Page 28 of Black Roses

Me: I want to go on that date with you.

chapter twelve

mason

I occasionally throw a football in front of seventy-eight thousand people. I’ve given a dozen speeches at middle schools and high schools in the Tri-State area. I sometimes get to mingle with the rich and famous. But, this—walking up Griffin’s porch steps to fetch Piper for a date—thishas my nerves so far on edge that I feel sick to my stomach.

I’m not sure I’ll get another chance. I’ve got one shot at this. She’s fragile. Broken by some horrible event that haunts her in her sleep. Fractured to the point of sheer panic at both the benefit and the marathon.

I haven’t seen her since her nightmare after the race. That night was both incredible and awful at the same time. When I heard her blood-curdling screams come from the room next to mine, I thought she was being attacked. I didn’t even think twice about breaking down the door. And when I got to her, I was relieved yet gutted watching her relive something from her past.

I was able to calm her down, and to my surprise, she even let me hold her until she fell asleep. I lay there watching her for hours. My body was begging for sleep, my muscles exhausted and my energy stores depleted, but I couldn’t rip my eyes from her beautiful face. I’ll admit, I took liberties she may not have given me if she were conscious. I brushed her hair aside and touched the small tattoo behind her right ear. I nuzzled my head into her hair, inhaling the flowery scent of her shampoo. I put her small hand in mine and held it for dear life—I’m just not certain for whose, hers or mine.

But then I left. I know how embarrassed she gets after her panic attacks. And no matter how much I wanted to stay and have breakfast with her—no matter how much I wanted her to trust me and open up to me about what happened to her—I knew it wasn’t the right time. I needed to give her some space. So I packed my things and tipped the bellman to keep her safe.

The hair on my arms prickles when I recall getting the text from her. Of all the things she could’ve asked for, she asked for a date. Maybe she felt bad because I let her win.

She had second thoughts when I told her Saturday was my only free night. She tried to convince me to go any other night. But this is the first week of conditioning, and that comes with a lot of meetings and engagements. And even though I want this woman more than I’ve ever wanted anyone, I’m not about to give up a part of myself to get her. Everything I do at work is for one specific purpose, to show my value as a team player, potential leader and top-notch quarterback who is deserving of the starting position.

She cancelled twice on me already, and I suspect her sisters have put the pressure on. I don’t really care why she’s doing this or how we got here because I’ve only got twenty days. Twenty days before the wedding. Twenty days before she packs her bags and heads back to her nomadic life.

Twenty days to convince her to stay.

I ring the bell and look through the sidelight in anticipation. I see the indecision when Piper comes from the kitchen. She hesitates. She exchanges words with someone I can’t see. She even shakes her head and starts towards the stairs to her room. Then something causes her to turn around. It’s then she catches me watching her through the small window.

Her eyes close. Her chest expands before I see her blow out a long breath.

One chance, my head screams.Don’t fuck this up.

Skylar comes into view, handing Piper her phone and giving her a nudge in my direction. My eyes are trained on her as she slowly walks across the hardwood floor. She may be nervous. She may not even want to do this. But that doesn’t keep her from looking heart-stoppingly gorgeous. As in, my heart genuinely skipped a beat. In twenty-two years, that’s never happened to me. Not even when I was drafted by the Giants.

It must have actually skipped a hell of a lot more than that, because I feel weak. And completely out of my mind at the thought of this petite, remarkable creature being capable of bringing me to my knees easier than a three-hundred-pound linebacker.

She opens the door and I drink her in. Her hair is soft and wavy, like she just came from a day at the beach, looking casual as if she hadn’t taken any time on it whatsoever, yet it’s perfect. Her emerald eyes reflect the rich color of her blouse, making them an even deeper shade of green than usual. Tasteful makeup accentuates her eyes and I break out in a smile, knowing she took the time to get ready for our date after all.

“What’s that?” She nods her head at what I completely forgot I was holding.

I put my proverbial tongue back in my mouth and extend my arm, offering her the ‘bouquet’ of candy bars I had the chocolate shop down the street put together. “I heard you say you missed American candy while you were away.”

“You brought me a bouquet. Of candy?” she says in amusement, her mouth easing into a grin she can’t control.

“Well, I wanted to be original and not bring flowers like your other dates.”

“I don’t date,” she says with the lift of her eyebrow.

“Except tonight,” I remind her.

“Don’t get cocky. I’m just honoring our bet.” She tries to sound bitchy, but I can see right through it. She’s as transparent to me as if we’d been twins separated at birth. I can see through the façade she puts up to make her appear stronger than she thinks she is.

I don’t know what happened to her to make her this way. What I do know is that I work day in and day out with some of the biggest, beefiest, most muscular guys in the country. And I own a gym that gets used by a few of the world’s elite athletes. But this girl—this broken, flawed, extraordinary woman—I think she just might be the strongest person I know.

~ ~ ~

“What can I get you to drink, Miss?” the waiter asks.

Piper hides behind the menu, putting it between us and the prying eyes of our attendant. She whispers, “Is this one of those places that will bring a bottle of wine and open it right here at the table?”

I chuckle and whisper back, “This is one of those places that will follow you into the bathroom and wipe your ass if you want them to.”

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