Page 20 of Black Roses

I could swear I see Piper shiver as my hot words flow over her bare neck. “Oh,” she whispers back. “When my sisters referred to your ex, I just assumed . . .”

“No way. Not her.” I pull back reluctantly, wanting to spend every breath nuzzled close to Piper’s flowery-scented skin.

Cassidy lunges forward, putting herself between Piper and me. “And this is?”

Piper answers before I can. “Nobody. I’m nobody. Just a friend.” Her eyes plead with mine as she gives a small shake of her head. I take it to mean she doesn’t want me to say her name, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out why.

“And doesnobodyhave a name? She looks familiar.” Cassidy asks me with no regard for Piper.

Piper taps her on the arm, to which Cassidy stares at the offending gesture and then questions Piper with her catty eyes.

“Just call me Snow,” Piper deadpans.

Cassidy gives her a bitchy smirk. “Cute,” she says.

I feel I’d better end this standoff before Cassidy makes her even more uncomfortable than she already is. I try to sound friendly when I ask my ex-girlfriend, “So, who’s watching Hailey?”

“My mother,” she says, still staring down Piper.

“And who are you here with?” I ask.

She turns back to me with a big smile. “Jealous, are you?”

“Not even a little bit, Cass.” I take a meaningful step towards Piper. “No, I’m just hoping whoever it is will come looking for you so you can quit monopolizing our time.”

She purses her surgically-enhanced lips and narrows her scornful eyes at me. “Would it surprise you to find out I’m here with Johnny Henley?”

My stomach churns and I feel sick. I know he’s my competition and all, but that’s a low blow even for a veteran player.

“Ha!” she says. “I’m only kidding. I’m here with Anthony Moore. He’s a journalist.” She points across the room to a man who is scribbling away on a notepad while standing among some of my teammates. “Should I invite him to join us?”

Piper shifts uncomfortably and whispers to me that she’s off to find the ladies room. I watch her walk away, my eyes following her every careful step in those ridiculously high heels until she turns the corner. Finally, I give my attention back to Cassidy. I should have known she’d weasel her way into to this function. She’s done it many times before. It’s like she’s keeping tabs on me. I’m not sure why; she’s sleeping with half of New York City, probably including the judge who refused to give me more time with my kid. I made it clear to her long ago, when she showed up pregnant, that my only interest in her was that she keep our daughter happy and safe. As long as she continues to fulfill her end of the deal, I’m happy to keep paying the astronomical amount of child support she managed to get out of me.

Knowing she’s here with someone from the press makes me even more relieved that Piper didn’t let me reveal her name. I’m not sure what Cassidy would have done with the information, but I’m sure it wouldn’t have been anything good. I get the distinct feeling she’s not overjoyed that I may have started dating after all this time.

“No, Cass, you shouldn’t invite him over, because there is nous. Please just leave me alone and go back to your little lap dog.”

She turns her nose up at me. “I don’t know why you hate me so much, Mason. Don’t you think we should get along—for Hailey’s sake?”

“As far as our daughter knows, wedoget along. And that’s exactly how I intend to keep it. I’ll do anything for her, including pretending to like her mother.” I step away from her, grabbing two champagne flutes from a waiter’s tray. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go find uh . . . Snow.”

She puts a hand on my arm, causing a bit of champagne to slosh out of a glass. “What’s up with the fake name? And that hair, it’s so last decade. Couldn’t you have found someone a little less hideous, baby?”

I burn her hand with my punishing stare. “Get your hand off me, Cassidy. And watch yourself. You have no idea the legal teams I have access to, do you? You just remember—as soon as I decide to fight you, you’ll be sorry.”

“Are you threatening me, Mason? Do you really think a judge is going to give you Hailey?” She laughs. “You—a wanna-be football player who isn’t even home half the year?”

She hits a nerve. It’s exactly why I haven’t fought for custody. Hailey needs structure and stability. A full-time parent who isn’t traveling every other week from August through January. And even though Cassidy is a certified slut, I have to admit she’s been a decent mom.

I see Piper round the corner and tear myself away from Cassidy. “Goodbye, Cass.”

I meet Piper halfway across the expansive room. I hand her the glass of champagne. She accepts it while regarding it woefully. “I thought we weren’t drinking,” she says.

“We’re not. But one toast won’t hurt, will it?” I hold my glass out to her.

Her shaky arm extends to clink my glass, but she uses too much force, sending both our drinks shattering onto the shiny marble floor. She blows out a deep, regretful breath and apologizes. “I’m sorry, I’m so clumsy sometimes.”

I push the broken glass to the side with my shoe as I see two waiters race over with a mop and broom to clean up the mess.

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