Page 14 of Wrecked
All three women loved that place. The cottage had belonged to Grandma West, and she’d left it to the girls when she passed away. Getting Piper to leave would be no easy feat.
His friend crossed his arms and sat back. “I need a favor.”
Wherever this was going, he didn’t want any part of it. “What kind of favor?”
“Alex’s old apartment above the garage. I want you to move into it.”
He couldn’t be serious? “I already have an apartment.” A crappy shit-hole of a place that he’d intended to be temporary, but still.
Deke held his gaze and looked almost desperate. “I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t going out of my mind. I just need you to keep an eye on her. That’s it. Plus the place on Axle Alley is closer to work than the one you’re in now.”
“I like my apartment.” Disbelief covered the guy’s face for the second time, because yeah, no one would like living in that dump.
“It’s not permanent. Just until I can get her to see reason and move somewhere she isn’t so isolated at night.”
It would be a cold day in Hell before Piper left that cottage, and Deke knew it as well as he did. But the bastard had him over a barrel. How could he say no?
Deacon had ignored Cole’s behavior when he’d acted like an asshole for months after the accident. He hadn’t gone away though Cole had repeatedly slammed the door in his face. No, he’d stuck around, stuck by him. Given him a job when Cole would have been just as happy to stay shut in his dingy apartment, only coming out for his physical therapy sessions and appointments with his shrink.
What choice did he have? He owed Deacon West. Big time. “Fine.”
Deacon smiled. “This weekend?”
“I’ll move in Saturday afternoon.”
Deke stood, buttoning his jacket. “Thanks. It’s a relief knowing you’ll be right next door. I know you’ll look out for her.”
Relief wasn’t a word that came to mind when he thought of seeing Piper every day. Frustration maybe? Torture? Yeah, torture best described what it would be like for him from here on out.
He had months of sleepless nights to look forward to. Because how the hell could he be expected to sleep when the woman he wanted with every fiber of his being was right next door…wearing that flimsy, pink satin nightie?
He and Deke made small talk for a few more minutes, then his friend, looking pleased with himself, left for an early meeting.
Cole stood and shoved his hands through his hair. How was he going to deal with seeing Piper every day after that kiss?
The woman made his dick hard, his heart beat a million miles an hour. Made him wish for things he could never have. He craved her, dreamed about her, rubbed off to thoughts of her. Pathetic.
And now they were neighbors.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
But he’d have to deal with it because, as much as he wanted her, he couldn’t have her.
He was physically and emotionally scarred. A goddamn mess. Deacon had given him a chance, given him something to wake up for in the morning. He wouldn’t repay the guy by messing up Piper’s life, which is exactly what would happen if he was in it.
And now, every damn time he looked out the window, she’d be there. So fucking close, but so completely out of his reach.
If this was punishment for what he’d done, for taking a good man’s life, his partner from his wife and kid, he deserved it. That and a whole lot more.
Chapter Five
Piper dragged the yellow bandanna off her head and wiped the sweat from the back of her neck.
Sanding by hand was hot work at the best of times, but in the middle of summer? Yeah, totally sucked. But the sweat and aching muscles were worth it. The Chevy’s hood looked slick. The cutout she’d made for the car’s big block engine she was rebuilding would look awesome. She ran her hand over its smooth surface, then stood back to check it out.
Saturdays they opened the garage for half a day, and Piper had stuck around after closing to get to work on her secret project. The car had been delivered during the week, and she’d lied to Alex and Rusty, telling them she was storing it for a friend while they moved house. They’d bought it, leaving her free to work on it after-hours.
Grabbing a bottle of water, she walked through the double-wide roller doors and leaned against the outside wall. The midday sun beat down, causing heat waves to rise up from the asphalt. She tugged at her tank, now stuck to her skin with sweat, her shorts not much better. What she needed was a pool. A big one, sunken into her backyard, surrounded with colorful umbrellas and a kickass bar.
