“That’s awesome. What kind of snack did you have?” I tap the steering wheel, contemplating on a quick lunch while still providing Piper with a nutritional meal that’s also fast so she doesn’t fall asleep at the table.
“Da-da home!” Piper points at the driveway. Low and behold, she’s right, Forest is home. Huh, that’s weird. When he left this morning, he didn’t say either way what time he would be home.
“He is. You want to tell him about your day while I make lunch?” I pull in beside his truck. Forest isn’t in his usual spot inside the garage. “Today is becoming really strange,” I say once my car is in Park. Piper watches as I take my seatbelt off, and that’s when she does the top latch, then I’m out of my seat, going to the back seat on the passenger side to help her finish unbuckling.
“Yunch wif da-da!” she squeals. I lift her up, her little legs wrapping around my side. I guess I’m carrying her into the house. Smart cookie. She knows we’ll get there faster that way.
“That’s a great idea. Miss Bailey can get a few things done if that’s the case,” I absently say while walking towards the door, thinking that I should have waited to tackle the disarray until I had a full day without running errands.
“O-tay, da-da home?” I place her down inside the mudroom and kick off my booties. Piper plops down doing the same, except with sneakers and socks.
“I’m home, sweet pea,” Forest says through the open entry into the kitchen. Jesus, I nearly do the same thing as Piper when he comes to a stop and drops down into a squatting position as he holds his arms up for his youngest daughter. She stands up and runs into his arms. Yeah, I’d be doing the same thing if I were welcomed home that way. I nod at him, moving around without so much as grazing my leg against his perfectly sculpted body dressed in a polo shirt, jeans, and boots.
I walk farther inside, thinking a grilled cheese, cut-up fruit, a cheese stick, and veggie straws are simple, nutritional, and fast. I grab everything I need from the fridge and pantry, getting things together to make my life easier.
“You mind making me a grilled cheese as well?” Forest asks behind me. Directly behind me. A sheet of paper couldn’t fit between us, and I’m pretty sure that there’s someone happy to see me besides Forest.
“Sure.” How I maintain my composure, I have absolutely no idea. I’m reaching for a cup for Piper when he takes over, arm on top of mine, touching more than we have the few short days I’ve been working here. And while this isn’t sexual in the way we were together in Reno, I can definitely sense there’s a chess piece I’m missing in a game I have no idea we’re playing.
“Good. Once Piper’s down for her nap, we need to talk.” He places the cup on the counter with the other items. Then he’s sweeping my hair away from my face, and his nose slides along my neck as if he’s scenting me. I’m rethinking wearing a tank top for the one-hundredth time today. The weather is chilly, and the long sweater-like cardigan didn’t do much in the way of keeping the briskness away. It came off along with my shoes since the house is warm.
“Forest, this isn’t a good idea.” His big hands grip my hips, holding me in his presence.
“That’s where you’re wrong, and so was I. Now, I’m going to entertain Piper while you make lunch, then, when she’s lying down, we’re talking.” Where his nose once was, his lips are now skating a path along the slope of my neck. I give him room as I tip my head to the side, unable to think of a response when his woodsy scent is this close, along with his body. It’s a heady moment in time, one I hope isn’t leading to a terrible mistake.
SIXTEEN
Forest
Whiplash, that’s what I’m sure I’ve given Bailey more than her fair share of, and the bombshell I’ll be dropping shortly might have her running away for good. The sole reason I was home earlier than I expected is because I have to go out of town today. The good news is I’ve got Madden’s private jet on standby to make the trip back to Reno again. This time, it’ll be one quick night with a turnaround in the morning after finalizing a few things that didn’t work on the plans that were sent to my office.
“She down for her nap?” I ask Bailey as she walks down the stairs, hair down around her shoulders in tousled waves. Her eyes hit mine. The look of uncertainty that was on her face earlier has vanished. In its place is serenity. Maybe talking her into picking up where we left off won’t be so hard after all.