Chapter 23

When I arrived at Chloe and Trent’s the following morning, Isach’s car was in the driveway. With any luck, I’d get the chance to talk to him alone before he left for his honeymoon. I knocked once and let myself in—Chloe said I had an open invitation to come over whenever I wanted, and I admittedly took advantage of that quite a bit. I’m pretty sure she extended that offer because she felt sorry for me, but I never really let myself dwell on that too much.

I walked in to find Piper in the kitchen. She wore a powder blue, long sleeve shirt that stopped just above the waist of jeans that molded to every curve, offering a tantalizing peek at a small strip of bare skin. The mere sight of her caused everything in me to shift back into place, and the edginess I’d felt this morning vanished. Just being in her presence satisfied me, though I desperately wanted so much more.

The smell of a too-hot skillet wafted around her. Butter sizzled, and smoke billowed in front of her. She waved her hand in front of her face and coughed. She was clearly trying—and failing—to cook something. Closing the door softly, I crossed the length of the house in a few long strides.

“What’re you burning?” I asked.

She sliced a look at me, not at all surprised to find me here. She probably heard me come in. “I thought it would be nice to make breakfast for everyone. You know, to say thanks to Chloe and Trent for letting me stay here, and to say goodbye to Isach and Abby before they leave for their honeymoon.”

The frustration etched across her face tugged at something deep inside me. Then again, everything about Piper tugged at some part of me, and I was powerless against her effect.

“Your pan is too hot.” I reached in front of her to turn off the burner and set the pan on a different one that wasn’t in use. “You want the butter to melt but not sizzle and turn brown.”

“What do you know about cooking?”

Not one to pass up the chance to show off, I winked, pushed my shirt sleeves to my elbows, and gently nudged her hip with mine. “Watch and learn, sweetheart.”

“Sweetheart?” An air of annoyance seeped through her tone. “Guess I can add patronizing to your list of charms.”

I smirked. “Add master chef and sex god while you’re at it.”

“Right.” Piper rolled her eyes. “You’re going to teach me to cook pancakes?”

She propped one hand on the counter and planted the other on her cocked hip. Then, she raised a single brow, her mouth curving into a disbelieving grin. Her entire demeanor right now was like a punch straight to the heart.

I took a moment to let my gaze rake down the length of her, and she stood perfectly still as if she wasn’t the least bit bothered by my visual perusal, but I heard the way her heart fluttered, the way her pulse kicked up a few notches. She might have a hell of a poker face, but she couldn’t hide the truth from me.

“Yes, I’m going to teach you how to cook pancakes,” I said after a moment. “Where is everyone?”

“Trent and Chloe are in the nursery with the girls. Abby and Isach are packing, and Sophie’s in the shower.”

I stiffened at the mention of Sophie. Had she told Piper about our conversation last night? I wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to ruin a perfectly decent morning, so I did something I didn’t do often—I kept my mouth shut.

“You look confused. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” she teased.

Opening the window above the sink to help eliminate some of the smoke, I said, “I told you. Watch and learn.”

I busied myself with washing and drying the skillet. Then I gathered the ingredients, poured pancake mix into a bowl, and added water. I loathed boxed mix, but I didn’t have time to make them from scratch, and I was fairly certain the ingredients I needed to do so weren’t stocked in this house. I handed the bowl and a whisk to Piper.

She stared at me. “I thought I was watching and learning.”

“The best way to learn is to do.” I held the bowl out to her. “Now, start mixing.”

Piper took the bowl. “Such a bossy vampire this morning.”

“Would you prefer the cranky vampire?” I smiled sweetly. “Or I can try for patronizing again.”

She took a moment to ponder my question, and I couldn’t stop from laughing. She grinned. “Cranky Jax is fun to poke at,” she said. “But this Jax”—she waved the whisk in my direction—“he’s just a lot of fun to be around.”

Her compliment warmed me from the inside out. “I’ll keep that in mind. Now, stir.”

She stuck her tongue out at me, and I groaned. I wanted nothing more than to kiss her, and I couldn’t, for some unknown reason. Finally, she began to stir the mix, and while she did that, I turned on the burner, setting the heat to low. I dug around in the fridge for some fresh blueberries, then I moved to the cabinet to retrieve the bag of chocolate chips Chloe kept hidden behind the bowls.

“Done.” Piper set the bowl on the counter. “Now what?”

I glanced at the mixture to find it was a little lumpy. I added a touch more water and handed the bowl back to her. “Keep mixing.”

She sighed as if stirring the pancake mix was the worst job in the world, but she did it without any real complaint. I turned on the oven to the lowest warming temperature and set two baking sheets on the racks.

I moved the skillet to the heated burner and plopped a chunk of butter on it.

Piper watched the butter melt and spread across the pan, then she looked up at me. “It’s not sizzling.”

“It’s not supposed to.” I took the bowl from her and used a small measuring cup to scoop the mixture onto the skillet. “Like I said, it’s all about keeping the temperature just right.”

“Hmm.” She propped her hand on the counter and drummed her fingernails.

“What?”

“I find it… ironic that you can so easily regulate temperature while cooking when you yourself are always so hot.”

I jerked my head around to look at her. “Is that your way of telling me you think I’m hot?”

Laughing, she shook her head. “C’mon, Jax. Don’t act so surprised. Everything about you runs hot. You’re explosive. You have to know that.”

This wasn’t the first time I’d been told I was hotheaded and impulsive, but my gut was telling me she didn’t mean it quite like that. I could either pry for an explanation, or I could have a bit of fun. I closed the small distance between us, and she tilted her head back to see my face.

“I guess the only question now is, can you handle the heat? Or are you too afraid to get caught in the blast?” I asked, my voice and words a clear challenge.

She patted my chest, and that one small touch was enough to make me want to drop to my knees and beg for more. “Believe me. I can handle the heat. Probably a lot better than you. But there won’t be any explosion.”

“And why’s that?”

Dragging both of her hands up my chest, she clasped her fingers at the back of my neck, rose up on her tiptoes, and whispered in my ear, “Because I know how to diffuse you.”

She was an expert at lighting my fuse, too, but I kept that to myself. No reason to give her any more power over me than she already possessed.

I clutched her waist, holding her to me. “Prove it.” My voice was a husky rasp. “I dare you.”

She chuckled softly, her breath tickling my ear, and I flexed my hands on her hips. Slowly, she released me and eased back. “Vampires aren’t very patient, are they?”

“Not when it comes to dealing with witches.” Winking, I turned my attention back to the stove. I could play the hot and cold game just as well as she could. “The secret to cooking fluffy pancakes is all in how you flip them. Slow and easy. Like this.” I demonstrated how, then handed Piper the spatula. “You try.”

Stepping in front of the stove, she jammed the spatula under a pancake and flipped it hard and fast. Some of the batter splattered.

“You’re rushing.” I moved to stand so I was almost behind her. I’d never stop being amazed at how perfectly she fit against me. She had to know it, too, didn’t she?

Resting one hand on her hip, I took hold of her hand that still gripped the spatula. “Ease it beneath the pancake.” I guided her hand forward, keeping my hold firm so I could let her feel the speed at which to move. “Nice and slow. Just like that. Now, keep it poised close to the skillet and gently turn it over. Set it down. Don’t drop it.” I eased my hold on her hand, and she followed my instructions with the last un-flipped pancake on the skillet. “Good,” I said.

She shifted, her body brushing against mine, and then she turned her face just enough to see mine, and her lips damn near grazed mine. I groaned. Our gazes met and held for the span of only a heartbeat or two, and then her eyes lowered to my mouth.

“You’re not playing fair.” My voice was strained with need. “You put the “no kissing” rule in place, and now you’re staring at me like that’s all you can think about doing.”

“Because it is all I can think about,” she whispered, and her confession slammed into me.

“Then do it.” I nearly snarled the words, my desire and frustration getting the better of me.

“I can’t.” Her gaze dropped even lower.

I gently lifted her chin, so she had no choice but to look at me. “Why?”

“It’s com—”

“Do not finish that sentence,” I warned. If I heard “it’s complicated” one more time, I’d lose my shit and erupt, and there would be no diffusing me.

“I thought it would be easier for me, that I could get through my stay here and not want to kiss you, but…” She sighed. “It’s all I can think about.”

I rested my forehead to hers. “Then for the love of God, put me out of my misery and give us what we both want.”

“I wish it were that simple.”

“But it’s not, because it’s complicated, right?” With a huff, I let go of her and kept my attention on cooking breakfast.

After a moment, she laid her hand on my arm. “I’m sorry.”

“The least you could do is explain why.”

I didn’t look at her as I transferred the cooked pancakes from the skillet to the warmed oven. Then, I spooned another batch onto the pan, set the bowl on the counter, and snatched the spatula. I gripped the plastic handle so tight I nearly snapped it in half.

“I gave you my word I wouldn’t kiss you, and despite being a cranky, patronizing vampire, I always keep my word.” I eased the spatula under the edge of a pancake to see if it was ready to be flipped. Not quite. “I think it’s only fair you explain why.”

“Will you take me out tonight?” she asked.

“Are you asking me to take you on a date?” I glanced at her from the corner of my eye.

“Well, clearly, you’re not going to ask me yourself, so… yeah.” She shrugged.

“Didn’t I? I mean, I did ask you to spend these next few days with me.”

“Nice try, but asking me to spend time with you is not the same as asking me out on a proper date.”

I couldn’t stop my lips from curving into a smile. Setting the spatula on the counter, I once again turned to face her. “If I ask you out, will you finally give me some answers?”

“Yes.”

I nodded. “Okay. I’ll think about it.” I turned back to the stove. “You should set the table. These will be ready soon.”

Her huff of indignation was so forceful she could’ve blown the house down as if she were the big bad wolf and I was the little piggy she was trying to get to. I cleared my throat to stop from laughing. She shoved by me, bumping my arm at the exact moment I was attempting to flip a pancake. It splattered everywhere, and I cursed. She tossed me a flirty smirk that dared me to do something about it.

As she moved behind me toward the cabinets to gather plates, I caught her around her midsection and spun her into my arms. She yelped with surprise but didn’t try to pull away.

“Go out with me tonight.”

“Was that supposed to be a question? Because it sounds an awful lot like a demand.” She rested her hands on my biceps like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”

“Easy is boring.” Her eyes twinkled with delight. “Besides, someone needs to teach you some manners.”

I let out a surprised laugh. “Fine. Piper, will you go out with me tonight?”

“Yes.” She patted my chest. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

Not so hard? Nothing about this girl was easy, which wasn’t a bad thing. What did it say about me that I loved how she made me work for it?