“Well, in case you change your mind…”
“You’ll be the first to know,” I assured her. “Now, let me go finish making dinner.”
“Of course, of course.”
After hanging up, I went back to the jambalaya. I had Charlotte’s baby monitor on the counter next to me so I could keep an eye on her at all times. I’d never been an anxious person, but I’d take the damn monitor to work if I could. Currently, she was sleeping peacefully, giving me time to put it all together.
My thoughts immediately flew to Piper. Part of me couldn’t believe I’d asked her to come here. It had been an impulse. When she said she could get the budgets done today, all I could think wasI have another reason to see her.
She brought out a different side of me. I still couldn’t believe the way I’d opened up to her about Charlotte’s mom. That wasn’t me. I never did that. Not ever. Her indignation on behalf of my girl and me—as she’d pointed out—had stirred something inside me. It seemed as if she truly cared.
Fucking hell, I had to find a way to stick to budgets tonight. As I just told Isabeau, I was focused on being the best father I could be. That was it.
An hour later, as I welcomed Piper in, I realized that I was in more trouble than I thought. Her little suit made my imagination run wild today in the meeting room, and it was sending me into overdrive again now.
“The smell is incredible.” As she took off her shoes, I looked her up and down. She was fucking sexy. Straightening up, Piper sniffed the air. “Jambalaya?”
I cleared my throat. Damn, I needed to keep my head in the game.
“Yes, Isabeau’s recipe,” I said as we walked into the living room. “I heard you went by Fragrant Delights today.”
She looked at me with big eyes. “Was that a mistake? I just figured since I was on Decatur anyway, I could also get my perfume refilled.”
“No, not at all. Were she and Celine okay, or did they seem different than usual?”
“Funny you should ask,” she said as we headed to the table. “I don’t know them well enough to know their ‘usual,’ but they were acting a bit strange. Why?”
“Never mind.”
“Beckett!” She pointed a finger at me. “You keep doing that.”
“What?”
“You don’t say what you’re thinking.”
I smiled at her, leaning slightly closer. “Trust me. It’s better this way.”
She opened her mouth, then looked behind me and smiled big. “Oh, Charlotte is sleeping in that little bed, isn’t she?”
“Yeah. I bought what they call a Moses basket online. I like having her here with me in the living room where I can see her. I read that it’s best for babies to be in the same place as an adult for the first six months of life.”
Piper looked at me with soft eyes. “You’re a great dad.”
I swallowed hard. Did she mean that? She had no reason to butter me up. I’d already signed with her agency.
“I’m trying my very best.”
“Can I take a peek at her?”
“Maybe later. Not sure why, but she wakes up whenever someone looks at her.”
Piper started to laugh and then covered her mouth. She was adorable. “Should we whisper?”
“No. She’s got a white noise machine right next to her. It works like magic.” I nodded toward the dining room table. “Come on, let’s sit down. Jambalaya still needs about half an hour before it’s ready. We can work on the budget in the meantime.”
“I’m ready. I even sent you the spreadsheet.”
I shook my head.
