anything less.”
She met his gaze again, brows still knitted, as if she was considering what he’d said. He didn’t look away, didn’t soften his expression, wanting her to know that he meant it with regard to all aspects of his life. Her gaze softened, and that minuscule change felt like a huge step.
“I can do that,” she said.
“Great, so when you’re done at Windsor Hall, put me on your books and let me know what I owe and when to cut a check.”
“First of all, you’re not paying for my time. Windsor is going to take weeks. After the main house, we’re renovating the carriage house. I’m going to do your bathroom in the evenings since I’m here anyway.”
“What about after the girls go back to Delaney’s? Evenings are supposed to be your time off. I don’t want to put you out any more than I already have. This can wait.”
“Harley, the last thing I need is to be hauling your butt out of that tiny-ass shower the next time you drop the soap.” A tease rose in her eyes, and she said, “I’ll be sure to install a handicap bar in the shower.”
Forget backing off. He freaking loved her snarky comments. “Just make sure the shower’s big enough for two, and I want dual showerheads.”
“Plan on having a shower party?”
He leaned closer and said, “I’m thinking of something much more intimate than a party.”
Her fingers curled around the plate in her lap, but he swore she leaned in, too.
“Piper” came out as soft as it did rough.
She licked her lips, her expression turning hungrier, and not for nachos.
Thank Christ.
He could finally get the kiss he’d been thinking about for too damn long, finally hold Piper in his arms. He lifted his hand to draw her closer, expecting her to pull away, but she seemed just as mesmerized as he was. His fingers grazed the back of her neck, and she inhaled sharply. He wanted to hear that sexy, needful sound again. He pressed his fingers to her warm skin and was granted his wish just as Jiggs ran into the room and barked, sending Piper to her feet, clutching the plate. Harley ground out a curse, glowering at Jiggs as Sophie barreled into the room.
“Can we do our hair now?” Sophie held up two boxes of hair dye.
“Yes,” Piper said breathily, her skin flushed. She didn’t look at Harley as she ushered Sophie out of the room and said, “Let’s do it in your bathroom.”
Jiggs jumped up on the bed and shoved his wet nose into Harley’s face. “Your timing sucks, buddy.” Then he realized if Sophie had caught them kissing, things might have been even more awkward. He scratched Jiggs’s head and said, “Wanna be a good wingman? Next time keep Sophie downstairs.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
HARLEY CLEANED UP from dinner and iced his throbbing ankle while Piper helped the girls dye their hair. He’d seen Piper with her nieces and nephew and knew she was good with them, but Jolie was much older, and at a tough age. With all Jolie was going through, she could be hard on people. Harley also knew that Sophie was so easygoing and upbeat, it would be easy to let Jolie stew alone in her unhappiness, but Piper had come downstairs and convinced Jolie to let her do something fun with her hair, too. To his surprise, between the sounds of the shower running and the hair dryer blowing, he’d heard Jolie laughing a lot.
He was sitting on the couch with Jiggs when the girls finally came downstairs. They were wearing their pajamas, talking excitedly as they ran around the couch and stood in front of him. They were so stinking cute, their fingertips touching like they used to do when they were little and excited or nervous about something. It was wonderful to see them so happy together.
“Do you like it?” Sophie asked.
They both turned in a circle. Sophie’s hair had wide purple streaks in the front and a pink stripe down the center of the back. The bottom two or three inches of Jolie’s hair was bright pink all the way around, and they were both grinning from ear to ear.
“Wow! You guys look great,” he said. “You’ll have the coolest hair at school.”
“Do you like Piper’s hair?” Jolie asked, reaching for Piper’s hand as she came into the room, pulling her in front of him. “She let me and Sophie do it.”
Why did that endear Piper to him even more?
Piper wore