The words sounded like they were wrenched from him. She watched as he took a mouthful of coffee.

“That’s sad, and I’d have to disagree. Since coming back to Ryker you’ve done all of the above.”

Dylan shrugged, and she knew he wished he’d kept his thoughts to himself. “Maybe, but then I think that’s Ryker Falls. It turns you into a different person. I’ll change back when I return to New York.”

“Again, sad,” Piper said. “I don’t have many people I’m really tight with. I was pretty isolated before I came to Ryker, and yet now I couldn’t live without them. My cousins, Bailey, and Maggs. They’re a part of me, and I think make me stronger, because I know that if I need any one of them they’d have my back.”

“Not everyone needs people, Piper.”

His jaw was gritted now, hands clenched on the steering wheel.

“No, I get that actually. I’ve known plenty of people who are loners, and happy about that fact. But you and your sisters aren’t loners by nature is my guess. Self-preservation has sent you all in that direction.”

The look he shot her was pure frustration. He wanted this conversation done with.

“Haven’t you got enough to worry about without including the Howards in the mix?”

“I like you, so I want you to be happy. Plus, what you just did for me and Grace are not the actions of a cold, heartless man.”

That made him grunt. “Thanks, and I quite like you too.”

Piper giggled.

“I like that sound.”

“My mom says I’ve grown up but not my giggle, which is pretty annoying really most of the time. But thanks for saying that anyway.”

His mouth curled up on one side.

They drove in silence after that, both deep in thought. Piper was sure he was thinking about her words, and she hoped he did, because if nothing else changed before he left Ryker, she at least wanted him to have a relationship with his sisters.

“Grace has just opened her eyes, shall we stop and feed her somewhere?”

“Sounds good.”

It was a sobering thought that she and this man had just shared an experience that was usually reserved for two people who were committed to a life together. Two people who had created a child. It had pulled them closer, no doubting that, but now he was going and that thought produced a sharp pain deep inside her.

I cannot care for him.

But of course she did, because she’d never have slept with him otherwise. But she’d never show him that. Whatever this was, it would go away; it wasn’t the lasting type of caring, just the fleeting kind.