Chapter 8
8
JACK
I ’ve dazzled her. Good .
I need her to see that I’m not kidding around with this dating business.
“What is this place?” she exclaims, her eyes scanning the greenery. “Herbs and lettuce and onions?”
I stroll to the tiny white bistro set and pull out her chair. “Kitchen garden. The chefs grow fresh produce for the hotel restaurant here.”
Violet sits, looking up at me strangely. “And they let people have dinner here?”
“Not everyone. But me – yes.” I sit and open the large white paper bag between us. “I happen to be the investment guy for the owner. Since it was last minute, and I didn’t want to have waiters interrupting us all the time, we’ll be making do with Chinese takeout.”
She laughs as I set out the white boxes. As we eat, our conversation loops and twists all over. How Violet adores the constant renewal that is the growth cycle of plants. She lets slip that she enjoys the family apartment, but it feels crowded sometimes.
I find myself confessing that I sometimes feel my employees wish I were my father. They were expecting his wild “devil may care” energy, not my almost clinical dedication to research and disciplined investment methods.
Violet shrugs. “I’ve never had enough money to invest, and I don’t know anything about it. But wow – I’d certainly want a straightforward, non-devilish guy to be my money guru.”
“Guru?” I sputter, almost choking on my fried rice. “That’s definitely something I’ve never been called before.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Her beautiful eyes blaze. “You’ve apparently decided it’s okay to be seen in public with a flower girl. Pretty soon I’ll have you drinking herbal tea and doing yoga. You’ll come out to the park with me to sketch the gardens.”
My hand slides across the table. “Or you could design the gardens at my house.”
Her head tilts as she examines my eyes. Hmm. Am I suggesting moving forward too quickly?
Violet grabs my wrist, turning my Franck Muller watch to the light. “You wear a different watch every day?”
“Not always. I have a few favorites.” My lips brush the top of her hand. “I only wear this one for extremely important occasions.”
She smiles sweetly, then stretches out, picking a few Thai basil leaves. She tears them up into the rice, then stirs it thoroughly. “Try it now.”
I scoop some up with my chopsticks. “Mmm-hmm. Tasty.”
“See?” Her laugh is delightful. “Greenery makes everything better.”
We take a few last bites, but I’m definitely more interested in her than the food.
Reaching under the table, my palm slides along her knee. “I looked up those NASA studies. Not that I ever doubted you, but plants really do clean the air.” I look around, then take an exaggerated deep breath. “Spending time with you is going to make me healthier.”
Violet’s eyes sparkle. “Is that what we’re doing? Spending time together?”
I take her hand to help her up, then we stroll over to a bench under a couple of fruit trees. “Yes. We’re spending time together. I hope that you’ll say we’re dating. “
Her luscious lips turn up in a smile, then her face falls. “Jack, we should be clear about something.”
My heart begins to drop to my shoes. “What’s that?”
“You’re the CEO of an investment company. Don’t you think some people will think I’m too young and flaky for you?”
“Flaky? You turned a flower delivery into a large project that’s going to improve the working environment for dozens of people. You’re the creative director at your family business.”
“I wouldn’t quite call it that.”
“I would. Don’t you do all the designs? The website? The promotions?”
“Well, yes, but?—”
“You’re someone who uses your creativity with purpose.”
She shrugs. “Only because I was the most visually creative out of the four of us.”
“Yes, and you’ve worked hard to become great at it.”
She blinks at me in surprise, then smiles gently. “Jack. I’m only twenty-one.”
“So? I just turned thirty-seven. Does it matter?”
“No, but?—”
“Is there another guy in the picture?”
“Of course not!”
“Do you like me?” Maybe it’s forward, but I don’t care.
She blushes faintly. “Yes. I really do. “
I reach out to scoop her up, setting her in my lap so I can gently rub her back. The closeness makes her breath catch, her chest rising and falling sharply with every breath. There are only a few inches of cleavage on display, of silky skin begging for my touch, but that’s all it takes to make my heart race.
“Violet, my gorgeous girl. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I wasn’t looking for you, but you appeared, and now all I can think about is setting up my entire life for the two of us.”
“You don’t think that’s putting the cart before the horse?”
“No.” I squeeze her knee, then run my palm gently along the outside of her thigh. “I’m a guy who makes a decision and runs with it if I know it’s one hundred percent right. Which, in this case, I do.”
Leaning in, I nuzzle her throat. “I like everything about you. The way you make me feel. The way you’re not afraid to ask questions The way you call me out when I’m being uptight. So yes, even though I’ve only known you for a few days, this is already the best relationship I’ve ever been in. And the only one I can foresee in the future.”
Her bottom lip wobbles as she stares at me. Leaning halfway in, I wait for her to come to me, our mouths confirming every word.
For the first time, we’re truly alone. And from the way Violet’s fingers spear through my hair and clutch at my tie, she’s not going to be satisfied with a simple goodnight kiss.