Double Coverage (38 page)

“Is she worth it?” Jake asked solemnly.

Mason took a second to think about Jake’s question. Was Piper worth the agony and the rollercoaster ride that she made Mason ride frequently? Was she worth all the heartache and second guessing? He looked over to where she was at the bar, serving a beer on tap to a customer at the bar. Her hair was swept up into a ponytail this evening, exposing her long creamy neck and her shirt was unbuttoned to a risky level where she was showing too much skin for Mason’s liking. He wanted to be the only man who saw what Piper had to offer.

“She is. I’m going to get us some more beers.” Jake and Ryker grinned at him, but he ignored them and went up to the bar, where Piper was pouring another glass of beer for a patron.

He studied her movements as he waited for her to direct her attention his way. She was so beautiful, it hurt sometimes to look at her. He wished that when he first met her he hadn’t fucked around with her. He should have laid it all on the line then, instead of denying the feelings she made him have. If only he’d done that, then he wouldn’t be in the predicament he was in right now. If he only set aside his stupid pride and asshole ways, then Piper would be his for sure, sharing his bed and his life.

She handed the glass to the customer and then glanced up to make eye contact with Mason. Surprisingly, a smile lit up her face that made Mason’s heart skip a beat.

“Hey, baby.”

“Hey Mace. Do you guys need refills?”

“Yeah, do you mind?”

“Not at all. Sorry I’ve been busy tonight.” She pulled out three beer bottles from the cooler and started popping the caps off. “Sorry…about the game.”

Confused, Mason asked, “What are you sorry about? It’s not your fault some asshole rookie decided to find me attractive and run his hands all up and down my body while I tried to catch a pass.”

Piper chuckled and then shot him a look. “You know what I mean.”

Mason leaned over the bar and rested his head in his hand. “No, I don’t, so please enlighten me.” He was trying to keep the mood light between them because the last thing he wanted was another fight with Piper. He thought he’d just found a good place with her and didn’t want to ruin the bond they formed this morning.

“Jax…taking you out.”

Mason waved his hand in front of his face, brushing off the asshole move Jax made earlier as if it was nothing, even though Jax could have possibly put a huge dent in Mason’s career if he hadn’t run media control with his head coach.

“Don’t worry about that. Just some miscommunication.”

“But Mace…”

“Stop.” He put his finger over her mouth to shush her. “I don’t want you worrying about the game or any other game, for that matter. That’s my job and I will worry about it. I want you to think about good things, like where you want me to take you on a date.”

She smiled at him, creating a warm atmosphere between them again. If all she did was smile at him for the rest of his life with those luscious lips, then he would be a happy man.

“How am I supposed to compete with the threesome you’re on tonight?” They both looked over at Jake and Ryker who were staring intently at them. Ryker waved daintily with his fingers, while Jake blew kisses in their direction. “It’s hard to compete with such…pretty ladies.”

Mason laughed. “They are gorgeous, aren’t they? Not sure if they will put out, though. I’m feeling it, but I’m not sure if they are. Any suggestions?”

Piper leaned over and unbuttoned a couple of buttons on his shirt. “Showing skin always helps and don’t forget to touch them…seductively.”

“Yeah? Show me.”

Piper leaned over some more and stroked Mason’s arm with her fingertips. “When you’re talking to them, like we are right now, just move your fingers up and down their arm like this, they’ll be putty in your hands in no time.”

Ryker came over to the bar and grabbed his beer. “Dude, I know you want to fuck her and all tonight, but we’re dying of thirst over there.”

“Feisty one, she is,” Piper said jokingly.

Mason pressed his hand on Ryker’s face and stroked his cheek with his thumb. “But she’s worth it.”

Ryker backed away quickly. “Dude! What the fuck? Don’t touch me with your creepy clammy hands. Especially when you know I have the hots for you. You don’t want me to jump your bones right here.”

“If you want to meet me in the back…”

Piper cut in. “Alright this is getting weird.” She handed Mason the other beer, pecked him on the cheek and gave him a wink. “Get out of here, you two. I have customers to serve.”

Mason tried to act like the kiss to his cheek was an act of normalcy between them, but he couldn’t help but feel the imprint of her lips on his cheek, like she lit him on fire. The mixed signals she was sending him were undeniably frustrating as hell, but when it came down to it, he was happy there were good signals coming his way because that meant he still had a chance. He still held her heart like she said earlier and he promised himself he was going to take care of her heart to the best of his abilities.

***

Jax rested his forehead on his steering wheel, contemplating whether he should go up to Piper’s apartment or not. He fucked up today; he fucked up big time and almost lost his job because of it. He should never have let his emotions out on the field. He knew better than that. But the minute he saw Mason’s cocky ass step on the field, he wanted to punish him and he was looking for any reason to do so. What a fucking idiotic move.

Jax couldn’t stand the fact that there might be something going on between his girl and his arrogant starting wide receiver. He saw how Piper looked at Mason at the bar and the way her eyes lit up when he made eye contact with her. He didn’t miss the little exchanges between them and he sure as hell wasn’t stupid enough not to know why Piper didn’t go home with him last night. He was losing her and he was losing her fast.

It pained him to see the one woman he had fallen in love with, since he lost his wife, slowly exit his life, without even having a clue on how to win her back. How could he go up against Mason Dashel? What did he have that could compete with Mason…nothing. Fuck.

Jax shook his head, took off his hat and ran his hand through his hair. Even though he knew going up against Mason Dashel to win Piper’s heart was a fool’s idea, he still couldn’t think of not going after her, especially after all that she had done for him, helping through the fog that clouded his life for so long.

He got out of his car and went up to Piper’s apartment, sending a silent prayer to whoever wanted to listen that Piper still wanted to be with him. He knocked on her door and held his breath while he waited for her to open the door. It seemed like forever, but once she opened up, he sighed at the sight of her.

“Hey darlin’.”

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

“Can I come in?”

“Of course.” She stopped him in the door frame and brought him into her warm embrace before he entered. He rested his head on her little shoulder and squeezed her tightly. When he was with her, wrapped in her arms, he knew everything was going to be okay. She made all his problems vanish.

She brought him into her place and they both sat down on her couch. Her place was very minimal; she didn’t have much, but what she had was comforting, warm. He could see himself living with her, marrying her, spending the rest of his life with this woman. He never thought he could think of a forever with someone other than his first wife, but Piper changed all that. She was a breath of fresh air and he wanted to bottle her up and keep her all for himself.

“Sorry about the game today.”

“Don’t be.” Jax shook his head at the disappointment he could only blame on himself. “It was my own damn fault. I shouldn’t have taken Mason out. He was looking good this morning during practice and…and…” Jax couldn’t get the words out. If he finished the rest of his sentence, he’d be putting his thoughts of Mason and Piper out in the open and he didn’t know if he wanted to hear the answer.

“And what Jax?” She stared at him intently with her beautiful gray eyes that sparkled no matter the time of day or where she was.

He put his head in his hands, feeling completely helpless. If he didn’t talk about this now, he would never talk about it and always wonder if there was ever something between Piper and Mason. And what if there wasn’t, would he always wonder? He would and then he would end up destroying one of the greatest things that happened to him in a long time. Fuck, he could do this.

His heart pounded in his chest as he gained the courage to finish his sentence. He looked up at her again and put his hand against her cheek, reveling in the softness of her skin. God damn it, did he love her. He loved her so fucking much; he didn’t want to lose her, he couldn’t stand the thought of losing her. Not being able to touch her when he wanted, not being able to kiss her, love her, and spoil her. He needed her.

His gut twisted itself into seven different expert sailor knots. Blowing out a pent-up breath, he went for it. “And are you involved with him?” He watched Piper’s reaction carefully and he was sadly disappointed with his accusation. Shock didn’t register across her face, instead she looked…guilty. Shit, damn it…fuck!

She looked down, but Jax didn’t give her the option to turn away from him for long. “Piper, are you involved with Mason?”

Tears started to well up in her eyes and she shook her head yes, making Jax’s stomach drop to the floor, turning him completely nauseous.

“I’m so sorry, Jax, I don’t know how it happened. I, I…” She broke down and started crying. She placed her head in her hands and started shaking uncontrollably. Jax wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but his body didn’t register the signals his brain was giving him. He sat still as stone, unable to move any sort of muscle in his body. A coldness seeped through his body, making him think he would never feel again.

His throat grew tight and he asked, “How long?”

“What?” Piper asked through tears.

Jax stood up, paced the living room while running his hand through his hair and asked again, “How long Piper? How long have you been fucking him?” His tone was harsher than he wanted, but he couldn’t help it. She shattered his heart with the tiny little nod of confirmation that she was seeing Mason. Just the slightest head movement had tipped his world.

Utter shock registered across her face at his strong language. He never talked to her using such foul language because his mama taught him better, but he snapped; he had snapped right in front of the woman he loved.

“I…I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? Jesus, Piper.” He stopped pacing and stared down at her. “Do you even love me?”

Piper stood up so quickly, she tripped over her coffee table, sending her flying across the room. Luckily, Jax was able to catch her so she didn’t run into the wall. He stood her up and tried to let go, but she wrapped herself tightly around him.

“Jax…” She was sobbing now. “Of course I love you. I love you so much. You’re the reason why I haven’t moved yet; you’ve grounded me.”

Her words touched him, but then again, they were so hard to believe.

“Do you love him?”

Silence laced the air between them. He knew he was supposed to be fighting for her and making sure he kept her in his life, but the moment she confirmed being involved with Mason, something switched in him, as if he couldn’t bear to be around her.

He removed her hands from around him and headed for the door. He needed to step away for the moment before he said something he didn’t mean. He still loved her and he still wanted her, but he needed to gather himself. He was not in the right place at the moment.

He went to the door, but Piper ran in front of him and plastered herself against the door. Her face was pale and the contrast of the mascara dripping down her face was somewhat frightening. His hands itched to reach out to her, wrap her up in his arms, carry her off to bed and comfort her until all the worry lines that formed on her face disappeared.

“Please Jax….please don’t go.” Her hands ran across his chest as if she was searching for something. “Please stay with me Jax, I’m sorry.”

Jax looked up at the ceiling, searching for something, some kind of help. Some kind of sign as to what he should do, but nothing came to him. The only thing he could register was the sadness that floated through Piper’s usually-vibrant eyes.

“Please…” she said in a faint whisper.

Jax was lost where she was concerned. There was no way he could deny her what she wanted, no matter how upset he was with her and no matter what she did. He would give her what she wanted.

He pulled her into his embrace and walked her back to her bedroom where he would hold her tight and make sure that he washed away the sadness that laced the silver in her eyes. He didn’t know what he would do in the morning or how he would handle his relationship with Piper, but all he knew right now was he was going to hold the woman he loved, no matter what she might have done to him because she owned him, she owned his heart.

***

Ryker stared at his reflection in the mirror and passed judgment on himself. What the hell did he get himself into? The test shots for C.C. Morris’ fall line went spectacular. The clothes were just his style, preppy with a hipster flair. He wore multiple layers and thanked God for the giant fans and air conditioning they had in the building or else he would have been sweating bullets.