Violet tipped her head back, holding his stare. “Do you wanna be my boyfriend?”
Simon wanted to be her everything, but he didn’t say that. No sense freaking her out again. They’d somehow managed to get past his faux pas yesterday, but he didn’t want to risk it again. He already knew what she did when she panicked, and the thought of her sneaking out on him did not sit well.
“I definitely do,” he said, leaning in for a kiss.
“I’ll take that under advisement,” she whispered before melding her mouth to his.
He liked the way her fingers played with the ends of his hair. When this woman touched him, he never wanted her to stop. Unfortunately, that was what happened because Violet pulled back, forcing a smile as she let him go.
“What brings you by?”
“I thought maybe we’d go for a walk. Then maybe we could call in an order at the diner. Get it to go.”
“Then what?”
“Maybe take it back to your place.”
“That’s a lot of maybes.” Violet smiled. “You don’t sound as sure of yourself as you did yesterday.”
He clamped his arm around her back. “That’s because we’re not talkin’ about sex. If you’d like to discuss that, I’ll be more than happy to tell you everything I intend to do to you tonight once I get you naked.”
She didn’t say anything and he was almost positive the light in her eyes dimmed a little.
“Maybe not tonight,” he said.
Violet swallowed and stepped back. “I was thinkin’ we should sleep separately tonight.”
Simon wondered whether her about-face had to do with their conversation last night or seeing her father today. Not that it mattered. He would respect her wishes.
“If that’s what you need, you know where I am.”
“It’s just … we’re movin’ kinda fast, don’t you think?”
They were moving fast, but Simon hadn’t thought much about it. Granted, he had spent the night with her several times,so he could understand her wanting some space. The last thing he wanted was to overstay his welcome.
“I don’t think so,” he told her, keeping his tone level. “But I understand if you do. I’m not lookin’ to rush you. Like the first night. You text, and I’ll be there.”
“Isn’t that the definition of a booty call?” Violet teased.
“It is. I’ll be your booty call if that’s what you want.”
Simon was only partly kidding. He wanted more from Violet. A lot more. But until they were on the same page, he would take his cues from her.
“But there’s still a lot of daylight left. We could take that walk and then grab a bite at the diner. No takeout tonight.”
“I’d like that.”
And if it meant putting more of those smiles on her face, he liked it, too.
Chapter Seventeen
Thursday, September 15, 2022
“Have you invited Simon to the wedding?”
“Not yet,” Violet leaned against the counter, phone to her ear, staring out at the park while she talked to Elana.
“Are you goin’ to?”
