Blue Lines: The Assassins Series: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance Read online

  “I see you moved in pretty well.”

  Piper let out a startled shriek before turning to see the culprit. Harper smiled as she came over to hug her tightly. The fact that Piper didn’t hear her coming down the dock really proved how deep in thought she was. The house was in a secluded area with a huge yard and trees, so it was easy to get lost in time while enjoying the beautiful day.

  Putting a smile on her face, Piper contemplated if now was the time to tell her sister about the baby. Fortunately she had worn a huge T-shirt over her maternity shorts this morning, thus hiding the bump of her belly.

  “Yeah, the house was pretty much done when I moved in—all I needed were my things and a few other odds and ends. Fortunately it all fit in the truck. I did bring those gray sofas from the apartment, though. Dad brought those over …,” she answered with a shrug. In reality she should have burned one of those sofas.

  “Really, so everything’s good? I’m still surprised you moved out here.”

  “Yeah,” she answered, “I needed to. I wasn’t getting any drawing done in Nashville, and since I moved here I’ve already finished three pages for Emmaline’s book. Being by the lake is so beautiful and inspirational.”

  Harper smiled and said, “That’s great.”

  Nodding, Piper assured her sister, “It is. I really love it here.” Then she asked, “By the way, where’s Ally?”

  “With Jakob. I needed to talk to you without her little butt distracting us.”

  Piper frowned, wondering if Elli could have already told Harper about the pregnancy. “What about?”

  “Well, first, I need to know if you’re still coming for dinner this weekend. Jakob’s parents are coming to town. Mom and Dad will be there, too, and Reese, if I can pull her out of that damn studio.”

  Oh, shit. Piper had totally forgotten. Everything was getting so complicated. She loved Alla and Cooper, Erik and Jakob’s parents. They were fantastic people, and both thought very highly of Piper, but what would happen when they found out that another Allen woman was having one of their grandchildren? Not only that, what were Piper’s parents going to think? Oh God, it was all getting so stressful, and the more she waited the worse it got.

  Pulling her thoughts quickly back to the conversation, she nodded and said, “Sure.”

  “Good. I think if Erik can get his dick out of all those females he’s been chasing, he might show up, too. I’ve been so disgusted with him lately. Have you seen what’s been in the tabloid magazines and all over the Internet about him?”

  Fortunately, her family knew nothing about her previous relationship with Erik, nor of her ongoing infatuation for the man.

  She knew what Harper was talking about since she had seen everything the trash rags were saying about him and it wasn’t good. Apparently since leaving Piper’s bed, Erik had jumped on anything that had a vagina and legs. He went from supermodels to actresses to country music stars. Piper couldn’t remember the last count, but she knew at least two women had come forward saying he was the father of their babies. It was crazy and disgusting and something was seriously wrong with Piper because she still loved him.

  Sad but true. The Erik she was with that night was nothing like the Erik that was whoring about. Something was going on with him, she was sure of it. There was a reason for all of his escapades, because she knew there was a good person in him. She’d seen it firsthand. Piper refused to believe she was just a complete and utter idiot.

  Turning her attention back to Harper, she caught the last bit of what her sister said: “Not only is he making the team look bad, but he is making Jakob look bad, too. He needs to clean up his act.”

  “Yeah,” Piper agreed.

  Piper looked out at the lake, wishing like hell they were talking about anything but Erik.

  “Anyway, the whole family under one roof, it’s bound to be a great time.”

  Piper cringed. “Loads,” she said.

  Harper smiled as she looked out at the lake. “I always did love this view. I’m glad Elli is letting you stay here.”

  “She said I could buy it from her if I wanted to. With having the twins now, and of course after building their new beautiful five-thousand-square-foot mansion, she said they’ve outgrown it.”

  Harper nodded and smiled at the mention of her best friend’s newest additions. Piper was excited for Elli, too; hell, everyone was. But that poor woman had been pregnant for three years straight. Her husband, Shea Adler, captain of the Assassins hockey team, the same team Elli owned and managed, wanted a huge family. And boy was he getting one. They now had two beautiful girls and handsome twin boys. They were very blessed and living in total bliss. Piper could only hope that one day that would happen for her. At that moment, it didn’t look like it could.

  What Elli and Shea had, Piper wanted with Erik. She wanted to marry him and have more of his children. But the way he was acting now, marriage was not a possibility—he was acting like a douche and she just didn’t understand it. He was known for having a wild side but after their night together it looked as though he’d amped up his waywardness even more.

  Piper was usually a happy person, but lately it made her sad to think that her child was bound to grow up without knowing his or her biological father. Sure, Erik would probably come and visit every once in a while, but he wouldn’t be there like a full-time dad would. He wouldn’t be there in the morning to play, or at night for bedtime. It was heartbreaking to think about, but she had known this when she decided to keep the baby.

  The way Erik was acting, he probably wouldn’t even own up to being the father, let alone have an interest in his child. How sad was that?

  “That’s good,” Harper said. She looked over, meeting Piper’s sad gaze. “Are you okay?”

  “Sure, I’m just tired,” Piper said quickly, waving her off.

  “Hmm, okay,” Harper said, eyeing her the way only an older sister would. Her face changed after Piper guessed she was satisfied with the lie, then Harper said, “I need to ask you something.”

  “Okay?”

  Harper looked down and then out to the lake again. She took in a deep breath as if preparing herself for what she was about to say, “The doctors have told me that I need to stop trying for a baby.”

  Harper wanted another child very badly, and Piper wished that it could have worked out for her, but after five miscarriages it wasn’t looking as if it was going to.

  “I’m so sorry, Harper. How are you holding up?”

  Harper shrugged her shoulders. “Not good, but Jakob said we could adopt if I wanted, or get a surrogate.”

  Piper smiled. Jakob was amazing. “That’s awesome, Harper!”

  “Yeah, I want you to do it,” she quickly blurted out.

  Piper stilled. “Excuse me?”

  Harper smiled, turning to her before placing her hands on Piper’s shoulders. “I want you to have our baby. You are the perfect person. I trust you. You are home all day now with your new job, and you take great care of yourself. I don’t want a stranger having my child: I want you. I want someone I can trust.”

  Piper could only blink as she looked up at her beautiful older sister. How could this be happening? Here she was having the hardest time figuring out a way to tell her sister she was pregnant. Of course, if Piper weren’t already pregnant she would have definitely considered doing this for her; she loved her sister, loved Jakob, and knew how much they both wanted another child. But she couldn’t help Harper now; she had to tell her, the whole truth. OMG. She took in a deep breath, her eyes clouding with unwanted tears as she whispered, “I’m sorry, Harper, I can’t.”

  “Why not? I would do it for you.” Harper’s shock at Piper’s statement was obvious, as was the hurt in her voice.

  “And I would do it for you if I could, but I can’t,” Piper said quickly, her heart pounding in her chest.

  “Well, why the hell not?”

  Piper’s tears began to fall and without much more thought, she said what she should have