“No problem.”
“I’m sneaking out before Preston realizes I’m leaving. Thank you!”
And then she was gone, leaving Piper alone with her thoughts and the two-year-old she was relying on to distract her.
Preston was being way too quiet. Always an ominous sign with a toddler. He’d either fallen asleep or was getting into trouble. Heading back to his room, Piper heard him happily babbling to himself. Not asleep then.
She pushed the door open. “Who you talking to, Pres?”
His little face brightened and he clapped his hands. “MyPie!”
A figure unfolded from the chair in the corner. “Piper.”
Myles had crossed the room, tugging her roughly into his arms almost before she finished her eep of surprise. He held her tightly, his face buried in her hair, and all she wanted to do was burrow in and cry.
“Don’t.” The word came out sharper than she intended, as much a reminder to herself as an order to him.
He stiffened and let his arms drop.
Because she didn’t trust herself, Piper scooted out of his reach, moving to scoop up Preston.
Using the toddler as a shield. Real brave move there.
But maybe with the child between th
em, it would keep the harsh words to a minimum. For now, at least.
Myles stood where she’d left him beside the bedroom door. Now that she got a good look at him, she could see the two-day growth of beard and the shadows around his eyes. His cheeks stood out in sharp relief and the nurse in her couldn’t resist asking, “Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m not ill, if that’s what you mean. I didn’t sleep last night. I was too busy wracking my brain, trying to figure out why you’ve reverted to the role of Betty Haynes.”
“Excuse me?” Whatever she’d expected him to say, it wasn’t that.
“Did you think I wouldn’t recognize it after spending months watching you play it in White Christmas? I know you better than that.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She found out something that upset her, and instead of staying and dealing with it, she ran all the way to the Carousel Club in New York. You did the same thing, except instead of me catching up with you at the train station and at least getting a half-as—” He shot a glance at Preston. “—half-baked explanation, you moved out. Without a word. I mean, I guess I’ve been playing Bob, the clueless schmuck, so maybe it fits. But you had me worried sick about you, Piper.”
“Why?”
He stared at her. “Why was I worried sick when I came home to find my wife had apparently left me? Why do you think?”
To protect your investment. The words clogged in her throat. “I want to hear you say it.”
“Why on Earth should I have to state the obvious? Haven’t I made it clear?” His voice was full of annoyed frustration.
But he hadn’t made it clear. Not truly. And if she was going to walk away, she needed to know for certain, or she’d wonder for the rest of her life. “I need the words, Myles.”
Chapter 17
She doesn’t know.
The realization slammed into Myles as he took in sight of her clutching the child, shoulders hunched against an expected a blow, an expression of resignation and dread on her face. Gram had said as much, but he hadn’t believed her. After everything he’d done, he hadn’t thought it possible that Piper didn’t know that he loved her.
She must’ve been squeezing Preston too tight. He began to squirm, little arms shoving at her to let him go. Piper’s face spasmed at that, as if that rejection was too much. But she set him on the floor, where he went back to his Duplo blocks.
Myles stepped around the pile of blocks and reached for her, trying to ignore the whip of pain at her flinch. “Piper, I was worried because I love you.”