28. Piper
TWENTY-EIGHT
PIPER
“Oh my gosh, you are a lifesaver, Piper Whittman. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without you today. Somehow it was busier today than it was yesterday, and I was not expecting that.”
Emery’s cheeks pinked as she worked through her closing procedures, shaking her head as if she couldn’t comprehend the number of people who had walked through Ivy Thread’s door today.
Kane walked by and gave her a gentle smack on her ass. “Word got out that my Em-Girl is amazing, that’s why.”
I pretended like I didn’t notice the act, that I wasn’t paying attention, but it was difficult to ignore all the PDA since the man couldn’t keep his hands off her.
She swatted at him, though it was in pure affection. “People just don’t want to have to drive all the way into the city to shop for the holidays, so they’re coming here.”
“That’s called a good business plan,” I told her as I restocked the fabric shopping bags under the counter.
“That’s right,” Kane agreed. “My girl’s wicked smart.”
A humble sort of pride filled Emery’s features, a wistful grace riding out with her hushed words as she paused to take in the store. “I think Emmalee would have approved.”
Kane slowed, not immune to the soft wave of sadness that rolled from her. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. His voice was just as soft. “Yeah, Little Warrior. She absolutely would approve. Think she’s looking down in amazement right now. So fuckin’ proud of you. I know I am.”
I dipped my gaze and busied my hands, not sure I could stand under all the sweetness.
How were these men who were so menacing on the outside—cut with a current of violence that I couldn’t fathom was only a vibe and not certifiable—so thoughtful?
But I’d witnessed it constantly with Kane.
Had witnessed it last night.
The way River and Otto treated Charleigh and Raven.
As if they were treasures.
Gifts.
Clearly their queens.
And Theo…
I tried to clamp my thoughts off before they spiraled in a direction I couldn’t let them.
Wistful air huffed from Emery’s nose, and she rested her head against Kane’s shoulder for a few moments before she untangled herself from his hold.
“Alright, I think we should be set. Why don’t we call it and get back to our littles? I know Maci is going to be anxious for me to get home, and I’m sure Finn has to be anxious, too.”
Warmth billowed in my chest. “Yeah, I’m sure he is. We’re supposed to decorate a Christmas tree tonight.”
That felt like an impossibility.
A dream.
Fiction that for a little while we were living.
Of course, I needed to somehow figure out how to get to a store and get decorations, but I was determined to make it happen.
“Oh my gosh. There is nothing better than a little one decorating a tree. The sheer joy of it.” Awe filled her features, her smile tipping in affection as she continued, “Maci demanded that Kane bring one home the day after Thanksgiving. She might be a little eager.”
“And what my girls demand, my girls get,” Kane said, grinning wide.
My phone buzzed in my back pocket, and I pulled it out at the same time as Emery grabbed hers from where it sat on the counter.
Raven
Hey, you sexy bitches. My place tomorrow at 4. Bring a dish to share. This includes you, Piper Poo! We want to meet Finn!
Excitement filled Emery’s expression as she glanced up at me as she typed.
Emery
Best plan ever.
Disquiet gusted through my insides. Was it the best idea? Or was I just setting us all up to get our hearts broken?
Raven
Do you even know me? I have all the best plans.
Unknown
I concede to the fact. I love this idea. Nolan is going to be so excited! This is Charleigh, BTW, Piper. Save it and use it.
My heart palpitated, and I felt Emery peering over at me as I hesitated, not sure what to say. If I should give in or put the walls back up around us.
No doubt, Emery sensed my panic because she whispered, “You belong there.”
My eyes pinched at the corners, and the truth was flowing out before I gave it permission to. “I’m not sure I belong anywhere.”
Something passed through Kane’s eyes.
Something dark and ferocious that still somehow amounted to care. “Everyone belongs somewhere, Piper. All of us, even when we don’t trust the path to get us there.”
Tapping suddenly thudded against the glass pane of the door. We’d locked it when we closed.
I looked in that direction.
My chest squeezed when I found Theo standing on the other side of it.
My entire being flailed in that direction, stretching out for him as if I were lost in a dark sea and he was a buoy rather than realizing that this man was an abyss that would only lead to my destruction.
Emery rounded the counter and moved to the door, welcome on her face as she unlocked it.
Faint flurries of snow had begun to fall, and it flitted around him and stuck to the black locks of his hair.
His face was full of that casual menace that should terrify me but instead sent a gush of need streaking through my insides.
“Hey, Theo. What are you doing here?” Emery asked.
Moonlit eyes flickered to me. “Need to give something to Piper.”
She widened the door. “Perfect timing. We’re just finishing up.”
“Good.” Theo stuffed his hands in the pockets of his leather coat as that potent gaze traipsed over to me. His stare a blast of heat against the blister of cold that flooded in around him.
Memories of last night hit me like an avalanche.
All consuming.
A burn that ignited in my body.
“Let me grab my bag and coat.” The words were tremulous.
More flustered than I should let on, I fumbled into the back breakroom, sucking for a cleansing breath as soon as I was in the safety of its walls.
Taking a minute to prepare myself for whatever had brought Theo to the door.
Me.
It was me who had brought Theo to the door, and I still wasn’t sure how to handle that.
I wanted to chalk it up to the simple plan—the pact we made last night.
But I knew I was nothing but a fool clinging to that. Some piece of me was chipped away every time he came into my space.
Pushing the reservations down, I slung into my coat and tossed the strap of my purse over my shoulder, silently scolding myself to get my shit together.
I wasn’t sure that was possible with the way I itched with the need to get back out there as fast as I could.
Inhaling a staggered breath, I rushed out the door.
A peep of surprise ripped out of me when I smacked into Emery.
“Oh my gosh, Emery, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”
Soft laughter rolled out of her as she reached out to steady me.
A knowing smile pulled to her pretty face, and her warm blond hair swished around her shoulders as she glanced back to check that Kane and Theo were busy chatting with each other before she turned back. She dropped her voice like what she was getting ready to share was a secret.
Like she knew I was completely spinning out.
“Theo is an incredible man, Piper.”
My throat thickened, and emotion pulled tight to her features as she lowered her voice even further. “I know what he looks like…what they all look like…” she rushed.
She gulped, and her head barely shook. “And yes, there is some validity to their appearances. But what they do? They do it to make this world a better place. They do it because they’re good, through and through, even though the rest of the world might not see it that way.”
The words were driven low and with emphasis. A quiet urging. As if she was desperate for me to understand them. Though there was something about the way she seemed to want to keep those words a secret that made me sure she wasn’t supposed to be sharing them with me.
Anxiety flash-fired through my system.
All the questions that Theo evoked bubbled up anew.
Dangerous.
All of them.
I knew it.
I knew it to my core.
If I reached out, it felt like I’d be able to sweep my fingers through the oppressive vapor that kept Theo concealed, and I’d be able to see the demons that roiled and seethed behind it.
Emery’s ambiguous words only compounded it.
What they do?
“What does that mean?” It was out before I thought better about asking it.
I shouldn’t want to know.
I should run, and here I was, trying to make this place our home.
Squeezing my hands in hers, Emery peeked back again. When she turned to me, regret and hope swam in the depths of her kind eyes. “It’s not for me to tell, but I want you to know that when I came here? I assumed every horrible thing I could pin on Kane, and I was wrong. So terribly wrong.”
Uncertainty buzzed through my veins, and I peered behind her to where Theo lingered inside the door, casually talking with Kane while he still blazed with that savagery that he still somehow directed at me.
“You get out of here,” Emery coaxed. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon at Raven’s.”
A fresh round of nerves fired through me at the thought. The idea of going to Raven’s house felt far too intimate.
Far too close.
Even if I stayed here? I couldn’t let down my guard and allow them to see who I really was.
“Are you sure you don’t need my help here tomorrow?” I asked around the knot in my throat.
We’d decided my schedule would be Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, but I didn’t want to leave her in the lurch.
Emery shook her head. “No, I’ll be good. We’re only open for five hours tomorrow. I can handle it. Now get that booty out of here before Theo goes caveman and comes over here and throws you over his shoulder.”
Visions of him doing exactly that last night flashed through my mind. How free I’d felt being tossed around by those big, strong hands.
How much I’d liked it.
“Okay.” I squeezed her back then straightened myself out. I attempted to keep the shuddering from my steps as I strode through the displays toward the front of the store.
As if all of this was normal.
As if any of this really belonged to me.
This artificial life and this burgeoning joy and this man who was watching me like I absolutely belonged to him.