“Why did he tell you the hike went well?”
“Presumably to cover your dumb ass, you idiot!” I grabbed a half-full bottle of water from the coffee table and launched it at him. “What’s wrong with you? Do you even care that I spent all morning on my day off working on one of the recipes for him that’s now spoiling in my fridge? And instead of being in my kitchen getting stuff ready for tomorrow I’m here, yelling at you, because you are the most obtuse idiot known to man?”
“Piper, you need to—”
“Kinsley, do not tell me to calm down!” I held my finger up at her and took a deep breath.
“I don’t like him,” Josh said, folding his arms across his chest. “I’ve read shit about him, and I don’t like him.”
“I. Don’t. Care!” I held up my hands. “It doesn’t matter who you do and don’t like. What matters is who I like!”
“He’s not right for you, Piper, and I don’t want you to get your heart broken by some playboy author who’s using you to make a fortune.”
“He’s paying me!”
Josh hesitated. “What?”
“He’s paying me, you turnip!” I pressed my fingers against my temples. “Oh, my God. He asked me to create three recipes for his book in exchange for payment, and I said yes. When he asked if I could help him research how a bakery runs, I said yes. He’s paying me. He’s crediting me. This partnership will put me on the path to owning a second bakery by the time I’m thirty-five. Do you get that now?”
He had the sense not to say anything.
“And even if he weren’t, it’s none of your business. This isn’t sixteenth-century England. You don’t get to decide who is and isn’t right for me. That’s for me, a grown-ass woman, to decide.”
“She has a point, Josh,” Kinsley said softly after a moment. “He’s a really nice guy. If you got to know him, you’d—”
“I would not like him,” he said firmly. “I’ve read too much.”
“Oh, well it’s nice to know that tabloids from several months ago are more important than what your sister and fiancée are telling you,” she snapped. “Do you hear yourself, Joshua? No wonder Colton punched you in the face. I kind of want to right now.”
Dang.
“You don’t know him either,” Josh said.
Clearly he was going to die on this hill.
“I do.” I folded my arms across my chest. “In fact, I’ve known him longer than anyone in this town. I’ve spent more time with him than anyone in this town. And I’d wager I’m the only person in this town who’s seen him naked.”
That shut him up.
Kinsley’s eyes widened as she realized what I was saying.
“I met him before Holley set us up. I knew what I was getting myself into that night and I knew when he walked into the bakery and made the business proposal.”
Josh’s lips parted slightly.
“And I damn well knew when he’s been spending time with me just for the sake of it. Did you know he’s not only a damn good writer but he’s an amazing cook? He can’t bake for shit, but he can cook. He’s funny and sweet and thoughtful and he makes me laugh all the time.” I stopped to swallow the emotion that was balling in my throat. “And even if nothing works out, this could change my life. But you don’t care because you’re so wrapped up trying to protect me that you’ve forgotten I am capable of doing that myself.”
“Piper…” he trailed off.
“If I need your help, I will ask for it,” I said firmly. “If you have concerns, you come to me. You don’t act like a giant child and be rude and horrible to someone you don’t even know.”
I backed up toward the door.
“And if it weren’t for him, Grandma wouldn’t be getting a flower garden at the retirement home,” I added. “He was the one who cut that check. And he didn’t do it for any reason other than he is a damn good person.”
Kinsley sighed, dropping her head so she was looking at the floor.
I looked at her. “I’ve already made your samples. I’ll box them up for you with labels so you can collect them tomorrow and let me know which one you’d like.” I glanced at my brother. “Maverick will be with me until lunchtime, and I don’t want him to feel any more uncomfortable than he already does.”
On that, I turned around and stalked out of the house toward my car. My rage was subsiding, but the low burn of annoyance was still there, simmering beneath the surface as I unlocked my car.
“Piper.” Kinsley came running out of the house after me. “I didn’t know.”
“I know. And it’s not your fault. I’m sorry I snapped at you.”
She wrapped me in a warm hug. “It’s not your fault. For what it’s worth I was going to tell you to take a breath. He deserved all that.”