snow was beginning
     to fall. “Matt, I’m only here because if I don’t go along with your crazy plan, you’ll
     make sure I never get paid temp work in Passion Creek again, ruin my reputation, and
     harm my business in the process, so let’s not pretend otherwise. And, as you’ve pointed
     out, the beer campaign could be good for my own business, too, so I might not have
     to work for that rotten agency again. But we have to keep this strictly business from
     now on.”
    He frowned, following the direction of her gaze. “Okay, I’ll keep it strictly business
     for as long as you do.”
    “Which will be until the bitter end at your PCB No. 68 official launch. I still need
     a firm date for that.”
    “Agreed, and you’ll know as soon as I do about the launch date. I’ll get that list
     of publicity-related appointments and social engagements emailed to you in the next
     few hours. But to give you a head start, we have a gallery opening to attend in a
     few days’ time, swiftly followed by an associate’s wedding. Dress code is ultra-expensive.
     It’s being billed as the Passion Creek wedding of the year.”
    “So far.” Piper was impressed at how she’d managed to get those two words to drip
     with sarcasm.
    “Not your kind of thing right now, understandably, but it’s a dress-to-impress occasion.
     Even I might wear a tie.”
    “I’m sure I have something suitable in my closet.”
    “No, here’s something to tide you over until I can get a company credit card processed
     for you.” He handed over a roll of bills and a business card. “Should cover some nice
     shoes and stuff. This season’s, please. And my card has all my contact details in
     case you need to check anything with me.”
    “There’s nothing wrong with my own shoes.”
    He pressed his lips together in a frown. “Strictly business, remember? That’s what
     you wanted, so that’s what you’ll get. Now I’m not expecting you to turn up at the
     brewery’s finance department anymore and I’m giving you a couple of days, paid , to make arrangements to cover your own business affairs, which is pretty good of
     me. So don’t argue with the boss, please, just go out and buy a more appropriate wardrobe.”
    Piper bit her tongue and forced a brittle smile.
    Jerk.

Chapter Four
    Piper ground her teeth as she waited for her friend Melanie to arrive at the Passion
     Creek Beanery coffee house that afternoon. Had Matt DeLeo meant to be so patronizing
     by telling her to buy new clothes that morning?
    She found it hard to believe she’d allowed him to get away with it if he had, but
     her head was all over the place and unable to mentally process what had happened to
     her in the last few days, how her life had suddenly been taken over and turned upside-down.
     She needed to talk to someone she trusted to help her get some kind of perspective
     and lovely,