actually happened? How did you fall?”
“I dropped the bottle of body wash, and when I reached for it, my head hit the wall. I forgot about my ankle.” He lowered himself to sit on the toilet lid, and Piper turned off the shower and began gathering the shower curtain. “I put weight on my foot and immediately jerked it up and lost my footing. I guess I grabbed the shower curtain.” He cocked a grin, though Piper couldn’t see it as she placed the shower curtain and rod against the shower wall and began inspecting the holes in the drywall. “I’ve got to admit, this isn’t how I imagined being naked with you in the shower.”
“How long do you have to take those pain meds?” She turned to face him, but the second their eyes connected, she turned away again and said, “I’m not sure I can take much more of high Harley flirting.”
He snaked his arm around her waist, tugging her to his side and earning an eye roll that rocked the room. “Look at me,” he said firmly.
She huffed and put one hand on her hip, meeting his gaze. She looked hot in her work clothes and boots, scowling even as a flush rose on her cheeks, and she snapped, “What?”
He was kind of digging this new, embarrassed side of her. Her guard was down, which made it the perfect time to put his cards on the table. “I haven’t taken any pain meds other than Motrin since you left last night. This is all me, Pipe.”
She didn’t even crack a smile. “In case you haven’t noticed, there’s no one here to cockblock me from, so you can cut the crap.”
She tried to pull free, but he gripped her wrist, holding tight, wanting her to finally hear his words for what they were. “The last thing I want to do is block you from the only cock in this room.”
“Harley, cut it out,” she scolded him. “I’ve got to get the girls to school so I can get to work. I don’t have time for this. And don’t try to fix your shower. I’ll do it when I bring the girls back after Jolie’s soccer practice. Do you want help getting into the bedroom so you can get dressed?”
What he wanted was to pull her onto his lap and kiss her until she forgot whatever fear or frustrations were keeping her from taking him seriously.
“Piper,” Jolie called from the bedroom. “We’re ready to go.”
“I’m coming! Make sure you have your soccer stuff. I’ll be right down.” Piper pulled Harley up and said, “Come on. They can’t be late.” As she helped him out of the bathroom, she said, “How’d you get in here, anyway?”
“Didn’t you see the crutches by the door?”
“No, I was a little distracted.”
“Pipe, listen—”
“No, you listen,” she said sharply, giving him a nudge down to the edge of the bed. “I just saw you naked. Don’t make this any weirder.”
He grabbed his boxer briefs and said, “Why does it have to be weird at all? If I saw you naked, it would make things better, not worse.” He leaned forward to put on his briefs and his towel fell open. He couldn’t stop a chuckle from falling out.
“I’m out of here!” Piper stormed from the room and hollered, “Girls, let’s go!”
“Damn it.” Harley looked down at his cock and said, “This is the first time you’ve scared a girl off. Thanks a lot. She’s the only one I want to stick around.”
He dressed as fast as he could, listening to the girls and Piper as they got ready to leave and wishing he could haul ass downstairs to talk to her. But by the time he got his shorts on, the house was silent and empty, other than Jiggs, who wandered into his room. Harley hopped and hobbled to the window just in time to see them driving away. Damn injury. It hurt like a bitch, but he’d rather deal with that than be light-headed around Piper.
He’d said his piece, uncapped the bottle. It was time to tip it back.
He grabbed his phone from the dresser and thumbed out a text. At least now I know you’ll be thinking of me today. He sent it to Piper, pocketed his phone, and hopped into the bathroom to retrieve the crutches. After making the girls’ beds, he went downstairs and found a box of doughnuts on the kitchen table. Beside it was a plate with two blueberry