Chapter 13

13

Cutter

Crash course lesson into dating a single mom - you wait until things are worked out with the kid first. Which I personally could not agree more with.

Dating a single mom…

I keep telling myself I am not dating a single mom.

I'm just going to take a single mom out on a date. Simple as that.

I don't live in this town. I'm just here for a little while.

When you look at it from a distance, it's perfect for both Piper and me.

Plus, this is a pleasant distraction from my injury and waiting to get back on the field. Sitting around, thinking about baseball and waiting is driving me crazy. I go to the pool as much as I can. I even went to the gym a few times, at night.

As far as dating goes, the best I have to offer clothing wise is a nice pair of jeans, a black t-shirt, and an attempt at something that looks like a suit jacket. It's the exact kind of thing I would wear to some baseball banquet or awards thing.

I research the best restaurants in this small town and pick the one that seems to be the best.

Geppies Restaurant

I'm not going to attempt to take Piper out of town. I'm sure she's nervous as hell with her son being…

Shit. I know parts of her schedule already. This is like the night we met up at the pool and her car refused to start. Saxon is at his father's house…

I shake my head. This isn't some hot date. Not at all. Piper is on a time limit.

Hey - getting ready to leave. How does Geppies sound? Meet there?

I send the text and grab a bottle of water. I can't be nervous about this. There's nothing to be nervous about. I already know how this is going to go.

Piper is going to be standoffish and defensive the entire time. I'm going to pick and poke at her just for fun. I figure it'll end for good when she slaps me again or we end up kissing.

No. Skip that place. Meet at Tortetta's. Twenty minutes. See you there. I'll be waiting.

I study the text and let out a laugh.

Tell me that's not exactly how Piper operates.

I suggest a place.

She says no.

And she's going to be there waiting.

This woman is kind of a nightmare.

But I'm not ready to wake up just yet…

When I see Piper dressed down, I quickly take the suit jacket off and toss it across the front seat of the SUV.

She's wearing dark blue jeans with little tears at the knees. A white, long-sleeve shirt hugs her body in places meant for my eyes, my hands, and my mouth.

Relax, Cutter. She'll kill you if you make a move.

That's half the fun of this.

There's a main entrance to the restaurant and a side walkway to an outdoor patio with a stretched out awning connected to fenceposts concreted into white buckets. There are also strands of lights with thick bulbs running in random directions.

It's just Piper and I out on the patio.

"Hey," she says to me.

"Piper," I say. "This place good?"

"Yeah."

"Other one didn't work, huh?"

She shrugs her shoulder.

We're staring each other down as though this is some negotiation. Or even a divorce. Like two people seated across from one another ready to argue over a house, two cars, and a beach house.

I order a beer. She orders a mixed drink.

"How's Saxon?" I ask.

"Fine. Why?"

Here we go…

"Just asking. He plays piano, huh? That's really cool."

"You've already said that. You made his night by saying that."

"I did? Why?"

Piper shakes her head and looks away.

Her wall is a mile thick.

As soon as my drink shows up, I indulge.

The funny part here is that nothing is awkward between us. She's just holding back. Really hard. Really hard on purpose.

"Okay, Piper, what's the story then?" I ask.

"The story?"

"Are you going to really be like this the entire time? Why waste your only free night?"

Oh, Cutter, you're a jerk for saying that…

But it works.

Piper stands up. "The story? That's what this is? The story. What do you want to know about me, Cutter? That I was once a championship swimmer? Huh? That I was a college star destined for some really great things. You know what happened? I got pregnant. Wasn't planning on that, no. What did I do? What I had to do, which was become a mother. Take care of my son. That's the story, Cutter. You want to know about my ex too? About Hunter?"

I reach for my bottle of beer and take a slow sip.

I pop the bottle off my lips and let out an ahh sound.

"The story I meant was about this place," I say. "Why you wanted to come here instead of the place I picked out. Wasn't sure if there was something about the other place. That's all."

Piper's face drops. Her cheeks turn a deep shade of red.

Embarrassment washes over her and she takes off running from the table.

I'm not letting her get away that easily.

She ends up in the corner of the outdoor patio.

She turns and puts a hand out. "Cutter… this is awful…"

"What is? That you just blurted out some serious stuff?"

"You did that on purpose. The way you worded it."

I get close to her. Really close.

"So is this how you are all the time? Defensive about everything?"

"Don't act like you know me."

"Where is the calm woman who ate some pizza with me the other night? What's got you so worried? You don't think I have a past too?"

"Whatever. To answer your question the right way… I like this place better. They have a great salmon dish. Served over wild rice with this sauce on top. It's my favorite meal ever."

"I can't wait to try it," I say. "Just so you know, what you're doing for your son is amazing. You love him. You care for him. You're trying to make sure he has the chance to see his father. It's not an easy life to live. You probably have a million worries and questions in your head and nobody to really talk to about it."

I start to step back and Piper grabs at my shirt.

"How? Why?"

"What?"

"What you just said…"

"Piper, everyone has a past," I say. "My mother was a single mom. I watched how hard she worked to take care of me. Without her I wouldn't be where I am today."

Piper opens her hand and lets my shirt go.

She's staring at me a little different now.

I guess this is her version of a love language.

Pain for pain?

"Should we order some of that salmon?" I ask.

"It's really dumb and cliché to order the same food."

"You suggested the salmon."

"For myself. You can get a burger."

Piper walks right by me.

She can flip a switch like nobody I ever met in my life.

Damn, she's beautiful too.

A deep soul with wounds that haven't shut yet.

Not that I'm the guy who's going to attempt to close those wounds.

I'm just here to order some salmon…

… or a burger.

The burger tastes great.

I enjoy one more beer and then opt for water.

Small town for sure, but small towns have cops. And pulling over a baseball player with some issues on his plate already and slapping him with a DUI… that would mess up things even more.

"How good of a swimmer were you?" I ask.

"Were? Still am."

"Oh, right. Your secret weekly swims."

"Are you picking at me right now, Cutter?"

"No, Piper. I'm just having a conversation. Just asking questions about you. That's all."

"Well, how good are you at baseball?"

"You can look me up and be the judge of that."

"By what? Your contract?"

"Sure. You can go by that. Or you can go by the highlights of me playing. Speaking of which, are there any videos of you swimming?"

"Is that some kind of perverted thing?"

I shake my head. "Wow, I've never met someone so defensive."

"What did you think tonight would be? I'd have a few drinks, need a ride home, and then what?"

"Piper, I'm not an idiot. We're having dinner and talking. I'd like to make sure you get home safely and then I know you have to get your son. Or you may have to leave here and go right to get him."

"That's okay with you?"

"What do you mean? You picking up your son?"

She narrows her eyes.

"I don't know what you're looking for from me right now, Piper. I'm just enjoying the moment with you. Even though you are proving to be quite the pain in the ass to be around."

"Excuse me?"

"That's right. You're a pain in the ass, Piper. I'm not sorry to tell you that either. Maybe you need to hear that. You think all I want is to get into your pants? Whatever. I thought we'd sit down, talk, laugh, have a good time. I don't see anything wrong with that. You could have just told me no for tonight. No big deal."

Piper looks devastated.

Someone like her though - she needs to be called out once in a while.

I clear my throat. "But, hey, the food was good. I appreciate the recommendation here. I'll go take care of the check." I put my hand out. "Out of being nice. Nothing more. I offered to get dinner so it's my job to pay. That's all. Okay?"

I stand up and Piper grabs my hand.

She's looking up at me. She looks nervous. Maybe even scared.

"I'm a bitch," Piper says. "I'm defensive. I have to be defensive. There's no way around it. And there sure as hell is no changing me either."

"Why are you telling me this, Piper? Is this some passive aggressive apology?"

"No, Cutter. I will never apologize for who I am. I'm telling you this because if you want to kiss me right now, I would not stop you."

My jaw instantly tightens. Hell, my cock pulses inside my jeans. I've never met someone like Piper before.

… if you want to kiss me right now…

Are you fucking insane, sweetie? I've wanted to kiss you from the second I saw you sitting up on that lifeguard stand, twirling your whistle, treating me like a nonexistent piece of garbage.

I'm not going to pass up this opportunity.

Piper is either going to let me kiss her or she's going to let me get close enough and then slap me across the face.

I'm a man of risk, so I lean down toward her.

I can't help but like the fact that she's bold and aggressive. I can't help but like that she's eaten salmon for dinner but doesn't care and dares me to kiss her.

When my lips gently graze her lips, I have to confess I'm a little shocked.

I did not think she'd let me kiss her.

I basically brush my lips against hers.

"That's how you kiss someone?" she asks in an evil tone.

A guy like me can only be called out on certain things so many times before losing his edge.

Then again, I think I lost my edge a while ago with Piper.

I place my left hand to the table and my right hand to the back of Piper's neck.

This time when I kiss her, I kiss her.

Lips touch for a second before my tongue sweeps forward, left to right, teasing her lips. Piper lets out the softest sigh I've ever heard or felt. Then my tongue is in her mouth, kissing her the way her eyes have secretly been wanting for so long.

Her defensive attitude is nothing but desire.

It's a damn hot kiss, I'll admit that.

Piper offers her tongue right back to mine. Of course she can't just accept a kiss. She has to attempt to take control. She can't be vulnerable, not even when making out with someone.

I finally close my lips and pull away, leaving her with the sound of our lips making a loud smacking sound.

"Better?" I ask.

"Still want to make sure I get home safely?"

Oh, fuck, sweetie…

"What about your son?" I ask.

Piper stands up. She shakes her head. "Still saying the right things after I'm going to let you get into my pants?"

"Who said I want to get into your pants, Piper?" I ask.

"I'm going home," she says.

She turns and walks away with a little strut to her hips. Purposely rocking back and forth. I can't tell if she's trying to hypnotize me, seduce me, or lure me in to kill me.

Whatever it is… I'm sure as hell going to follow her home…

She leads the way to the kitchen. She's unsure of taking a man to her bedroom and into her bed. I respect that. It doesn't bother me at all. I don't need a bedroom or a bed to take care of things when it comes to Piper, her body and her needs.

Now to back up a second or two, following her was an interesting feeling.

Knowing she was looking in her rearview mirror. Giving herself a chance to talk herself out of this. I figured there was a good chance I'd park and she'd wave me off. Just tell me to go home, then rush inside alone.

Nope.

Here I am in her kitchen now.

I don't look around. I don't care about the features. I don't care about a thing other than the way Piper is looking at me.

The way she steps back and bumps into the counter.

She gasps, realizing there's no escaping this moment now.

I place my hands on the counter, kind of trapping her, but we both know she's in control. One word and I'm out of here.

I press my body against hers and drop my mouth down to hers.

This kiss is deeper, hotter, packed with intention from both sides.

My right hand takes the chance and I grab for Piper's ass.

She instantly grabs my wrist.

"Cutter," she says into my mouth. "I'm not so sure about this."

I open my hand away from her ass and take my mouth away from hers.

I stare at her.

She's defensive and protective every second of every day.

"What about this, sweetie?" I ask.

I drop my mouth down to her neck and gently kiss.

She purrs. She sighs.

"What about… this…?"

I touch the front of her pants and unbutton them.

I drop down to my left knee in front of her and look up.

Piper looks down at me, shocked.

I curl my fingers around the top of her pants… and then her panties…

"What about this, Piper?"

I give a tug and can't help but look.

I grit my teeth at the sight of her body.

Her pubic area, with tickling stubble. My thumbs touch.

"Oh, fuck," I growl.

I keep going.

I slide Piper's pants and panties down to her knees.

My hands touch her legs, climbing back up, my thumbs moving to her inner thighs.

I stroke her soft, wet labia and look up at her.

"What about this?" I ask.

"Shut up, Cutter," Piper finally speaks.

She's a little breathless.

She bites her bottom lip.

My right thumb plays, teases, and then it turns serious as I curl it against her clit.

Piper's hips thrust.

I have to ask one more time…

"What about this, sweetie?"

My hands then grab her curvy, cute ass, and I pull her toward me.

My tongue darts between her legs, tasting the sweet honey from the most stubborn, mean woman I've ever met.