DECLAN
Isign the tablet for the delivery man who just dropped off my new mattress, along with linens. The rest of the furniture and my stuff will arrive next week. The man thanks me and heads back to his truck. Yawning, I take a look out at the lake, thankful it’s sunny today. I stretch my arms over my head and reflect how no amount of coffee will cure me of how tired I am after last night.
What a disaster.
Murder came to mind the moment I realized that Violet was on a date. Even though it quickly became apparent that she was set up, I hate the idea of any man thinking Violet is available.
She’s not. She’s mine. And she’s made it clear that she wants more.
I couldn’t answer her, because I’m not good at digesting my feelings in a flash. Time to process, and a solid scotch is how I assess. So, I went to the Dizzy Duck, and over a scotch had the most unreal experience that’s changed the road for Violet and me.
My head turns when I hear a new car arrive, and damn, my heart thumps with exhilaration because it’s Violet.
I wasn’t expecting her now, and I’ve been debating all day about how to approach her. Yet again, she is making this easy for me.
A smile begins to stretch on my lips, because she’s in my view, getting out of her car with a bouquet of flowers that look like roses but are not. Her sneer is sexy as hell, and I can tell she is still pissed, which she has a right to be.
“Vi.” Her name on my lips still feels far too good.
“You asshole!” She stomps my way before she throws the flowers at me, and my arms instantly come up to guard myself.
What the hell? She’s plain vicious. I’ve never seen her this way. And it’s one hell of a turn-on.
“Violet, what’s going on?” I look at her with concern.
Her hands shove against my chest. “You have some nerve! We have one little argument and you—you…” She can’t finish her sentence, instead she stomps on the flowers on the ground, destroying them further.
“Was it a little argument? I would hate to see your reaction after a big argument,” I note in astonishment at what she’s doing.
She shakes her head, and she looks near crushed.
“How dare you try to make a joke right now. I’m not the one who went to someone else when things got a little too real,” she seethes out, with her hands on her hips.
“What in the world are you talking about?” My brows pinch together.
She scoffs a sound of disbelief. “Really? You’re going to pretend nothing happened? The flowers are not from me, by the way. They are from someone who had aspecial nightwith you last night.” Violet seems to be mocking the note that must be for the flowers.
I’m even more confused. “I’m so lost.”
Violet with purpose opens the card and reads it aloud. “‘Thank you for our special night, and I can’t wait for this evening.’”
I try to puzzle piece last night together. What the hell did I do to have someone send me flowers and a card like that?
Oh.
She rips the card into a thousand pieces, while my confused state turns to watching her, because I’m entertained by her anger. It’s cute and hot, slightly crazy, but I like that about her.
“Stop smirking. I can’t believe this. This is how I find out that you…” She points a finger at me.
“That I what?” I step closer to her and wait for her answer.
A woman’s voice interrupts the stare-off that Violet and I are having. “Declan, I don’t know. I think we should go with a Portuguese-style backsplash in the laundry room.” Her eyes peer down to the ground at my feet. “Oh, you got my flowers, I see. Well, kind of.”
Violet glances at the woman then back to me, then returns to study the woman who smiles when she notices Violet. Her smile fades, then lines form on her forehead when her eyes fall again to the flowers on the ground, and she stares at them in bewilderment.
A laugh rumbles in my throat. “You sent me flowers, Mom?”
Watching all color drain from Violet’s face is priceless.
