15. Ren
Chapter 15
Ren
I woke up in bed with two cats and no Piper.
The sun streamed through her gauzy pink curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Smog and Nimbus were curled on either side of me asleep. I stretched slowly, careful not to disturb them.
The scent of coffee reached me before I heard Piper’s footsteps in the hall. She appeared in the doorway, a tray in her hands and a smile that made my heart skip a beat on her gorgeous face. “Good morning,” she said, her voice soft and soothing. “They like you. I love this.”
“Morning,” I replied, propping myself up on one elbow. The cats stirred but remained comfortably nestled against me.
The ratty old bathrobe was nowhere to be found. Not a caftan in sight either. I’d barely had time last night to process what she’d been wearing when I drove up let alone when we were dealing with all the raccoons, but I was sure as fuck processing it now.
A tiny red tank top skirted the edge of her waist, riding high above a skimpy white pair of soft cotton sleep shorts with a strawberry print. Her legs were long, her hips were made for my hands to grip?—
Fuck me.
I needed a cold shower. Or to shoo the cats out of the room and find some way to get her beneath me.
Frantically, I bunched the covers over my dick so she wouldn’t see what she was doing to me as she approached the bed to place the tray on the nightstand. “I made breakfast. I hope you like blueberry muffins. They’re homemade because that’s me, a baker.” She closed her eyes, shaking her head. “And a dork.”
My stomach rumbled in response, and I grinned. “I love blueberry muffins, any kind of muffin, really. But what I love more is waking up here with you. Thank you, you didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
“It’s my turn to take care of you now.” She laughed softly. “It’s no trouble at all. I enjoy it. Besides, you deserve a little pampering after last night.”
She handed me a steaming mug of coffee, and I took a sip. As I settled back against the headboard, she joined me on the bed, carefully arranging the tray so we could both reach.
“I have to tell you something—” I started, but she cut me off.
“No, I think I already know what it is. I talked to Lucy earlier.” She took a sip of coffee, her eyes twinkling into mine as she looked at me above the rim of her mug. “She was thrilled that I have a new sexy-hot, protective boyfriend. And she told me she invited you to the weenie roast. And she brought up the Richard thing. Ugh.”
“Is everything okay?”
“So far, yeah, it’s just typical Richard. I’m sorry you had to deal with him, but I appreciate it.”
“No, I’m sorry I got carried away. It took all I had not to knock him out and get Cody back for you. If I messed things up, I’ll fix it. But I’ll fix it even if I didn’t mess anything up. You just have to let me.”
“I have it under control. Jake is preparing paperwork for me to buy Dana out, or to fight it if she actually makes an offer to me first, and if you know of any dog custody experts, we need a list. Thank you for standing up for me. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Jake is the perfect person to go to about the bakery, and I’ll get him a list of people he can consult with about Cody ASAP. You’re in good hands with him.”
“I just hope this can all be done before we open. Violet thinks I’ll have to make Dana miserable first, then she’ll cave. But I’m not too sure about that. Especially because Jake told me to avoid her as much as possible.”
I chuckled at the thought of Piper making anyone miserable. She was so damn sweet. “So, what’s the weenie roast all about? Do I need to bring anything?”
She laughed. “No, just bring yourself. My grandpa sets up a small bonfire out back. We get potato salad and pie from the Pennywhistle Pantry because those are his favorites. We eat off paper plates, so there’s nothing to clean up. Then, we drink beer and shoot the shit for a couple of hours. Rain or shine, every other week, it happens. You’re on the roster now. But don’t worry, there’s another newbie besides you—Lucy’s boyfriend, Spencer. Remember him? From Christmas, when he picked you and Jake up in Portland in his tow truck? He saved Lucy from a snowbank right before New Year’s Eve, and now they’re together.”
“He’s a good guy. I’m happy for her. Are you okay with me being there?”
“Yes.” Her smile lit me up inside. “I would have invited you myself after this morning. So, yes. I’m more than okay with it. Plus, it’ll be good practice for us, don’t you think?”
Practice. The word hit like a little jab in my heart, but I let it go.
“It couldn’t hurt. I’m not used to stuff like this. My family was never big on gathering together. Until now, with Jake and Violet.”
“We didn’t either at first—because of my dad. But Grandpa said he wouldn’t have five granddaughters who didn’t talk to each other, so the weenie roast was born. We’re an odd bunch, but it works. All our moms, except Eliza’s, are friends now, and Dad is off, who knows where, with his latest girlfriend. He would never show up anyway.”
“What happened to Eliza’s mom? Stop me if I’m being nosy.”
She waved her hand around as she took a sip of her coffee. “I’m an open book.” She laughed lightly. “Plus, after you’ve been in town for a while, the local gossips—my grandma being the biggest—will find a way to let you know all about my family.”
“So, I’m getting the story straight from the source. Nice.”
“Exactly. Dad left her. No one knows where he is most of the time. Grandpa says he’s always chasing the next big thing, but it always ends up being just one heartbreak after another. Eliza’s mom is still picking up the pieces. He strung her along for years, and now he’s gone again.”
“That’s terrible.” I took a bite of a blueberry muffin and moaned out loud. “Piper, these are amazing.”
Her smile was radiant. “Thank you! It’s only a matter of time before Grandpa gets her to come.”
“He sounds like a great grandfather.”
“He’s the best, and I know he’ll like you. You’re cut from the same cloth.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It’s definitely a compliment.”
Smog stirred, then headbutted my side and started purring. Nimbus was still out like a light. “Does Nimbus usually sleep this long?”
“I think he exhausted himself trying to scratch through the wall to get at the raccoons. He’d been obsessed with that corner since we moved in. I should have taken him seriously.”
“Like when they were pooping in Richard’s shoes?”
She laughed, the sound bright and infectious. “Exactly.”
“And what are they telling you now?” I stroked Smog’s soft fur as he leaned against me, nuzzling into my palm.
A thoughtful expression crossed her face, and her cheeks turned a cute shade of pink as she watched Smog melt into my side. “They’re telling me something I’m not ready to hear yet.”
“Fair enough,” I answered, keeping my voice gentle, not wanting to break this peaceful moment. Her gaze met mine, and for a moment, I saw hope mingle with fear. But then she looked away. I could be patient. I had no other choice. She snuck up on me and I didn’t want to lose this feeling.
Smog’s purring grew louder, a soft rumble of contentment that filled the room. I glanced over at Nimbus, now stirring slightly in his sleep.
“I’m sorry, Ren, I?—”
“Sweetheart, no. I love your honesty. Demands and pressure leave a path of destruction in any relationship—family, friends, all of them. I’d never want to push you. What we do or don’t do can only be on your terms since you’re the one not ready for more.”
She sighed deeply and looked at me through her lashes. “I know I asked this before, but how can you possibly be real?”
“You learn a lot about relationships in my line of work,” I joked. “I’m constantly adding to the list of what not to do. One that I started early by observing my father.”
“Okay, but your terms count, too, Ren. Don’t let me push you.” Her eyes were earnest and beautiful as she met my gaze.
“Don’t worry. I already know you won’t.”
“Okay, good.” She breathed. “But promise to tell me if something changes. I don’t want to push you away , either.”
“I promise, you won’t.”
“I’m just not ready for?—”
“I get it. You don’t have to explain. You just got out of a bad relationship, I understand, and I think we’re on the same page. I’m hesitant to dive into anything as well. I never thought I’d—” I held back, not wanting to spill my guts this early. I’d scare her off by telling her I never thought I could feel like this for anyone, that I wanted her, that I could fall for her, and I probably was already falling. I knew her enough to know that now was not the time to tell her.
“It’s okay. I never imagined I’d be interested in anyone this soon after what happened with Richard and Dana. This is new territory for me, too. Sad that at this age I finally—never mind.”
“This is new for both of us. We’ll navigate it together,” I reassured her, taking her hand across the tray.
“Does this even count as fake dating anymore?” Her cute nose crinkled up. “What is this?”
“Something entirely unexpected.” I chuckled softly. “And I guess it depends on how you define fake dating,” I mused. “But either way, I’m glad we’re doing it together.”
She smiled, a hint of relief in her eyes. “I guess the fake part is not our problem. What people think we do and what we’re doing are two different things. Nobody has to know our business.”
“Exactly. The image we project to get what we need is one thing. But what happens behind closed doors is only for us.”
“I like that. Tell me about the children’s hospital gala.”
“It’s black tie. It’s not like the dinners we usually attend. This will be mainly for meeting people and getting our name out there, making contacts so we can partner up on events in the future, things like that.”
“So, dress to kill and get ready to socialize?”
“Yep. Is that okay?”
“Totally. I’m happy to go with you.”
“But can you pretend?”
“Of course.” Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?
“Pretend that you want me?” Shit. What was I saying?
“I won’t have to pretend, Ren.”
Her words sparked a mixture of relief and longing. For a moment, I was lost in the depth of her gaze; the fear in her eyes from before was gone. I reached out, taking her hand in mine, feeling the softness of her skin.
My heart skipped a beat, but I quickly masked my reaction with a smile. I searched her eyes, trying to unravel her thoughts.
I wanted to kiss her again, but should I?
I leaned close, over the tray, feeling the warmth of her breath against my skin as the room seemed to shrink around us.
“Do you mean that?” I asked softly.
“Yes,” she whispered.
The tension was palpable, and I couldn’t resist any longer. I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips to hers. She responded instantly, kissing me back and running her hands up my chest.
Smog and Nimbus hopped off the bed to run out of the room, and we broke apart.
“They’ll be okay. Their breakfast is ready too. I already filled their bowls.” She stood, grabbing the tray to set on her dresser, then shut the door before climbing back into bed with me to sit at my side, with her back up against the headboard.
This was what I’d been missing in my life. Togetherness, simple and easy.
She was what had been missing.
The electricity between us was irresistible. The thrill of not knowing what was coming. This fucking desire I had for her—stronger than I’d ever felt for anything or anyone. I wanted her. I had to have her. I had to find a way to make her mine.
For the first time in my life, I couldn’t think.
I didn’t want to.
All I wanted was to keep this feeling I only had with her.
This wasn’t safe. I knew my heart was on the line, and she wasn’t ready to be with me in a real way, but I didn’t care.
Her eyes heated on me, and my stomach swirled as my heart started beating so hard, I could hear it echoing in my ears.
She smelled so good, like vanilla and blueberries, and fucking joy and light and sunshine and everything I always wanted but never had in my life.
Her eyes dropped to my mouth before lowering to half-mast, with her lashes fanning against the top of her high cheekbones.
A whimper fell from her mouth right before her tongue darted out to wet her lower lip. Then she bit it, and I was done for. No more resisting. No more not kissing her. No more denying what we both wanted.
“Maybe we should practice,” she said, and I then was hers.
My entire body trembled, and I grew hard as a rock. This was happening.
I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and crashed my mouth against hers.