to her if he’d been in the room with her when she’d come, getting her hot and bothered all over again.
Talia tapped her finger on her chin, deep in concentration. “Do you think he knows you want to . . . you know?”
“Have sex? Yes, he definitely knows.” Piper loved her sister and everything about her. But she often wondered how they could have been raised by the same parents and turned out so different. “But right when I think we’re going to, he shuts me down and holds me or asks me to stay over, which he knows I won’t do.”
“I don’t blame him. He likes you, Piper. He probably wants to hold you afterward, which I highly recommend you try if he ever gives you the chance. Have you tried to make the right kind of move? Undress him or something?”
Piper rolled her eyes. “What do you think?”
“I don’t know. I assume you have, but maybe not. Look who you’re asking for advice. None of this makes any sense. He’s been crazy about you for years.” Talia’s brows knitted, her face pinched tight.
“Then why won’t he get naked with me?”
Talia’s eyes flew open wide. “Oh my gosh!” She covered her mouth, laughing softly. “I know what it is.” Laughter bubbled out as she said, “I can’t believe you don’t see it!”
“See what?” Piper snapped.
“That you . . .” Talia doubled over in hysterics, holding her stomach. “This is too good!”
“Spit it out, Talia, because I’m about to lose my shit.”
Talia stood up straight, trying to school her expression, but every time she opened her mouth to speak, more laughter bubbled out, and when she closed it, she made a grunting-laughing noise trying to hold it in.
Piper glared at her.
“I’m sorry.” Talia waved her hand as if it would help her stop laughing. “But why can’t you see it? You like—no, you need—control. But you also have this thing about wanting a man to take control. Don’t you see, Piper? You’ve met your match. Harley Dutch has outwitted you. He’s completely taken control of your relationship, or at least of your sex life.”
“Wha—” Holy shit. Talia was right. “Fuck that. I’ll see you later.” She stormed through the house, texting Kase to let him know she was leaving, and flew out the front door.
“Wait!” Talia called after her, rushing to keep up. “Where are you going?”
“To regain control. Nobody one-ups me.” She hurried into the parking lot.
“But you left your sub!” Talia exclaimed.
“You can have the damn sub!” Piper threw open her truck door. “This meat lover is getting the real thing.”
Driven by her ego as much as the emotions wreaking havoc inside her, Piper blew through the doors of Dutch’s Pub and scanned the room in search of a certain bearded male who had some explaining to do.
She stalked up to the bar, and Jasper’s welcoming expression faltered. “Where is he?”
“Office.” He pointed across the bar.
Piper spun on her heels and headed for Harley’s office. The door was ajar, which was good, because she probably would have torn the damn thing off the hinges. She threw it open, and Harley looked up from his chair behind his desk.
“Hey, Pipe.”
She closed—bordering on slammed—the door. “Don’t give me that good-guy voice and those hauntingly hot eyes. What the hell kind of game are you playing, Dutch?” She didn’t mean to yell, but she’d stewed the whole way from Harmony Pointe, and she was livid . . . at her own vulnerability and at him.
He grabbed the crutches and stood up. “What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about!” She paced in front of his desk. “You tell me I can trust you, that you’re not going to hurt me, and then you withhold sex just to gain the upper hand? Talk about a control freak!”
He came around the desk, his features strained. “What the hell, Piper? You think I’m withholding sex to gain the upper hand?”
“It sure as hell looks like it.” She stopped pacing and crossed her arms.
His features hardened, and his words flew furiously between them. “Have you ever thought that maybe I don’t want to be just another notch in your bedpost? That I’ve spent three years not just liking you, but fucking falling for you?”
Shock hit her like a slap to the face. “Is that what you think? That we’ll have sex and you’ll be just another guy to me?” Her voice escalated with hurt and anger. “I have rearranged my entire life