Page 75 of Pickled
The silence stretched between us. From where I stood, I could smell his cologne, and it brought me back to the night I spent nestled under his arm. My heart thumped, and the only way I could think to slow it was to step away.
“Piper.” His voice was quiet.
“Don’t.” I took another step sideways, but I could still smell the bastard. “Whatever you’re about to say, just don’t.”
“You don’t even know what I was going to say.”
“You’re going to tell me you’re sorry. Something to make yourself feel better about being a judgmental jerk.”
His jaw tightened. “That’s not what I was going to say.”
“No?” I crossed my arms and took one more step away. “Then what? Maybe the maid is worth talking to after all?”
“Jesus, Piper.” He took off his hat and ran his hand through his hair. “Is that really what you think of me?”
“How could I not? You found out I clean houses for a living and have a daughter, and you couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”
“That’s not why I left.”
“Then why?” I shouted. “Why?” I lowered my voice and glanced around to make sure we weren’t creating a scene.
Gideon stepped closer, and I not only smelled his cologne but felt his heat. My pussy thrummed, and I hated myself for it. How could I be turned on by a man who had been so mean to me? “Because you didn’t respect me enough to tell me the truth. Piper, believe it or not, I like kids. My mom drove a school bus when we were little, and she cleaned other people’s houses too.I’m the last person who would judge someone for what they did for a living. I liked everything about you, and if you’d told me the truth…” His eyes softened. “I would’ve liked that too.”
I didn’t believe him. “You’re just saying that.” The commotion on the courts had started to settle, and I didn’t want any of the Azalea Bay Club bitches to see us arguing again. I pulled him to the side of the court, keeping an eye on Olive.
“I’m not, and I don’t know what I can do to prove it to you.” He reached for my hand, but I hid it behind my back. Olive was still running around with Gabby, oblivious to the drama with her mom and her new coach. “Piper, I like all of you. The gorgeous woman, the one who cracks funny jokes about cat names…” He paused, and a smile spread across his face. “Oh, did your daughter name your cat?”
I nodded, hoping that the tears I was fighting to hold back weren’t shimmering in my eyes. “Yes, of course she did.” I bit my lip.
Gideon continued. “You’re a confident woman who loves animals, makes a mean lasagna, and it doesn’t hurt that you’re drop-dead gorgeous. The fact that you sacrificed everything for your daughter only makes you more attractive. I wish you could see that.”
“Gideon, stop.” My voice quivered.
He didn’t.
“Piper, you’re the one who made me feel like I was more than just a hockey player.”
My defenses wavered. “It’s better this way. We can be neighbors, friends, right?”
“What would convince you to forgive me?”
The question hung between us. “I watched you with those kids today,” I said. “Olive couldn’t stop talking about how kind you were, how you made everyone feel included. “
“She’s an amazing kid, Piper.” He chuckled. “She knows more about teamwork than I do.” His voice went soft. “She gets that from you.”
“Don’t.” My voice cracked slightly. “Don’t say things like that.”
“Why not? It’s true.”
“Because it makes it harder to stay mad at you.”
Something shifted in his expression. “Maybe that’s the point.”
I could feel my resolve cracking. “I can’t do this again,” I whispered.
“Do what?”
“Pretend that we make sense. That someone like you could actually want someone like me for more than just a few nights of fun.”
