When We Fall (Take the Fall, #2)(47)

“We’re ready, too,” Piper says.

She and Rowan finish setting the table while I grab drinks and cups of ice. No beer for me tonight. I’m hitting the hard stuff—sweet, iced tea.

“Smells good. Looks good,” Rowan says, but she’s not looking at the food. She’s eye-f*cking her fiancé. Something I did not need to see.

Seth serves the ladies first, leaving me to fend for myself. I don’t mind; the kid has manners. Well, he’s not a kid anymore. He’s only two years younger than me and has seen a lot of bad shit go down. Sometimes, I think war is the only thing worse than prison. Sure, serving in the military is voluntary, but when the rubber hits the road…it takes a guy with nuts of titanium to get through that hell.

Everyone digs in and a comfortable silence fills the kitchen. It’s nice to eat with family, without looking over your shoulder or guarding your food.

Piper scoots her chair closer to me. Her foot touches my leg and I quirk a brow at her. She wants to play at the table? Fine with me.

Her foot stops just short of my dick before she begins to rub the inside of my leg. I jump a little at the contact.

Rowan and Seth give me identical looks of what’s-the-matter-with-you?

“Sorry. Thought a bug was crawling up my leg.”

“Ew,” Rowan says. “Glad it wasn’t.”

I grab Piper’s foot and her eyes widen. Slowly, I begin to massage it with one hand while I attempt to eat with my free one. A look of pure pleasure washes over her face as I press my thumb into her instep.

“So good,” she whispers. Then her eyes get all big. “The steak…the food is so good.”

Seth nods. “We’re thinking of having the wedding catered or grilling out afterward.”

Save me now. Wedding talk. “Why not have it in a restaurant?” I tickle the bottom of Piper’s foot and she almost falls out of her seat.

“Are you okay?” Rowan asks, grabbing her arm.

Piper nods, then playfully glares at me. “Your brother was tickling me under the table.”

“You started it.” I let go of her, and her foot slips away.

“Get a room, you two,” Rowan grumbles, but I can tell she’s secretly pleased with the flirting between Piper and me.

“We can leave right now if you want,” I offer.

Rowan pins her baby blue gaze on me. “I don’t think so. You two are the only other couple I can stand to spend time with.”

Seth lightly touches her arm and Rowan’s gaze softens before she turns her attention to him. “Hey, Julie and—”

“Around here, baby. Your battle buddy and his wife are on the other side of the country now,” Rowan points out.

“True, but they’ll be here for the wedding.” Seth finishes the steak on his plate and goes back for more salad. “He’s the maid of honor.”

Piper gasps, a look of pure outrage all over her gorgeous face. “I’m the maid of honor.”

Rowan snorts. “Seth was only kidding.”

Obviously mollified, Piper smiles. “Good, and as your maid of honor, I want to walk down the aisle with a guy of my choosing.”

“For the last time, Mark Williams and his preppy ass bow ties will not be invited,” Rowan says, playfully smacking Piper’s shoulder.

“That guy’s an *,” Seth points out.

Rowan nods. “We all agree on that, but poor Piper here can’t help but be nice to him.”

“What am I supposed to do when he grabs me—scream for help?”

“Hell, yes, that’s what you’re supposed to do.” I shove my chair back. “When did he put a hand on you?”

Piper won’t meet my gaze. “Last Friday night, but it’s not what you think.” Finally, she looks at me. “He was nice to me after my parents kicked me out of dinner.”

“Oh no, Piper.” Rowan takes her in her arms. “I’m sorry.” My sister mouths the words lay off, but I’m beyond caring. That f*cker had no right touching Piper. Or any other woman, for that matter.

“He’s got you fooled.”

“Just because Giselle slept with him while the two of you were together doesn’t make him a bad person,” Piper says, sitting up. Her eyes flash green fire. “If I recall correctly, you asked me to go home with you while you were dating Giselle. If I had said yes, then you would have been no better than him.”

My hands clench into fists. “Don’t you ever compare me to that piece of shit. He’s not fit to lick my shoes.”

“Maybe not, but you should be over your ex-girlfriend by now. You have me and she’s not fit to lick my shoes.” Piper jumps to her feet. “Thank you for dinner. Please excuse me.”

Stunned into silence, none of us say anything as she grabs her things and leaves.

“Holy shit,” Seth finally says. “I think you just got told off by Piper Ross.”

“Hell yes, he did,” Rowan says. She leans over and punches me in the arm. “You’re such a shit, you know that? God, I thought you’d be over Giselle by now, too.”

“I am over Giselle. I was never under Giselle.” I shake my head at the look of disgust on Rowan’s face. “Not what you’re thinking. I didn’t give a shit who she slept with, but that * Mark doesn’t take no for an answer and no one calls him out on it because his daddy’s the mayor.