“Why did you become a maid?” I asked, leaning back against the sink. “You are far too pretty to be cleaning toilets.”
Piper’s laughter cut off. Her eyes dimmed and her mouth pressed into a thin line. Instead of answering me, she moved further into my bathroom which made the large room feel small with her presence. Piper’s scent filled my senses the closer she came, and I almost reached out despite myself, but she completely bypassed me. She grabbed a towel from the cabinet and knelt on the floor, wiping up the water.
“Piper?” I didn’t like the silence that had come from my question. “I apologize if I have offended you, I didn’t mean—”
“You didn’t.” She shook her head, standing with the towel. “Offend me that is. I just don’t want you to think badly of me.”
“You don’t?” I arched a brow at her, making her flush. Happy that she was no longer frowning, I stepped into her space ignoring the warning in me telling me to keep my distance. “I don’t think I could think badly of you, no matter what you have done in the past.”
She let out a little nervous laugh, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I wouldn’t bet on it.”
I smiled down at her. “You punched a vampire and lived. You didn’t go screaming into the night when you found out what we were. Believe me, there isn’t much that surprises me, but you have, Piper Billings.”
That beautiful shade of red on her cheeks spread to her neck and chest. I wanted to see how far down it went but curled my fingers into fists to keep myself from finding out.
“More from my own stupidity than bravery,” she belittled herself, shifting in place, her eyes not meeting mine. Piper was quiet for a moment before holding up the towel. “I better put this in the laundry.”
She scurried out of the bathroom, not answering my question. I followed after her, watching her every movement as she practically ran for the door. Before she darted out of it, she did stop and turn back to me.
“Thank you, Master Durand.” She held her hand up with a small polite smile. “For healing me.”
She ducked out of the room before I could correct her.
“... Call me Wynn...”