Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Piper rinsed and dried her dinner plate, then slumped against the counter.
She didn’t want to eat alone again. It had only been a short time, but she’d gotten used to sharing a meal with Cole.
She shook her head. When she’d let herself into his apartment, she’d expected to talk, not for Cole to make love to her.
She’d never experienced anything so beautiful, so perfect.
He’d woken her around seven, so she had time to get ready for work before Rusty and Piper showed up, and she hadn’t been able to read him.
But he’d put that barrier back up, had distanced himself. Oh, he’d tried to hide it, but she knew him too well. Would he come tonight?
She put away her plate, hung up the dish towel, and tried to think about something else.
Her work on the Chevy was going well. She was hoping to put in a few hours on it tomorrow morning. There was still a lot of bodywork to do, but the engine had been fully rebuilt and purred like a kitten. Hopefully she could reveal it to Alex and Rusty in the next couple weeks.
Flicking off the light, she moved around the house and shut everything down for the night, then headed to her bedroom…
The sound of footfalls on the back porch had her freezing in place. She tilted her head, listening.
Cole?
She frowned. If that was the case, why would he be out back?
He had a key for the front door. She tiptoed down the hall toward the kitchen.
It was dark, but enough moonlight illuminated the small room that she could see the door handle being turned, the door given a jiggle, testing the lock’s strength.
Not Cole. He would use his key or knock.
Not try to scare the crap out of her. She felt rooted to the spot, a cry of alarm trapped in her throat as a dark figure moved to the windows above the sink and stopped.
Still, she couldn’t move, not even as hands lifted to the glass, and whoever was out there pressed his face to the pane, trying to peer inside.
Ohgodohgodohgod.
Could he see her?
They both stayed like that for what felt like hours. Then he pulled back and moved away.
Maybe he was lost, or thought this was someone else’s house? Yeah, because normal people pressed their faces up to strangers’ windows in the middle of the night all the time.
Then the windows in her bedroom rattled vigorously. She jumped and stumbled, a shriek of alarm exploding past her lips. The living room window shook next, and whatever held her glued in place dissolved under her terror, releasing in one long, earsplitting scream.
Cole took a sip of his beer and screwed up his face. Warm.
Jesus, he couldn’t even get drunk properly. He’d only managed half the bottle, then had forgotten about it. Putting it down, he slumped back on the couch. Probably because he’d spent the whole evening staring into space thinking about Piper.
She affected him in a way no one else ever had.
One look at her, the feel of her hands on him, and he’d lost it.
Totally. He’d tried to stay away, but she’d come to him, and he’d made love to her.
Probably the last time he would ever have her in his arms. He’d memorized every minute of it, of the way she felt, the way she moved. The sound of her voice.
Shit.
Letting her go is for the best.
Yeah? If he truly believed that, why had he put the spare key he’d found in the kitchen, the one she’d used to get into his apartment, back under the potted plant at the door? Because he wanted her to come to him again, dammit.
No. She was better off with someone like Brian, someone who wasn’t completely fucked up. Someone who could give her the life she deserved.
He stood, shoving his fingers in his hair, limping to the kitchen. The thought of another man with her, touching her, twisted him in knots, made him want to hurt the idiot dumb enough to try.
She’s not yours. Not anymore.
His phone rang on the bench beside him. Piper’s name flashed up on the screen, and he all but fell on top of the thing, answering on the second ring. “Piper?”
“There’s someone outside,” she breathed down the line. “Oh God, they’re trying to get in the window.” Her voice rose to hysterical levels, and she let out a shriek.
He was already at the door and halfway down the steps. “I’m on my way.” The phone disconnected, and he moved as fast as he could across the parking lot.
As he rounded the house, he saw someone at Piper’s bedroom window. The guy spun toward him, then took off. He tried to go after him, but his leg was still stiff from overdoing it earlier in the week. And even if it wasn’t, he still wouldn’t be able to catch anyone. Not anymore.
All he could do was stand there and watch him run away, dissolving into the shadows. “Motherfucker!”
His keys were in his pocket, and he used the one Piper had given him to get in the front door.
“Piper?” She didn’t answer, and fear coiled around him. “Piper, answer me, baby.”
He rounded the door to her bedroom and clenched his fists tight enough to cause pain. His woman sat on the floor behind the door, phone clutched in a white-knuckled grip, scared shitless. Her eyes were round and full of fear, body shaking.
“It’s just me, Pipe.” He walked toward her and reached down, dragging her to her feet.
She went to him instantly, wrapping her arms around his waist. “It’s okay, baby.
He’s gone.” He pulled her into him, holding her so tight it probably hurt.
But he couldn’t help it. All he could think about was what could have happened to her. What if he hadn’t been home?
He carried her to the bed and pulled her onto his lap. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and the heat of her skin through her thin tank felt hot, clammy, heart going crazy against his. “Piper? Talk to me, sweet girl.”
She shook her head and burrowed deeper. She was totally freaked.
He locked his arms around her. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.
” He pulled back so she could see he meant it.
“Do you understand?” She stared up at him, and her lower lip quivered.
He gave her a reassuring squeeze, trying to fight back his anger and the need to hunt down the bastard that did this and make him sorry. “Did you call the police?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Right after I called you.”
“Good girl.” He pulled her tightly into his arms.
When the knock at the door came a short time later, he led her to the living room and wrapped a blanket around her before answering the door. Brian and another uniformed officer stood there.
Of course it had to be this asshole. “She’s in here. But I’ll give you my statement first. She’s still shaken up.”
Brian ignored him and walked to Piper, crouching down in front of her. “You okay, Piper?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little freaked.” She smiled at him. The guy looked fucking mesmerized. Yeah, Brian was a better match for Piper, but he still couldn’t just fucking stand here and watch it.
Thankfully, Brian backed off before he lost his goddamn mind and took his statement, then Piper’s. By the time they finished, she looked shattered, and he wanted this guy as far away from her as humanly possible and still be able to do his job.
“Did you get a good look at him through the window?” Brian sat forward, taking her hand. Cole nearly went for him, until he heard his next words. “You think it was Daniel Taylor?”
“I’m not sure. It was dark…”
“What?” Cole moved farther into the room. “What the fuck’s he talking about? Who’s Daniel Taylor?”
Brian stood, turning to him. “Piper’s had several encounters with a guy from one of the local real estate agencies.
He’s been trying to get her to sell, getting pushy, calling all the time, leaving notes.
And on several occasions he’s come to her house after hours.
He’s moved beyond professional as far as I’m concerned.
I’ve spoken to him.” He glanced back at Piper.
“After you made the complaint. He promised to back off, and at this point, without proof that it was him hanging around, we can’t do much more than pay him another visit. ”
“That’s why you were talking to him the other day?” The words were out before he could stop them. “You were making a complaint?”
She nodded. “I know Brian from school. I knew he’d keep it quiet for me. If Deacon gets wind of this, he’ll drag me out of here and move me into his spare room, whether I like it or not.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He stalked toward her. “You should have damn well told me, Piper.”
Her eyes closed, then she blinked up at him. “I wanted to sort it out on my own. And I didn’t want you telling Deke.”
He clenched his fists, every muscle getting unbearably tight as he fought to restrain himself, because right then he wanted to pick her up and shake her. “Jesus, are you serious…”
“I’ve got it covered, Black,” Brian said, butting in. The younger man had his arms crossed, trying to stare him down.
Cole stared back. “And you did such a fucking excellent job, too.”
The guy scowled. “Leave it to the professionals. You’re not a cop anymore, best you remember that.”
Cole took a threatening step forward. “You think I could forget?”
Piper shot to her feet. “Okay, thanks, Brian. I’ll call you if I think of anything else.”
Brian tore his gaze from Cole and, smug as hell, walked over to her. Resting his hands on her shoulders, he gave her a squeeze. “Call me anytime.” The prick’s voice dipped low. “For anything, okay?”
She stared back, eyes wide. “Okay.”
The guy gave her shoulder another squeeze. “I’ll be in touch.”
Then he and his partner left, leaving them alone. Jealousy had reared its ugly head the minute he’d seen her sitting on the asshole’s patrol car, and even though he knew there was nothing between them now, that jealousy wasn’t going anywhere, not after what he’d just witnessed. “He wants you.”
Piper’s gaze, which was currently aimed at her feet, shot up. “What?”
He couldn’t leave her, couldn’t watch her with another man. He’d been stupid to think otherwise. He knew he looked pissed, but after everything that had happened, the way she’d been threatened tonight, he didn’t have it in him to pull it back. “Officer Sleaze. He wants between your thighs.”
She bit her lip. “He’s just being nice, doing his job.”
She always saw the best in people. But she was wrong.
Brian wanted her. He couldn’t fucking well have her.
Instead of pushing it, though, he dropped the subject.
He’d only end up saying something he wasn’t sure she was ready to hear.
“Right now I’d rather talk about you, and why you didn’t tell me you were worried about this guy? ”
She fidgeted, playing with the edge of the blanket around her shoulders. “Okay, maybe I should have told you about my concerns. But I didn’t want you running and blabbing to Deacon. I’m not leaving my cottage.”
The woman didn’t trust him. Not even a little. That knowledge stung. But then, he hadn’t exactly given her reason to trust him lately.
“What are you going to do?”
He locked gazes with her and laid it out. He’d decided what he had to do the minute he saw that sick fuck at her bedroom window. “I’m staying tonight. Tomorrow, I’m moving my shit in. Obviously next door isn’t close enough.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You can’t do that.”
“Watch me.”
She slumped back against the couch. “You’re overreacting. What will I tell everyone?”
“It’s happening, Piper.”
“And you think I’m stubborn.”
Her words didn’t hold any venom, they held relief. She was afraid. He hated it, hated that he’d had to stand back and watch the motherfucker who scared her get away. No way was he leaving her side, ever again. “As for Deke, your sister, Alex? They don’t need to know, not yet.”