Page 81 of On His Ranch

“Um… not really.”

Chase looked up from his plate of scrambled eggs and bacon. “You feelin’ alright, Piper?” The curves of his lips quirked as he fought a smile.

“I feel fine, thanks.” Feeling a flare of defiance, she sat across him, schooling her features so that she didn’t wince with pain. “How are you?”

“Just fine, thanks.” He forked a bite of eggs into his mouth and winked.

“Just some eggs then?” Patti asked.

“No, thanks. I’ll pour myself some juice and be fine with that.” Which was exactly what she did, trying to look like she didn’t want to jump off the hard wood and fan her aching thighs.

Chase smirked as he continued to eat.

Maybe it was his arrogance, or the whispering. Maybe she reallywasa brat, just like he’d said. Either way, she found herself asking, “Did you call the police?”

He visibly tensed. “Nope.”

That was all. She should be used to the monosyllabic answers by now, but this time it irked her. “Why not? I mean, that’s what youdowhen someone sets fire to your… well, to anything!” Piper looked to Patti for agreement, but the older woman was standing at the stove, back turned to them. But clearly listening.

“I’ve said all I need to say.”

She ignored his gravelly tone and the warning within it. “But you haven’tsaidanything!”

“I’ve said no. That should be plenty.”

“But they’re here to help. And you need—”

“Okay,” he cut her off, his voice clipped. He dropped his fork and splayed his hands on the table.

Oh, crap. He wouldn’t spank me right here in front of his mother, would he?

“So, say I do call. They have to investigate, but they’ll find nothin’ most like, or at least nothin’ that leads anywhere. And then what? Still leaves us in the same place, but maybe whoever’s behind this knows we’ve called the police. Maybe that makes them angry. Maybe innocent people get hurt.”

Those words felt packed with extra meaning; that, and the way he was looking at her. It made her feel all squirmy inside. Could hepossiblyknow? No… how could he?

Chase has known all kinds of things without me ever having to explain. Maybe… just maybe…

“Besides which,Iintend to find them. And I’ll let the police have ‘em after I’ve had a chance to have my say.” He chuckled darkly. “That is, if there’s anything left of ‘em.”

Piper felt a shiver course through her.I just bet you will.

* * *

By suppertime, Chase realized two things: first of all, he was famished, and second, he hadn’t seen Piper since breakfast time. He had thought of her once or twice, wondering what she was doing, and whether or not she had obeyed him by keeping the plug in. But for the most part, work had kept him too busy to think much, which he liked, to tell the truth. A lot had happened and sometimes it was nice to just do hard work and let your brain take a break for a bit.

But when he walked inside and saw that Piper wasn’t there, he felt a frisson of alarm. He was about to ask his mother when he saw a flash of flowers out of the corner of his eye. She was wearing a dress, the same one he’d made her change out of a few days back.

“You look nice.”

She gave him a tentative smile. “Thanks. I just wanted a… change.”

“More comfortable than pants I’d wager.”

Her smile froze as she looked to his mother, then back to him, as though she was afraid Patti might figure out the joke. “Yes. As a matter of fact, it is.”

Chase came in closer—he’d staved off signs of physical affection in front of his family up to this point, but he’d gone all day without seeing her and he couldn’t wait any longer. He bent down and brushed his mouth against her ear. “How are you feelin’?”

She grimaced. “Full.”

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