Done like Amber, who I canned tonight for theft. She’s lucky I didn’t have her arrested. This was her second chance, and she blew it. I suspect she’s got an escalating drug habit. I asked her flat out and offered her rehab help. She denied it.
Tony told me he saw who dropped her off to work tonight and the guy’s a known thug and local small-time drug dealer.
So, either she’s a liar in denial about her habit or she’s just a thief therefore she is also barred from any of my properties and she’s been told that if she is found to be badmouthing me or my company in any way, we will belatedly press charges.
I pull into the parking garage at home and as I’m pulling into my spot, I turn to Violet.
“Did you bring any pretty dresses with you, by chance?”
Her eyes dart to me, flashing with confusion.
I turn the car off and she gets out before I get a chance to open her door for her.
I’m about to reprimand her for it when I stop myself. Because she looks uncomfortable right now for one. For two, she’s not someone I’m seeing, and it’s an understanding when I’m seeing a woman that she gets looked after in that way. No, I’m not seeing Violet in that way, though I seem to keep forgetting that part, and the word yet is on the tip of my thoughts.
“It’d be great if you’d do me a favor and accompany me to the Numbers grand opening bash tomorrow night. It’ll be a fun night. There’s gonna be a red-carpet press event and, I’ve been busy so hadn’t arranged to bring anybody.”
“You don’t have a girlfriend?”
“I don’t.”
“No one you’re even sorta seeing?” She’s looking directly into my eyes, as if searching for a lie.
“Not at the moment.”
“Oh.”
A perplexed crease forms between her brows and I wonder why. Did something give her the impression there’s someone in my life?
“Oh. Um, I don’t know if I have anything fancy enough here. It’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere… nice.”
“How much of a while?” I ask.
“Uh… so long I can’t even remember the last time.”
She deserves to be taken to nice places. Fucking ass-wipe Iadanza.
“I’ll buy you a dress. Shoes. The whole – whatever.” I gesture at her. “Accessories, whatever you need.”
She blinks in surprise and gives her head a shake. “I have a couple dresses with me. I didn’t exactly organize my stuff; I packed quick because we hit the road so fast. So, I can show you what I have and maybe you can tell me if they’re okay?”
“Sure,” I say. “But I’m happy to take you to a dress shop when we get up tomorrow instead.”
She blushes with shyness. “I have lots of work clothes with me, but I probably have a few party dresses. You might not have to go to that expense.”
“Let’s see, shall we? I had your room furnished today. Let’s go look.”
We’re now entering my condo and there’s another point of intrigue about her – most women would jump at the idea of shopping on my dime.
She follows me down the hall to the room I had outfitted for her today.
We step in and she gasps in surprise as she takes in the new furnishings.
“Oh my goodness. This is beautiful, Killian.”
Her eyes are wide as she does a slow twirl to take it all in. Watching her do that with awe on her face hits me in the chest with a gust of heat.
I take in the space with her. It wasn’t quite done when I left the decorator here earlier. It looks good.
There’s a queen-size blue suede upholstered bed covered in a country quilt with half a dozen pillows.
Something about that quilt just made me think of her. My decorator was surprised at that choice as it’s not my usual style.
There’s also a matching chair in front of a small desk that faces the window.
A television has been mounted on the wall and a love seat and reading chair that match the bed (though in grey instead of blue) take up more space on the farthest wall, near the bathroom door.
The room has fresh flowers on one nightstand and new lamps on both.
“You didn’t have to do all this,” she says, staring at the wall with a funny look on her face.
“The room was empty. It needed furniture.”
She turns pink. “Oh. Of course. I mean, I know you didn’t just do it because I’m here for two weeks, but I just mean you didn’t have to get it all done today and - I’ll shut up now.”
“I didn’t do it just for you, Violet,” I lie.
She looks embarrassed.
“But I admit, I thought of you when I chose the decor.”
“I’m not gonna be here that long,” she says.
I say nothing.
I say nothing, because despite decorating the room in things I thought she’d like, I don’t envision her here long term. I’ve been envisioning her in my own bed. And I’m not sure how I feel about that for a couple reasons.
“But… it’s absolutely beautiful.” She looks at me with appreciation and there goes that tight feeling in my chest again. “Although…” she says.
17
Violet
“Although?” he prompts when I trail off.
“What’s gonna happen to me if Ray doesn’t pay you on time?” I blurt.
And I’m suddenly out of breath.
So much for playing it cool about all this debt and marker stuff.
Without missing a beat or flinching at all, he answers with, “I’m not gonna hurt you, Violet.”
I empty out my lungs with a very long exhale.
He seems genuine.
“I’m sorry if you’ve been stressed about that.” He reaches over and tucks my hair behind my ear. I shiver and he pulls his hand back, his expression going wary.
I stare at him for a beat, then swallow, still feeling sensation on my ear from his fingers. “I can’t believe I blurted it like that.”
“Clearly, it’s been weighing on you.”
“I didn’t really think you’d hurt me, not with how nice you’ve been to me, but this whole thing isn’t…” I shrug.
“Good. Because I wouldn’t.”
“I just… I guess I’m trying to understand this whole thing.”
“What don’t you understand?”
I bite my lip for a minute. His piercing green eyes are on me, watching, also locking my eyes with his. It’s like he has some strange superpower or something.
“What if he does come up with the money?” I finally manage.
Killian looks at me with confusion. And then his expression hardens.
“If you don’t wanna be with that idiot when this is over, you don’t have to be.”
“I don’t,” I breathe, and I know that how much I don’t wanna be with him has to be written all over my face.
“Then you won’t be, Violet.”
My knees feel weak. I sit down on the bed. My hands on either side of my thighs, gripping the pretty farmhouse chic quilt.
My heart is racing.
“You’re relieved.”
“I want you to get your money back, Killian, I don’t want your kindness to him to be – taken advantage of, but I also don’t wanna be stuck with him. I’ve been wanting it to be over for a long time. And if he does come up with your money and thinks he can just pick up where things were left off…”