Fine by me that they assumed I was a new transplant. Since they were in Pine Creek, they didn’t know my name or my face on sight.
After loading the couple items of furniture into the bed of my truck, I’d grabbed some food at a drive-through on the way back. A damn good morning, all in all.
I’d considered stopping at Silver Linings too for an espresso fix, but I still hadn’t been back there in weeks. Not after that disastrous night at Hearthstone with Piper and her son. I hadn’t seen Piper a single time since.
Aside from a few holiday get-togethers with Grace and Callum and their partners, I’d spent plenty of nights alone the last several weeks. Whichwasn’t so bad.
Just meant more time to work. The sooner I could get myself established, the sooner I could prove to everyone I had a right to be here.
As I drove up the street toward my place, I spotted a Lexus halfway down the block. A much nicer car than I’d seen around here lately. Most of the other people in this neighborhood were far more humble, like me.
As Piper had said before, they had a live-and-let-live attitude, and nobody had made any trouble about me moving in here. Thank goodness for small favors.
Pulling into my driveway, I spotted Piper’s car parked right in front of the house, and anticipation started pumping through my veins like something heady and addictive.
She was here. She’d come to see me.
Maybe it was just landlord business. But I’d dropped off the first and last months’ check back in December, and I wasn’t due to pay next month’s rent just yet. Or maybe some neighbor had complained about me after all. Maybe I’d been too noisy on the nights I’d been working late on the house.
Or maybe, just maybe, Piper had been thinking of me as much as I’d been thinking of her.
Taking a steadying breath, I got out of the truck and started toward the house.
Glancing around, I didn’t see Piper anywhere. She’d probably already gone inside, and I didn’t mind. In fact, the idea of her seeing all the progress I’d made gave me a warm glow of pride.
As I neared the house, I caught my reflection in the front window and paused to check my hair. Ran my fingers through it like that would make any difference.
Ridiculous. I was acting like a teenager trying to impress a girl.
The moment I stepped through the front door, I heard a loud thump. Followed by raised voices. My mood shifted instantly, my muscles tensing as I listened.
That was Piper, and she sounded angry. And someone else who I didn’t recognize. A man.
Their words became clearer as my long strides took me near the bedrooms.
“You’re playing a little game, thinking you can outsmart me.”
“I don’t even know what box you’re talking about!”
“Liar.”
“Danny, stop—” Piper’s voice cut off abruptly.
I rounded the corner, stepping through the open doorway, and I saw them. A preppy looking guy had his hand on Piper’s throat as he pinned her against the wall. She stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.
Rage exploded in my chest, turning my vision to static, blood roaring in my ears.
Hell.No.
I crossed the room in two strides and ripped him away from her, throwing him back hard. He stumbled on the debris-strewn floor, his arms pinwheeling.
“Hey!” Danny caught himself before he toppled all the way to the ground.
“What. The fuck. Do you think you’re doing?” I growled.
So this was Ollie’s deadbeat father. Piper’s piece-of-shit ex.
I kept advancing, and he managed to stand up, squaring his shoulders in his green polo. “This is between me and my ex-wife. Stay out of it.”
