But more importantly, I’ll disappoint me if I don’t even try. So when he asks me once again to spend tomorrow afternoon with Hailey and him, I agree.
~ ~ ~
When we return to Skylar’s, I see through the sidelight that the townhouse is dark. Only the lights over the stove illuminate the kitchen in a soft glow. Skylar and Griffin must have turned in early. Little Aaron has been wearing them out.
Mason comes up behind me. His fingertips trail down my arms, sending quivers of anticipation charging through me. He takes my hand in his. “I’ll walk you in. Just to get you settled.”
The three glasses of champagne I had tonight unite and decide that allowing him inside after our date is not an abhorrent idea after all.
As I walk to the kitchen to deposit my purse on the counter, every hair on my neck is acutely aware of how he follows me, step for step. I steady myself against the cold granite, wondering if I can handle what comes next.
Kissing—that’s what comes next.
I slowly turn around keeping my eyes glued to the ground. I’ve kissed a few men over the past few years. Kissing is safe. Kissing doesn’t scare me. Probably because it’s the one thing that doesn’t plague my dreams. My lips belong to me, not them. It’s the stuff after the kissing that terrifies me.
Still, those I’ve kissed in the past didn’t stick around for an encore. And I could hardly blame them. Each benign encounter felt like a kiss from my father. No excitement. No fireworks. They were plain. Unexciting. Ordinary.
Part of me hates the thought of ruining what Mason and I have. Once we kiss, everything will change. It will be awkward and forced. I will stiffen like a board. He will pull away, feigning some kind of forgotten appointment or family emergency. It happens. Every time. Just because kissing is safe doesn’t mean I’m any good at it.
When I was little, before my life went to shit, I used to practice kissing my handheld mirror. I imagine the men who have endured my kisses have a similar experience—feeling as if they are kissing something inanimate. Empty.
“Don’t think about it, Piper. Just do it.”
Mason’s voice startles me, reminding me I’m not alone. It’s now I realize I’ve been staring at his lips. This whole time, I’ve been mindlessly staring at his full, firm, inviting lips, probably looking like a feline in heat.
“Mason, I’m not sure—”
Before I can tell him all the reasons for not wanting to ruin what has become a beautiful friendship, his lips meet mine.
And I don’t stiffen.
I melt.
I melt into his firm yet soft lips, the heat from them searing through my body, a tornado destroying everything in its path, leaving me utterly destroyed in its wake. Ruined for any other lips that may try to claim mine in the future.
Every atom in my small universe is focused on the movement of his mouth against mine. Every particle of my being is hoping he won’t ever stop. Every thought that infiltrates my head gives me reasons to pull away.
But I don’t.
I don’t.
Realization consumes me. I want this. I want him. I want normal.
Instead of my mind flashing forward to what usually happens next, causing me to freak out and send them running, my thoughts wander aimlessly, recalling small moments in time from the past few months. Moments like when I first saw Mason in the airport and my knees went weak. Moments like when he protected me in the parking garage and at the marathon. Moments I watched him at the gym when he was unaware of my admiration.
Before I fully comprehend what’s happening, our tongues mingle together in a perfectly choreographed dance that has me feeling it all the way down to my toes. He’s tasting me, feasting on my mouth, devouring my lips. He breaks the kiss and our lungs simultaneously fill with the oxygen we’ve deprived them. His lips go on to find my neck, and I’m absolutely sure he can feel my racing heartbeat under his prodding mouth.
A sigh, that sounds more like a mewl, unwittingly escapes my throat as my head falls back to give him more room to work. His hand comes around behind me, pressing him tightly against me, his strong chest flattening my breasts. His hard groin against my belly.
I feel the panic climbing my spine like rungs of a ladder. It’s fighting with the warm tingling sensations shooting through each arm, leg, finger and toe.
Mason pulls away, just enough to spare me his erection. It’s almost as if he heard my silent plea. He stares into my eyes, forcing the anxiety back down into the pit of my belly where it always lurks, waiting to rear its ugly head.
His arms gently caress mine and he smiles. Not a full-blown face-cracking smile. A soft, alluring, intoxicating smile that curves up one side of his mouth more than the other. I find myself staring at his lips once again as they part when he asks, “Are you moving to New York yet?”
I let out a sigh of relief. A laugh of comfortable friendship. A smile of . . . happiness? “Not hardly,” I reply.
He kisses me on the top of my head and turns to leave. Just as he reaches the door, he spins around. “Just so you know, I’m not moving to New York either. But it’s not out of the realm of possibility. I really, really like New York.”
My eyes narrow as I allow his words to sink in.
He winks at me and then disappears through the front door.
chapter eighteen
mason
I sit on a blanket and watch Piper with Hailey as they kick a soccer ball between them in the park. Well, as much as a twenty-two-month-old can kick a ball. But I think she’s getting the hang of it. ‘Uncle’ Gavin has made sure of that, being he was a soccer star during his years at UNC.
Piper seems to be getting more relaxed around her as the afternoon wears on. At first, when we were eating lunch—a fabulous spread courtesy of Skylar and Mitchell’s—Piper didn’t even make eye contact with Hailey. I was worried. No, terrified was more like it. These two girls are the most important people in my life and if they don’t get along there isn’t even a choice in the matter.
But now, after I intentionally stepped away, pretending to get a call from my agent, I dare to hope that maybe there is a chance at this after all. Piper’s demeanor is guarded and a bit forced, but at least I see potential there. And I won’t give up. I won’t give up until the fat lady sings and does the damn hula in her thatched skirt and coconut bra.
I haven’t taken the easy road in love, that’s for sure. Figuring out Piper Mitchell is like trying to do one of those Chinese puzzles. Just when I think I’m getting somewhere, I wind up back at square one.
I lost a lot of sleep last night thinking about her. We have a connection. A deep undeniable bond I’ve never felt with another woman. I hesitate to even use the word soul mate because it makes me sound like a pussy-whipped lap dog, but damn it if that’s not exactly how I feel.
I’ve analyzed every look and every conversation, much like how I study and scrutinize game film at practice. I’ve tried to dissect every anxiety attack. She came close to having one last night. That kiss, it was—shit, it was better than all the sex I’ve had rolled together in one big package. That kiss was epic. If I wasn’t already falling for her, that kiss was reason alone to.
She kissed me back which was somewhat unexpected. When our eyes met, there was a clear hesitation. I could almost hear the wheels in her head spinning—deciding to choose door number one or door number two. In the end, she not only chose the right door, she fucking decimated it, burning it to the ground with the heat that exploded between us. And the sound that came from her when I kissed her neck, that fantasy-provoking mewling sound will stay with me far beyond the six weeks I have left with her.
That heat, however, was almost instantly squelched like a flame deprived of oxygen the instant I pressed into her and she felt my hard-on. I knew immediately. I could feel the panic rising in her as much as if it was my own. I knew I had to stop or I could push her past her breaking point. And breaking Piper would wreck me.
But then something happened when sh
e was on the brink of anxiety pulling her under. She looked at me. Hell, she looked into me. And I swear I could see the wave of calm wash over her beautiful face. It wasn’t unlike what happened before in the parking garage and at the marathon. Somehow, when our eyes connect, her panic wanes. I’m not conceited enough to think I can fix her and remove all the demons in her life, but maybe I’m the one who can make her realize life is worth living after whatever happened to her.
Hailey runs over and jumps on my back, knocking me forward onto the grass. I pull her around to my front, pinning her on the ground so I can tickle her pint-sized ribs. Her sweet, childish laughter seems to echo through the park.
This is living.
I look down at my scar and give thanks to Coach Braden for saving me. I look up at the clear-blue sky and hope my parents can see their spectacular granddaughter. I look over at Piper to see her studying my interaction with Hailey. I could swear her eyes get misty, but as soon as she catches me watching her, she clears her throat and starts kicking around at the ball abandoned by her feet.
What was that look? I can normally read her easily. Like an old favorite book. When it comes to how she reacts to me, she’s completely transparent. I know she has feelings for me. Feelings that run far deeper than she wants to admit. But when it comes to Hailey . . . well, it’s like that Chinese puzzle.
My daughter rubs her eyes, my clue that the day has taken its toll. I pick stray pieces of grass from her platinum-blonde curls and then look at my watch. My heart sinks. It’s almost time for Cassidy to pick her up. The days I’m with her fly by in an instant, the hours are like minutes and the seconds tick away painfully fast.
I gather up our things. “Time to go, sweet pea.”
I swing the backpack on one shoulder and Hailey up on another. “Ready?” I ask Piper.
She nods, picking up the soccer ball before we make our way through the park and out to the subway.
The whole way, Hailey points out and counts every bird she sees, making meaningful adult conversation almost impossible. Then she starts humming her favorite Disney song. “Sing, Dada,” she begs. I can’t deny her request, so I pull out my phone and tap on the screen, finding the song to accompany me.
Few things embarrass me. Singing a girly princess song in front of the woman I’m trying to impress is definitely one of them.
When we make it to the platform, I take a moment to admire Piper. Her hair is windblown and her skin slightly pink from the strong afternoon sun. I realize I don’t want the day to end. And I’d really like some alone time with her. “Come back to my place,” I say, hopefully.
Her eyes flicker between Hailey and me. “Won’t Hailey’s mom be there soon?”
“Don’t worry about Cassidy. I’d really like you to come with us. There’s something I’d like to show you.”
The number five train to Skylar’s place pulls up alongside us and the doors open. She looks at me. We stare silently at each other until the train pulls away, leaving her standing beside me. She smiles. “I suppose I could come over for a few minutes.”
Hailey smacks my face with her little hands. I guess I’ve been giving too much attention to Piper for the last thirty seconds. Piper laughs as Hailey plies and prods my cheeks as if my face were made of clay. It’s the first laughter I’ve heard from her since last night. And for what feels like the first time today—I breathe.
~ ~ ~
“What’s she doing here?”
Cassidy’s stinging words slice through the thick, tense air of the hallway outside my apartment.
“You’re early, Cass.” I give Piper an apologetic glance.
“Mama!” Hailey squeals at the sight of her mother, squirming out of my arms so she can run over to her.
Cassidy all but ignores our daughter’s embrace as she fires daggers from her eyes at Piper while I unlock the door.
“I’ll just get Hailey’s things.” I move aside to let them all in. I drop my keys on the entry table before turning to Piper. “You can freshen up in the bathroom if you want.” I point to the door next to my bedroom. “It’s right through there.”
Relief is apparent on her every feature as she scurries away without a word. But it only lasts a moment.
“Pie-pie,” Hailey wails, running after her, giving her legs a hug from behind.
I glance at Cassidy. I can practically see the smoke coming from her ears. Her hands ball into fists before she marches over to Hailey, ripping her away from the endearing grip she has on Piper’s leg.
It’s hard to hold in my smile. Hailey has just given Piper her seal of approval. Something she doesn’t dole out to just anyone. More must have been going on at the park than I realized. Or maybe Hailey senses the same enchanting qualities in Piper that I do.
A fleeting look of terror crosses Piper’s face. Damn. What was I thinking bringing her here and forcing a confrontation like this? I obviously wasn’t thinking with my head. Another part of my anatomy maybe, but definitely not my head.
Piper smiles compassionately at Hailey as she’s dragged across the room by her mother. “It was very nice seeing you again, Hailey. Thanks for playing soccer with me.”
She turns to Cass. “Cassidy, always a pleasure.” She spins around and walks through the bathroom door, shutting it and leaving buckets of sarcasm in her wake.
Cassidy gathers up her things. Hailey knows the drill by now. The older she gets, the harder it is for her to leave without tears. I won’t deny that I’ve shed a few of my own the times she reaches for me, begging to stay.
As if adding fuel to the fire that is my heightened emotional state, Hailey runs over to me and holds up her hands, big balls of tears balancing on her lower lids for a second before spilling over and trailing down her little round cheeks. “Dada!”
Cassidy watches us as we hug, neither of us wanting to part. “You know, if we just lived together, you’d see her all the time and she would never have to be this sad when we leave. She’ll cry herself to sleep tonight. She always does the days she leaves you.”
A piece of my heart breaks off. Just like each time my daughter leaves. I’m not sure if what Cassidy says is true, but the thought of it tears me up.
“Time to go, sweetie,” Cassidy says, pulling her from my arms.
From behind me, I hear the door to the bathroom creak as Piper is either opening it to see if the coast is clear, or to listen.
Right on cue, Cassidy leans towards me, placing an unwelcome kiss on my lips faster than I can stop her.
chapter nineteen
piper
The front door slams shut behind Hailey and her mom, leaving the air rich with tension and discomfort. I walk over to it and grip the handle, turning it quickly, pulling the heavy steel door towards me.
Mason races over and puts his palms by either side of my head on the door, forcing it closed. “Where are you going?”
“Is that what you wanted to show me?” I hit the door with my open palm. “That you’re getting back together with your ex-wife?”
He sighs so long and hard I can feel the back of my hair part under his heavy breath. “She’s not my ex-wife.”
“Girlfriend. Whatever.” I stare at the blue steel door just inches from my face. “You could have just told me.”
“I’m not getting back together with her, Piper. I told you that already. I’ll never get back with her. She’s a manipulative shrew.”
“But you kissed her. Is that you not getting back together?”
“You’re wrong.” His hands lower, caging me in place. “I didn’t kiss her. She kissed me. Just another one of her spiteful tactics. She’s threatened by you. I haven’t had a woman in my life in a long, long time.”
“Hmph,” I pout through my closed mouth. “It sure looked like you were kissing her.”
“I was not kissing her. God, you are so stubborn, woman.” He puts a hand on my arm and I tense. He immediately removes it, placing it back in its previous spot. “She surprised me. I was saying goodbye
to Hailey, and before I knew what was happening, she swooped in like the predator she is.”
I shake my head, not knowing what to believe. Cassidy is everything I’m not. She’s extraordinarily beautiful, walking-the-catwalk-in-Milan beautiful. And although her breasts aren’t real, even I think they’re spectacular. She oozes sexiness from every pore. I’ll bet she doesn’t cringe when men touch her. I’ll bet she doesn’t feel her skin crawl just thinking about being with a man.
It would be so much easier for him—for any man—to be with her over me.
He takes my silence as incredulity. “Piper.” He gently puts his hands on my shoulders and spins me around to face him.
I can’t look directly at him. I stare blindly into his chest as my thoughts stray to what it might look like under his tight-fitting polo. I have a pretty good idea. After all, I’ve seen him shirtless at the gym.
He puts a finger under my chin, raising my head until our eyes are forced to meet. “I wasn’t kissing her. Believe me, if I was kissing her, that’s not what it would have looked like.” He grabs my face, his hands on either side, his thumbs meeting in front to rub across my bottom lip as he stares at the slow gesture. “This is what it would have looked like.”
He leans down and his lips crash into mine so forcefully, it propels my body against the door behind me.
“Ugh.” When the hard steel meets my back, my mouth opens and my breath escapes me, right into his welcoming kiss. He takes the opportunity to push his tongue into my mouth. His silky, firm, demanding tongue. His tongue that has infiltrated my every thought since he kissed me last night.
After his tongue relentlessly takes everything it can from me, his mouth parts from mine, never once leaving my skin as he trails feathery kisses from the edge of my lips over to my ear.
My head tilts as he devours the space between my earlobe and my shoulder. He slowly works over every centimeter of my skin, studying it with his lips. Each flick of his tongue sends electric shocks spiraling through me. Each light sucking movement causing tremors across my body.
The Mitchell Sisters: A Complete Romance Series (3-Book Box Set) Page 75
