Chapter 12
Holt
My soul may have left my body briefly when I heard her say she could catch an Uber ride. Before I knew it, I was practically on top of her. I had to make her understand. She couldn’t put herself at risk like that. My body marginally relaxed when I finally got her to verbalize that she understood.
Once the customers started coming in, I would head out to take care of a few things, and then I would be back. Piper doesn’t realize it, but I can’t NOT worry about her. It isn’t anything that I can control.
Just to be sure, I plan on having Carter come over for a bit.
He can sit in the corner and do some work until I can get back here.
I make way back to the kitchen area. I can’t help but admire Piper’s full figure.
My hand twitches with the urge to reach out and feel her, to pull her against my body and feel her curves.
Her softness to my hardness. My mind flashes back to this morning, when she was pressed up against me.
She hasn’t heard me enter her space yet, and I take advantage of it. I watch her move through her tasks smoothly. Her lack of nerves gives me a glimpse into the real Piper. She spends most of her time masking her personality. Trying to make herself seem smaller. Worrying about how people see her.
I have spent most of my of my life learning how to read people. Piper thinks she hides it well, and maybe to some people she does. Not me. I quietly move towards her. She still doesn’t hear me. We have to work on her situational awareness. I step into her space and she freezes.
“Make some noise when you enter a room,” she grumbles, cutely. She tries to shift away from me, but I don’t let her get far. I swipe my hand down her back and rest it as close to her ass as I can get, without actually touching it.
“I flipped the sign, the lights, and started the fireplace. I also turned on the coffee pots out front. You should be ready to go,” I say to her. She whips her head around so fast I’m afraid she is going to pull a muscle. Her eyes are wide.
“You didn’t have to do all that,” she starts to say. She freezes when I rest my hand on her soft cheek. I rub my thumb back and forth.
“I wanted to,” I state simply. I don’t elaborate, and I don’t give her any other reasons. I grab the tray with the muffins and start heading out to the display case. I hear her follow behind me.
“I’m going to head out in a few minutes, but I will be back to give you a ride home,” I reassure her.
Before she can argue the bell above the door rings and in walks her first customer.
I step aside and let her work, knowing she is in for a busy morning.
I make a mental note to try to find her a part-time employee as soon as possible.
I pull out my phone and shoot a text to Carter.
Holt: Can you set up shop today at Piper’s? I’ll explain later, but I need eyes on her.
Carter: 10-4.
Well, I guess that is it then. I decide to hang around for just a bit longer. Seeing that she is still tied up with another customer.