This fucking guy.
He had a reputation, and he was known for banging every tourist who came through town. Why hadn’t Montana given her best friend a heads-up about what a piece of shit this guy was? She’d known him as long as I had.
“‘All this effort’? From what I’ve heard, you’ve been keeping plenty busy with the tourists coming through town. But now you’re into Violet, huh?” I took a long pull from my beer.
“You keeping tabs on the competition, Huxley?” He laughed, and I wrapped my hand so tight around my bottle I worried the glass would shatter as he continued talking. “Obviously we’re two of the most eligible bachelors in Blushing. I get it. And you know my motto—‘Hit it and quit it.’”
I didn’t know his motto. I didn’t keep up with who the eligible bachelors in town were. And I didn’t give two shits about this fucker.
But I didn’t want him anywhere near Violet.
So, I’d have to play the game.
“Well, I don’t think you’re going to have any luck with that motto when it comes to Violet.” I shrugged, glancing over at Myles, still talking on his phone in the far corner of the bar. He looked pissed off, which didn’t mean much because it was also his normal state.
“Oh, what do you know? Myles didn’t tell me shit. But he’s a moody fucker, right?” More annoying laughter.
“I mean, if you’re crazy about her, like you claim to be, I think you should go for it. She’s staying in my guesthouse, and she’s a great girl. She’s got plans, though, so be aware.”
“Dirty plans?” He smirked.
“Nah, that’s not her thing. I helped her move into the guesthouse, and she has a whole bulletin board of her plans to be married by the end of the year. She wants five kids, and she’s already got their names picked out. I mean, you’ve got to respect a woman who knows what she wants.” I shrugged, reaching for my beer again and then taking a sip as he gaped at me. “But your ‘hit it and quit it’ might not be aligned with her motto that I noticed she uses as her screen saver.”
Shit. I’d never been great at thinking on the fly, but by the shocked look on his face, I was doing a damn good job.
“What the fuck? I thought she was wild. I was hoping for a good time. What’s her motto?”
This fucker had it coming.
But now I had to think of something quickly.
I cleared my throat. “I shouldn’t be sharing her secrets, so keep this between us.”
“Always. Bros before hos, am I right?”
No, you fucker. You’re not right.
I plastered a fake smile on my face. “It was something like, ‘Saving myself for Mr. Right.’”
“No shit. She’s a fucking virgin? How did I misread her so badly?”
“Maybe you’re just a clueless fuck,” I said dryly like I was kidding around. He roared in laughter, and I pretended to join in.
“Well, she won’t be the first woman I deflower.” He moved his brows up and down, and I cringed at his words. “Challenge accepted.”
Well, that didn’t go the way I hoped it would.
Chapter Seven
Violet
The last hour had been the longest sixty minutes of my life. I wanted a new car, one with snow tires, and the only place in town to get it was at this dipshit’s car lot.
He’d been hitting on me for months, and I dreaded the idea of spending any time with him. I’d considered going to Anchorage to avoid this interaction, but I’d noticed the cute white Bronco that was parked on his lot last week, so I decided to just bite the bullet. Dean Walker was not the first asshole I’d ever dealt with.
I could handle him for a brief time, right?
“You sure you don’t want to discuss the finances over lunch?” he asked, flashing his Cartier watch around his wrist several times to make sure I saw it.
