Jess Trainer hugged Piper close, like she always did, even if they’d only seen each other an hour ago. The rock of the Trainer family, her mother was still fit and strong, although she wore a few more lines on her face now. As usual her long gray hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun.

For years, there were just two of them, and it had been hard on her mom working long hours and trying to control a teenager who’d been bent on self-destruction.

“Good, but sweaty. I’ll head to the stables for a shower so everyone else can wash up here. Jack and Luke have gone with Fin, and Dylan Howard is with Joe.”

“Dylan Howard? I thought he’d be gone by now?”

“No. I think he’s stayed because his dad’s still in hospital. Joe told me something wasn’t healing right so they’re keeping him in,” Piper said, kissing her mom’s cheek. She ran up the stairs to her room to collect a change of clothes. Jumping in her car minutes later, she drove to the stables. They always left plenty of supplies here for when they had guests, and truth be known this was the best shower on the property, just a lot colder if no one had turned on the heating in the bunk rooms.

“But as I’m tougher than my cousins, I can handle it,” Piper said, getting out and running into the stables.

“Hello, horsies,” she called, heading up the stairs to the bunk room her cousins had decided would be good to sleep any workers they used. Currently no one was in residence so she had the place to herself. Another positive. Not that she minded sharing a house with her family... but sometimes a girl wanted her space.

The bathroom was big enough to have a vanity, shower stall, and bench seat to put things on. Dumping her bag, Piper turned the water on and began to strip. It was cold now, and especially so as she was sweaty, but the room soon filled with steam. Piper had just removed her bra and panties when the door to the bathroom opened.

“I’m in here!” Piper grabbed a towel and held it in front of her.

It kept opening, and there in the doorway was Dylan.

“I-I won’t be long.”

His eyes started at the hair she’d released, then moved down to her face and continued on, and she felt every place they landed. Her body started to hum and heat pooled in places it shouldn’t. Suddenly she was no longer cold.

“Dylan.” The word came out like a moan. Horrified, Piper cleared her throat. “You should leave.”

His eyes rose from her legs to her face again.

“I know.”

Instead he moved inside and closed the door behind him, locking it. Holding her eyes, he walked closer, stopping when he was inches away.