Smiling, he said, “No more fighting, okay?”

“Do I have a choice?” she asked sadly, and his smile fell.

He didn’t want her to feel trapped; that was the last thing he wanted. He knew she wouldn’t be happy about this, but couldn’t they just get along?

“You do; you can leave at any time, but I hope you don’t. I need your help. I’m sorry for everything—the prenup, not kissing you, and the dinner thing—but this is who I am. I don’t want you to get confused and do something like fall for me. I want this to be an easy break after the baby’s born. I want us to be friends. I want to try to be a good father at the end of this even though being a father is the last thing I ever wanted. I know it’s a lot to ask but I need you to help me out, too.”

She glared as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I’d rather stab you in the eye with a broken hockey stick.”

He held his hand out to her.

“God, I’m so glad I married you; now come here, sweetheart.”

She didn’t move. She only shook her head and snapped, “Don’t call me that.”

Taken aback, he asked, “Why? It’s what husbands call their wives.”

Piper looked away.

“It’s what you called me that night, and I don’t ever want to hear that word come out of your mouth ever again unless you truly mean it. So call me something else, if you must.”

Erik had to look away as he cursed himself for this. He never had pet names for females, and the only reason he had called her sweetheart was because Cooper called Alla that. He didn’t even realize he had called her that before.

Closing his eyes, he took hold of her hand and brought her to him.

“Darling,” he said softly as he opened his eyes to her wide ones.

Her stomach pressed against his groin and he wished he hadn’t pulled her to him. The simple touch had his body on fire, and he wondered if she felt the same. The way she was glaring at him made him think she didn’t.

“We are going to be okay. We are going to make it through this.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“I know so. We just have to work together on this,” he said, his arms tightening around her waist.

It was as if he wasn’t even in control of his body. He wanted to push her against the car and ravish her, but he knew he couldn’t. Plus, he was pretty sure she might try to kick him in the balls if he tried. Her eyes were searching his, and his mouth itched to be pressed against hers. She made him want to do the naughtiest things imaginable.

Oh, this was so bad.

“Okay, can you let me go now?”

Looking up from her mouth into her eyes, he nodded, moving away from her. She started walking up the drive, and he followed close behind to Jakob’s house. Their driveway was filled with cars, making Erik wonder if they were late. Piper reached the porch and waited for him as he climbed the steps. Simultaneously they each took in a deep breath as Piper reached for the doorknob. Looking back at him, she opened the door and entered the house.

Erik only hoped that he made it out alive.

* * *

Piper was still rattled from her spat with Erik, but her rapid heartbeat wasn’t from the fight; it was from how close he held her. It had been so long since she had been in his arms like that, and seeing the lusty look in his eyes didn’t help any, either. She wasn’t sure if she was imagining it, but either way her heartbeat was erratic and her panties were drenched with want for him.

Which was another thing that made no damn sense!

“Erik,” Alla gushed as she wrapped her arms around him.

Piper watched as he closed his eyes and embraced his adoptive mother. Seeing him with his family was how she knew he wasn’t the guy he was trying to portray. For the last two years they’d been at family gatherings together and Erik had never been like what the tabloids said he was. He loved these people and he loved Ally, their niece. Time and time again she’d seen who the real Erik was, so why the façade? What was he trying so hard to hide? Because the more he tried, the more it wasn’t working and it would only be a matter of time before everyone else saw, too.

As he parted from Alla, Erik glanced back at Piper and she knew right then that the reason she put up with his crap was that she loved him. The more she thought about her unreasonable support of this man, the more sense it made—she had been hopelessly in love with him. Gah, was she crazy? She must be, because if she told anyone how she felt about this guy they wouldn’t friggin’ believe her.

She held Erik’s gaze until Cooper wrapped him up in a backslapping hug and said, “Good to see you, son. Real good.”

Erik chuckled.

“It’s so good to see you, Piper!” Erik’s mom greeted her with enthusiasm—boy, wait till she hears the news.… For the longest time Piper thought that Alla was their real mother, but Erik had talked a lot about his family when they’d spent the night together and had told her he and Jakob were adopted. Piper had never expected that. They favored Alla so much probably because Erik’s real mom and Alla were sisters. Alla had dark hair like Erik’s and it was styled in a cute pixie cut. Her eyes were dark brown and very exotic looking and she had a bright smile that resembled Erik’s. Alla was a bit on the tall side, but beside her giant of a husband she looked tiny.

Cooper was such a great guy and Piper knew he loved Erik unconditionally. They were never blessed with children of their own and made up for it by loving Erik and Jakob all the more. It was refreshing but also unnerving because Piper had no idea how Alla was going to handle Erik and Piper being married and pregnant.