The Keeper (Silent Phoenix MC #5)

Chapter 17

SEVENTEEN

GHOST

Ivy & Piper’s Guide to Life Rule Number Thirty-Five:

If it feels like a bad idea, it probably is.

I nside, I found Piper aggressively wiping down the kitchen counters, her movements jerky and tense. “This whole damn place is a mess!”

We’d only been living together one week, and the growing pains were becoming more evident by the day.

I set Avery down and rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah, sorry about that. I didn’t get a chance to clean up before we left to come get you.”

“And look! Your laptop and work shit are spread out all over my kitchen table like it’s your own personal office again!”

“Like I said, I didn’t get a chance to clean up before it was time to leave,” I repeated, this time through clenched teeth. I started gathering my things, stacking them neatly

Piper paused her frantic cleaning and leaned against the counter, brandishing the dishrag like a weapon. “It’s not just that. It’s everything. Your shit’s all over the table. Your boots are in the middle of the bedroom floor. Your clothes are piled up in the chair in my bedroom. I like things a certain way, and it’s like you don’t even care!”

If she were willing to give up an inch of closet space, none of this would be an issue, but I bit back the retort, knowing it would only add fuel to an already raging dumpster fire.

Instead, I held my hands up in surrender. “I’ll keep my stuff contained. I’m still adjusting to sharing space, too. Give me some time.”

“Avery needs a bath,” she said without looking up. “Can you handle that while I clean up in here?”

“Already planning on it,” I replied, grabbing Avery before hesitating in the doorway. “Again, I’m sorry?—”

“Never mind, I’ll take care of the bath too.” She tossed the dishrag into the sink with an annoyed huff before trying to pull her from my arms.

“Jesus, Piper!” I snapped, catching her wrists in my hand. “I said I’d fucking do it. Just forget all of this for a second and talk to me.”

She avoided my gaze. “Not now. Can you give Avery her bath, or is that too much to ask?”

I nodded tightly and stalked down the hall. No point in pushing her when she was already in a shitty mood.

As I helped Avery out of her chocolate-stained clothes and into the tub, my mind replayed the scene at the bakery. I knew I’d fucked up, but I couldn’t for the life of me understand why Piper continued to work for someone who clearly didn’t respect her or her time.

Why hadn’t she quit and opened her own place?

Avery tossed a handful of bubbles over the side of the tub, her eyes widening in mock surprise. “Uh-oh…”

I shook my head, unable to resist the smile tugging at my lips before wiping it up with the towel. “Think you and I have made enough messes for one day, squirt.”

Once she was clean, I dressed her in her unicorn pajamas and brushed out her curls, my mind frequently drifting back to how to fix things with Piper. Avery rubbed her eyes with a yawn, the missed naptime finally catching up with her.

“No, nigh-nigh,” she grumbled, laying her head on my shoulder. She was as bad as my old man when he fell asleep on the couch and claimed he was only resting his eyes.

Piper’s bedroom door was closed, and I lifted my hand to knock before deciding to give her some space to cool down.

“All right, kiddo,” I said. “Let’s get some dinner in you before you pass out.”

Avery perked up long enough to decimate several reheated dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets before dozing off with mixed vegetables smashed beneath her cheek.

While she slept, I cleaned up the kitchen and started the dishwasher. After one last sweep to ensure everything was pristine, I cleaned Sleeping Beauty’s hands and face. She grumbled an unintelligible protest but was out cold again by the time I laid her in the crib.

After easing the nursery door shut, I paused in the hallway. Deciding to face the music sooner rather than later, I knocked softly on the bedroom door. “Darlin’, you hungry?”

No answer.

Fuck. I’d really stepped in it.

Bracing myself for round two, I opened the door. Piper lay curled on her side with her back to me. Her arms were wrapped around her stomach, making her appear even smaller than she was. I thought she was sleeping until she sucked in a ragged breath.

The raw sound of her pain ripped through me like a blade, and I would have given anything to take it away, to make things right between us. I didn’t think before climbing onto the bed to pull her into my arms.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured into her hair. “Talk to me…please.”

“What do you want me to say, Dane?” she asked through tears. “You moved in and took over everything. You decided my security system wasn’t good enough and changed it without consulting me first.”

“Without consulting you? I said I’d reach out to some subcontractors and see about upgrading your system?—”

“Seeing about upgrading my system and having a brand new one installed while I’m at work are two totally different things!” she hissed. “And then today, you went all alpha male and caused a scene in front of my coworkers because you didn’t like that my boss called me in on my day off.”

“You’re right,” I admitted softly. “I overstepped, and I’m sorry. I’m still finding my footing here as a dad and with you. This is all new to me. I want to help make things easier for you, but I’m not always going to get it right.”

Piper rolled over to face me, her green eyes rimmed with red. “I’m not a girl who needs her big bad biker boyfriend to fight her battles. Do you know how hard I’ve worked to build a reputation there? To be taken seriously?”

“That asshole doesn’t take you seriously,” I said, brushing a strand of hair from her damp cheek. “He takes advantage of you, and I put a stop to it.”

She shook her head, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. “And what happens when he decides it’s not worth the hassle and fires me? Did you stop to think about that? Because I need this job.”

“Bullshit,” I growled, my chest tightening at the defeat in her voice. “You could open your own place. You were so close. I don’t understand why you haven’t told Derek to go fuck himself and pulled the trigger on your own dreams.”

Piper pulled away from me to sit up. “Why the fuck do you think? All the money I saved went to Avery. Diapers, formula, doctor visits—it all adds up fast. Starting a business takes more than just capital. You’ve got to put in long hours if you want a snowball’s chance in hell at succeeding. Kinda hard to do with a newborn.” Her chest heaved, but she held the sob back, pressing her fist against her mouth.

Me. I was the reason her dream never came true. And had Avery not woken up from her nap when she did a week ago, I would have given in and fucked Piper without protection, never stopping to consider how another baby would impact her life. The only reason we hadn’t tried again since was because she was on the rag and had been dealing with severe cramps.

I sat up, the weight of my failure crushing me. “Jesus, Piper. I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

“We both made choices that night, Dane. Nothing we can do about it now.” Her shoulders sagged, the fight draining out of her body. “I’m going to grab a shower, and then we can figure out dinner. ”

“Want some company?” I asked, needing to hold her in my arms and bury my face in her hair while I came up with a solution.

She swiped the tears from her lashes before getting up. “I’m still on my period,” she said. “And I really just need a few minutes to myself right now.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Take your time. I’ll go start dinner.”

The click of the lock echoed in the quiet room, an audible reminder I hadn’t given her many reasons to trust me. Scrubbing a hand over my face, I let out a heavy sigh and headed for the kitchen. There had to be a way to earn her trust and help her achieve her dream without overstepping.

While pulling ingredients from the fridge, I noticed a slip of paper sticking out of the top of Piper’s purse. After listening to ensure the shower was still running, I slid it out of her bag. My eyes scanned the neat, masculine handwriting, a chill creeping down my spine with each word.

Hope these help make your time of the month more bearable. I swung by your favorite French chocolatier—dark chocolate ganache with sea salt, just like you like. I also included some extra-strength ibuprofen because I know how bad your cramps can get. Let me know if you need anything else…even if it’s just a massage to ease the tightness in your muscles. And remember, no matter what happens, I’m always here for you.

I crumpled the note in my fist, my vision going red at the edges. The sound of the shower faded to a dull roar in my ears, drowned out by the pounding of my pulse.

That fucking piece of shit.

I smoothed out the paper, forcing myself to re-read it to ensure I hadn’t misunderstood. But no, the words were crystal clear. The writer knew intimate details about Piper—her favorite chocolates, when she was on her period, and how bad her cramps got. Not the kind of information one would typically share with a boss .

How long had it been going on? What else didn’t I know? Had she and Derek?—

No. She said she hadn’t been with anyone since me, and Piper wasn’t the type to start a sexual relationship with someone she worked with.

But then, why was he leaving her gifts? Offering massages? Acting like he had some claim on her?

The shower shut off, and I carefully refolded the note with shaking hands before slipping it back into her purse exactly as I’d found it. My movements were mechanical as I prepared dinner while trying to come to terms with what I’d read and what it meant for our relationship.

I wanted to confront her, to demand answers. But I knew that would only push her farther away. I’d already overstepped once today, and there wasn’t a chance in hell she’d ever learn to trust me if I admitted to going through her things.

But how the fuck was I supposed to ignore it?

“Something smells good,” Piper said, padding into the kitchen. Her hair was damp, and she’d changed into yoga pants and one of my T-shirts.

I plastered on a smile, hoping she couldn’t see the turmoil churning inside me. “Just throwing together a stir fry. Nothing fancy. How was your shower?”

She shrugged, reaching past me to grab a glass from the cabinet. “Fine. The hot water helped with the cramping some.”

I tensed at the mention of her cramps, the note burning in the back of my mind. “That’s good,” I managed, focusing intently on the vegetables sizzling in the pan. “You need anything for the pain?”

“I’m okay,” she said, filling her glass with water. “I took some ibuprofen earlier.”

My jaw clenched. Had she taken the pills he’d left for her? The thought made my stomach turn.

“You sure?” I asked, unable to keep the edge from my voice. “I could run to the Dallas clubhouse and get you something stronger.”

Piper gave me a puzzled look. “I’m fine, really. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing,” I said, pushing away from the stove to stand behind her at the sink. I lifted the hem of her shirt and gently kneaded her lower back.

“Just making sure you’re comfortable.” I forced myself to focus on the task at hand, working out the knots in Piper’s lower back as she leaned against the counter. Her soft sighs of relief helped ease some of the tension coiled in my chest, but the knowledge of the note still burned hot in the back of my mind.

“That feels amazing,” she murmured, her eyes fluttering closed. “Thank you.”

I kissed her damp hair. “I’m sorry about earlier. You’re right. I shouldn’t have made a scene like that. It won’t happen again.”

She turned in my arms, her green eyes searching mine. “We’re both still figuring this out, and while I appreciate you wanting to protect me, maybe we can talk about some boundaries—like what’s okay and what’s not when it comes to me and Avery?”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. And I mean it. I’ll do better, I promise.”

“Thank you.” She stretched up on her toes to press her lips to mine.

I returned the kiss, trying to push my swirling thoughts aside. But even as I held her close and breathed in her scent, the note taunted me from where her purse sat on the counter. Who else was trying to take care of her? Who else knew intimate details about her that should have been reserved only for me?

“Hey, are you sure you’re okay?”

I lifted my head, my eyes locking on the scrap of paper. Seeing an opening, I casually asked, “What’s that?”

Piper followed my gaze to her purse, her eyebrows drawing together in confusion. “What’s what?”

I nodded toward the note. “That—the piece of paper sticking out of your purse.”

A brief flash of panic crossed her face before she shrugged. “Probably a grocery list or something. I’m always leaving myself notes and forgetting about them.”

“I’ll take it,” I said, managing to keep my voice steady. “I was planning on running to the store tomorrow anyway, so I don’t mind grabbing whatever you need while you’re at work tomorrow. ”

She reached her purse before I could, and I went still, searching her face for a reaction as she skimmed it.

“Never mind, it’s about some new product we’ve got coming in next week,” she said before tucking it back inside her bag. “Nothing exciting.”

She was lying to my face.

I forced myself to remain calm, even as rage bubbled up inside me. “Sounds exciting to me. What kind of new product?”

Piper turned back to the stove to monitor the stir fry. “Just some new baking supplies. Specialty flours and stuff. Derek is really particular about ingredients and wants to try out a new supplier.”

Each lie that fell from her lips was like a knife twisting in my gut. I wanted to ask if she was fucking her boss, demanding she tell me the truth, but I was also fond of my balls and wanted to keep them attached to my body.

I ground my teeth together, fighting to keep my expression neutral as I said, “That’s cool. I didn’t realize Derek was so…hands-on.”

She continued stirring the vegetables, avoiding my gaze. “Oh, yeah. He likes to be involved in all aspects of the business. You know how it is when you’re passionate about something.”

Another lie.

“Yeah, I get that,” I said, my voice strained. “Speaking of, maybe I should carve out some time tomorrow to swing by and smooth things over with Derek.”

Piper spun around. “That’s really not necessary, Dane,” she insisted, her voice rising in pitch. “I talked it over with him, and everything’s good.”

“I don’t mind. Might be good to?—”

She stretched up onto her toes and pressed her lips to mine. I froze for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden kiss. But as Piper’s lips moved against mine, I found myself responding instinctively, my hands coming up to cradle her face. The kiss deepened, and I could taste the desperation on her tongue, feel it in the way her fingers clutched at my shirt.

She was trying to distract me.

“What was that for?” I asked when we broke apart to catch our breaths .

Piper plucked an invisible piece of lint off my T-shirt. “Nothing. I just... I’m sorry about earlier. I overreacted.”

“Hey, you don’t need to apologize,” I said, hooking my fingers beneath her chin and guiding her face back up to mine. “I’m the one who fucked up.”

Her green eyes searched mine, almost as if we were playing a mental game of chicken. “Let’s just forget it and enjoy the rest of our evening. Since Avery went down early, maybe we could watch a movie—what? Why are you looking at me like that?”

I brushed a damp strand of hair from her forehead and shook my head. “Nothing. Just thinking about how lucky I am to have you and Avery in my life.”

Piper’s eyes softened at my words, but I could still see the tension in her shoulders. “I’m lucky to have you, too,” she said, brushing her lips over mine in a brief kiss.

I wanted so badly to believe her, to ignore the gnawing doubt eating away at me. But the lies she’d told played on a loop in my mind.

I forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil churning in my gut. “You know you can tell me anything, right? No matter what it is.”

The irony wasn’t lost on me. Here we both were, harboring secrets and telling lies. What a fucking pair we made.

I’d promised to stay out of her work life, and I would. I’d play along with her lies and half-truths. Let her think she had me fooled.

For now, at least.

After dinner, Piper curled into my side on the couch, her head resting on my chest. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, breathing in the familiar scent of her shampoo. For a moment, I could almost pretend everything was normal between us.

But as the movie played, my mind kept drifting back to the damn note. Who else knew such intimate details about Piper? Who else was trying to take care of her in ways that should have been reserved for me?