When We Fall (Take the Fall, #2)(29)

She shakes her head. “I didn’t bring that many groceries with me, and I’m out of bread.”

“My pantry is full—you can take what you want out of there and cook what you want.”

A pained look covers her face. “I don’t…I don’t know how to cook, and I don’t have enough money to pay you back unless you can wait until payday.” She swallows. “When’s payday?”

When I got out of prison, it felt like I didn’t know the basics of life anymore. The sun was too bright, the open spaces too big, and eating alone made me depressed. Yeah, I self-medicated with sex, alcohol, and drugs that flashed through my system, but I eventually remembered how to cook, how to interact, how to pay bills, how to do all the things I used to….Basically, I remembered how to be me again. However, for Piper not to know basic skills of living on her own…it astounds me.

“You didn’t cook the casserole you brought to me when I first got out?”

She shakes her head, her cheeks heating. “Our—my parents’ cook did.”

“Did you ask Rowan for help when y’all lived together?”

“She likes to cook, so I just did all the prep work.” She gives me a sad smile. “I’m spoiled and helpless, aren’t I?”

She is, but to tell her that wouldn’t help in the least. Besides, I plan on spoiling her myself—not with expensive jewelry and exotic trips, but in time spent with her, touching her, and giving her my undivided attention. It’s obvious she’s starved for attention—always has been. I’m not much different. I went for seven years without a woman’s touch, and God only knows how long I’ve ached for Piper’s touch.

According to Rowan, Piper’s parents were never big fans of hugs or kisses. She said that Piper’s nannies—plural because her mother would fire the old one and hire a new one every year—would tuck her in at night.

“We could take some classes together, or I could teach you.” Growing up with a junkie for a mother who eventually overdosed, I had to learn a lot really fast. Or starve. Or not have clean clothes. I had Rowan to take care of, too.

“Teach me,” she says firmly. “I’d rather not be in a crowd with everyone staring.”

“We’ll start tomorrow night.” Cooking with her would be a welcome distraction. I’ve seen what her beautiful body looks like, and I want to get her out of her clothes again, but I can’t, not until we go to see her doctor. “But in the meantime, I’ll get dinner—you like Indian or Thai food?”

“Thai…no, Indian.” Her nose wrinkles. “Surprise me. I’m not a picky eater.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I turn to leave the office, letting go of the door and pulling out my cell.

“Jase?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for being so patient with me. I know it can’t be easy when you’re used to…people who are self-sufficient and independent.”

I give her a smile. “You’re welcome.”

—

That night while we’re lying on the couch in my sanctuary, I click through channel after channel of nothing. Piper has been asleep for an hour now. It amuses me to no end that she can’t keep her eyes open past ten thirty.

Smoothing her hair back, I feel a tender smile kick up the corners of my mouth as I stare at her profile. She’s so f*cking beautiful to me, and I know that’s due in part to her inner beauty.

A small sigh leaves her and she scoots closer to me, her knee coming up to hit me in the junk. I’m prepared, though, and jerk up my leg just in time.

“Dangerous woman,” I whisper.

“I don’t want to get my eyes fixed. I like my glasses,” she says.

So that’s why she doesn’t wear glasses anymore. “I liked them, too.”

“Garden gnomes are creepy, Rowan. Why would you want them in your flower beds?”

“Because my sister is demented.”

Piper begins to flail around again, and I wonder if it’s because she’s dreaming about doing battle with garden gnomes.

I roll to my back and pull her on top of me. She sort of melts into my body. In no time at all, she stops trying to beat me up and talking about random things in her sleep. Her full breasts press against me, making it hard to concentrate on finding something to watch.

Finally, I settle on Lip Sync Battle. Beyond the host, I have no idea who the celebrities are—something that I can thank seven years of prison for, but I enjoy the show anyway.

Thinking about prison and all it’s taken away from me makes me wonder if Piper and I would have ever gotten together without the interruption in my life. I’d like to say yes, we would have eventually, but I know the truth. My former path was set on raising hell and screwing fast women. Actually, I had no path in life before I went to prison. No goal other than to eat, f*ck, race cars, and party.

I frown.

Seven years have passed and I still don’t have a goal. Yeah, I own half of the shop, but Emmett’s dad sold it to me with the contingency that I have to pay him back until he gets at least forty thousand out of it. Since the bank isn’t about loaning money to people without any credit, I have a monthly payment to make for the next five years or so to Mr. Dunning.

Sure, the house I’m living in is paid for, and I have my bike. The Mustang I used to drive is sitting in the detached garage, just waiting for me. Other than a few bills, I’m debt free. However, I wasn’t in debt when I went to prison, so it’s not like that’s something new.