If you had access, you’d be running checks on everyone.”
Bobby knew Piper didn’t particularly like the idea of vetting everyone he met to ensure untainted reputations, but it was one of the very few perks of his job, and he found it necessary at times.
“He spent four years in the Marines. He was a sniper and had some time deployed. That’s how he paid for law school, the G.I. Bill. He was honorably discharged and has a spotless record. His parents live back in Maryland, and his sister attends college at Ohio State. He doesn’t have any extended family that he talks with regularly. It seems like all he does is work and go to the gym. We should reach out to him and give him a chance to meet Jules and Betty. I think we should have him over for dinner tomorrow night.”
Piper laughed and rolled her eyes. “You mean you think he should have a chance to see Jules prior to asking him to play hero because he’ll be blinded by her charm and beauty. He’ll have no choice but to agree once he knows there is an actual damsel in distress. You are a wise but manipulative man, Bobby. I find your conniving side very attractive.” Piper winked at him playfully and dug her elbow into his side.
“I only use my powers for good. I think this is the right move, but even if we get Michael on-board we still have a lot to work on. Our framework is solid, but there is going to be no shortage of details to be figured out. First, we need to make sure Jules and Betty are safe.” Bobby put his arm around Piper and pulled her close to him. She felt so good under his arm, up against his body. He wanted her badly, but it wasn’t blind lust pulsing between them. Piper already felt like a part of him, as vital as his lungs, as familiar as his own hands. It scared him to realize how deeply connected to her he felt. He rested his chin on the top of her head and spoke quietly, “This isn’t at all what I pictured making up with you would be like. I hoped we’d be sitting here, and I hoped you’d be pressed up against me wearing my coat, but…” Bobby stopped and Piper worried that he was overwhelmed by what lay before them.
“But what?” she asked, afraid to hear the answer. She thought maybe Bobby was feeling that reuniting with her was more trouble than it was worth.
“I guess when I pictured this I didn’t expect it to be so…” he paused again, and Piper tried to prepare herself for his words, mentally filling in the blank. Convoluted? Problematic? She held her breath bracing herself. Then finally he spoke. “Cold,” he said, squeezing her tightly. “Shit it’s freezing out here, give me back my coat.” The two wrestled for a moment as Bobby pretended to struggle for his coat and instead tickled her relentlessly.
She quietly squealed and pleaded for him to stop, not wanting to disturb the others. When he finally let up, Piper was out of breath and her hair was tousled and unruly. Bobby effortlessly pulled her onto his lap as she tried to get her wild hair away from her face. He had never had to work so hard to not kiss someone before. “We’re going to get through this, and when we do I intend to ask you some serious questions about us.”
“Let’s get through the next couple weeks alive, and then we’ll see.” Piper rested her head against Bobby’s shoulder, letting her face come dangerously close to his neck. He felt her breath dancing on his skin and although his body was screaming to kiss her, his mind quieted the desires. There would be a moment, not long in the future, when becoming clouded and completely overtaken with passion would be the most important thing on his to-do list. Right now he knew it would have to wait.
Chapter Seventeen
“Let me get this right,” Jules said, standing in front of the mirror in Betty’s upstairs bathroom and adjusting the curlers in her hair. To Piper, she looked a little like a space alien, but Jules assured her the time she spent putting the curlers in would amount to loads of extra volume in her hair, which was apparently a big deal. “I’m supposed to hit on this guy so he decides he wants to help