“Come on, squirt.” Jax leaned down and hoisted Piper up into his arms. “Daddy has some things to do before his dinner guest arrives.”
“Can I help you cook?” she asked, her wide brown eyes searching his.
“Of course, but first you have to help me grocery shop.”
She clapped her hands. “I push the cart.”
“I’ll bring her back around five,” he told Jade and Melanie, who hadn’t stopped smiling since they’d ambushed their friend. “And pick Livie up then, too.”
“I can drive.”
“What kind of gentleman would I be if I let you drive to our date?” He ignored her growl and headed to the door. “See you later, ladies.”
What he wouldn’t give to hear those three women chattering once he was gone. But he had plans to make and he was pulling out all the stops.
As he put Piper in her booster, he recalled he was due at the hangar at nine in the morning to meet with Brock. Nothing he couldn’t push back for an hour or so, because Jax had a feeling he would be preoccupied come morning.
Chapter Sixteen
“You’re playing with fire.”
Jax snorted and put the casserole in the oven before turning back to Cash. “I sure as hell hope so. It’s been too long since I wanted a woman and I’m damn sure going to enjoy this.”
“You better make sure this doesn’t blow up in your face and affect the airport renovations.”
Jax stared out the kitchen window over the sink and watched Piper as she swung on the old tire swing. With a fenced yard, he wasn’t worried about her outside alone, but he always kept an eye on her. She’d made the dough and now it was in a bowl with a towel over it waiting to rise.
“I won’t let anything stop those renovations from going through,” Jax vowed. He turned around and rested against the counter. “They’ve come up with some great ideas, so I really think it’s on the right track. With those three women and all their business sense added with my determination, we’ll be fine.”
“I hear you’re getting ready to teach Brock Monroe.”
Jax nodded and crossed his arms. “He’s an impressive kid.”
“He and Zach were in the gym the other night talking about it.” Cash reached for his bottle of water and toyed with the label. “The women’s resort they have is really booming. You may want to consider working on a plan with them as well when the renovations are done. Maybe some package for travelers coming into the area.”
That was actually brilliant. “I’m impressed,” Jax stated.
His cousin flipped him the finger. “Just because I run a gym, doesn’t mean I don’t understand business in general. You always have to be thinking of ways to expand and grow.”
Jax and Tanner often teased Cash that swinging kettle-bells and flipping tires wasn’t a job, but Cash always threw everything back in their faces with some snarky remark. If they didn’t tease and crack on one another, there would be something wrong. They’d been through it all together and this next chapter in Jax’s life was just another step he’d take with his favorite guys backing him.
“I’ll discuss it with Livie,” he promised.
“Could you discuss before you two hit the dessert course?”
Piper burst in through the back door crying. Jax instantly crossed the room and crouched down to her. “What is it?”
She pointed to her knee while she wailed. “I broke it.”
Cash stood at his side as Jax examined the injury. A skinned-up knee, typical of summertime and playing outside. But he recalled being a kid and skinning his knees, usually while riding his bike downhill and falling off, so he knew how much this stung.
“I don’t think it’s broken, but we need to clean it up.”
She continued to cry, and Jax picked her up and carried her over to the center island and sat her down. “Cash, grab the first aid kit from under the sink in my master bath.”
He blew on her knee to take away some of the sting while he waited on Cash to get back. “How did you do this?”
Piper sniffed. “When I pushed off the tree, my foot slipped and I hitted my knee.”
Cash came back in and sat the kit next to Piper. While Jax carefully cleaned the area, Cash stepped up and started distracting Piper with his ridiculous, toddler-friendly knock-knock jokes.
Jax was thankful to have someone else here because it was times like this he needed the backup. Being a single father wasn’t the easiest, but it was definitely the most important job he’d ever have. Having Cash here, no matter how annoying the jokes were, was a blessing. Piper loved Cash and Tanner just as much as he did and in a way, they were one big happy family.
“There you go,” he told her as he placed the bright blue Band-Aid over her knee. “Good as new.”
Jax swiped her tears and picked her up, giving her a bear hug. “You want to help finish the bread or would you rather go watch a movie?”
Those little arms around his neck meant everything and he wished he could prevent her from ever crying. Tears absolutely gutted him.
“I’ll watch a movie with Cash,” she sniffed again.
Jax eyed his cousin over Piper’s head. Cash nodded.
“That’s fine, but we have to leave in an hour to take you to Livie’s house, so you won’t be able to watch the whole thing.”
Cash raised his brows. No need to tell him about the whole ambush sleepover. He didn’t need more attention on the topic of Livie Daniels.
“Come on, little one.” Cash rounded the island and took Piper from Jax’s arms. “You go in and pick out the movie and I’ll bring in some snacks.”
“I’m not allowed to have more cookies today,” she told him.
Cash nodded. “I’ll make sure we’re cookie-free.”
He sat Piper down and she raced toward the living room . . . apparently snacks, a movie, and a Band-Aid were a cure-all.
“There’s some fruit cut up
