Page 18 of On His Ranch

If it feels this good just fantasizing about him… how good would it feelwithhim?

Stop it, Piper, she scolded herself immediately.He’s not interested. He made that clear.

But that didn’t change the delicious sensations making her feel more relaxed than she had, in, well, she couldn’t even remember when. When she finally got out of the shower she had a smile that she couldn’t repress even if she wanted to.

Piper fished the only nightgown she had out of her backpack and slipped it on, feeling suddenly embarrassed over the faded, well-worn fabric.

What does it matter? He won’t notice what I’m wearing anyway.

But then, out of the corner of her eye she spied a white bathrobe. It was clean and as she slipped it on she discovered it was very plush and comfy.

Completely refreshed, Piper realized how hungry she was. She had been living off of Pop-Tarts and cans of Chef Boyardee when she’d been in her apartment. But she hadn’t had anything since she’d left, and that had been almost twenty-four hours ago now.

She opened the door and the delicious smells wafting through the air led her back to the staircase. She was making her way down when she heard whispered voices. Feeling like a little girl who was intruding on a conversation not meant for her ears, Piper nonetheless crouched on the stairs and strained her ears toward the sound.

“You mean to tell me that you think someone is doing these things on purpose?” a female voice hissed angrily.

“Now, calm yourself, Patti—”

“Forgive me for being concerned,” she snapped, forgetting to whisper. “You’re tellin’ me my son was shot at, but yes, I should be calm.”

Piper bit down on her bottom lip to keep from giggling and revealing herself as an eavesdropper.I don’t know who that woman is, but I like her. A lot.She could only imagine the looks on the two cowboys’ faces at being spoken to like that.

But whoever this woman was, she was clearly allowed.

“We don’t know for certain that’s the case, Patti.”

“It could have been meant for the girl—”

Piper squirmed on the staircase and her teeth bit deeper than she’d meant to. She released her lower lip, her tongue caressing the hurt. She’d been afraid they might figure that out. Whatever they were, these men weren’t stupid. Which meant she needed to get out of here, and fast, before anyone got hurt.

“Oh, yes,” she interrupted. “Where is this mysterious girl you two keep mentioning?”

“She’s taking a shower.”

“I don’t hear any water running.”

Crap. Oh, crap, crap, crap!Piper leapt up as quietly as she could and turned, beginning to climb back up the stairs. Unfortunately, she had forgotten to account for the bathrobe, much longer than her small, short frame was accustomed to. When she tripped at the top of the staircase, she fell with anoomphand a muttered curse.

“Piper.”

His voice moved across her like the flash of a whip, carrying with it the shock as well as the sting. It wasn’t a question—it was a summons. When she managed to turn and face him, she was certain she knew from the heat in her face that she was red and shamefaced.

“How long have you been sittin’ there, loiterin’?”

“Not long.” She gave him a sulky frown. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

“Is that so?” He tipped his head back and gazed at her. “In my experience, little girls that claim they didn’t do anything wrong are always guilty of one misdeed or another.”

“Shh!” she hissed, forgetting for a second that it was unwise to order him to do anything. “They might hear you.”

Chase arched a brow and gave her a knowing grin. “You don’t want anyone to know you’re a little girl?” he asked, but his voice was for her ears only. “They’ll know it as soon as they look at you, darlin’.”

Her only answer was a scowl.

“Now, get down here and tell me what you’ve been up to.”

Almost as though her body obeyed his commands more than her wishes, she began descending the stairs. “I just took a shower,” she mumbled, brushing past him.

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