Page 49 of Eleven of a Kind

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I’m so happy I finally got to meet you.” She smiled as she walked out the sliding door.

“Why don’t you two go upstairs and get ready,” I said.

“Come on, Lily.” Riley stood up from the table. “Dad, we’re going to have a little chat later.”

I furrowed my brows as she and Lily went upstairs.

“So, how was it last night?” Grayson asked.

“She asked me to come back to her place for a nightcap, but there wasn’t any alcohol involved.” I smirked.

“So, she initiated it?”

“Yeah, she did, and it was great. And whatever idea you have in your head, get it out. It was only sex.” I grabbed my plate and took it over to the sink.

“Are you sure about that?” he asked.

“I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life, bro.”

“Whatever you say, but maybe to her it was more.” He patted my back and walked out.

I gripped the edge of the island, pushed myself back, and lowered my head. The truth was that I hadn’t stopped thinking about Piper and last night. She was incredible, and I wanted her again.

“Dad, what are you doing?” Riley asked as she and Lily walked into the kitchen.

“Nothing.” I opened the dishwasher and put the breakfast plates in it.

“Can Ophelia come and clean up my room every day?” she asked.

“No.” I furrowed my brows at her.

“I’m going home to grab my purse,” Lily said.

“I’ll go with you. I’ll text Grandma Barb and tell her to pick us up there,” Riley said. “Bye, Dad.”

“Bye, sweetheart. Don’t let Aunt Barb buy you anything.”

“Gabriel, you know if my grandma wants to spend money on us, there’s nothing we can do. You know how she is,” Lily said.

“True. But just try not to take advantage of her.”

CHAPTER18

Piper

I sat in the chair, holding a warm cup of coffee between my hands as I stared at the water from my balcony. I was lost in my thoughts, and I couldn’t get last night out of my head. Dr. Gabriel Kind was intense. I would say he was the most intense man I’d ever been with. My body still trembled from the things he did to me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling. With a sigh, I went back inside, dressed, and headed to my shop, even though today was my day off.

When I stepped inside the shop, I was happy to see how busy it was. Raj was helping a customer on the floor, and Tara had a line of people waiting to be rung up.

“Where’s Sylvie?” I asked Tara as I stepped behind the counter.

“Hey.” She smiled. “She’s on her break. What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I just stopped in to do some paperwork. How are you today?” I smiled at the customer standing before me. I logged in on the other register and helped Tara with the customers.

“Hey, Piper.” Sylvie smiled as she set her purse under the counter.

“Hi, Sylvie. Tara, I’ll be in the back doing some paperwork. I don’t want to be disturbed.”

---