As she lay there in the water, up to her chin, she thought she really shouldn’t help Reese with choreography anymore. Being pregnant and on your feet all day and dancing on top of it all, she found her body was aching in every spot imaginable. She wouldn’t say it was painful, but she sure felt all of her muscles talking to her. She thought maybe this glorious bath was what she needed. With a sigh, she hit the jet button on the tub and as the force of the water hit her sore spots she sat back and smiled.

This was the life.

* * *

The next day was jam-packed with events. It turned out Erik donated money to a lot of good causes, which honestly surprised her. They had already gone to three benefits, at which they were treated like royalty. One was for disadvantaged kids who wanted to play hockey, another was for homeless children, and the last was for abused children. That was the other thing that amazed her: Each of his charities was for kids. When she tried to comment on it, he shrugged his shoulders and said it wasn’t a big deal. But Piper thought otherwise.

They got back to the hotel two hours before they had to leave for the awards, just enough time for a quick nap. Piper fell onto the bed and closed her eyes, letting exhaustion overtake her. Erik chuckled as he fell onto the other side before turning the TV on. She was surprised he had lain down beside her since he had slept on the couch the night before. Instead of analyzing the situation, she cuddled deeper into the sheets; she was too tired to think about it anyway.

She really didn’t feel like getting up to get ready, but she knew she had to. She wanted to look perfect. With a grumpy sigh, she sat up and wished she could lie back down.

“What are you about to do?” Erik asked, his eyes on the TV.

“I’m going to start getting ready. I’ve got to curl my hair and do other crap,” she whined.

He shook his head. “I hired the same salon who is doing Elli’s hair and makeup. They won’t be here for an hour, so you could actually go to sleep if you wanted.”

Piper blinked twice and wanted to scream out in delight. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him loudly on the cheek. He froze, but when she whispered “Thank you,” she could feel his face move into a smile as his hand came to rest on her thigh.

“I know you’re tired; take a nap,” he said.

“Thank you, really,” she answered as she cuddled back into the pillows.

“It’s no big deal,” he muttered as he leaned back into the bed. She watched him for a moment. She wanted to cuddle into him, hold his body as she fell asleep, but she was pretty sure she’d crossed the line when she hugged and kissed him.

When he glanced down at her, he raised a brow. “What?”

Piper smiled. “I like the way you look.”

He chuckled as he looked back at the TV. She closed her eyes but when he said, “I like the way you look, too,” her heart kicked up a beat. Only two days into this trip and they were getting more comfortable around each other and also a little flirty. Was it real? Would it last?

She was learning so much more about him, her husband. He had so many different sides to him, and she couldn’t understand why he wanted to hide the good with the bad. She had always thought he had a good side to him, and after today seeing how he interacted with the kids at the charity events, she knew it was true and she wanted him. Badly. But no matter his sweet words, and his flirty smiles, she couldn’t sleep with him; she just couldn’t because she was sure that was all he wanted from her. She had to listen to the logical side of her brain. Too bad Piper really didn’t pay much attention to that part.

She was pretty sure that side was what got her in trouble the first time.

* * *

Piper felt like a million bucks.

After being brushed and polished to perfection, she almost didn’t recognize the girl who looked back at her in the mirror. Her hair was done in beautiful curls that were brought to the side so they cascaded down her shoulder. The girls who did her hair and makeup were in heaven when they saw how much hair she had, and boy, did they know how to work with it. Her makeup was dramatic but classy. The dress, though—that was money well spent. It was a heart-stopping, soft peach, strapless fitted minidress that came to the middle of her thighs. A sparking belt of diamonds came under her breast, highlighting her little tummy. Piper paired the dress with a pair of open-toe mint heels, which she had to admit looked amazing.

When she came out of the bathroom to find Erik leaning against the wall watching TV, breathing wasn’t an option. He wore a fitted black suit that hugged every part of his delectable body, and a mint-green bow tie. He had shaved, leaving a five o’clock shadow that drove Piper insane. When he turned and his eyes met hers, she was sure she was going to pass out from lack of oxygen. He smiled appreciatively as he turned off the TV.

“I really like the way you look in that dress,” he said, his eyes caressing her body.

Piper smiled shyly, smoothing down the dress around her belly. “I don’t look superfat?”

Erik shook his head, his eyes never leaving hers. “No, not at all.”

The air was crackling around them, and she felt her resistance to this man quickly going out the window. He was standing there, looking like Mr. Sexy GQ in his suit and it just wasn’t fair. She was pretty sure he was thinking the same thing. They didn’t need to go to the awards, no; they needed to have sex.

Dirty, lusty, fun sex.

Looking up at the ceiling while biting his lip, he asked, “You ready?”