on Wall Street, his best buddy, Ralph, used to tell him cringeworthy stories about the way his three young daughters were always at each other’s throats. The stories were reminiscent of the way he and Marshall had butted heads, and he wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
He heard the sound of Piper’s truck out front and said, “Okay, let’s go, girls.”
The girls grabbed their backpacks and ran out the door. He followed them out on his crutches. Piper was just getting out of her truck when Jiggs bolted out and ran straight to her. She crouched to love him up, and Jiggs licked her face, earning a laugh that lit up Harley’s morning.
“Do you like my hair, Piper?” Sophie exclaimed. “Uncle Harley did it for me.”
Piper looked at him curiously as she rose to her feet. “Yes. It’s definitely crazy. And, Jolie, your color looks great this morning. Sorry I didn’t have time to get doughnuts.”
“It’s okay. Uncle Harley made us pancakes,” Sophie said as she followed Jolie into the back seat of Piper’s truck.
Harley had wondered how Piper was going to act today, and in true Piper fashion, she was sending a strong nonverbal message with I SPEND MY DAYS BANGING STUDS written in white across the top of her black T-shirt above a picture of a woman holding a hammer and facing a wall. Below that it read AND MY NIGHTS BEATING THEM OFF, with a picture of three men running away from the woman wielding a hammer.
Did she really think that could scare him off? Over the last few years she’d given him enough sass to turn ten men away, but Harley saw it as part of her charm. He loved being able to be himself around Piper without any pretense. She didn’t mind when he swore, gave him shit when he deserved it, and they had so much in common, she was always fun to be around.
As she made her way to the porch with Jiggs, he said, “Nice shirt.”
“I think so.” She eyed the crutches. “Have everything you need?”
“I do.”
“Motrin, or whatever you’re taking for pain?”
“Got it at the pub,” he said, glad she cared enough to ask. “Would you mind telling me why you threw out my body wash?”
She looked away and said, “I’ll get you a new one.”
“I liked the way that one smelled. Your mom gave it to me.”
“Exactly,” she said sharply. “I’ll get Jiggs inside while you hobble down to the truck.”
He chuckled on the way to the truck. Everyone knew about Roxie Dalton’s famous love potions, although her mother hadn’t said anything about the body wash he’d been buying from her since he came back to town having any funky potions in it.
A few minutes later they pulled up in front of Dutch’s. Harley peered over the seat at the girls and tapped his cheek.
Sophie unhooked her seat belt and kissed him. “Have a good day, Uncle Harley.”
“Thanks, squirt, you too.” He turned his other cheek and said, “Get over here, Jo. You know I’m not getting out of this truck until my cheeks are even.”
Jolie rolled her eyes, sighing exasperatingly as she unhooked her seat belt and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. He’d take it. He was a firm believer that people needed to give and receive love in their lives. And after his father passed away, he swore he’d never leave the ones he loved without letting them know he loved them.
“Have fun at school,” he said, “and remember, we’re seeing your mom this afternoon.”
“I know,” they said in unison.
He winked at them, and then he turned to Piper and said, “How about a little sugar?” He puckered up, and the girls giggled.
Piper scowled and pointed to his door. “Out. Now. Before I slap that goofy look off your face.”
Sophie and Jolie roared with laughter.
“She burned you, Uncle Harley,” Jolie said.
“She loves me. She just has her own way of showing it. See y’all after school. Love ya.” He stepped from the truck and grabbed his crutches. As he settled them under his arms, he grinned at Piper and said, “Love ya, too, Trig. Have a great day at work.”
If looks could kill, he’d have been laid out on the pavement right then.
He chuckled as she drove off, then headed inside.
It felt good to be back at work.
His parents had purchased the pub when they’d moved to Sweetwater right after they were married, before they’d had Delaney. Harley had spent his youth helping his parents after