"You're a lot of fun to be with, Alex, but you're not moving in," Piper announced as they walked back to his truck. Did the man never tire of making things more difficult?
"It solves a lot of problems," he said, pulling his keys out of his pocket.
"It makes problems." Like stirring up her feelings for him even more which very possibly might make her want to marry him for real. That kind of direction was impossible and foolish and ridiculous because...well, it just was.
"I can keep an eye on Jamison and protect you if I'm here. I'll get my gear. Call Tanesa. Have her bring the dogs."
"Did something bite you while we were tromping through the weeds? Did it involve neurotoxins?" She glared at him. "Bad idea for so many reasons. One of which is that Mother and your dogs will not mix."
"That's the plan." He gave her a triumphant grin.
"You're making zero sense."
"I worked it all out on the trail. Introducing me and my dogs to the household will make it obvious that this match is a bad one. Once I'm certain you're safe, we'll call it off and everyone will be relieved and sympathetic. We'll go our separate ways, no harm done."
The fuzzy warmth in the middle of her chest that wouldn't go away gave a thump. She had a terrible suspicion that watching him leave would probably do her a lot of harm.
She bit her bottom lip. "I don't know."
Alex reached out and captured her right hand. His palm felt warm and rough against hers and sent a quivery feeling through her body like a spring breeze. She frowned. Stupid feelings.
Alex was smart to set things up so they could back away from their engagement gracefully. And he was right about being able to protect her better if he was close by. Wasn't that what she'd hired him for in the first place?
The sting in her chest gave another disturbing hitch, but she lifted her chin and forced a happy face. "You're right." And with luck, Mother's joy over planning the wedding would aggravate Carl to death and he'd finally show his true colors to her.
"Hmm." His gaze swept over her face. Why am I not convinced you're on board with this? Might be the insincere smile."
"Pfft," she scoffed, turning up the wattage. "It's a great plan. I'll call Tanesa while Lina makes up the guest suite above the living room for us. You do whatever you need to do, I'll be busy finalizing plans for the graduation party tomorrow."
He gave her a quick kiss on the mouth and climbed into his truck. As she watched him drive off, she wondered what it would be like to be really engaged to Alex and have a lifetime with him ahead of her instead of just a week or two.
At the thought, worry stomped up and down along her nerves and she swallowed. No man had ever made her want those things before. She was afraid to know what it meant.
* * *
Alex pulled up in front of the Roseland mansion later than he'd hoped but still in time for dinner.
He'd made two stops on the way back from the ranch. One to report in to Ted and get intel on the guy they'd arrested as well as the 'nothing but a malfunction in the engine' cover-up. The other to pick up the item he'd ordered earlier in the week.
Distraction only went so far. With Mrs. Roseland breathing down his neck and the new threat from Jamison, Alex had decided that it was time to step up the game.
Had nothing to do with wishing Piper could be swayed to really go for him. Nothing at all.
In fact, he expected her to go ballistic over what he had in his pocket, and not in a good way, but he'd deal with that when the time came. At least any hysterics would happen in private. One thing he could count on, she didn't want her cover blown anymore than he did.
He grabbed his stuff and made his way toward the front of the mansion. Piper had texted him that afternoon that their room was ready, which told him that some of her things had been retrieved from the destroyed suite, including her purse. He wondered what explanation she'd given Lina for all the tools she'd been lugging around with her phone.
That was one advantage Piper had over most other people. The woman had a reputation for coming up with a never-ending list of crazy ideas and impulses. Any kooky explanation she gave would be accepted without a blink. It was one of the many things he treasured about her.
He was so screwed.
Above him, evening sifted through the sky, turning the air purple-blue and the clouds to pink. Lights all over the property blinked on, one after the other, in silent homage to the gathering night. Alex released a long, resigned breath and dropped his duffle next to the door.
He'd been fooling himself by thinking he could hide from his eminent destruction. His every thought, every feeling, betrayed what was in his heart. Like it, or not, he'd fallen deeply in love with Piper. Worse, he knew his feelings would never be returned.
Pushing the doorbell, he watched as shadows curled around the puddles of light scattered along the house. Loving her was a stupid, dangerous thing to have happened, but there it was. The chance of bad decisions and worse mistakes would hang over him now like the sword of Damocles. Yet, even with that, he felt as if he'd finally come alive.
The door opened and Lina blocked the entrance, a truly formidable sentinel. Her eyes narrowed as she studied his duffle and then him, reminding Alex of the last time he'd arrived at this door.
"Huh," she said, her gaze sharpening. "You look different."
"I showered," he said.
She studied him some more and he waited, fascinated to see what further brilliance the intrepid and crabby housekeeper might dish out.
"I shaved, too," he added when she didn't say anything.
To his astonishment, her mouth spread into a wide smile. "You have the look of a man in love. Bueno. You will make things right in this house."
Alex froze. "I don't understand." He made sure he sounded puzzled instead of terrified, but it was close.
"At least one of my girls has found love," she said, a gleam of approval in her dark eyes.
He shifted his gaze behind her and then back, hoping she'd get the hint and let him in. She didn't.
Instead, she stepped closer to him and reached up to give his cheek a firm pat—hard enough to sting. "Break her heart, and I'll kill you," she said.
Jesus.
Lina stepped back and gestured for him to come into the house. "They're about to have dinner. I set a place for you."
* * *
Piper knew Alex had arrived before she saw him. She told herself it wasn't because of any kind of emotional link between them or the tingle of awareness running down her back, but the way everyone's expression suddenly changed.
Danni got that mischievous, approving gleam in her eye, Mother looked like she was trying very hard to be happy to see him, and Carl glared like an old tiger who's spotted a younger, more virile cat sniffing around his trees.
Piper turned toward Alex and the awareness softened into a stunning tenderness that melted through her soul like warm honey. He stood in the doorway, thick dark hair shagging around his lean, strong face, faded jeans slung low on his hips, and his signature cowboy boots scuffed and well-used. He'd changed into a black T-shirt with a yellow happy face on it, the material hugging the flat planes of his chest and stomach and showcasing the strong muscles of his arms.
His light brown eyes locked onto her with an intensity that made her catch her breath. A sweet gladness swept through her.
"Do join us, Adam," her stepmom proclaimed regally. "We were just about to have dinner."
Alex broke from Piper's gaze and smiled at Mother. "Thank you, ma'am. That's very kind." He tossed his duffle down the hall where it landed out of sight with a dull thump.
"How are repairs coming along?" he asked in a polite tone as he settled into the chair next to Piper. Just the right thing to ask to get Mother talking, she thought with approval.
"The entire right wing requires all new windows, not to mention rectifying the mess inside the house. Horrifying. I shall have to redecorate, of course."
The heat of him touched Piper's arm, carrying with it the fresh smell of soap underlined with the dark, earthy scent that was uniquely Alex. Her stomach quivered and she nearly dropped the serving of ham she'd just taken off the platter in front of her.
"We're so relieved no one was hurt," Mother continued. "The shop is taking full responsibility, of course. As they should."
Piper shook off the affect Alex had on her and made an effort to focus on what her stepmom had just said. "Danni mentioned something about a problem with the Mercedes' engine?" she said, handing the platter to him. "What did she mean?"
"Everything was clean and sanitized by the time I arrived," Carl interjected smoothly as he patted Mother's hand to calm her. "But as I understand it, the whole event was nothing but an unfortunate malfunction."
"My car exploded."
A condescending smile touched his mouth. "I know very little about the workings of mechanical things, but according to the police one of the shop's newer mechanics crossed some wires when they were doing routine maintenance. It caused the engine to spontaneously catch fire."
Piper looked around the table in amazement. Everyone seemed fine with the explanation, but she knew better. Alex had said there'd been a bomb, and she trusted him to know about such things. They'd even run off into the woods because of it.
"Is that why you moved in?" Alex helped himself to several slices of ham. "To prevent any more crossed wires?"
Carl's gaze turned frosty. "Interesting how the accident coincided with your arrival, don't you think?"
"I made some inquiries into flower availability," Mother interjected quickly and a little too cheerfully.
"The trouble started long before I came along," Alex said as he studied the available side dishes spread across the table.
The older man's gaze narrowed on him. "What are you implying?"
Mother gave the men a strained smile. "Then I realized that you never told me when you'd like to get married."
"No implication. Just observation. Is that sweet potato casserole?" Alex snagged the bowl in front of him and started loading up his plate.
Mother's voice rose an octave. "One cannot go wrong with a June wedding, I always say. Even with only three months to accomplish it, I feel that I am quite up to the task of creating something amazing by June."
Open hostility glittered briefly in Carl's eyes. "Why are you here, Mr. Jensen?"
"The same reason you are. I'm protecting the woman I love."
A gasp of surprise caught in Piper's throat and she glanced at him as his words resonated through her. Hearing them, even as part of the subterfuge they had to play out, captured her heart and wrapped around it like a hug.
Carl leaned back in his chair, a smirk of triumph on his mouth. "So you claim. Unlike you, however, my intensions have always been honorable."
"Have they?" Without looking at her, Alex shoved a forkful of meat into his mouth.
A look of distaste skated across the older man's face. "Also unlike you, I deserve to be at this table."
"Sweetheart, what are you doing?" Mother whispered.
"Protecting this family, Lizzy, as I promised to do." Carl gripped the arms of his chair and leaned toward Alex. "I don't believe this man is who he says he is. I think he's here under false pretenses. Probably to get his hands on your business interests."
"This is amazing," Alex said around the mouthful of food.
"I think his interests lie beyond the obvious delights Piper has to offer—"
"Carl!" Mother said.
"And have more to do with the income of Roseland Enterprises. I think that Mr. Jensen is not here by accident."
Danni kicked Piper under the table and gave her a threatening "stop this" look.
She tried to pull her thoughts together to help redirect the unsavory dinner conversation, but her mind refused to cooperate. What if it wasn't an act? What if Alex really loved her?
Giving her an exasperated look, Danni plastered a firm smile on her face and beamed it at Alex and Carl. "As fascinating as it is to watch you gentlemen having your little pissing contest, you're spoiling my dinner."
She offered the bowl of spiced stewed apples to Mother, who hastily spooned some onto her plate. "Mother," Danni said brightly, "have you ordered invitations, yet? When Marcy Willard got married, everyone just raved about the invitations. I believe they used a company in England."
Piper stared at her food in shock. But he couldn't mean it, could he? Loving someone, really loving them was...big.
A scramble of noise at the front door caught everyone's attention. Danni and Mother looked up with a measure of relief as a woman's voice boomed through the house followed by nails scrabbling along polished wood.
Their obvious hope of reprieve was shattered as Nipper and Gooch burst into the dining room. Mother screeched as the animals launched themselves at Alex and Piper, tails waving enthusiastically, smiling doggie faces full of joy.
Piper pushed away her fears over Alex's feelings for her as relief filled her. From the way Gooch bumped against her leg begging for petting, she knew he was healing well.
Tanesa towered into the room just behind the dogs, the image of an African goddess in a flowing dark blue batik dress splashed with gold and white. A matching head wrap completed the stunning outfit. "I tried to stop them," she said in a breezy, mischievous tone, "but they've been beside themselves with missing y'all."
Tanesa's curious gaze traveled around the table. When it landed on Carl, the sparkle in her eyes dimmed, changing into puzzled suspicion.
Moving her attention back to Piper, she gave her a steady look. "Sorry to intrude, but we need to talk."
* * *
While she and Alex walked Tanesa to her car, Piper had a chance to get a grip on herself and the reality of the situation. Of course Alex's declaration was just an act. It had to be, and he'd done it because he'd been standing up for her in front of Carl. She'd be a complete jerk if she took his words seriously. The most they felt for each other after such a short time was a deepening friendship.
She should relax and appreciate the gesture, not make a big, dramatic deal out of it. Besides, from the look on Tanesa's face, she was about to give Piper something new to think about.
Her friend stopped at her car and gave Alex a frown of disapproval. "First of all, no more running off with Piper to protect her from a bad mechanic, got it? You almost jeopardized the graduation party."
"All the plans are in place," Piper reassured her. "The diplomas should have arrived at the spa yesterday for you to fill in the names. Decorators are due here tomorrow morning and the caterers come at three. When you arrive with the Ladies at five, everything will be ready."
"Uh, huh. Still didn't like it."
Piper laid a hand on Tanesa's arm. "I was fine."
The taller woman squeezed Piper's fingers briefly, then her expression settled back into its familiar aloof lines. She leaned against the car and stared at the house. "Second of all, who was that joker in there with your family?"
Piper glanced at Alex, confused. "Um, my stepmom's fiancé. Why?"
"Saw him before. Last night."
Beside her, Alex tensed. "How'd you know it was him?" he asked.
"A guy like that stands out in a place like Bulls. Oh, he was trying not to, all dressed in his Goodwill pants and tatty golf shirt, but you can't hide a six-hundred dollar haircut."
"Why would he be skulking around Bulls?" Piper wondered out loud, still not convinced Carl would ever deign to darken the door of a two-bit bar.
Tanesa shrugged as if to say 'who could guess what rich white fools might do.'
"He was talking with a man who looked familiar. Bald with big black-rimmed glasses. Goofy looking. Wasn't too interesting until they started arguing and I caught a few words."
She gave them an expectant look, but Piper just stared back at her. She had no clue what Tanesa was leading up to.
Her friend's mouth pinched up a bit and she rolled her eyes. "My buddy running the bar told me the goofy guy was Freddy Santos. The Freddy Santos. Here. In Houston."
"Wasn't he involved in a series of assassinations down in Florida?" Alex asked, his tone slightly bored.
Piper's stomach tightened and she gave him a sharp look.
"Accused, but not convicted since they couldn't trace the explosives," Tanesa said. "I know because when I got home, I looked him up on the Internet." Her eyes gleamed like she'd seen a celebrity. "Santos looked just like his picture from that court case. Probably why I recognized him."
"Wow," Piper said with appropriate awe that she hoped didn't hold even a hint of the concern spinning through her.
Tanesa looked satisfied that she'd made the desired impression. Shoving off of her car, she unlocked the door. "I thought you might want to know." She darted a glance at Alex as she got in.
"Of course," he said with an easy smile. "Women aren't the only ones who like gossip."
"They're the only ones who'll admit to it though," Tanesa countered. She gave them a final wave out the window and motored off.
Piper rounded on Alex. "What's going on?"
He stared after Tanesa's retreating Hyundai. "Could be something. Might be nothing." His gaze shifted to her. "I'll be gone most of tomorrow. Think you can keep an eye on Jamison for me? He might let his mask slip."
She made a sour face. "I'll do what I can, but I already have a full list. You'll owe me."
Alex pulled her against his chest with a quick, possessive tug of her wrist and brought his mouth within inches of hers. A thrill cascaded through her as he brushed his lips over hers. "I can live with that."