Page 106 of He's The Reason Why

She didn’t want that. Not anymore.

Being on stage with him had lifted the rest of the smog from her heart and opened her eyes. She missed sharing the stage. She missed her sisters.

Both of them. Even Della.

She could still see Blake on the stage under those lights. He’d literally glowed when he’d looked at her.

She liked it.

She really liked spending time with him. Solving problems with him.

Sleeping with him.

Where the hell was he, and why was he up so early? It was Sunday. Surely, he could take Sunday off.

Crap. It was Sunday.

She had no idea what time it was.

Her flight was, hell…two? Two thirty? He’d turned her inside out last night, and now she was going to be late. The charter would charge her extra for every half hour she went over her allowed time.

It was worth it.

Footsteps pounded down the hallway and stopped next to the bed.

“Piper? Wake up.”

She didn’t want to wake up. She wanted him to crawl back in bed with her. She was going to be late anyway, might as well enjoy it.

She stuck a hand out and beckoned him over. “Too early.”

Blake patted the lump of blanket around her until he found her shoulder, then he shook her gently. “Marshall’s here. He’s heading up the driveway now.”

She groaned. “Tell him to go away.”

“Come on, sleepyhead. If I don’t greet him at the door he’ll come in here looking for me and find you naked.”

“A smart man would have coffee in his hands.” She poked her head out from under the covers. Not only were his hands disappointingly empty, he was fully dressed in a basketball jersey and shorts. “Or if he didn’t, he’d find something useful to do with those empty hands.”

“Good tip. Next time.” He tugged on her hand. “Up and at ’em.”

She shoved the covers aside, feeling grumpy. “What time is it?”

“Ten thirty.”

She winced. “I’m supposed to be at the airport by two thirty. I think. And I haven’t packed.”

He helped her out of bed, but she noticed his eyes held real regret as he took in her naked body. He wasn’t the only one disappointed. “Damn. I forgot you were leaving today.”

“Yeah. Me too. Somehow it just slipped my mind. Can’timagine what caused that.” She ran a teasing finger up his chest, then circled her arms around his neck. “Have I mentioned how much I love being naked around you?”

“Stop torturing me.” His hands traveled down her back to cup her bare behind and squeezed.

The front door opened with an alert from the security alarm.

“Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas! Canada’s too damn cold this time of year. Remind me to say no next time your mom asks me for a favor,” Marshall called out loud enough it echoed down the hallway. “Hey! Blake! Where are you?”

She sighed and untangled herself from his arms. “You stall. I’ll throw something on.”

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