I haven’t been pining over him, yet I sure as hell haven’t forgotten that I have the ability to make that man beg.
And that’s what I intend to make him do.
6
VIOLET
Sitting at the table overlooking the lake, I glance at my brother who is busy flipping burgers while talking to his neighbor Spencer, a retired professional baseball player. Ignoring the group of teenagers in the pool, I focus my attention on Brielle and April, Spencer’s wife.
“Are you sure you’re okay manning the fort while Ford and I get away for a little bit?” Brielle double-checks while she pours me some wine, because it’s conveniently my favorite and makes me more agreeable.
I willingly take the glass. “Of course, I’ll keep an eye on Connor and play with my little nephew Wyatt. It’s only a weekend, and it’s still a few weeks away.” As much as my dad acts like a grandfather, his relationship with Ford is different, more fraught at times, and our mom lives in Oregon since they divorced many years ago. I’m Ford’s local family, and I don’t want to let him down. Not to mention Brielle, who despite having a few years on me, is the closest thing to a best friend that I have in Lake Spark. We can talk for hours.
Brielle glances radiantly down at her growing belly. “I’m a planner. Well, except for Connor.” She’s glowing, and her brown hair seems to get more gorgeous as the pregnancy develops, I mean, her hair even flows in the wind perfectly.
“Two kids under the age of three, plus a teenager. I don’t know how you do it.” April flings her blonde ponytail behind her shoulder before she chomps on a tortilla chip.
“A busy house is the way we like it, but we’re done after this one. Three boys will be plenty.” She smiles as Ford comes to stand behind her with a plate of burgers, and she affectionately touches his shirt. I can’t believe they were apart for ten years. They tried the whole co-parenting thing until they admitted that they’re meant for more.
Spencer takes his place next to April, kissing her cheek.
I feel like an extra wheel, but I have my wine glass, so that’s a plus.
“How was work? Didn’t kill the bird yet?” my brother asks as he slides a burger onto my plate.
“You know Nugget is part of the deal. Didn’t notice him much, as I was busy, but Connor stopped by.”
“I know. I love the sunflowers,” Brielle gushes.
Looking over at the pool, I point out the obvious. “Quite a boy-girl ratio happening over in the pool,” I taunt my brother and indicate with my head to the teenagers where guys are outnumbered by far.
Spencer chortles a laugh. “Don’t rile him, we just went over his master plan for being the cool dad and promising to keep the hockey team away from my daughter.” Spencer’s daughter Hadley is a few years younger than Connor and has an obvious crush.
“It will only make her want them more,” April adds.
“How about we switch topics so I can sleep tonight?” Ford suggests as he sits down. Brielle asks him something related to the kids, but I only catch the end of their exchange when he mentions that Declan will be here soon. “Now that he owns the Spinners and is adamant that they train here in Lake Spark, maybe he’ll be around more.”
I nearly choke on my wine. Declan’s name sparks warmth inside me, all because of one wild night and his surprise visit to my flower shop. But it’s this new fact that I’m learning which has me thrown off my axis.
“You okay?” Brielle attempts to rub a circle on my back.
I pat my chest while my other hand holds onto the wine glass placed on the table. “Yeah, totally, just drank a little too fast,” I assure her then focus my attention on Ford. “Around more?” I repeat, attempting to sound steady.
“Declan? He’s here this week to help with the hockey camp, but he also wants the Spinners to train here next season. I’m trying to convince him to move here,” Ford answers.
That man.
He’s in my head.
Declan didn’t mention more frequent visits to Lake Spark, only the Dizzy Duck Inn, which normally equates to temporary accommodation, as in a passing-through-town kind of thing.
I feel my face drop from the realization that this bothers me more than it should.
Meanwhile, the sound of an approaching car engine hits my ears, distracting me from my mind racing in a thousand directions. Luckily, my distraction is broken by one of Connor’s friends who is walking into the yard with his thumb hiked over his shoulder as he calls out, “Con, your parties are always unreal. Not only are the adults here like former pro athletes, but now you have a guy show up in the newest Maserati who I am sure looks like Declan Dash.” The teenager shakes his head with a grin.
Christ, of course Declan would drive a ridiculously expensive car. It fits perfectly with the image of playboy billionaire that everyone has stamped him with, and I’m still undecided on whether it’s true or not.
I notice Brielle has a strange expression while she stares at me, but I ignore it.
