Sitting right beside her was Mason, in a sharp suit with a white shirt and charcoal tie. Piper thought he’d never looked more gorgeous.
She reminded herself to breathe. With the breath came a gratitude that was almost overwhelming. She didn’t need an award. She pretty much had it all.
‘Megan Roach, InStyle, for “They Heard It on the Grapevine”.’
There was another round of applause. Piper clapped hard. She looked two tables away, where Megan Roach, the writer of that fabulous article about the four women, rose and waved her hand.
Piper had scoured this article too. ‘They Heard It on the Grapevine’ was a gruesome, yet fascinating, account of people who had murdered their partners after suspecting them, wrongly, of cheating. Just to be nominated in the same category as Megan Roach, a writer whose incredible talent and respect for her subjects was palpable on the page, was a thrill Piper knew she would remember forever.
Mason’s hand was now on her knee. Resting lightly but, as always, with a firmness behind the touch.
‘Piper Bancroft, Aspire, for “Out Comes Kara”.’
Everyone at her table went wild. Their furious clapping made even the very serious MC break into a smile. Piper felt her face flush. Especially when Mason’s lips brushed her exposed neck. Gentle and tender and so fast that probably no-one else even saw it.
‘And the winner is …’ The MC opened the envelope. He leant into the microphone. ‘Piper Bancroft, Aspire, for “Out Comes Kara”.’
Piper felt like she was dreaming. This award would get her into any journalism course in the country. The time she’d spent in the features department had been fantastic, but it had also made her realise she wanted to learn about every aspect of journalism from the ground up. Her eyes welled with tears.
Mason turned excitedly and drew her to him, his hands on her cheeks shielded them, giving them a private moment. He kissed her, then moved a thumb down to her lips.
‘Hey, um …’ he said with his wry grin. ‘You’ve got some lipstick here …’ He wiped her front tooth with his thumb.
She laughed, grateful to him for stemming the tears so she could get up and accept her award without sobbing.
‘I love you Piper Bancroft,’ he whispered.
Love Is the New Black
published in 2014 by
Hardie Grant Egmont
Ground Floor, Building 1, 658 Church Street
Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia
www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au
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eISBN: 9781743581858
Text copyright © 2014 Chrissie Keighery
Design copyright © 2014 Hardie Grant Egmont
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Love is the New Black Page 19