Page 20 of Pickled
PIPER
Soft morning lightslanted through the blinds, casting stripes across Gideon’s bare back. The memory of the night before pulsed through me. It had been an athletic evening, and I was going to be sore for at least a week, but it had been worth it. I didn’t have much experience with men, but I knew the chemistry we had together was off the charts. Gideon was going to be the one I’d never forget.
I had to get back to my apartment, but I couldn’t seem to extract myself from the warmth of Gideon’s embrace. I’d never had a one-night stand before, and I kept waiting for him to pull one of those lines from the movies about needing sleep or having to get up early, but it didn’t happen. It was me who was going to have to make the move that both of us seemed to be dreading—separating.
The orgasms had been intense, but somehow, lying with him felt even better. My body eased into a level of relaxation I didn’t know existed. I was safe with him and, for the first time in years, felt like I’d risen out of the permanent state of flight or flight that came with being a single mom.
“Piper?” His deep voice reverberated in his chest.
“Yeah?” I layered my palms on his sternum, resting my chin on my hands as I looked past his scruffy jawbone into his dark eyes.
“What’s your last name?”
I rested my cheek on the back of my hand. “It’s Jones.”
“And your birthday?”
“October seventh.” I returned my gaze to his and furrowed my brow. “Why?”
My head shook as he laughed. “You’re a Libra.”
“I am.” Did the man know the signs, or was it a guess?
“Thank God.” He stroked my hair. “I was worried that you’d be a Leo. I’ve been told to stay away from those.”
Astrology? From the intimidating Gideon Bailey? I knew that a lot of athletes were superstitious, but I didn’t think astrology was big among the jock crowd. “So that makes you a Taurus.” Astrology wasn’t really my thing, but I knew the lion and the bull were a bad match.
He continued stroking my hair with his eyes closed. “May the Fourth be with you.”
“Are you a secret nerd?”
“Guilty, but I thought the books had already given me away.”
“The books say secret soft side. TheStar Warsquote? Nerdville.” I paused. “Who told you to stay away from Leos?” I regretted the question as soon as it popped out. I didn’t want him to think I was trying to unearth his past. It was best if weboth kept our dirt where it belonged, in a big pile where no one could see it.
“My wacky sister-in-law. She’s into all of that stuff.”
I traced a whorl of his chest hair with my fingertip. CC had clawed his way up the disheveled sheets and was tucked under his arm. “You have a brother?”
He opened one eye, and the corresponding eyebrow rose. “You didn’t know that?”
“How would I know about a brother?”
Gideon’s eyes closed, and he squeezed me. “You really don’t follow hockey at all, do you?”
“Not at all.” I slipped my arms around his chest and rested my head directly above his heart. It thumped slowly and deeply. “Is he older or younger?”
“Ace is a year younger than me. He’s going to be in town this weekend for the game.”
“He’s coming to watch you play?”
My head shook as he laughed. “No. He’s coming to play against me. We play Toronto on Sunday night. Ace is their star player.”
“And you’re the new star for the Barracudas?” I knew this to be true, but I wanted him to confirm it. “Wait. What is the plural of barracuda? With ansor nos?”
Gideon’s lips turned up. “Believe it or not, both are right. You could say there’s a school of barracuda or that there are different species of barracudas. In this barn, someone decided that we are the barracudas, with ans, and I’m not the star yet. I still have to prove myself.”
“What will that take? And is ‘barn’ hockey slang for arena?”
