Page 52 of The Keeper

I set Avery down and rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah, sorry about that. I didn’t get a chance to clean up before we left to come get you.”

“And look! Your laptop and work shit are spread out all over my kitchen table like it’s your own personal office again!”

“Like I said, I didn’t get a chance to clean up before it was time to leave,” I repeated, this time through clenched teeth. I started gathering my things, stacking them neatly

Piper paused her frantic cleaning and leaned against the counter, brandishing the dishrag like a weapon. “It’s not just that. It’s everything. Your shit’s all over the table. Your boots arein the middle of the bedroom floor. Your clothes are piled up in the chair in my bedroom. I like things a certain way, and it’s like you don’t even care!”

If she were willing to give up an inch of closet space, none of this would be an issue, but I bit back the retort, knowing it would only add fuel to an already raging dumpster fire.

Instead, I held my hands up in surrender. “I’ll keep my stuff contained. I’m still adjusting to sharing space, too. Give me some time.”

“Avery needs a bath,” she said without looking up. “Can you handle that while I clean up in here?”

“Already planning on it,” I replied, grabbing Avery before hesitating in the doorway. “Again, I’m sorry?—”

“Never mind, I’ll take care of the bath too.” She tossed the dishrag into the sink with an annoyed huff before trying to pull her from my arms.

“Jesus, Piper!” I snapped, catching her wrists in my hand. “I said I’d fucking do it. Just forget all of this for a second and talk to me.”

She avoided my gaze. “Not now. Can you give Avery her bath, or is that too much to ask?”

I nodded tightly and stalked down the hall. No point in pushing her when she was already in a shitty mood.

As I helped Avery out of her chocolate-stained clothes and into the tub, my mind replayed the scene at the bakery. I knew I’d fucked up, but I couldn’t for the life of me understand why Piper continued to work for someone who clearly didn’t respect her or her time.

Why hadn’t she quit and opened her own place?

Avery tossed a handful of bubbles over the side of the tub, her eyes widening in mock surprise. “Uh-oh…”

I shook my head, unable to resist the smile tugging at my lips before wiping it up with the towel. “Think you and I have made enough messes for one day, squirt.”

Once she was clean, I dressed her in her unicorn pajamas and brushed out her curls, my mind frequently drifting back to how to fix things with Piper. Avery rubbed her eyes with a yawn, the missed naptime finally catching up with her.

“No, nigh-nigh,” she grumbled, laying her head on my shoulder.She was as bad as my old man when he fell asleep on the couch and claimed he was only resting his eyes.

Piper’s bedroom door was closed, and I lifted my hand to knock before deciding to give her some space to cool down.

“All right, kiddo,” I said. “Let’s get some dinner in you before you pass out.”

Avery perked up long enough to decimate several reheated dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets before dozing off with mixed vegetables smashed beneath her cheek.

While she slept, I cleaned up the kitchen and started the dishwasher. After one last sweep to ensure everything was pristine, I cleaned Sleeping Beauty’s hands and face. She grumbled an unintelligible protest but was out cold again by the time I laid her in the crib.

After easing the nursery door shut, I paused in the hallway. Deciding to face the music sooner rather than later, I knocked softly on the bedroom door. “Darlin’, you hungry?”

No answer.

Fuck. I’d really stepped in it.

Bracing myself for round two, I opened the door. Piper lay curled on her side with her back to me. Her arms were wrapped around her stomach, making her appear even smaller than she was. I thought she was sleeping until she sucked in a ragged breath.

The raw sound of her pain ripped through me like a blade, and I would have given anything to take it away, to make things right between us. I didn’t think before climbing onto the bed to pull her into my arms.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured into her hair. “Talk to me…please.”

“What do you want me to say, Dane?” she asked through tears. “You moved in and took over everything. You decided my security system wasn’t good enough and changed it without consulting me first.”

“Without consulting you? I said I’d reach out to some subcontractors and see about upgrading your system?—”

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