by Casey Hagen
Piper looked down the line of them. “Why don’t we all link arms to keep steady?”
“Good idea,” Deanne said with a nervous laugh. “I probably should have said something before, but I don’t swim well.”
Piper leaned over and patted her hand after they linked arms. “It’s okay, you’ve got the preserver if you go in. Just don’t panic if you hit the water, you’ll be fine.”
Trevor smiled. Damn, she was awesome. Competitive, but not at the expense of kindness. Would anyone be able to say that about him? He caught Rachel shooting him a glare. Yeah, he probably hadn’t always been the most honorable, but at least he hadn’t turned into her.
“Thanks, Piper,” Deanne said, reaching out to link arms with Christina.
Christina reached out to join arms with Rachel who glanced down at Christina’s palm as though Christina had just spit in it.
“I’ll pass,” Rachel said with her chin jutting out.
“Excuse me,” Christina muttered.
He’d always found Rachel attractive with her onyx hair and silver eyes. She walked through the office like a model walking the catwalk, one foot winding its way in front of the other the way exotic women did to capitalize on swaying all of their assets. Rachel knew how to command attention with her body, with her face, but as a person, beneath that thin layer of beauty was the stench of something rotten to the core.
Trevor frowned, ashamed to admit to himself that he hadn’t cared what she had been under the surface. He had only cared about one thing, getting a nut off.
“Men!” Davidson called. “Blindfold time.”
Trevor tied his blindfold. The minute he lost his sight, his sense of hearing heightened. The sound of the water lapping against the boat, the birds, the breeze moving through the trees, and the sound of Piper breathing in the seat in front of him.
The sound of the trolling motor starting had Trevor scrambling to grab his paddle and situate it on his lap.
“You ready back there?” Piper asked.
“As I’ll ever be.”
“Boaters ready?” Davidson asked.
A chorus of voices replied.
“On your mark…get set…go!” Davidson yelled.
Trevor started paddling, still situated so close to Kent that their paddles clanked. “Shit, we’re all caught up.”
“It’s okay, keep paddling, everyone is breaking up,” Piper said.
It seemed like every other stroke the paddles would hit the water the wrong way and if what Trevor felt was any indication, they’d go cockeyed.
“Turn right!” Piper yelled.
“I’m trying,” Trevor said as he dug the paddle into the water on the left side of the boat, and then shifted to the right side.
“Just paddle on the left side for two strokes to straighten us out.”
He did as she instructed.
“Good, now keep your pace on both sides. You’ve got it, Trevor!”
Which told him that the momentum he felt was all off. He could have sworn he had almost gone in a full circle.
He found a pace and continued on with Piper’s constant encouragement. She didn’t get angry, she kept a level head and reassured him they were headed in the right direction.
“Okay, keep going, just like that. If I tell you hard left, I want you to paddle extra hard on the left side for a stroke. Hard right, paddle extra hard on the right, okay?”
“Got it,” he said with a grunt. “Are we dead last?”
“Nope, first, but Rachel and Steve are right with us, maybe a half a boat length or so behind.”
“Can’t have that,” he said, blowing out a harsh breath as he put more force into his strokes.
They chugged a ways and stayed on course for the most part with only a few calls from Piper to adjust their direction.
Trevor found himself smiling. He’d expected to be on some sort of hot seat all weekend. This fun side of Davidson was something he never showed at the office, and despite all that hung in the balance, Trevor enjoyed the sun and pure folly of what they had to do. At least at the moment.
The Newlywed game was coming up; well, that was an entirely different animal. One that had him clenching places he'd rather not think about.
Something hard hit them, rocking them precariously. “What was that?”
“Don’t stop paddling. It was Christina and Mike. They bumped us.”
“How did they get beside us?”
She let out a laugh, letting him know that she enjoyed this challenge as much as he did. “It’s a mess out here, Trevor. It’s not like there’s lanes.”
“Where’s Kent and Deanne?”
She shifted, he couldn’t see how, but he felt it, and the kayak rocked hard enough that he locked his hands on the edge.
“They’re almost back at the dock.” Amusement laced her voice.
“Wait, what?”
“I don’t think it’s on purpose. She’s trying to guide him and he’s doing loopdey loos.”
“Poor bastard.”
“Just keep going. Rachel and Steve are getting ahead,” she yelled.
“Can’t have that,” he ground out as he paddled deep. The boat rocked again and that time water hit his thigh. “Shit.”
“Careful, you almost tipped us.”
“I’m trying.”
“I know, it’s okay. Hard left,” she called back.
All he heard was screaming and splashing. Rachel’s voice had gone from a shriek to something feral. Might want to check her for rabies. Jesus, if she made partner, his ass would be looking for another job.
“Trevor! Did you hear me?”
The boat shifted with her words and they rocked again, only this time water poured into the left side of the boat. The sound of Piper’s squeal pierced his ears before he went completely under.
The minute he popped up, he tore off the blindfold, searching for Piper. Waving his arms, he turned to find her sputtering and scraping the water from her eyes and face.
He ran his hands over her arms and cupped her face. “Shit, are you okay?”
“I was better before we ended up in the water.”
“What the hell happened?” he asked, smoothing his hands over his hair to squeeze the water out.
“Good question. I called out hard left two more times and you just kept going straight.”
“Shit. I didn’t hear you.”
“You think? I didn’t notice,” she said.
“We’re going to lose,” he said, shielding his eyes, looking toward the shore.
“It’s just a race, there’s nothing we can do now. Let’s get the kayak flipped over.”
He sighed. “Yeah, I guess. So, any idea how to do this?”
“It’s probably a lot like a canoe. You get up under it and flip it over.”
He looked at the kayak and back at her. “There’s no air under it.”
“No, there’s not,” she confirmed.
“There is under a canoe if it’s flipped.”
“Usually. Look, we face each other with the kayak to our side. We use the hand farthest away to clutch the side. On the count of three, deep breath, duck under, reach for the other side and push it up and over.”
They pulled the kayak to them and lined up just the way Piper said. Despite it being his fault for being in the water, she smiled and focused on the task at hand.
“Okay, one…two…three,” she said.
He sucked in a deep breath and shifted under the boat. He locked his hand on the other side, but had no way of knowing if she had grabbed her side yet. This was Piper though, for some reason, he just felt like she had it. Sure enough, she reached out and nudged him with her foot and he just knew what she was trying to say.
He thrust up and the boat broke up over the surface, the water cascading off of it. They tossed it off the side where it bobbed and swayed.
“Good job, Trevor,” she said, blinking the water out of her eyes.
“Not so bad yourself. I’m impressed.”
“Well, hold that thought, we still have to make it back on the boat.”
They bobbed in the water and looked to the shore where Steve and Rachel dragged their boat onto the sand and she screamed like a banshee, “I won! I won!”
“Well, I guess that’s that.”
“Sorry, Trevor.”
“I don’t think it’s all going to come down to one race. Come on. Let’s get on this thing.”
They took opposite sides and dragged themselves up. The boat pitched a few times, threatening to toss them right back in, but in the end they made it. Trevor lost his blindfold in the commotion so they just rowed to the shore.
“About time you could join us,” Rachel called out.
“Excellent teamwork out there,” Davidson said, taking Piper’s hand and guiding her out of the water.
“Thanks,” she said.
“It was all Piper. She knew just what to do,” Trevor said.
“You picked a good one in her. I’m impressed.”
His breath caught for a minute on the words, his sense of guilt welling up inside him. He liked Davidson, genuinely liked the man and what he stood for. He gave Trevor a shot fresh out of college when he’d been angry, but eager. He owed Davidson better than this manufactured story.
Unfortunately, the cost of being honest was far too high.
Chapter 7
Piper needed a nap.
And a margarita.
Those ladies could come back and give her a full body massage, too. She’d even get naked in front of the whole damn house if she had to.
The distance they’d kayaked hadn’t been that far, even if you included crossing the lake to get back to Davidson’s house, but the exertion of everything kicked her ass just the same.
It had to be even worse for Trevor, who had to do all the rowing and had to accept a loss on top of it.
He’d had a pinched look on his face since rowing onto the shore, which left Piper feeling like she’d let him down. He was the one who rolled them, but they were a team, and if he lost, they lost.
She opted to give him some space that afternoon after they got back. She showered, got dressed, and stepped out, joining Christina and Deanne on the deck where they sat on Adirondack chairs, drinking lemonade.
“Where did the guys get off to?” Piper asked, taking a seat next to Deanne.
“They’re down there by the water with Davidson. He started talking about fishing and they all wandered down with him.” Deanne handed her a glass of lemonade.
“Okay, so where’s she who shall not be named?” Piper said with a raised brow, taking a sip of her drink.
“Maybe Steve drowned her in the lake. God knows I would,” Christina muttered.
“What’s up with her anyway?” Deanne asked.
“Maybe her thong is too tight,” Christina said.
“She had a thing with Trevor once,” Piper said.
Christina and Deanne both swung shocked looks at her.
“No way!” Deanne said.
“Yeah, he told me yesterday.”
“He waited until yesterday to tell you? Seriously? I would have filleted Mike if he waited until we got here to tell me something like that,” Christina said.
“What Christina said,” Deanne said, raising her glass.
“I’m not worried about Trevor. It was in the past,” Piper said. Restless energy forced her out of her chair.
They weren’t a real couple, but she’d be lying to herself if she didn’t acknowledge that a streak of jealousy coursed through her every time she thought about the fact that that wretched woman had her hands on him, among her other body parts.
And why wouldn’t she? Men did it. Rachel had probably gotten her training getting all things desired young by riding a wave of lemmings as the most popular, most likely to succeed prom queen and teenage minion puppet master.
Cut from the same cloth as all the vicious twits she’d had the unfortunate experience of knowing in high school.
Of course, Piper had to consider what version of Trevor Rachel got. Maybe Piper needed to be grateful.
“You’ve got a lot more to offer than she does anyway. You’re prettier and of course, it’s nice that one doesn’t need to carry holy water, a crucifix, and garlic around you, to boot.”
“Now that right there is a vote of confidence,” Piper said with a grin.
“I hope no matter how this all turns out, you and Trevor…” she turned to Christina, “and you and Mike will come to the wedding.”
“Well, isn’t this chummy,” Rachel said as she joined them on the deck. She leaned back against the railing and tossed her hair with a hand. “What? I’m not invited to the wedding?”
“God, no,” Deanna said.
Piper choked on her lemonade and sputtered, searching for a napkin.
“Wow, that was blunt,” Rachel returned.
“Blunt, do you recall the way you scoffed at my offered arm today on the lake? Seems like blunt is about the only language you understand,” Christina said.
“Well, in the spirit of being blunt…” she turned to Piper, “how long have you and Trevor really been dating?”
“We’ve been over this, Rachel.”
“Yes, we have. But I remembered something a little interesting. Trevor had his place completely renovated and then had a housewarming party. Three months ago. And you weren’t there. Kind of interesting.”
That wasn’t in the fucking binder.
Dammit all, she took on the challenge of being his girlfriend and even brought with her a virtually photographic memory. The least he could do was give her what she needed to memorize.
Three months ago, that would have been May. She’s a school teacher. May would be toward the end of the school year, but, but, but…shit she had nothing.
She couldn’t live with herself if she screwed Trevor up by tripping over something so stupid.
“Unfortunately, I missed a few social events at the end of the school year. The district decided to reorganize and we had several required meetings to get things in place.” Piper took another sip of her drink for her suddenly dry throat.
“Hmmm,” Rachel hummed. “You couldn’t spare a couple hours on a Saturday night to support, Trevor?”
Who the hell was she to question Piper’s dedication to Trevor? She had been relegated to one of Trevor’s many conquests, and Piper…Piper what? Piper wasn’t even a conquest. Mail order brides had more clout than Piper.
Wasn’t that just a kick in the ass?
“Teacher’s evenings are rarely their own. I have a career, I’m serious about it, and I was needed elsewhere. Trevor respects that.”
“Trevor has never even mentioned you,” Rachel said with a smirk.
“Why would he mention me to you? You were just a way for him to pass the time and it was a long time ago.”
Rachel stiffened up and her eyes narrowed to slits. “He’s never getting this promotion. He marched around Williams and Stensky for years banging everything with a pulse, everyone from executives to women in the mail room. He’s a vile, loathsome, man whore.”
“It’s hard being forgettable, but when it comes down to it, despite everything you do to call attention to yourself, he sees right through you. Davidson is a smart guy. I have a feeling he sees through you, too.”
“You bi—”
“What’s going on out here, ladies?” Trevor asked, stepping out onto the deck with Mike, Kent, and Davidson not far behind.
“Just a little ‘getting to know you’ session,” Piper said, leaning against the railing. She gave him a flirty grin.
Trevor stepped up and stopped with his feet on either side of hers, his hands on each side of her, pinning her in. “And?”
“I think Christina, Deanne, and I have the potential for a wonderful friendship. They’re my kind of people.”
He nuzzled her neck and her eyes drifted shut. Tingles coursed through her sensitive skin. “Was Rachel a complete wench?” he whispered.
�
��She might be onto us. You had a housewarming. I wasn’t there. Apparently, she was.”
“Shit.”
“It’s okay, I covered. I had school meetings for reorganization.”
“Got it.” He pulled away, cupped her jaw, and kissed her.
Nothing flashy, just a soft, lingering kiss that had Piper’s toes curling in her flats.
She wound her arms around his neck and sunk her fingers into the back of his hair, going for more, so much more. She sought his tongue with her own, just an easy glide, only a taste.
She didn’t want to let this go. These moments where it was just the two of them against the world.
Except…she was still just a woman he created in a binder. Monday, she’d slip her three-ring tethers and step out from between the plastic cover and go back to Exclusively Piper with every hair in place and her stilettos firmly planted in the fashion world.
He dragged his lips away from her mouth and down her chin, finally landing on the underside of her jaw.
Was it really just yesterday morning she had stepped out like that? God, it seemed as though from the minute she’d laid eyes on Trevor, she’d been sucked into some alternate universe.
The sand in the hourglass of their time together languished by the second. In the here and now, she could act on the feelings she had carried for so long. She had a narrow window and she needed to focus on using it.
Not on capturing Trevor forever, but of getting her fill so when they parted ways, she might finally have a shot at dating a man without lying in bed in the wee hours, after said date, measuring his every quality against Trevor’s.
He brought his lips back to hers after leaving her a tingling, whimpering mess, and sunk his teeth into her lower lip bringing her right back to the present. Back to him.
“I’m getting quite used to kissing you, Trouble.”
She glanced around, worried that someone might overhear, but they had all drifted back inside and circled the island where Davidson had put out appetizers. “Is this your way of getting your fill before you let me go?”
“Maybe I won’t let you go.”
She didn’t dare go down that road. She couldn’t. She didn’t want the heartache. She had spent years pining for him and he never even knew. She didn’t want to slide back into being that lovesick girl. “Ahhh, trying to be charming so you can avoid the question. Predictable. But I see right through you.”