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  “Did you get ahold of Piper?”

  Christ Almighty. When did his personal life encompass this many people?

  “No, I did not,” he said, taking a seat beside her. “However,” he looked up and smiled, “I did talk to Duncan James and have a juicy tidbit that may satisfy you until the next installment of Piper-gate.” He reached for the platter of pancakes and bacon as he went on.

  “It seems Duncan’s twenty-one-year-old brother has gotten himself into some hot water,” Vance explained with a wry grin. “Duncan didn’t give me any details, but whatever the hell happened has his parents in an uproar. They’ve banished the kid from their summer community and have shipped him to Duncan for babysitting. Duncan’s law firm has no room for a new intern, so he was wondering if Evans & Evans could use another hand. I told him to bring him up. I figure if he’s a pain in the ass, we can stick him with Tansy. That ought to make the boy’s life a living hell.”

  “Now what in the world do y’all have against Miss Langford?” Hale asked.

  Vance waved off the question. “Never mind that,” he said, “because here’s the best part. Duncan’s brother’s name is…Jesse James.”

  A collective laugh erupted. “You’re kidding,” Genevra said.

  “No, and I swear to God I’m going to get the kid a gun belt and one of those cap guns that looks like a pistol from the wild-west and make him wear the damn thing. I’ve got a ninja and an outlaw working for me. Tell me this is not a great summer.”

  “Mmm, with a name like that,” Lolly said, raising her eyebrows while grinning at her mother, “I can’t wait to meet him.”

  “Well, as one who is quite familiar with scandal, I’m certain to make him feel right at home,” Genevra said.

  “We’ll put him in the guest room next to Davis,” Emelina suggested. “The two of them can embrace their inner outlaw while playing pool boy for me.”

  Vance tucked his tongue into the side of his cheek and eyed Brooks directly. “You see what’s going on here, don’t you? These three have yet to lay eyes on the kid, but because he has a bad cop name, they are all salivating.”

  “Which means you have your work cut out for you keeping the kid out of trouble,” Brooks said.

  Vance stretched his head from side to side. “I’ll put Pinks The Ninja on him. Seriously, you should see this guy’s moves,” he said, pointing to Davis.

  Lolly burst out laughing. When Davis and Vance threw her incredulous looks, she stopped. “You’re kidding, aren’t you?” she asked.

  “I’m a double black belt,” Pinks informed her. “So no. He’s not kidding.”

  “Davis,” Lolly said in a breathy that’s-amazing-you’re-my-hero voice.

  “Aaannnd we’re out of here,” Brooks declared, standing and dragging Lolly out of her seat. He threw her over his shoulder and smacked her on the butt, walking off as the table broke out into a round of chuckles.

  “The man knows how to handle his woman,” Vance laughed. “And since when is Pinks staying in the house?” Vance asked, looking at his intern.

  “Since I found him sleeping in his car just outside of the gate,” his grandmother told him.

  “My lease was up in Raleigh,” Pinks explained.

  “Geez, I was wondering how the hell you seemed to be on the job twenty-four seven. Okay. Jesse James bunks with you.” Vance looked at his dad. “This okay with you? Turning your place into a home for lost boys?”

  “If your grandmother is okay with it, I’m fine. Frankly, it’s a joy to have this place full of life for a change.”

  “Abuela?” Vance questioned.

  Emelina’s eyes sparkled. “Please,” she said, “it will be more fun than when Genevra’s brothers-in-law raided our wine cellar.”

  There was plenty to discuss over breakfast concerning Hale and Genevra’s upcoming nuptials. Labor Day weekend had been the original date, but now with Brody the baby bump due to make an appearance, the wedding had been pushed up to the third Saturday in August. An enormous tent would be erected right on the estate and everyone was given an array of assignments to pull off the gala event in just five weeks’ time.

  During the discussion, Vance checked to make sure his phone was turned on, hoping he’d have heard from Piper by now. The words, “Go home, Vance,” started to echo in his mind, making him edgy.

  In the middle of the lively discussion on how to best utilize Tansy Langford, one where Pinks seemed particularly full of ideas, Vance excused himself to place another call to Piper. He walked to the far side of the pool and stood off the patio, in the grass beneath the shade of a tree.

  Again her phone rang and rang. Eventually her voicemail picked up, forcing Vance to leave another message.

  “Piper. It’s me again. Listen, I really am sorry about the badge thing. Obviously it sets off a nerve with you—a nerve I don’t want to be associated with. I’m normally not much of a cop, but last night I guess I was being a little overprotective. I didn’t realize you knew King Kong—I mean, Officer Stevenson, so…Okay, again, I’d like an opportunity to talk to you in person, maybe over dinner tonight. Give me a call,” he said hanging up. He added an exasperated “I’ll be waiting,” after the fact.

  He wandered back to the table, shaking his head in the negative at the expectant faces.

  Three fucking hours later, Vance fought for control as he laid another message on Piper’s voicemail.

  “Ms. Beaumont. I had no idea who that guy was or why he was standing on your front porch,” he said. “What I did know is that he could have disabled you with one whack to the side of your head. So there was no way—in hell—I was leaving him outside your place with you in there alone and me on my way back to Henderson. If flashing my badge was going to help get him gone, I was happy I had it on me. Now, if you have an issue with me watching out for your welfare, then the two of us have a big problem. Almost as big of a problem as you not calling me back.” Vance flicked off his phone.

  He stood perfectly still, thinking.

  Never in all his thirty years had he called the same woman three times in one day.

  Hmm.

  When it came to women, he had more instincts in his pinkie than most men had in their whole damn body.

  Damn straight.

  After a few more moments, he nodded his head and said aloud, “Okay then. Bad Cop it is.”

  The Henderson Police Department had gone casual for many of their routine duties. Instead of the traditional uniform, the bike patrol and officers working certain community-related events could wear the Navy blue sports shirt with the department logo and a pair of khaki pants or shorts, depending on the weather. So Vance hadn’t actually had his full standard-issue cop getup on for a very long time. He stood in front of the mirror in his bathroom now, marveling at how adding more weight training over the last year had caused his uniform shirt to strain at the buttons running down his chest. It made him look like a fucking body builder—and kind of a tool.

  He turned from side to side, checking out his physique in the mirror. Eventually, he decided the body builder fit worked in this situation, enhancing the bad cop image he was going for. If he was going to be throwing his weight around, he may as well show it off, too.

  He borrowed a cruiser from the precinct lot. A completely AWOL move and one that would probably cost him dearly unless he could convince Dudley Do-Right—The Crown Prince of Henderson—to cover for him. It wasn’t like he and Brooks hadn’t pulled a few pranks over the years. He just hoped this one turned out well.

  Piper hadn’t answered her phone all day and he did his best to stay away from that thought as he drove into Raleigh. He refused to try her again, so when he pulled into her parking lot and found a spot up front facing the building, he simply got out and rang her bell.

  Again, no answer.

  He didn’t know what he expected, other than she’d actually have had the decency to call him back. So he sat in the cruiser and read Planning Local Economic Development: Theory and Pract
ice, one of the pile of books he and Brooks were reading to help them formulate a plan for economic prosperity in Henderson. He took notes, watched people come and go from Piper’s building, tried not to look at the clock too much, and then tried not to think about it being a fucking Saturday night at eleven o’ you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me p.m.

  He went over their conversation yesterday in his mind. There wasn’t just one guy she had to shake loose. There were three guys and…what had she said? One of them was complicated? Apparently pulling out his damn badge last night had nixed kicking these guys to the curb. Because it was becoming pretty fucking obvious that Piper was out with one of them now.

  Vance sat there incredulous. Stewing. Because when Pinks had suggested Piper may refuse to see him, he didn’t give it much consideration. She was his hologram, for Christ’s sake, and they had clicked on so many levels yesterday. But no calls back, and clearly she had plans tonight—

  Headlights shown quickly through the cruiser as a car pulled into the lot and parked several spaces down. Vance heard car doors slam and muffled conversation before a couple came into view, walking on the sidewalk in front of the building and now directly in front of him.

  Sure enough, Piper was being escorted by some average-sized asshole with long, blond surfer-dude hair. And she was smiling up at him. The dumb fuck was grinning from ear to ear, no doubt figuring he was about to get lucky.

  So not happening.

  Vance let them make their way onto the fateful porch steps where it all had gone to shit the night before. His finger was firmly planted on the boom-whoop button, which he hit the moment surfer boy settled both hands on Piper’s hips. For a single second, the lights flashed and the siren sounded, and Vance let himself enjoy the bottled-up glee that spouted forth when the stunned couple separated as if caught holding a stolen bag of cash. He exited the vehicle, puffed his chest out, and sauntered forward, digging down into the depths of his bad cop image.

  ***

  Piper had run into Officer Dash Stevenson at the grocery store earlier that day, and had seen him again just before cute-boy Danny had escorted her into Poole’s Diner for dinner. Since he’d given her a nod both times, she wasn’t particularly concerned. But she was ready to put her foot down at him showing up here and interrupting her date again.

  But the officer coming out of the dark wasn’t the big jughead. And Piper didn’t have to see his face clearly to know exactly who it was. She couldn’t say whether it was the curve of his biceps or the McDreamy cut of his hair, but she didn’t have to process his athletic stride to know that Vance Evans was back in Raleigh.

  And didn’t that just give her a thrill?

  She tried to stifle a smile as he approached, because really, this was an invasion of her privacy after all. And cute-boy Danny didn’t deserve whatever he was about to get. But watching Vance move forward slowly and deliberately, with that sexy smirk on his face that boded nothing but trouble, Piper felt her heart thump a little harder.

  I am in way over my head.

  Cute-boy Danny turned toward Vance and asked the inevitable question. “Problem here, Officer?”

  Vance stopped his approach with one foot on the bottom step, looking up at the two of them. “Well, I’d like to ask Ms. Beaumont a couple questions, if that’s all right,” he said. “Seems we have a communication problem.” He directed his gaze at Piper. “Your phone in good working order, Ms. Beaumont?” he asked, coming up the steps to the landing.

  “I’m-m, I’m not sure,” Piper stuttered, trying to remember the last time she handled her phone. “I’m—oh! I left it in my bedroom, charging this morning. Forgot to put it back in my purse when I ran out to do errands.” She felt herself smile as hopeful awareness dawned. She knew she was flirting—right there in front of cute-boy Danny—but she was so tickled with the thought that Vance had called her, she just couldn’t help tilting her head toward one shoulder and asking, “Did you try to call me today, Officer Evans?”

  “I did,” he confirmed, smiling back. “Three times. So you see, it was rather urgent,” he said, licking his lips and pulling himself back into cop mode. He turned toward Danny and held out his hand.

  “Vance Evans,” he introduced himself. “And you are?”

  “Danny Bruce.”

  “Where ya from, Danny?” Vance asked all friendly-like as he shook her date’s hand.

  “West Coast, originally,” Danny answered. “San Diego area.”

  “That right? Big surf out there?” Vance asked.

  “It’s pretty crackin’ most of the time.”

  Vance nodded his head, grinning. “Crackin’,” he repeated. “And what do you do around here?” Vance asked.

  “I’m a lacrosse coach at Carolina,” Danny said proudly.

  “Lacrosse?” Vance questioned. “Is that like…a real sport now?”

  When Danny drew his head back, looking perplexed, Piper stepped in. “Don’t mind Officer Evans, Danny. He played baseball at State.”

  “America’s favorite pastime,” Vance insisted, and then Piper watched him shake his head in surprise and turn a hundred-watt grin in her direction. “Why Ms. Beaumont, I had no idea you followed my career at State.”

  Piper looked to Danny. “Officer Evans and I were in fourth grade together,” she explained. “He’s practically my brother.”

  “I’m not her brother,” he told Danny.

  “Well, I mean, you’re like a brother to me,” Piper explained.

  “No. No,” Vance said obviously becoming a little irritated. “I’m nothing like a brother to you.”

  Piper shrugged. “You’re a little like a brother,” she insisted.

  “Danny,” Vance said, pulling out his badge and flipping it open. “I’m gonna have to borrow your date for just one minute. If you would hold on to this for me,” he said, handing him his badge. “We won’t be long.” He looked at Piper and said, “Ms. Beaumont? A word, please.” Vance’s arm stretched out to indicate the stairs.

  Piper smiled obligingly, stifled a giggle, and headed down the steps, following the walkway out toward the sidewalk. Vance caught up to her and grabbed hold of her upper arm, steering her to the left, out of Danny’s line of sight. When they came to a stop behind some large shrubbery, Vance gently turned her to face him.

  “Piper,” he said quietly, stepping in close and causing her to look up at him. “When you check your phone tonight, there are going to be three messages from me. And when you hear them,” he said, gently cupping her cheeks between his palms, “I want you to remember that this is what I was trying to say.”

  Piper saw him lean down, her eyes fluttering shut just before she felt his lips touch hers. Tenderly, he kissed her lips with exquisite slowness, such gentleness, as if she was precious and important, something to be savored and appreciated. As if there was nothing more enticing than the bow of her top lip or the plumpness of her bottom one. His kiss was delicate, unhurried, and full of emotion. She simply followed the flow of it, kissing him back, basking in the feel of his hands on her cheeks, the softness of his touch. Her entire focus was on the feel of him against her lips and face, until he drew his mouth over her cheek.

  “Cut Danny Boy loose,” he whispered against her ear, sending chills down her spine. “Call me when it’s done. Then come to Henderson for breakfast around the pool tomorrow.”

  He ducked his head and stepped back. His hands drifting from her cheeks to her shoulders and then down to her hands. He curled his fingers in between hers and pulled her forward, turning them back toward Danny. Before they came into view, Vance dropped her hand and straightened his shoulders.

  Piper followed along in a blissful daze. The unhurried tenderness of his kiss lingered on her lips, so potent she wondered if any evidence remained. She had to clasp her hands together to withstand the temptation of running her fingertips over her mouth.

  She wasn’t the least bit upset that Vance had told her to cut Danny loose. It was as if she’d been hypnotized by his kiss,
and his quiet suggestion was entrenched so deep inside there could be no fighting it. She watched as Vance retrieved his badge, said goodnight, slid inside the police car, and drove out of the parking lot.

  When she turned to Danny, she said the only thing she could think of. “He was right. He’s not anything like a brother.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Piper waited forty minutes to call Vance.

  “I have a confession to make,” she said.

  After several heartbeats, Vance said in a low and controlled voice, “I’m listening.”

  Piper took a deep breath and blew it out. “I really, really want to bake something in your father’s kitchen.”

  “You want to what?”

  Her words tumbled forth as she paced around her bedroom. “I was planning to camouflage this as a request to contribute to brunch tomorrow, but the truth is, from the moment I saw that gourmet kitchen with that La Cornue French range I haven’t thought about much else. I have this amazing cinnamon roll recipe that I make from scratch. I can bring everything I—”

  “You cook?”

  Piper had to pause a second to collect her thoughts. She honestly didn’t understand his question. “Of course, I cook,” she said. “But I’d rather bake. There’s something about rolling out dough or mixing up batter, decorating a cake—”

  “Piper!” Vance interrupted. “How long ago did Rock Surf leave?”

  “Rock Surf?”

  “Your date. Danny Boy.”

  “Oh,” Piper said, taken aback. “I don’t know. Pretty much right after you left, I guess.”

  Silence.

  “Vance?”

  “Piper,” he said quietly, “I asked you to call me after he left.”

  Piper blinked a couple of times before a slow smile dawned. She stopped pacing and sat down on her bed. “Officer Evans, were you worried that your persuasive skills hadn’t done the job?” she teased.

  “I almost turned around twice,” he admitted.

  Piper flopped onto her back, laughing. “I came upstairs, changed clothes, daydreamed about cooking in that kitchen, and then I listened to your messages. I’m sorry I didn’t pick them up earlier. Although….”