The End of Us (Love in Isolation 3)

I finish my tea, then get up to put my cup in the sink. “You’ve been a good distraction and I’m not hurting nearly as bad, so I think I’m gonna try to go back to sleep.”

“Really? Guess that means you should talk to me about yourself more often,” she gloats.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I muse. “But I would like for you to go back to bed too. I won’t be able to sleep knowing you’re down here alone.”

She sighs. “Fine, if it’ll make you happy.”

Piper stands and walks up to me, merely inches away as if she can’t get close enough. I fight the urge to wrap my arms around her and properly thank her for listening. Even though I don’t like bringing up the skeletons in my closet, I don’t mind her questions. She’s never judgmental, always curious, and I adore that about her.

From the moment we met, I was attracted to her, but who wouldn’t be? She’s beautiful and even though she can be superficial, her bubbly personality is contagious. If I could let my guard down more, I know we’d get along well. But I’m not here to be her friend. I can’t get close and lose sight of what I was hired to do.

Perhaps if we’d met on different terms things could be different. But even then, Piper’s young and has her whole life ahead of her. The very last thing she’d need is some older damaged guy weighing her down.

“Good night, see you in the morning,” I tell her, motioning for her to go ahead of me.

As I follow her up the stairs, I can’t resist staring at her ass, and I think she knows it too. Her little pajama shorts barely cover her and she taunts me with every step she takes.

“Night,” she calls out as she goes to her room.

If I wasn’t already going to bed with a hard-on, the vision of her ass molded into my brain would’ve done the job.

“I can’t believe you can watch this over and over,” I grumble when the housewives get into another screaming match.

“You do too,” she retorts.

“Because I go where you go,” I remind her. I refuse to admit that the over-the-top drama is actually entertaining.

“You could be doing other things. Easton brought all those adult coloring books and magazines.” She snickers.

“Yeah, maybe I’ll save that for after dinner.”

Piper snorts. “It’s starting to feel like Groundhog’s Day. When are they gonna catch Jack so we can go back home?”

“That reminds me. I should call in. Be right back.” I stand, then go to the kitchen so I can talk to her dad in private.

“How is she?” Mr. Montgomery asks.

“Going stir-crazy, but overall, she’s fine. Do you have any updates?”

“I hired a new private investigator who questioned his co-workers and doorman and found out he hasn’t been at work or home in a week. They’re tracking his credit cards for movement, but so far, they haven’t located him. He’s assumed to be on the run or hiding somewhere.”

My heart drops, knowing it’s not the news Piper wants to hear.

“He could be anywhere right now,” I say.

“Correct. And until he’s arrested, Piper must stay hidden.”

“I understand, sir. I’m watching her every move and keeping the house secure.”

“Good. As soon as we’ve got eyes on him, I’ll let you know. He can’t stay under the radar forever.”

“Certainly hope not.”

After hanging up, I start dinner and think about what will happen once we’ve returned to New York. My living arrangements are only temporary, and as soon as Piper’s considered safe, I’ll be looking for another job.

“Something smells good. What are you cooking?” Piper comes up behind me as I stir the sauce.

“Creamy garlic chicken,” I reply, feeling her hot breath on my arm as she looks at the pan.

“Oh. I’ll make the veggies.”

Piper grabs a bag of broccoli from the freezer and pops it into the microwave. “Alright, well that was easy. Let me get the plates.”

I snicker at how she attempts to help since her burnt grilled cheese incident yesterday.

Once the chicken is out of the oven, I add it to the sauce and let it simmer.

“So what’d my dad say?” she asks while setting the table.

I repeat everything he said, and she blows out a frustrated breath.

“If Jack’s as techy and smart as you say, he probably knows how to stay off the grid while trying to track me down. Wouldn’t it just be faster to lure him here and catch him with some extra backup? Then he can be arrested, and I can go back to living in the twenty-first century.”

“Afraid not,” I tell her. “We can’t risk that. He could kill you before he’s captured.”

“If he wanted to hurt me, he could’ve at Kendall’s wedding. He had no weapons,” she states. “Maybe he’s just using scare tactics to get my attention?”