The Wife Stalker(26)

She pulled the roasted chicken from the oven and began preparing their plates just as Stelli and Evie came into the kitchen with sun-kissed faces and shiny hair. Leo was a meat eater, and though Piper planned to introduce some healthier vegetarian alternatives slowly, in the meantime, she felt that chicken was at least somewhat better than beef. Though she’d made herself quickly at home in Leo’s kitchen, she had not yet ventured to the second floor of the house. It would not be in her best interest for the children to see her walking out of their father’s bedroom. She knew that all too well. And besides, she wasn’t ready to be confronted with more family photographs, which might be sitting on Leo’s nightstand. She’d already seen too many of them in the downstairs living space.

“You two look so clean and shiny,” Piper said as the children sat down and she set their plates in front of them. “I made chicken with mashed potatoes and peas. Your dad said you like peas. Is that right?”

“I love peas,” Stelli said with a sly grin on his face. “They’re good for shooting,” he said, picking up one and flicking it across the table at his sister.

“Hey,” Evie yelled at him. But the barrage had started, with one pea after another flying in different directions.

Piper stood over them with her hands on her hips. “Okay, that’s enough.”

He launched another pea at his sister and then one that hit Piper on the cheek.

“Stelli!” Piper’s voice rose. “We don’t throw food. That is not acceptable.”

He stuck his tongue out at her, then slumped down in his chair. “You’re no fun. I don’t want you here.”

Piper closed her eyes, knowing that if she didn’t calm down, she would say something she’d regret. “You need to clean the peas up from the floor, Stelli,” she said, then walked out and down the hall to Leo’s office, poking her head in. “Hey. The kids are having dinner. I’m going to go home and change. Do you want to keep working?”

“No, I’m finishing up now. How about I come over a little after eight?”

“Okay.” She started to leave and then reconsidered. “Leo?”

He looked up from the file in front of him. “Yes?”

“Nothing. Never mind. I’ll see you later on.” She’d talk to him about the nonsense with the peas when he came to her house later. She couldn’t stop thinking about it on the drive home and as she showered and slipped into a light silk shift. She really thought Stelli had begun to warm to her a little, but his scene at dinner tonight showed her just how mistaken she was.

She brushed on a light dusting of blush, a swath of mascara, and some lip gloss, and then put on a pair of gold hoop earrings. She took one last look in the mirror and saw her reflection—tall and bronzed, her hair a silky champagne-gold.

She heard the door open and close as Leo let himself in with the key she’d given him a few weeks before.

“I’m in the kitchen,” she called to him.

He came striding in and enveloped Piper in his strong arms. She breathed in the scent of him, feeling the hard tautness of his powerful body against hers. “I’ve missed you,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

She pulled away, chuckling. “It’s been two hours.”

“Do you have any idea how hard it was to watch you all day in that little bikini and keep my hands off you?”

“I know that patience is not one of your virtues,” she said in a teasing tone.

“I’m not sure it is a virtue.”

“Sit.” She pointed to the island stool and poured them each a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. “We’re going to have a simple dinner—cold duck and fresh tomatoes direct from my garden.”

“Sounds perfect.” He picked up the glass of wine and drank.

“Leo,” she began, as she served them, “something happened today that we need to talk about.”

His brow furrowed. “You sound upset. What is it?”

She pressed her lips together. “It’s Stelli.” She recounted what had happened at dinner with the peas.

“That’s what’s worrying you? He was just being a boy. I don’t think it’s anything to get upset about. I mean, granted, it’s not great table manners, but—”

“No, Leo. You’re missing the point. I think he does these things to deliberately upset me.”

“Now wait a—”

She put her hand up. “Let me finish, Leo. It’s apparent that he doesn’t want me around. Surely you see that, too, don’t you? He doesn’t like me. And it worries me. I care about him and don’t like to see him upset.” She knew she’d get further couching her complaints in concern for the child.

“It’s not that he doesn’t like you. It’s just that he’s missing his mother. I guess it can seem like he’s doing things on purpose, but he’s just a kid. He’s not plotting or manipulating. He’s acting out because his mother’s gone. It has nothing to do with you.”

She deflated slightly. “It feels like he will never accept me as part of your life.”

“Piper, listen. We need to give him time. He’ll come around eventually. But right now, we have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Do you think you can do that?”

Could she? Hadn’t Matthew said the same thing about Mia? Time and patience hadn’t helped at all.