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Dodo frowned.
Dang, that should have calmed him.
He held up two fingers in her face. “This is strike two.” He slid down and stalked off.
Piper mouthed to Dahlia, “When was strike one?”
Dahlia threaded her hands into her hair and shook her head. “Later.”
* * *
Back in Texas, Piper walked out to the driveway to check on Calista’s progress with her car. They’d returned from Vegas two days ago, and this was day two of her car’s engine being in tiny parts on the concrete.
Calista sat crisscross in front of them staring at each piece. Piper put her hands on her hips. “Come on, Calista. Time’s up. I’m going to have Dad put the engine back together.”
Calista shook her head. “I’m working on it.”
Was she?
Calista lifted a bolt and stared at the shape like it differed from the ten other bolts in front of her. “You’re going to love me.”
“I already love you, put my car back together.” It was difficult to mix a firm tone with an affectionate one, but she pulled off the combination.
“Can’t, not yet.”
“It’s a puzzle.” Piper picked up a random spark plug and a valve. This time her voice had a harder edge. “Stick them together, move on to the next bit.”
Calista’s eyes sharpened. She clapped and held out her palms. “Give me.”
Ugh, Piper handed the car parts over, noted the grease on her palms, and went back inside to wash her hands. She had to use a coarse exfoliating scrub to get the marks off, what a week.
Her phone beeped with a text from Mikah. “Hey.”
Her heart thumped as if he’d written an original poem about his feelings for her. Piper dried her hands and typed back. “Hey.”
“That suspense film we watched at the lake. The sequel came out.” Mikah added a knife emoji and a movie ticket emoji.
“Sounds fun.” Piper sent him the photo of her dismantled engine. “Out of commission.”
“I can pick you up. Seven?”
He’d made it sound like she’d asked him to come and get her. Weird. On the other hand, a thrill flitted through her, this was a date. Must be how northerners asked women out. Maybe he was protecting himself in case she said no. That vulnerability in him was a side she hadn’t seen. She kept her response simple. “Yes.”
* * *
Piper changed tops four times before settling on a green halter with her jeans. She left her hair down. Energy buzzed through her body at the thought of seeing Mikah post-Vegas. And she really, really wished he was picking her up at her own place.
If things worked out between them, and they were still together come February, she could wash all of last year’s bad Valentine’s Day memories away. Hearts and roses, that’s how all women should remember February 14. And any guy who corrupted that beautiful gloss didn’t deserve to have a woman ever.
Mikah was already helping shore up her romantic hopes because she’d never felt this deep connection with Warren. With Warren, she’d been rational. Enjoying the dates and kisses, making romantic plans for Valentine’s, ready to take the relationship to the next level.
With Mikah, she shivered, tingled, wanted to wrap her body against him and place herself under him and on top of him. She’d felt that way since day one. Time, sense, and practicality had no play in her feelings for him.
A tap sounded on her bedroom door. “Your guest is here,” Mom said.
Parents. All sexy thoughts fled her body.
Move out for new year. That was her plan. Crappy side of town, studio, whatever it took. Then she could indulge in all the sexy thoughts she liked.
