Page 29 of Deserving Cora
Reese blushed. “Yeah, but—”
“She can stay with us,” Henley said firmly.
Alaska laughed. “As if staying with you and your pre-teen is any better.”
“Pipe said I could stay with him,” Cora cut in.
Everyone’s head swiveled to stare at her.
Then Alaska smiled. “Right. Then…that’s that.”
Henley tilted her head. “You’re not what I expected for Pipe.”
Cora did her best not to be offended by that.
“And please don’t take that the wrong way,” she added quickly. “I know it probably sounded bad, it’s just that Pipe is…rough around the edges. And he’s kind of quiet.”
“We aren’t together like that,” Cora said quickly, wanting to clear that up. “He’s just helping me find Lara.”
“Uh-huh, you go on telling yourself that,” Reese said. “I was only staying with Gus while my brother was here healing. And now I’m married, pregnant, and happier than I’ve ever been in my life.”
“We’re embarrassing her,” Alaska said. “Whatever’s between her and Pipe is just that, between the two of them.”
“I like his tattoos,” Cora mumbled, picking at one of her fingernails. “They make him seem tough…untouchable. Even though from what I’ve gotten to know of him so far, that’s not who he is.”
“You’re right, it’s not. He’s a teddy bear,” Henley agreed.
Robert burst out laughing. “No, he’s not,” he said.
This time, everyone turned to look at the cook.
“He’s not,” Robert insisted. “Just the other day, one of the guests was talking shit about a woman he saw in town. You know, doing what a lot of guys do…talking about her tits and how he’d like to ‘tap that.’ Pipe overheard and got all up in his face, told him he was being disrespectful and he needed to pack his shit and leave. Immediately.”
“Oh my God, isthatwhy that guy checked out early?” Alaska asked. “I tried to figure out if something was wrong, but he was all tight-lipped and wouldn’t say much.”
“Because Pipe scared the shit out of him,” Robert said with satisfaction. “That man isn’t someone I’d ever want on my bad side. You ladies might think he’s a teddy bear because he’s all nice to you and everything, but he’s actually a powder keg that’s two seconds from exploding…all it’ll take is the right spark.”
“Should I talk to him?” Henley asked, her brow furrowing.
“Lord, no!” Robert exclaimed. “If he wanted someone messing around with his brain, he’d have already talked with you.”
“I don’t mess with people’s brains,” Henley huffed, sounding offended.
“She’s our resident psychologist,” Reese said in a loud whisper to Cora.
She nodded, her attention stuck on the fascinating conversation around her.
“I’m just saying, if he’s on the edge as much as you seem to think, that’s not good,” Henley added with concern.
“Why do you think this place is here?” Robert asked. “We’realldealing with the demons in our heads. Love you, Henley, but when I’m ready for you to root around inside my brain, I’ll let you know. I’m sure Pipe’s the same way.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” Henley said, reaching across the table to put her hand on Robert’s arm. He patted it and smiled at the other woman.
The door to the kitchen opened, and Pipe stuck his head in. “Cora? You good?”
His concern was surprising. Glancing around, she saw Alaska was trying to hide a smile, Henley was looking at Pipe in concern, Reese was looking at Cora, probably trying to see if she was indeed all right, as Pipe was asking. Ryan was looking down at her phone, typing rapidly, and Robert had stood and was already halfway across the kitchen.
“Yeah,” Cora told him.
