wasn’t much of a shopper, but she’d do anything to help Jolie keep today’s sunny disposition. “When are you thinking of going?”
“The week after next, I think,” Delaney said. “I want to heal a little more. Shopping can be exhausting, especially when you’re looking for a perfect dress for a special occasion.”
“Sure. The only thing I have on my agenda other than work is finishing Harley’s bathroom, which should be done—or close to it—by then. Which reminds me, if you need help driving the kids around, getting groceries, or running errands, just let me know. I’ll be working at Windsor Hall for a few more weeks.”
“They can take the bus to and from school now that Jolie’s soccer is over, and my mother is going to be helping to run errands. But thank you. I appreciate the offer,” Delaney said as Harley draped an arm over Piper’s shoulder, leaning on her instead of one of his crutches.
This was the first time he’d openly claimed her like that, and it was a strange—and good—feeling. Piper had wondered if things between them would be awkward after their argument. They’d both had to go back to work, but throughout the afternoon, they’d exchanged a few sweet texts, which quickly turned flirty and then dark and dirty. They were two peas in a pod when it came to their sexual desires. She only hoped she wouldn’t disappoint him as his girlfriend.
“Let us know what day you want to go shopping as soon as you know,” Harley said. “Now that we’re a couple, we’ll be fitting dates and other stuff into our schedules.”
Sophie giggled and sang, “Uncle Harley and Piper sitting in a tree—”
“Okay, that’s enough, Soph,” Delaney said with a nudge. “I’m pretty sure they’re not kissing in a tree.”
“They kissed on the deck, and we caught them!” Sophie exclaimed.
Delaney’s brows lifted in surprise. “Did you? Real cool, Uncle Harley,” she said sarcastically.
“Don’t look at me.” He pointed at Piper and said, “This one’s all lips,” sending Sophie and Jolie into hysterics.
Piper smacked him in the stomach. “That’s not true!”
“It was Uncle Harley! I saw him pull Piper into his arms, doing this.” Sophie puckered up and made kissing noises.
Harley grabbed Sophie and tugged her into a one-armed hug, while still leaning on Piper. “Love you, too, squirt.”
He kissed Sophie’s head and tickled her ribs. Sophie squealed and jumped out of his reach. Piper squirmed out from beneath Harley’s grasp and handed him one of the crutches as he snagged Jolie, hauling her in as his next victim. He doled out the same kiss, love you, and tickles that he had to Sophie.
“Uncle Harley! Stop!” Jolie pushed out of his arms and hid behind Piper. “Don’t let him get me.”
“Sorry, sweets, but you’re going to have to pull up those big-girl panties and fight back. The man has only one good foot,” Piper pointed out. “You and Soph could do some damage tickling him.”
Sophie and Jolie exchanged a conspiratorial glance and then went at Harley with both hands, tickling and giggling. Harley played right along.
“You are definitely a keeper,” Delaney said, watching them play.
“So is he,” Piper said, chuckling as he threatened to take the girls down. “Are you sure you’re okay with the girls?”
“Yes, and even if I wasn’t, I need to be with them. I thought it would be easier to have space to recover without the chaos of taking care of the girls every day, but I missed them so much I think it was harder not having them around. Besides, I’m going to be sore and bruised for a long time as they increase the size of the tissue expanders for the reconstruction. It’s so weird to be able to choose what size breasts I want to have.”
“I’m cool with my itty-bitties.”
Delaney nudged her and said, “So is my brother.”
It felt funny to joke about something like that when Piper had spent her life disconnected from the relationship world, but she’d just have to get used to it.
“Are you worried about the reconstruction?”
Delaney wiggled her hand as if to say, A little. “I’m trying not to think about it too much. I just want it to be done, and for a year to pass with a clean bill of health.”
“We all do. You know we’re here for whatever you need, even if you want us to just take the girls out for a couple of hours here and there.” She glanced at Harley, hugging his nieces, and said, “He gave