Page 65 of A Perfect Match
Just as I’m about to demand he produce a condom right this second, I hear a very familiar rumble from outside.
A rumble that doesn’t make sense.
I perk up, listening as the noise comes closer.
“Oh my god…” I mutter.It’s a car.Griffin’s car, to be precise.
Pulling into the driveway.
“Oh mygod,” I repeat as I hear the engine cut.I push at Kru’s chest.“You have to leave.My brother is here.Oh my fucking god you have to get out of here now!”
His eyes widen and he nods.“All right.I’m gone.”
He bolts for the front door but I bark out, “No!Back door!HURRY!”
My heart is in my throat as Kru corrects course and bolts for the sliding glass door.He pulls it open, slips out, and is gone a moment later over the back fence.Two seconds later, Griffin comes in the front.
He smiles amicably at me as he wanders into the kitchen.
Where I am currently pinned to the cutting board with a butcher knife.
“Hey Piper.What’s uh…” His brow furrows as he spots the way my predicament.“What’s going on here?”
I pop on a bright smile.“Hey!You’re home early!”I’m gritting my teeth so hard I feel like my head might explode from the effort of appearing casual.I wonder if he can see how my chest is pulsating from my rapid heart rate.I might pass out, in fact.
“Yeah, I got out of my event a little early and just came straight here to help out.”He blinks, his gaze glued to the cutting board.“Is this how you meal prep?”
“It’s so silly,” I say, tugging at the knife.It takes a couple pulls to get it dislodged—Kru has some force in those muscles.“I was up here looking through the spice cabinet and I accidentally stabbed my apron into the cutting board.”
His brows are now nearly touching in the center of his face.This is a really bad excuse, and we both know it.
“Do you always use the cutting board like you’re practicing for axe throwing?”he asks.
“I do,” I lie.
He nods slowly.“Okaaay.Cool.You might need to take some cooking lessons.Jussayin’.”
I slide off the counter top and scoff.“Not exactly the right thing to say to the woman who just whipped up five days’ worth of meals for you, Griff.Not to mention dinner for family game night.”
He softens, slinging an arm around my shoulders.“You’re right.What I meant to say was you are an absolute angel, I could not live without you, and maybe you should take some cooking lessons to learn how to properly use a knife.”
I snort.“Better…but could still use some work.”
My heart is pounding as I flit back to my patatas bravas.They’re ready for the oven, and I’m praying I am coming off unaffected and natural and not like I was almost spotted by my six four, 270-pound brute of a brother making out with my rival in his kitchen.
I’ll be honest—if Kru and Griffin ever had to throw hands, I’m not sure who would come out on top.
Actually, I am.
My brother.
I just pray I never see the day any of my brothers find out about this little fling with my landlord.Even though he’s so much more than that now.
Griffin wanders away, and I focus on finishing the cooking.It’s my turn at the hospital tonight, but since it’s Wednesday, we’re bringing game night to Mom before I pull the all nighter.I offered to make the dinner that we’ll all eat at her bedside.Asher is bringing Dad in the hourglass, Dane’s got the disposable plates and silverware, Jett is bringing the cards, and Bella is bringing the rock star.I think we’ve collaborated nicely.
This is the type of healthy family dynamic I like to see.
There’s no room for someone like Kru here.
