Piper sighed and stared at her hands. “I know, the gift was sweet, but she thought…we were almost dating.”
Iffy subject. Mikah kept his face neutral so her searching green eyes wouldn’t misread him. “Moms are like that.”
“Yeah, I feel weird keeping her sweater now, but it’s a good thing she doesn’t want the top back, because I’m failing to deliver.” Piper chewed on her bottom lip. She’d painted them the same color as the lettering on her t-shirt. “I promise, the bag was right here.”
He believed her. “I’ll buy Mom a new sweater for Christmas. I don’t want you stressing about stuff that doesn’t deserve worry.” He wasn’t lying. Those white teeth pinching her bottom lip…he wanted to ease her away and take care of that. Mikah lifted his hand to cup her face, and he made himself drop his fingers. “Is it something more?” He eyed Warren, who was speaking with a dancer, and lowered his voice. “Warren bothering you?”
“Nah. He’s…” Piper made a dismissive gesture but then looked like she’d open up.
Willow arrived, putting an end to Piper’s sharing. “Why was Warren talking to you?” She kept her voice low. “And who’s he talking to now? Do you know her?”
Really? Dude was ten feet away. Ask him. Mikah arched his eyebrows and resisted the urge to shoo Willow.
Piper stiffened but didn’t answer.
Exactly. Piper wanted their private time undisturbed also. “Warren’s probably looking for you,” Mikah lied to end Willow’s steam.
Willow stalked off.
Problem solved.
Dodo strolled up next. Couldn’t they see Piper was busy? Mikah crossed his arms over his chest to resist taking her hand and leading her from the building.
Dodo nodded at him and faced Piper. “I want to pose with my lucky puck for the next round. Everyone loves seeing it.”
Did they?
Piper nodded. “Okay.”
Dodo looked expectantly at her like she was his assistant and he needed his coffee. “Where is it?”
CHAPTER 18
Mikah stared at the team owner. “How would Piper know?”
Piper opened her palms.
Dodo stepped closer. “I brought the lucky puck out for the shoot. You had to see us taking photos with it.” Tension underlay his voice.
Why was Dodo asking Piper the location of his own shit? Was this a lead-up to asking her to polish the surface? She was too smart for this job. How was her thesis going? Was this bullshit interfering? Had to be. Dodo needed a minder of his own, but it wasn’t going to be Piper. Where was Dahlia? She’s the one who’d accepted an engagement ring, Dodo was her problem.
Piper looked around. “Where did you last see it?” Her tone was helpful.
“I don’t know, you’re the assistant. Find my puck.” Dodo stepped from one foot to the other and waved his arms like a flapping penguin.
Mikah wasn’t loving his tone. Piper was a temp, but she was also going to be Dodo’s family when he married. Someone talked to Lily like that, there would be words. Dodo needed to get a hold of himself. Tossing the owner from his own photoshoot was going to cause a problem. He held himself still but shifted his gaze to Dodo to indicate he needed to take his attitude down a notch.
“You think the puck is lost?” Piper gentled her tone.
She was soft, caving to this fool’s panic.
Dodo held up his palms and didn’t meet Mikah’s eyes. “It’s here, somewhere, has to be. You should be on top of this.”
There was nothing rational in that statement. Had Piper been told to be in charge of the puck, she would have been. Mikah didn’t have the temperament to listen to much more of Dodo. This was why there was a layer of management between players and owners. He breathed heavier, and the urge to leave with Piper shoved through him.
Piper rose. “I’ll search around.” She headed to the interview tables and had a look underneath.
Mikah followed, pleased to be out from under Dodo’s beak. Hadn’t Dodo had his totem in his pocket? Probably fell out when he went to the john.