Page 54 of The Keeper

My jaw clenched. Had she taken the pills he’d left for her? The thought made my stomach turn.

“You sure?” I asked, unable to keep the edge from my voice. “I could run to the Dallas clubhouse and get you something stronger.”

Piper gave me a puzzled look. “I’m fine, really. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing,” I said, pushing away from the stove to stand behind herat the sink. I lifted the hem of her shirt and gently kneaded her lower back.

“Just making sure you’re comfortable.” I forced myself to focus on the task at hand, working out the knots in Piper’s lower back as she leaned against the counter. Her soft sighs of relief helped ease some of the tension coiled in my chest, but the knowledge of the note still burned hot in the back of my mind.

“That feels amazing,” she murmured, her eyes fluttering closed. “Thank you.”

I kissed her damp hair. “I’m sorry about earlier. You’re right. I shouldn’t have made a scene like that. It won’t happen again.”

She turned in my arms, her green eyes searching mine. “We’re both still figuring this out, and while I appreciate you wanting to protect me, maybe we can talk about some boundaries—like what’s okay and what’s not when it comes to me and Avery?”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. And I mean it. I’ll do better, I promise.”

“Thank you.” She stretched up on her toes to press her lips to mine.

I returned the kiss, trying to push my swirling thoughts aside. But even as I held her close and breathed in her scent, the note taunted me from where her purse sat on the counter. Who else was trying to take care of her? Who else knew intimate details about her that should have been reserved only for me?

“Hey, are you sure you’re okay?”

I lifted my head, my eyes locking on the scrap of paper. Seeing an opening, I casually asked, “What’s that?”

Piper followed my gaze to her purse, her eyebrows drawing together in confusion. “What’s what?”

I nodded toward the note. “That—the piece of paper sticking out of your purse.”

A brief flash of panic crossed her face before she shrugged. “Probably a grocery list or something. I’m always leaving myself notes and forgetting about them.”

“I’ll take it,” I said, managing to keep my voice steady. “I was planning on running to the store tomorrow anyway, so I don’t mind grabbing whatever you need while you’re at work tomorrow.”

She reached her purse before I could, and I went still, searching her face for a reaction as she skimmed it.

“Never mind, it’s about some new product we’ve got coming in next week,” she said before tucking it back inside her bag. “Nothing exciting.”

She was lying to my face.

I forced myself to remain calm, even as rage bubbled up inside me. “Sounds exciting to me. What kind of new product?”

Piper turned back to the stove to monitor the stir fry. “Just some new baking supplies. Specialty flours and stuff. Derek is really particular about ingredients and wants to try out a new supplier.”

Each lie that fell from her lips was like a knife twisting in my gut. I wanted to ask if she was fucking her boss, demanding she tell me the truth, but I was also fond of my balls and wanted to keep them attached to my body.

I ground my teeth together, fighting to keep my expression neutral as I said, “That’s cool. I didn’t realize Derek was so…hands-on.”

She continued stirring the vegetables, avoiding my gaze. “Oh, yeah. He likes to be involved in all aspects of the business. You know how it is when you’re passionate about something.”

Another lie.

“Yeah, I get that,” I said, my voice strained. “Speaking of, maybe I should carve out some time tomorrow to swing by and smooth things over with Derek.”

Piper spun around. “That’s really not necessary, Dane,” she insisted, her voice rising in pitch. “I talked it over with him, and everything’s good.”

“I don’t mind. Might be good to?—”

She stretched up onto her toes and pressed her lips to mine. I froze for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden kiss. But as Piper’s lips moved against mine, I found myself responding instinctively, my hands coming up to cradle her face. The kiss deepened, and I could taste the desperation on her tongue, feel it in the way her fingers clutched at my shirt.

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