“Stay.”
“Felix—”
“The truth is, you’d be saving my ass, Piper.” He runs a hand through his hair, which is sticking up at adorably odd angles thanks to Ellie. “Tyler is a fu—fudging drill sergeant, and I can’t watch Ellie and train properly. I need…someone. And she already loves you.”
As if on cue, Ellie burrows into my lap, her head resting against my chest like she belongs there, which is exactly how I felt with Felix’s arms around me. Andexactlywhy this was a terrible idea on my part.
“One month. That’s all I’ve got.” More accurately, it’s all I’vegot until I’m unlikely to be able to hide my pregnancy from him any longer. Of course, I’m planning to tell him sooner than later. Just…not yet.
“One month.” He nods, then that dangerous smirk appears. “Think you can keep your hands off me that long?”
“Do I get a bonus if I manage it?”
He laughs. “You might get a bonus if you don’t.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
He’s right, and that’s the problem. I don’t hate Felix Barlowe. I might actually like him, which is a thousand times worse. Because in seven months, I’m going to have his baby, and he’s made it crystal clear he doesn’t want kids. Even the one who I watch climb off of my lap and into his like she belongs there.
“This is only about Ellie,” I say, needing to establish some boundaries before I do something stupid. Like tell him the truth. Like kiss him again. Like fall for him when I know how that story ends.
“Yep.” He nods, then lifts Ellie above his head like she’s an airplane. The toddler lets out a delighted squeal that makes me wince slightly. Felix, who doesn’t seem to miss a thing where I’m concerned, chuckles and swoops her back and forth, making her shriek even more. “Welcome to the cabin of chaos, Hart. Hope you’re ready for it.”
I’m not. Not even close. But as Ellie dissolves into fits of giggles, and I try not to imagine Felix holding our child in those strong arms, I realize I’m already in too deep to back out now.
God help me, what have I gotten myself into?
5
FELIX
“Dude,are you sure you know what you’ve gotten yourself into?”
I pause mid-deadlift, sweat dripping off my chin, and glare at Tyler Bron. My longtime personal trainer stands a few feet away, hands on his lean hips, wearing baggy shorts, an athletic shirt, and a know-it-all smirk that makes me want to knock him into next Tuesday. And I could, too. He’s toned, but I’m bigger.
“Stop making this more complicated than it needs to be, Ty.”
He shakes his head, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. “This is Piper Hart we’re talking about. The woman who’s lived rent-free in your head forever.”
“Hardly forever.” I grab a towel and wipe the back of my neck. “I met her at Ian’s wedding last summer.” I should never have told him how much she gets under my skin, or about our one-night stand.
“Right, yoursister-in-law,” Tyler says, like I’ve somehow proven his point.
“She’s notmysister-in-law. She’s my brother’s sister-in-law. We’re not related. Not family.” I toss the towel aside, annoyed at having to explain this again. “And she doesn’t live rent-freeanywhere.” Trust me, there’s a cost to the mental real estate Piper Hart occupies. One I’m determined to ignore.
“If you say so.”
“I don’t get why you care.” I return to my position for another set. Outside of Ian, Tyler’s my best friend. But he’s going a little heavy on the helicopter mom vibes, if you ask me. “If she hadn’t offered to help, you’d be running me through these workouts holding a two-year-old in your arms.”
The initial plan had been for Tyler to stay with me at the cabin until I figured out childcare for Ellie. Two men and a baby, minus the Hollywood ending. But once I mentioned Piper being here, he insisted on staying at his family’s condo near the ski village instead. They only rent it out during ski season, so it sits empty all summer.
When I told Piper about the change in plans, she’d seemed disappointed. As if she’d been counting on a buffer between us. I tried—and mostly failed—not to take offense. It’s not like I want to play house or pretend this is something more than it is—a lucky break for me and an excuse for her to avoid whatever’s waiting back in Skylark.
I still don’t have the whole story there, and I shouldn’t be so damn curious, but I am. What would make her quit a job I know she loves? It can’t just be grief over Max, though I’m not dismissing her loss. She and Sadie adored that old dog. And even though Ian and I didn’t have pets growing up, I get that kind of devotion. Pets weren’t Dad’s thing. Not much else other than football could hold his attention.
“I care about your focus, and obsessing over Piper isn’t going to help you keep your eyes on the prize.”
