When We Fall

by Marquita Valentine

  “Maybe it’s the partner and not you,” I venture. “Y’all should have a meeting and write down goals you want to achieve.”

  He laughs, the movement of his body making my taut nipple scrape against his chest. “I can’t believe you’re giving me business advice while my cock’s in you. I value your opinion, but baby, let me leave work at work tonight.”

  Instead of answering him right away, I lay my head on him and close my eyes.

  “Things will get better.”

  He skims my back with his hand and then cups my neck, massaging it. “Already has.”

  —

  The next day, instead of eating lunch in the little park near the Women’s Center, I meet Rowan for lunch. When I pull into the parking lot, her Camaro is already there.

  “That’s a first,” I say, getting out of my car. While Rowan is on time, she is never early. However, Mother says that to be on time is to be at least ten minutes early. It’s a habit I can’t break, no matter how hard I try.

  Once I’m inside the sushi place, the hostess leads me to a table near the window. It’s semi-secluded, perfect for conversations about weddings and losing one’s virginity.

  When Rowan sees me, she leaps up from her chair and gives me a hug. I return it enthusiastically, because that’s how I feel. Well, and slightly nervous.

  “I’ve already ordered for us,” Rowan says. “So sit and tell everything that won’t make me puke.”

  “Your brother is teaching me how to cook.”

  Her face falls. “That’s exciting.”

  “He went to the doctor with me to learn how to help me manage my asthma for when we are”—I glance around the room and lower my voice—“intimate.”

  Rowan’s lips twitch.

  “Sorry. I sound silly.”

  My best friend shakes her head. “You sound like you, and you know I love you.”

  “Are you—do you think poorly of me?” I don’t know why I ask this, but Rowan’s approval means more to me than anyone else’s. Except for Jase’s.

  “As long as Jase treats you like you deserve, no. Even then, even if he did something stupid, I’d only think very bad things about his dumb ass, not yours.” Rowan grabs my hand and squeezes it reassuringly. “So…without going into too much detail, or really any detail at all, was it everything you expected?”

  “No.”

  Her blue eyes flash with fire. “Seriously. He got that wrong?”

  “He got it right. It was more…he was…we were…I love him even more now.”

  “Say no more.” She grins at me. “I’m very happy for you, even if it’s with my brother and I can never ask for dirty details.”

  “Dirty? Your brother? He’s very fond of showers and loves to wash my—”

  Rowan covers her ears. “Not listening.”

  Laughter bubbles up from my throat. “I’m done. I was only teasing.” A little. Jase does love showers. He says it’s from spending all those years in prison and never feeling clean enough.

  Our sushi arrives and Rowan grabs a pair of chopsticks. “I’m glad you’re happy, Piper.”

  “I’m glad we’re both happy.”

  Chapter 14

  Piper

  I sit in a comfortable lounge chair on Jase’s screened-in back porch while watching the rain fall. My knees are drawn up to my chest and I rest my chin on them. Jase went for a run about an hour ago. I still haven’t told him about my conversation with Emmett, but I will. I only have to figure out how to tell him without painting his business partner in a bad light. I can’t sound whiny or accusatory when I do.

  I didn’t elaborate on my dinner with my parents, either. I don’t want anyone’s pity, least of all Jase’s. He deals with enough without adding my so-called problems to his. Plus, I didn’t want to ruin the two most special nights of my life.

  Letting out a shaky sigh, I close my eyes. Last night Jase held me, claiming I was too sore for a fourth time. While I agreed with him, I still craved that closeness of making love to him, but it was more than nice falling asleep in his arms. I felt safe and secure in them. Rather strange if I think about, given that my boyfriend is a criminal.

  The back door opens and so do my eyes. I crane my neck around to see Jase emerging from inside. He’s freshly showered. My heart flutters and my body gets warm.

  “There you are,” he says, lifting me up so that he can sit behind me. He settles me onto his lap and I turn to him, pressing my nose into his throat. He smells so good. So male…so Jase. “What are you doing out here?”

  “Didn’t feel like watching any movies.”

  “Rowan wants us to come to dinner tonight, said we couldn’t put her off any longer, so I agreed. Hope you don’t mind.”

  Shaking my head, I press a kiss to his hot skin. “I don’t mind at all.”

  “We’ll have to endure at least two hours of wedding talk and cooing from Seth.”

  I snort at little. “Rowan’s excited, too.”

  “Not as much as Seth. One of his Marine buddies is helping him out.”

  “They had a bet or something,” I say.

  “Seth lost, huh?”

  Biting my lip, I grin a little. “He won.”

  Jase chuckles, his laughter rumbling from his chest. He begins to play with my hair, taking the long strands and brushing his fingers through them. “When Rowan was little, I used to braid her hair.”

  “Best big brother in the world.” I peer up at him. “I have something to tell you.”

  “Yeah?”

  I nod. “Emmett and I had a heated discussion about two certified letters from the Health Department.”

  “And?”

  “He seems to think that those letters are because I’m an employee there.”

  Jase’s jaw works. “Does he…so that’s why he was so riled up last night. I thought it was because some chick turned him down.”

  “No. It’s all my fault.”

  “It’s not your fault. Hell, even if it were your fault—in that your dad or mom wanted to make me pay for being with you—they had no idea that we are together.”

  “They still don’t.”

  “Couldn’t tell them yet?”

  A huge part of me is relieved that he didn’t assume I’m ashamed of him. “We didn’t get past appetizers before Mother asked me to leave the table.”

  “Why would she—I don’t want to know…unless you want me to know,” he says. “Anyway, back to Emmett. What else did he say to you?”

  Embarrassed, I duck my head. “He fussed at me in front of clients.”

  “I hope you gave him hell back,” Jase says, still running his fingers through my hair.

  “I did my version of giving someone hell,” I admit.

  “Good for you.”

  “But he’s your partner and I shouldn’t come between the two of you,” I protest.

  “Is that what he thinks—my judgment is clouded when it comes to you?” His blue eyes turn as hard as diamonds.

  “I think so.” I know so.

  “I’ll have a talk with him, kitten. You still have a job for as long as you need it.”

  “That’s great, because my parents refuse to pay for college or even cosign a loan for me.”

  “Is that why your mother asked you to leave?”

  Wordlessly, I shake my head.

  “Baby, tell me why. I can see that it’s bothering you.”

  “She said that I needed to leave so that I could get my disgusting condition under control,” I whisper, ashamed of how my parents managed to reduce me to nothing while spending only ten minutes in their presence.

  “What the fuck does that mean?” Understanding dawns on his face. “Your asthma?”

  I wrap my arms around him and lean against him once more. “Can we stop talking about all the horrible conversations I had on Friday?”

  “Whatever you want,” he says, settling back into the chair. “We can stay in tonight.”

  “I want to be with you…and Rowan and Seth. Y
’all are my family now.” My vision blurs. I try to swallow my tears but they refuse to be held back. My body shakes.

  “Always, baby. No matter what happens, we will always be family.” He wipes my tears from my face. “Please stop crying. God, please stop. Or tell me what to do to make you feel better.”

  Love me. Please love me. “Hold me and don’t let go.”

  “Never. I’m never letting you go.” He says it so fiercely that I believe him.

  I don’t have any other choice.

  Jase

  I halfway expected dinner at my sister’s house to be different because of my relationship with Piper, but I’m grateful as hell that everything is the same.

  Rowan and Piper whisper and giggle about God knows what while O’Connor moons over my sister. Every so often Piper will catch me eying her and turn as red as the roses in the backyard.

  “Dinner’s ready,” Seth announces as he walks inside carrying a platter of steak.

  “We’re ready, too,” Piper says.

  She and Rowan finish setting the table while I grab drinks and cups of ice. No beer for me tonight. I’m hitting the hard stuff—sweet, iced tea.

  “Smells good. Looks good,” Rowan says, but she’s not looking at the food. She’s eye-fucking her fiancé. Something I did not need to see.

  Seth serves the ladies first, leaving me to fend for myself. I don’t mind; the kid has manners. Well, he’s not a kid anymore. He’s only two years younger than me and has seen a lot of bad shit go down. Sometimes, I think war is the only thing worse than prison. Sure, serving in the military is voluntary, but when the rubber hits the road…it takes a guy with nuts of titanium to get through that hell.

  Everyone digs in and a comfortable silence fills the kitchen. It’s nice to eat with family, without looking over your shoulder or guarding your food.

  Piper scoots her chair closer to me. Her foot touches my leg and I quirk a brow at her. She wants to play at the table? Fine with me.

  Her foot stops just short of my dick before she begins to rub the inside of my leg. I jump a little at the contact.

  Rowan and Seth give me identical looks of what’s-the-matter-with-you?

  “Sorry. Thought a bug was crawling up my leg.”

  “Ew,” Rowan says. “Glad it wasn’t.”

  I grab Piper’s foot and her eyes widen. Slowly, I begin to massage it with one hand while I attempt to eat with my free one. A look of pure pleasure washes over her face as I press my thumb into her instep.

  “So good,” she whispers. Then her eyes get all big. “The steak…the food is so good.”

  Seth nods. “We’re thinking of having the wedding catered or grilling out afterward.”

  Save me now. Wedding talk. “Why not have it in a restaurant?” I tickle the bottom of Piper’s foot and she almost falls out of her seat.

  “Are you okay?” Rowan asks, grabbing her arm.

  Piper nods, then playfully glares at me. “Your brother was tickling me under the table.”

  “You started it.” I let go of her, and her foot slips away.

  “Get a room, you two,” Rowan grumbles, but I can tell she’s secretly pleased with the flirting between Piper and me.

  “We can leave right now if you want,” I offer.

  Rowan pins her baby blue gaze on me. “I don’t think so. You two are the only other couple I can stand to spend time with.”

  Seth lightly touches her arm and Rowan’s gaze softens before she turns her attention to him. “Hey, Julie and—”

  “Around here, baby. Your battle buddy and his wife are on the other side of the country now,” Rowan points out.

  “True, but they’ll be here for the wedding.” Seth finishes the steak on his plate and goes back for more salad. “He’s the maid of honor.”

  Piper gasps, a look of pure outrage all over her gorgeous face. “I’m the maid of honor.”

  Rowan snorts. “Seth was only kidding.”

  Obviously mollified, Piper smiles. “Good, and as your maid of honor, I want to walk down the aisle with a guy of my choosing.”

  “For the last time, Mark Williams and his preppy ass bow ties will not be invited,” Rowan says, playfully smacking Piper’s shoulder.

  “That guy’s an asshole,” Seth points out.

  Rowan nods. “We all agree on that, but poor Piper here can’t help but be nice to him.”

  “What am I supposed to do when he grabs me—scream for help?”

  “Hell, yes, that’s what you’re supposed to do.” I shove my chair back. “When did he put a hand on you?”

  Piper won’t meet my gaze. “Last Friday night, but it’s not what you think.” Finally, she looks at me. “He was nice to me after my parents kicked me out of dinner.”

  “Oh no, Piper.” Rowan takes her in her arms. “I’m sorry.” My sister mouths the words lay off, but I’m beyond caring. That fucker had no right touching Piper. Or any other woman, for that matter.

  “He’s got you fooled.”

  “Just because Giselle slept with him while the two of you were together doesn’t make him a bad person,” Piper says, sitting up. Her eyes flash green fire. “If I recall correctly, you asked me to go home with you while you were dating Giselle. If I had said yes, then you would have been no better than him.”

  My hands clench into fists. “Don’t you ever compare me to that piece of shit. He’s not fit to lick my shoes.”

  “Maybe not, but you should be over your ex-girlfriend by now. You have me and she’s not fit to lick my shoes.” Piper jumps to her feet. “Thank you for dinner. Please excuse me.”

  Stunned into silence, none of us say anything as she grabs her things and leaves.

  “Holy shit,” Seth finally says. “I think you just got told off by Piper Ross.”

  “Hell yes, he did,” Rowan says. She leans over and punches me in the arm. “You’re such a shit, you know that? God, I thought you’d be over Giselle by now, too.”

  “I am over Giselle. I was never under Giselle.” I shake my head at the look of disgust on Rowan’s face. “Not what you’re thinking. I didn’t give a shit who she slept with, but that asshole Mark doesn’t take no for an answer and no one calls him out on it because his daddy’s the mayor.

  “And I’ll be damned before I allow that fucker to get anywhere near Piper again. She’s too trusting and vulnerable,” I add.

  Rowan’s eyes become round. “You’re in love. Holy crap, you’re in love with my best friend.”

  I can’t deny it, yet I can’t agree with it, either. I get up from the table and take my plate to the sink. “Thanks for dinner. Sorry I can’t stay for dessert. I have to go after Piper.”

  “Tell her you looooove her,” Rowan shouts as I make my way to the back door.

  Easy for her to say. She’s been in love with the same guy since she was born while I screwed as many girls as possible until I went to prison. Giselle and I didn’t have a serious relationship. Everyone thought we did, but I never gave a damn about her and she sure as hell didn’t care about my feelings.

  As I walk outside, I spy Piper’s BMW in the drive. Either she walked home or is waiting on me.

  “Took you long enough,” she says, emerging from the shadows.

  There’s just enough light from the sunset that I can see the tracks of tears on her face. Shit. I made her cry. I’m no better than her family.

  “Wasn’t sure what to say exactly,” I admit.

  “Shouldn’t matter. You should have come after me.” Sniffing a little, she looks away. “I keep doing the chasing. Maybe you should try it sometime.”

  “Is that what this is about? You want to be pursued?”

  She shakes her head. “No. Yes…do you know how hard it is to constantly pretend that it doesn’t matter you’re not good enough?”

  “Yeah, I think I do.” Especially when it comes to her.

  “I meant with me—do you have to worry about living up to or surpassing an ex-boyfriend of mine’s reputation or hold on
me?”

  “No, I don’t,” I say slowly. Is that what she thinks? That Giselle still holds sway over me?

  “That must be nice, because I do.” She looks at me, misery in her eyes. “You yelled at me in front of your sister and Seth because you’re still pissed off at a guy for what Giselle did to you.”

  I take a step toward her and frame her face in my hands. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you—you’re completely right about that. However, if you had stuck around, you would have heard the real reason why I was so pissed. I was scared as fuck, Piper. Mark Williams isn’t a piece of shit because he fucked my ex. He’s a piece of shit because he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

  “I don’t understand. He’s creepy but harmless.”

  Clearly, she doesn’t have a clue about his reputation, and I’m more than a little relieved that she doesn’t, yet scared shitless at the same time. “Mark has a certain kind of reputation with women.”

  She rolls her eyes. “So do you.”

  “It’s not the same, kitten.”

  “Because he’s from The Oaks like me?”

  I dust my thumb across her bottom lip. “Not at all.”

  She snorts in disbelief. “Yeah, right. Even your sister is a snob when it comes to people from there. It’s like I’m an anomaly or something.”

  “Not an anomaly—you’re precious and mine to protect.”

  “I don’t need protection from the world.” She pulls away from me, but I grab her arm before she can go.

  “He doesn’t listen when women say no, but I can’t prove it. I can only go by what I’ve stopped from happening and what I’ve heard. It terrifies me that he would take advantage of your sweetness.”

  Her lips smash together. Piper doesn’t ask me why I can’t prove it. She knows the imbalance of power in my life and, as someone who went to college to become a social worker, she knows all too well why women stay silent.

  “Why didn’t you say so instead of yelling and making me feel like crap?” she asks.

  “Because when I get scared, I get pissed, and that’s how I share it with the world.”