Piper had a few Disney songs in her repertoire and played a game with Lindsey to see if she could guess what movie the song was from. The little girl was pretty good and got all of them correct.
Shane appeared on her other side. “Don’t you know any cool songs?” he asked, a challenge in his tone.
Piper smiled and began playing the theme song to Harry Potter. “Can you guess what movie this is from?” she asked as he took a seat next to her.
He named it easily and then asked her to play another one. Just as she started playing the theme to Star Wars, Lindsey jumped up from the piano bench and yelled, “Daddy’s home!”
Piper ceased playing, suddenly self-conscious. She hadn’t asked for permission to play his piano and hoped he wasn’t upset. “You’re home early,” she said when their gazes collided.
“My client had an emergency and had to reschedule for next week.”
She started to get up, but Gabe shook his head. “Please don’t stop on my account. It’s sounds nice, and I never have time to play anymore.”
“You play?” she asked, not sure why she found that so appealing.
“Not as well as you.” His blue eyes were focused solely on her, and Piper got the feeling he found her ability to play just as appealing.
“Is this for us?” Shane asked, holding up a blue frozen drink from the local gas station.
Gabe turned toward his son. “Yes, but only if you’re feeling better.”
“We haven’t throwed up all day,” Lindsey said, picking up the other drink.
“That’s good to hear.” Gabe slipped off his dress coat. “But you two need to drink those in the kitchen, please.”
The kids happily complied, leaving Piper all alone with their father. Gabe turned around and loosened his tie. Feeling extremely warm, Piper was about to get up when he slid onto the bench next to her. She felt her breath catch as his thigh pressed against hers, and he glanced down at her. “Chopsticks?” he asked with a teasing grin.
“Um… sure.”
Gabe started with two fingers. When it was time for her join him, instead of playing her part with two fingers, she embellished the song using the upper keyboard. When they finished, he nudged her in the shoulder. “Show off.”
Warmth spread through her making her feel boneless. Their eyes held, and it was as if they were right back to the night before when he had almost kissed her.
“So the kids were okay today?” he asked softly.
“They were great.”
“Thanks for watching them. It’s difficult when I’m the only parent they have.”
“I’m sure that’s hard not having their mother close by.”
He laughed. “MaryEllen is only a couple of hours away. She just doesn’t have time for Shane and Lindsey because she’s too busy with the baby and her new husband.”
The mention of the baby confused Piper. How could Gabe be such a wonderful father and yet give up custody of his youngest child? “Oh, I thought since you didn’t have visitation rights with the baby that they lived in another state or something.”
His eyes narrowed. “The reason I don’t have visitation rights is because I’m not the baby’s father.”
Piper felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Gabe. I just assumed the baby was yours.”
“Don’t worry. I assumed the same thing.” He fingered a key on the piano. “My wife had an affair with an old high school boyfriend. They’d reconnected on social media and started seeing each other secretly. After she got pregnant, she let me believe I was the father, even though we’d taken measures to prevent any more pregnancies.” He plunked on the piano key and blew out a big breath. “She was so mad at me and blamed me for the pregnancy, knowing very well I wasn’t the one responsible. I groveled for weeks, feeling so guilty, and then a few months before she was due everything came out.”
Piper hated the pain in his eyes. No wonder Tucker’s wife had wanted revenge, even if Piper hadn’t actually had an affair. Caroline had believed her husband had been lured away by another woman. It didn’t matter that Tucker had been the one to find Piper through the online dating site she’d signed up for. It didn’t matter that he had told her he was divorced, even after she’d asked why it still showed he was married on his Facebook account. He’d given her some excuse about not changing his status for business reasons, and she’d been so blinded with love she actually believed him.
“That’s terrible, Gabe. I’m sorry you and your children had to go through that.”
“Thanks.” He tweaked a shoulder up in a shrug. “Life’s hard, but at least I have my kids.”
“You are blessed. I’m so glad you allowed me to take care of them today.”
“Allowed?” He looked at her, a smile replacing the hard lines in his face. “I think I’m the one who should be thanking you for being willing to take care of my sick kids.” His gaze held her like an embrace and then moved slowly over her face before settling on her mouth. “I’d like to—”
A loud ding from her cell phone interrupted his sentence. Piper cursed herself for not silencing her phone. She just hoped the text wasn’t from Tomi. She knew Piper was watching Gabe’s kids and had teased her about playing house with her hot next-door neighbor.
Piper glanced at the phone, which was propped up against the music stand, and saw the text had come from Ian Davies, asking her if she was busy tonight.
“We can reschedule Rascal’s obedience training,” Gabe said abruptly. “So don’t let that stop you from going out with Ian.”
Before Piper could respond, he got up from the piano and stomped up the stairs. She stared at his back, wondering what had just happened. She was tempted to march up the stairs to ask him what was wrong and to also finish his sentence. How could he leave her hanging like that?
Then a possible answer popped into her mind. Could Gabe be jealous? The irritation she’d felt with his abrupt words and subsequent departure was instantly replaced with pleasure. Gabe liked her.
Grinning, she leaned forward and snatched up the phone. Even if Ian were asking her out again, she would give him the same answer she’d given him the previous times he’d asked. No.
Swiping her finger across the screen, she opened the full message.
Are you busy tonight? I have a family who is interested in one of the puppies and they want to come by to see them as soon as possible. Their daughter’s birthday is coming up and they want to surprise her with a puppy.
Can they stop by before six? If not, I’ll be home around seven-thirty and they could come then.
I’ll ask and get back to you.
Okay, or I’ll be home all day tomorrow.
Sounds good.
Smiling, Piper tucked the phone into her pocket and glanced at the stairs again. Gabe liked her. Now she had to figure out a way to let him know she liked him too.
Chapter 10
Gabe yanked off his tie and tossed it on the bed. He should’ve stayed downstairs and held Piper to her commitment. Then he could have asked her out like he’d started to do before Ian swooped in.
He scowled as he took off his dress shirt. How exactly was a grown man supposed to tell a woman he liked her? He’d been out of the game for so long he had no idea what he was doing. Maybe he should create a list of ways to kiss her. It had worked for Kellen Thomas when he’d decided to pursue Ivy. He could still remember a few of the ideas from their wedding luncheon. Jace McAllister had framed the now famous list and gave it to Kellen as a joke. But Ivy and Kellen had liked it so much it had been on display at the reception.
Gabe liked the idea of kissing her under the stars, but it was too cold outside. They’d both freeze before he made his move. It would definitely have to be indoors, preferably when he knew his kids were asleep so they wouldn’t get interrupted. Like maybe snuggled up on the couch in front of the fireplace. Not only was that doable, it was also romantic.
The more he thought about kissing her, the madder he got that she was going
out with Ian. Hanging his suit pants up, he grabbed a casual button-down shirt and then pulled on a comfortable pair of jeans.
As he descended the stairs, he formulated a plan. Women liked flowers. He’d call Janet the owner of the Flower Girl, and order Piper a bouquet of flowers. He didn’t know what kind she liked, but maybe Janet would have a suggestion. In the mean time, he was going to ask to take her out to dinner this weekend. Just the two of them.
Determined to talk to her, he was met with disappointment when he saw the piano bench was empty. Lindsey sat on the floor playing with her horse and trailer, but Piper wasn’t with her. Gabe skirted around the mess his daughter had created and barely missed stepping on a partially clothed Barbie.
He picked up the Barbie. “You need to clean some of this up, Linds.”
“I can’t. Miss Piper is coming back to play with me.”
Gabe paused, glancing toward the front door. So Piper had gone home… probably to get ready for her date with Ian.
“Did Miss Piper say she was coming back to play with you?”
Lindsey frowned. “I don’t know. I can go ask her.”
“No, it’s too cold for you to go outside.” He handed her the doll. “Daddy will go ask her.”
“It’s not too cold. I want to come.”
Wanting to have a few minutes alone with Piper, Gabe crouched down. “Lindsey, Miss Piper might be too busy to play with you. I’ll go and ask her, and if she can’t play with you, then Daddy will play with you.”
“Daddy’s don’t play with Barbies.”
“They can play with horses.”
“I only have one horse.”
The negotiations could go on like this for a while. Gabe didn’t have time to waste if he was going to stop Piper from going out with Ian. He needed to buy some time.
“I have an idea, if you clean up your Barbies and all the clothes, then when I get back, we can get online and you can pick out another horse to order.”
“Okay!” Lindsey said, scrambling to pick up the dolls and clothing.
Shane was still on the computer playing a rocket-building game Gabe approved of. He dreaded the day when his son would want to play the violent action-war games that were so popular.
“Hey, bud,” Gabe said and waited for Shane to look at him. “I’m going over to Miss Piper’s for a few minutes. I forgot to give her something.”
A confused look crossed Shane’s face.
“What did you need to give me?” a voice said from behind him.
Whirling around, Gabe gulped back what felt like a baseball in his throat. Piper was still at his house. “What?” he stammered.
“What did you need to give me? I hope it isn’t money.” As the idea took hold, he saw fire spark in her green eyes. “I swear, Gabe, if you’re trying to pay me for watching your kids today, I’m going to be so angry.”
“Simmer down,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her into the kitchen with him. “I wasn’t going to give you money.”
“Oh.” Her lips formed into a pout. “Then what is it?”
While he battled the desire to haul her against the wall and kiss her soundly, he tried to figure out what to tell her. Other than a kiss, he didn’t have anything to give her. Then he remembered the flowers he had yet to order. “It’s a surprise.”
Her tempting mouth lifted into a smile. “Do I need to close my eyes?”
She was killing him… but… yes. Typically, both parties closed their eyes when kissing, but he wasn’t going to kiss her when one of his kids could walk in.
“I’m all done, Daddy!” Lindsey said, coming into the kitchen. “Can we order my horse now?”
How had she cleaned everything up so quickly? It usually took her at least a half hour. “In a minute, Princess.”
Lindsey tugged on his hand. “But you said if I cleaned up my mess I can pick out a new horse. And I cleaned up my mess.”
“Linds, I need to talk to Miss Piper right now.”
Stubbornness flashed in his daughter’s eyes, and her lower lip began to quiver. Gabe sighed in defeat. “Go sit on the couch and I’ll get my laptop.”
“Okay.” She skipped off, happy she was getting her way.
He turned back to Piper. “I’m pathetic, right?”
“Not pathetic.” She twisted her hands together. “But it won’t be long before her demands are for a three-hundred-dollar prom dress or for a car.”
“Prom dresses cost that much money?”
She laughed. “Probably more, depending on where you shop.” She was back to twisting her hands. “But you understand what I’m saying.”
“I do. I know it isn’t right, but I feel like buying them gifts somehow makes up for having their mother leave them.” He ran a hand through his hair. “They know she chose her new husband and the baby over them, so realistically nothing I could ever do will make up for that, but I guess it makes me feel better too.”
The tenderness in her eyes sharpened his awareness of her. He stilled when she reached out and took his hand, wreaking havoc on his ability to breathe. “You’re doing a great job, Gabe. Your children are so sweet and well-mannered, so don’t beat yourself up.”
“Thank you.” He slid his fingers between hers, loving the feel of her hand in his. Their eyes connected, and Gabe couldn’t hold back any longer. “Don’t go out with Ian.”
The corners of her mouth lifted up. “He didn’t ask me out, Gabe. He has a family that wants to come by and see the puppies.”
“Speaking of the puppies… did you ever hear back from Mrs. Jamison?”
“She emailed me this morning and told me I don’t have to pay anything, so you’re off the hook.”
He would never tell her this, but he was glad Rascal had been… well, a rascal. They probably would have never talked to each other if he hadn’t. The soft look in her eyes emboldened Gabe, and he drew her to him. Of course Lindsey chose that moment to holler out for him to hurry up with his laptop.
“Go on,” she said. “The family is coming by in forty-five minutes, so I need to go home and clean up the whelping box.”
“Are you coming back?” he asked, reluctant to let go of her hand.
“I’m still planning on obedience class.”
“But that’s not until six.”
“Daaadddy!”
“Go.” She laughed and pulled her hand out of his. “I’ll come back over as soon as the family leaves.”
Satisfied with her answer, Gabe walked her to the door and helped her with her coat. “See you soon.”
“See you.” She smiled and opened the door. “Ooh, it’s freezing out here,” she said, pulling the collar of her wool coat closed.
“Come back inside, and I’ll warm you up.” Piper’s eyes widened, and Gabe realized he’d actually said that out loud. His neck flushed with embarrassment, and he could feel the tips of his ears turn red. “I mean… come back inside… where it’s warm… and then I can drive you home.”
Amusement danced in her eyes. “I’m actually feeling pretty warm right now, so I think I’ll just go ahead and walk home.”
“Sounds good.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “See ya later.”
“Later,” she said with a light laugh.
Smooth… not. Gabe couldn’t believe how bad he was at flirting. He stood in the doorway, watching her traverse the now-worn path between their homes until she disappeared.
“Daddy, it’s cold,” Lindsey said from behind him.
Closing the door, he picked up his laptop and took a seat on the couch next to Lindsey. “Did you have a good day with Miss Piper?”
“The best day! Can I stay home with her tomorrow?”
“You have school tomorrow.” He logged onto his computer, ignoring the new email messages that had populated in the last hour, and opened the page for the shopping website he frequently used. “I know your teacher missed you today and so did your friends.”
“Okay, but can Miss Piper pick me up from school? She’s mo
re fun than Doreen and likes to play with me instead of looking at her phone all the time.”
Gabe tried not to feel frustrated with his nanny. She did help the kids with their homework if they had any, and she seemed fairly responsible. But he knew she would never play Barbies with Lindsey. “Miss Piper can’t pick you up, honey. She has her dog and the puppies to worry about.”
That determined look appeared on Lindsey’s face. “But I can help her. I’m good and don’t pick up the puppies.”
Thinking about how often he gave in to her demands, he gently tapped her on the nose with his finger. “You are a good girl, but Miss Piper can’t watch you after school.”
“You didn’t ask her,” Lindsey argued, sounding older than her six years.
She was right, but he wasn’t going to ask Piper and put her on the spot. She would probably say yes. “Lindsey…” He was interrupted when the box for a FaceTime call popped up on the computer screen. He wanted to ignore the caller, but Lindsey saw MaryEllen’s face on the icon and reached over and accepted the call. Not in the mood to talk with her, he quickly pointed the camera in Lindsey’s direction.
“Mommy!” Lindsey said with excitement, “Daddy’s buying me a new horse.”
“Of course he is,” MaryEllen said. Lindsey didn’t pick up on the sarcasm, but Gabe did. Who knew why she was mad at him this time? He’d showered her with plenty of gifts when they were married, but she never appreciated it and only expected more from him. “Where is your daddy?”
“Right here.” Lindsey pointed her finger at Gabe.
He angled the laptop back in his direction. “Hello.”
“I thought you were buying her a horse for her birthday?”
“I am. She’s talking about a model horse. She earned it by helping me clean up the house.”
“I use to clean the house all the time and didn’t get anything for it.”
Gabe’s jaw clenched, making his molars ache. He was not going to be bated into a stupid argument, especially in front of his children. “I’m sure you called to talk to the kids,” he said evenly.
Winter in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance) Page 37
