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Piper looked at me and her eyes fucking shone. “I’m not at all surprised.”
Maddy look taken aback by Piper’s agreement. I tried to hide my amusement at Piper’s audacity but couldn’t help a small smile escaping. All I could do was nod to Maddy.
“Well, I can’t promise anything,” Piper said to her. “But I’ll do my best.”
Maddy grabbed Piper’s hand and pulled her to the middle of the grass. “Okay, go!” Maddy cried.
“Oh, now?” Piper threw me a panicked look right along with her cardigan. “Okay.”
Maddy stood back and Piper bit her lip in concentration. I told myself everything about her wasn’t…inspiring. The breeze made her hair flutter gently and she looked so unbothered by the rest of the world as she concentrated on the task at hand. Her jeans clung to her legs in a way that made my hands jealous. There was a confidence and determination in her eyes that would have taken my breath away…had I cared.
After a bounce, Piper took a run and threw her body into what, as far as I had any fucking clue, was a pretty perfect cartwheel…until her feet hit the ground, didn’t fully get under her and she plopped on her arse.
“Wow!” Maddy yelled.
Piper rolled over onto her stomach and the smile she gave my niece did take my breath away. It certainly had something sitting up and paying attention, and I sternly reminded myself that women with children were a turn off, not a turn on.
“Teach me!” Maddy cried happily as she ran over to ‘help’ Piper off the ground.
“Mads, I’m sure she’s got better things to do than teach you cartwheels,” I said, giving Piper an apologetic smile.
“She has a name,” Piper said pointedly as she helped Maddy flip over.
I fought a smile, but hers widened and I couldn’t help myself. “Sassy today.”
As Piper whipped her head to face me, her ponytail flew around her head. “Someone’s gotta sass you, Roman Lombardi.”
Fuck me. Fuck me sideways. Fuck me sweet and vanilla for all I cared. I’d wanted to know the real Piper Barlow and I’d got her. And she surpassed every expectation or hope I’d had for her.
I didn’t realise how much time had passed until Mum walked out the back door with a tired smile. I gave her a nod and she came to stand next to me.
“Well, this is nice,” Mum said.
“Don’t read anything into it,” I warned her.
“Oh, I wouldn’t dare, love.”
I gave her a soft nudge and she nudged me back before I put my arm around her shoulders. Then we just watched Piper and Maddy for a bit.
“You had a good day?” Mum finally asked as she leant against me.
I ran a hand through my hair and breathed out heavily. “Sure.”
“How’s Maddy been? She eaten?”
I nodded. “She’s been all right. How was work?” I kissed her temple and realised that Piper was watching us, so I gently extricated my arm from Mum’s shoulder.
The last thing I needed was Piper thinking I had depths.
“Fine. Same old,” Mum answered.
Maddy looked up and her face lit up as soon as she saw Mum. “Grandma!” she giggled and ran over to wrap herself around Mum’s legs.
Piper hovered and I realised I needed to address the elephant in the room. Not that Piper could ever be accurately compared to an elephant.
“Uh, Mum, you know Piper Barlow?” I said awkwardly.
Mum nodded then looked at me like she was thinking about making a deal out of this after all.
