Page 108 of Hyde and Seek

Awesome sign.

Coming up next to me, Kase fixed himself a cup of coffee. “Didn’t know he was talking to her this week, did ya?”

“Nope.”

“Jake’s a dumbass sometimes but he’s nuts about you. He wouldn’t do anything with anyone else, especially not Chloe. You know that, right?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I thought differently.”

If I honestly thought Jake was cheating on me, I’d leave behind everything I had. Even if that meant going to my mother for a loan to replace it all, I wouldn’t bother sticking around to pack a single box.

Still, he’d lied to me. So while I wasn’t making a run for my car, I also wasn’t happily skipping across the hall to fool around.

“Nah, didn’t figure you would be.” Kase headed for the door before pausing. “Hey Pipe?”

“Yeah?” I looked over at him when he didn’t continue.

His dreads were pulled back and up for work. His work stained jeans were loose and hung way low from his hips. A white undershirt tank top accentuated his golden skin, colorful ink, and the strength in his body.

Rougher around the edges than most, he was blatantly male. There was a raw power about him that was impossible to miss.

But in that moment, I could almost forget he was the man he was. With his crystal blue eyes gleaming with feeling and vulnerability, I saw a kid, long ago lost.

A feeling of grief hit me as I looked at him, but I didn’t know why.

Kase cleared his throat. “What you said about us? The way you said it?Mahalo nui loa, me ke aloha.”

“That’s beautiful, but I don’t know what it means, sweetie.”

“Thank you very much, with love.” His voice was low, the feeling in it so immense that it was physical, like the tightest hug.

Before I could respond, Kase’s face lit with his usual playful smirk and his eyes glittered with humor. “And, Piper? You ever punch someone again, especially if you’re wearing killer heels and a short skirt, make sure I’m there to watch. That was hot!”

“No problem. That being said, don’t plan on it being anytime soon. My hand still hurts and it’s going to make cake decorating more painful than the usual cramps.”

He shook his head as he left the room. “A man can dream.”

*******

A few hours later, I loaded my van with cakes and one birthday pie, then left to make my deliveries. When I arrived at the first drop-off, I noticed my phone was blinking. I looked to see a missed call and an unread text, both from Jake.

Jake:Babe, where’d you go?

I was tempted to let him sit and wait, but games were never my thing.

Me:I’m making my deliveries. I’ll be back in a couple of hours to clean up.

Jake:You didn’t come say bye.

Me:You were working. I told you I wasn’t gonna be constantly around. I gotta get this cake in.

As I made my deliveries, I thought about the morning. I was fine with Chloe talking shit about me. The sooner she got it all out, the soonershewas out. I could handle it because I didn’t care about her or what she thought of me.

Obviously, her talking shit about the boys and Jake was a step too far.

I should’ve punched her again.

Felt freakin’ awesome.

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