Violet had tried to wear the same style once, but it did nothing for her lanky frame. She felt more like a twelve-year-old boy than a woman. It was for the best. She hated the restriction of pants. The dresses she favored had slits that allowed full range of motion, whereas the prospect of ripping the crotch of trousers while climbing a tree to retrieve certain flowers terrified her.
Griff glared at his cousin and donned his own shirt. “I’d hate to make you jealous because it looks better on me than you.”
Lydia threw him a crude gesture and pulled up a stool to sit.
“IT’S JUST ME,” Slayton announced seconds before opening the front door. He entered the room, panting, and swore. “I ran all the way here to see him in a dress.” He threw his hands up.
“I missed it too,” Lydia lamented. They both knew Griff had agreed to help Violet out today, and Slayton had poked fun at him all week.
Griff shoved Slayton’s shoulder. “Fuck off. At least I’m nice enough to help her. That’s why I’m her best friend.”
“I’m her best friend,” Slayton argued. “And you have more free time in the afternoons than I do.”
Being a warrior, Griff trained from before dawn until right after midday. Occasionally they trained from dawn to dusk if rebel attacks escalated. Attacks in the other kingdoms had ticked up, but thankfully, the Tropical Kingdom remained in a lull.
Violet didn’t know if each kingdom had different rebel factions with no association to the others or if they were one big group working together, but the varying degrees of attacks would suggest the former.
“Did you talk to Dominic today?” Lydia asked Violet, waggling her eyebrows. “Rumor has it you two are together a lot.”
Violet suppressed a giddy smile. “He walked me to work this morning.”
Lydia bobbed her head and plucked at the lace top folded on the table. “Are you wearing this for him on your next date?” She shimmied her shoulders. “Can I wear it next?”
“This is for one of my customers at the pleasure house, but I can make you one too,” Violet offered.
Violet’s cheeks heated when she mentioned the salacious establishment in town. The first time she’d dropped off an order to one of the performers, she’d discovered she enjoyed watching the shows. A lot. The sensuality of passion captivated her. The performers moved like dancers, and she often wondered what it felt like to experience that level of pleasure.
“Stop stalling and tell us about lover boy,” Griff griped.
Violet perked up. “Things with Dom are good. He’s taking me on a picnic under the stars.”
Dominic was a guard in the battalion, as were most people she knew, having grown up in the battalion compound. He’d pursued her relentlessly and finally wore her down about a month ago. Standing just over six foot, he had handsome features with warm tawny skin, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes that looked at her like she was the most tantalizing thing in the world.
“You really like him,” Lydia observed with a sly smile.
“I do.” Violet couldn’t help smiling like a giddy schoolgirl. “He’s funny, and he likes me.”
“And he’s hot,” Lydia added helpfully.
“That too,” Violet agreed.
Griff looked affronted. “I’m hot and funny, and you never wanted to date me.”
“She’s too good for you,” Slayton chimed in. He grabbed a ball of yarn off the closest table and threw it at their friend. “I wouldn’t allow it.”
“You made fun of me for falling.” Violet took a hanger from her closet. “That is not the way to get a girl.”
“You should have seen yourself, Vi,” Griff protested and waved his arms around. “Your arms windmilled all the way down.”
Lydia stood and smacked the back of his head on Violet’s behalf. “Every day, I thank the gods I’m not attracted to men, because I would kill a man if I had to date one.”
Slayton threw his hands up. “What did I do?”
“I need you guys to pull it together and help me decide what to wear tonight,” Violet said seriously while placing the hanger through the lace shirt. “Should I wear something like this since we’ll have to ride horses to get there?” She gestured to Lydia’s outfit. “Or do I wear one of my normal dresses?”
Lydia stood and crossed the room to Violet’s closet. “Definitely a dress with high slits.” She grinned wickedly. “Easy access.”
Slayton snorted. “You’re going to get bitten by a bug if you try to fuck him on the ground.”
