Almost Just Friends (Wildstone #4)(59)

“You mean other than your sweet, sunny nature?”

She didn’t smile. In fact, she stared at him like she was seeing him for the very first time. “I keep people at arm’s length for a reason,” she said, getting to her feet. “Because I don’t need or want anyone in my business or my life.”

“Maybe I care about you.”

“You shouldn’t. I don’t want you to. And I don’t know why you would.” She chewed on her bottom lip for a beat and then shook her head. “I’m sorry. Clearly, I need a time-out.”

And with that, she turned and walked off. Not toward home, but the other way, farther north. He let her get a good head start before following on foot, just wanting to make sure she was okay. A minute later, she stopped and turned to face him, swiping at tears that broke his heart.

He closed the distance between them, never breaking eye contact. “Why do I care?” he asked, echoing her words as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I care because I want you to have a happy, fulfilling life. I care because I know you’re hurting. I care because I’m emotionally attached to you. Hell, Piper, I just want to help you, but I can’t because you won’t let me in. Let me in.”

She closed her eyes, and he thought she was denying him, but then she whispered, “No one’s ever said anything like that to me before.”

His chest was tight when he put his hands on her hips and pulled her in. “Then I’ll keep saying it.”

She swallowed hard and went up on tiptoes to press her forehead to his. “It means more than you’ll ever know.” She paused. “I . . . overreacted. I’m sorry. I’m just having a hard time shutting down my emotions. They keep spilling out of me. It’s like an avalanche. A tsunami. I can’t seem to control them.”

“Then don’t shut them down. Let them come out. Then let them go.”

“I can’t. Not here. Winnie and Gavin will come looking for me eventually. I need to talk to them, but . . . Winnie’s having a baby. God.” She appeared to try to beat back the panic. “I need to process first, and I need to be alone for that.”

“I’ve got just the place.”





Chapter 20


“It turns out that I am going to hit on you again. You should brace yourself because I’m going to be very convincing.”

Piper walked with Cam back the way they’d come, not realizing that his destination was the boat. Stopping, she shook her head. “I might’ve given you the wrong idea. I’m not exactly in the mood—”

“I know. We’re not going there.”

Wait . . . they weren’t? If she had any brain power left, she’d allocate some to figuring out why he didn’t want to sleep with her again.

“You wanted to be alone,” he said. “I’m trying to give you that.”

“Great, but can’t that be anywhere other than the boat?”

“Name one place in this town we can go where your siblings aren’t going to be able to find you.”

Good point. Dammit. She eyed the boat, and then Cam again. The water was calmer than it’d been in days. But still . . .

His eyes softened. “I’ve got you, Piper.”

She sucked in a breath at the words that felt so . . . comforting. Why? What was it about him that gave her strength? She had no idea.

But getting on the water . . . Yes, she’d been onboard with him before, but that had been . . . different. For one thing, they hadn’t actually been moving; they’d been tied up to the dock. It had taken several mind tricks to allow herself to be okay, although once Cam’s hands and mouth and body had gotten on her, she’d forgotten they’d been on a boat at all.

But at the moment, she was in the middle of a pity party for one, thank you very much, and she wasn’t ready to be over it.

Ahead of her, Cam untied the boat with quick, practiced ease, and she took a moment to appreciate the way he moved because she wasn’t dead. But then, holding the rope in one hand, he held out his other for her.

She shook her head.

He was smart enough not to rush her. And she knew he’d never make her do anything she didn’t want to. Nope, his tactic was even worse.

He waited for her to come to him.

Welp, he was about to wait until hell froze over. She clutched her journal close and shook her head again.

“What if your future niece or nephew fears the water like you do. Wouldn’t you want to help them get past it?” he asked.

“Wow. You fight dirty.”

“I do a lot of things dirty.”

She felt a hot flash rush through her. “You’re trying to distract me.”

“Yes. Is it working?”

“No.”

“Piper, I’ve got you,” he repeated.

Said the spider to the fly.

With a huff of air, she walked toward him, stopping several feet from where he waited with what looked to be all the patience in the world. “Do you just command the bad guys to hand themselves over to you too?”

His lips twitched. “Yes, but it doesn’t usually take this long for them to do it.” He wriggled his fingers.

She stared at his hand. It was strong. Calloused. And, she knew from experience, all warm and extremely talented.