Nicole and Lenore grinned. Then Lenore patted my shoulder. “Go get him, Violet. You can do this.”
I slipped and slid in my ballet flats as I headed home down the icy sidewalks. The Treetop Apartments had never felt so far away before.
Chapter 17
Easton
It figured that once Ifinallytold myself it was okay to live again, that I’d fall for a woman who’d fallen for another man.
There was something about Violet that was justdifferent.
I’d watched her for six months now, the quiet giant living in the background of her life.
Violet was everything I’d ever wanted in a woman, and she made my blood flow like no one ever had. Not even Leann.
It hurt to think about Leann, but we’d been so young and so many years had passed since then. I knew that if the situation had been reversed, she would have found love with someone new, too.
Leann wasn’t coming back. And Violet wasn’t going to be mine.
But the pain in my heart today was about Violet. Not Leann.
My heart was breaking all over again.
I didn’t blame her for loving another man. It justhurt.
It reminded me why I’d shut love out of my life for so many years. It sucked to lose the one you loved.
“Fucking damn it,” I muttered as I hooked her car up to my tow hitch.
I was taking her car down to Rusty’s auto shop. I couldn’t do this job without a lift, and he’d already told me he’d let me borrow his for free.
I’d already put the remaining gifts in the car. None of them matched the theme.
The scarf was the only impulse buy. But when I’d seen her looking at it at the art market, I’d known I had to buy it for her. It was going to match her sexy hot pink cardigan perfectly. She didn’t always dress flashy, but I knew she secretly wanted to because of the websites I’d seen her looking at. That’s why I’d bought her the bright cowgirl boots, too. She deserved to shine brightly.
There was also a gift card to the Ozark Outfitters, where she could buy herself a proper pair of winter boots and a better coat. I hadn’t been able to resist adding that in.
As I headed to my truck, I spotted Violet slipping and sliding down the sidewalk towards me.
“Easton, wait! I need to talk to you.”
She looked absolutely delectable.
It hurt to see her wearing my winter coat. I’d left it with her after we’d ice-skated together, telling her she needed to keep it until she got one of her own.
But I wasn’t ready to talk to her, not when my heart still felt so raw. So, I hopped in my truck and headed off to Rusty’s auto shop. It was only after the fact that I hoped she realized I wasn’t trying to steal her car. Otherwise, I’d be getting a visit from the local sheriff, Mason, soon.
Chapter 18
Violet
I stood there with my heart hammering in my chest, watching Easton drive off with my car.
It was a mystery to me how he’d even gotten it unlocked. He didn’t have the key.
Or how he knew where I lived.
But there was no doubt in my mind that he was taking my car to get it fixed. And that he’d bought averyexpensive transmission for me.
