“Willow and me? We aren’t together. You know things weren’t right with her.”
No shit, he’d cheated on her at their rehearsal dinner. The whole town knew they weren’t right for each other.
“I’ve been wanting to thank you for feeding Mom your concerns so she’d speak up at the wedding, for not holding your peace, for doing the brave thing when I couldn’t. That makes us a good pair, huh?”
Yuck and yuck. Her gut tightened.
Warren stuffed his hands into his pockets in a prep school stance. “I’m not with anyone.”
He liked being in a relationship for the illicit thrill cheating brought him. He had life backward. “I’m glad you’re taking time for self-reflection.” Piper moved back over to the shooting area. Subtle maneuver, sure, but when a woman walked away without signaling for a guy to join her, that was usually enough of a rejection.
His footsteps followed her.
No such luck, Warren was hanging in there.
“Your cousin dating my brother, that’s a special connection we share. We’ll have some major events coming up: Dodo’s engagement party, showers, the rehearsal, the wedding, the reception. A lifetime of events really.”
Right. That was one reason she didn’t lose her temper with him. “A reason to be civil.” The other was that his family currently signed her paychecks.
Warren pushed his bottom lip out, and his jaw tightened. “I want more.”
Piper shook her head and went to the other side of the room. Warren on her heels. She ignored him, pulled out her phone, and emailed Dahlia about the shoot. Dahlia sent back pictures of herself in various gorgeous wedding dresses. She looked stunning in them all but was leaning toward a conservative buttoned-up Edwardian cut, not her usual modern style. Piper cupped her hand over her phone, channeled her inner Calista, curled into her own world, and pretended not to notice Warren’s hovering.
* * *
Mikah posed with the dancers behind him. The smell of candy perfume and the glow of body glitter reached strip club levels. Standing in the midst of beautiful women would send Piper running to his side. He could handle her jealousy, make sure she understood he would be exclusive for her. Temporarily. She’d like that. He searched the room for the golden-haired beauty who consumed most of his thoughts and invaded his dreams.
Warren Applebaum stood near her. Mikah tensed. What was Warren doing here? Brazen prick. Shit all over his family, make a public spectacle of his wedding, then show up here like he had nothing to be ashamed of. What piece of his brain was missing? Was he not born with certain neural pathways, or had some childhood event disrupted them? Would a smack to his head bring his conscience back?
“Yes, more scowling, the look works for you.” The photographer snapped away.
The other starters filled in around him.
Kiernan took the spot to his right. “Dude’s hounding Piper.”
Liam took his left. “He’s following her around like she has his missing purity. What you going to do about it?”
His bros were asking him questions like he was her partner. Mikah tightened his fists but kept his composure. “Why are you asking me?”
“You have dibs.” Kiernan arched his dark brow like he was doubting his knowledge.
Doubts? Really, bro? He’d had his hands and lips all over Piper at the Halloween party. They knew that. That was unspoken but clear dibs. His mind started to go there, her softness, how she tasted. Not the time, this was work.
“Want me to intervene?”
Did Kiernan think he couldn’t handle Warren Applebaum? Mikah frowned harder but didn’t answer. “I’m taking five.”
Mikah strolled over to Piper. She stood by the bench, where she’d spent most of the morning, emptying the contents of her backpack.
Mikah got closer and pulled on his jersey. “What’s up?”
Piper’s shoulders sagged. She sank onto the bench beside her loose stuff. “Misplaced something.” She started repacking her bag.
“What?”
Her cheeks flushed to the color of her lips. “Your mom’s sweater. I wanted to return it. She said the top was a gift, but…” She raised her gaze to his and her words died.
Her green eyes looked worried over a sweater. “Don’t worry.” Mom had a shit ton of designer clothes. Giving one sweater away gave Mom an excuse for her to buy ten more. Not fair. Mom’s gesture had been nice. He’d take generosity over malicious manipulative any day. Devious scheming was Zee’s type. Too soon to know the twins’ type. He needed to make more of their games, watch out for them. He flattened his palm against the wall and crossed one ankle over the other. Should have left his jersey off, that would have taken her mind from the trivial.