Page 47 of A Perfect Match
Piper fits into my arms easily.Like she was made for the space there.It’s the last thing I think about before I finally drift off to sleep beside her.
When I awake the next morning, the first thing I notice is that Piper is gone.
I wonder if I dreamt it all—until I turn over and realize I’m in her bedroom.In her bed.Water rushing from the bathroom down the hall tells me she’s getting ready for the day.I squint at the bedside clock—six thirty.Shit, it’s time for her to get to work.
I yawn and sit on the edge of the bed, contemplating life.Piper breezes in just as I’m stretching and rolling my neck.She casts me a sheepish grin.
“I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
“If you’re going, I need to get going too.”My voice is extra deep from sleep.I rub at my face, trying to get my brain working.I’ve got a long Monday ahead of me.She does too.
She tips her head toward the door.“I’ve got a new toothbrush in the bathroom if you want it.I know I hate waking up in a new place without any of my stuff.You can use whatever you want in there.”
“Thanks, Maven.”I wink at her, and she bites her bottom lip.I slip past her and get ready for the day—toothbrush included—and try to make myself resemble a chef.My hair is messy, my eyes look tired, and dammit, maybe I’ll just go home and sleep some more.
When I head back into the bedroom, Piper is wearing teal leggings with an oversized cream sweater.She looks cute enough to eat.
I lean against the doorframe.“I think I’m gonna go lie down.Either I’m getting old or sleeping outside in early October isn’t good for the joints.”
She winces.“Sorry about that.It’s totally my fault.”
I roll my shoulders, wincing at the crick in my neck."Nothing that some sleep and a hot shower won't fix."
"I could make you breakfast," she offers, then seems surprised by her own words."I mean, if you want.Even though you just told me you wanted to sleep.Sorry, dumb idea."
There's something tentative in her voice, like she realizes she’s crossing a line.I should say no.I should go back to my side of the fence, take a nap, and resume that careful distance that's supposed to exist between landlord and tenant, rivals and neighbors.
"That sounds way better than sleep, actually.”
Piper’s grin wakes me up more than a cup of coffee could.She moves through her brother's kitchen with familiarity, pulling out eggs and bacon, bread for toast.I sit at the counter, watching her work.There's a grace to her movements, even at this hour of the morning.
"I specialize in sweet, not savory," she warns as she cracks eggs into a bowl."So lower your expectations accordingly."
"I'll try to restrain my professional critique.Is there anything I can do to help?"I ask.
She shakes her head."Just sit there and relax.I’m sure managing one more kitchen is the last thing you want to do."
“All right.So you want me to just sit here and look pretty.”I crack my knuckles.“I can do that.”
She snorts.“Right.Look pretty.”
"I’m only great at a few things, Pipes.Cooking, looking pretty, and…well…" I drag my gaze up to her.“There’s another thing I’m pretty good at, do you remember what it is?”
Her cheeks flush, and I know she’s remembering exactly what expertise I’m referring to—the way I made her thighs shake in Cleveland after I buried my face between her legs.But she doesn't take the bait.
"You want orange juice?"she asks instead.
“Yeah.But let me get it.”I get up and pour us each a glass, comfortable in the domestic rhythm of it all.It should feel strange, this morning-after routine when nothing actually happened between us, but somehow it just feels…right.
The bacon sizzles in the pan, filling the kitchen with its mouthwatering aroma.I'm hungrier than I realized, even at this ungodly hour.Piper flips the bacon with practiced ease, then starts on the eggs.
"Scrambled okay?"she asks.
"Perfect."
She works in silence for a few minutes, lost in thought.I can tell she's not fully present, her mind probably still at the hospital with her mom.
“So did you get any sleep last night?”I ask, knocking her hip.I slide her glass of orange juice toward her on the counter and take a big gulp from mine.
