4. Chapter 4
Seeing Violet for the first time since we were kids was like a punch to the gut. She was pretty when I was a preteen who was just starting to notice girls, but now she’s a goddamn knock out.
Her chestnut hair falling down to her mid back, her green doe eyes seemed to sparkle despite the destruction we were standing in, and the way her leggings molded around a perfectly peachy ass… fuck .
I had to get away from her. I’m sure she’s seeing someone and the urge to pull her in for a hug like we used to, but take it much further, was too strong. So I did the only thing I could think of to keep my distance and patted her on the back. Like a good friend.
Hunter of course picked up on her looks and gave me shit the entire rest of the day.
After my burst of anger the other night bringing in the firewood, they seemingly ignored my attitude and were back to help with storm clean up yesterday. I thought the least I could do was go assess the damage at the bakery with Hunter, but now, I wish I hadn’t.
Because now I know that Violet is back in town, and my reaction to her is visceral.
The alarm on my phone goes off alerting me that I need to stop working and head to the town hall for a meeting with Margaret and Esther for the Valentine’s Day dance planning.
Sighing, I drop my work gloves next to the stump where I’ve been chopping wood for the last few hours.
Stopping by the inn, I fill my coffee mug before heading out. At least Hunter got me a nice coffee maker. Nicer than one I would have chosen.
I’m screwing the lid on my cup when someone comes into the dining room where we keep the coffee bar.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Mom kisses my cheek.
“Hi, Mom. What are you doing here?” I kiss her back on the opposite cheek.
“Just coming to see if my baby boy wants to join me for lunch?”
I pause, not answering right away and see the frown start on her face. She’s used to me rejecting her invitations and that makes me feel like a shit son. Add it to the list of things I’m failing at .
“Sorry Mom, I have to go meet Margaret and Esther at the town hall for the Valentine’s Day planning committee. Somehow, Margaret roped me into it.” I explain, putting my coat on before I head out.
“Oh! That sounds like such fun. Can I join you? Then maybe we can get lunch?” She looks at me with such anticipation, it’s another punch to the gut.
My poor mother is so desperate for time with me that she’s willing to sit through a planning meeting for a Valentine’s Day dance.
“Sure mom, that sounds great. I’m sure they’d welcome any help they can get.” She claps her hands together and grabs her keys.
“Excellent. I’ll drive, then you can’t find a reason to skip lunch!” She runs out the door and I follow behind her.
She parks next to the town hall and I trudge behind her, already looking forward to this being over so I can get back to my ever growing list of tasks before guests check-in tomorrow.
“Violet Turner, is that you?” Mom squeals.
“Mrs. Keaton?” Violet runs over to Mom and they hug, almost jumping in place with excitement.
“It’s been, what ten years since I’ve seen your beautiful face?”
“A little over, I’m so glad to see you!” She clasps Mom’s hands in hers and they walk over to the table where Margaret and Esther are sitting.
I groan, hesitating to follow when I realize the only open seat is next to Violet .
“You know, I’ve been married to Esther for fifty years. I know that look when I see it,” Franklin leans over to whisper to me.
“What look?” I cock my head to the side.
“The look of love. You and that girl were always glued at the hip when you were younger, and your usually sunny disposition went downhill with each year she didn’t come back.” He winks with a knowing smile.
“Franklin, I can promise you there is no look of love. I just have a lot to do at the inn and I’m wondering how long this will take.”
“Mmhmm, sure son.” He walks away from me taking his seat next to Esther, and I follow begrudgingly.
Margaret speaks first, “The first thing on our agenda today, is the fact that the hall where we host the dance is next to the bakery. Which means, it’s also flooded and destroyed. Since Hunter told us that his first priority is the bakery and the minimal damage to the coffee shop, we currently have nowhere to host the dance.”
They all look at me, waiting for me to...what? Offer the inn?
“You want the inn?” I finally ask.
“It is the only space between us.” Esther answers. Clearly they had a side meeting before I got here.
“Absolutely not. The renovations aren’t fully done, and even if they were, the farmhouse was built in the 1800’s, a time when open concept wasn’t a thing. The largest spot I have is my dining room, and it’s barely big enough for the six tables I have in there. There’s no way we can hold food, music, and people. Unless it’s just us attending.” I cross my arms, growing more angry with each minute that I let her rope me into this. “Or the barn with no heat.”
“What about Rebels?” Mom chimes in.
“What is Rebels?” Violet asks, curious about the new business in town.
“Oh! It’s just wonderful. Roman started brewing his own beer, it got so popular he opened his own brewery a few years ago!” Mom gushes about her other son .
I wonder if she ever gushes about her asshole son who stupidly took over the old farmhouse inn he loves to hate.
Roman’s parents were never around. Spending more time networking than with their own children. He and his sister, Evelyn, spent as much time over the inn as Violet did in the summer. Mom used to joke she was the camp for lost souls, only now does it really ring true.
Violet takes out her phone and starts typing. She scrolls and taps for a minute before exclaiming, “Oh! It is perfect! Gran look at this space, we could decorate here,” she pinches at the screen, “and it would be beautiful. The perfect ambiance for love. Then the dance floor over here.”
She passes her phone around to Margaret showing her what she’s envisioning.
Again, all eyes turn to me. “What now?”
“Well you’re friends with Roman, soooo—” Violet looks at me like I’m stupid for not figuring this out.
“Yeah. I get it.” This time I pull out my phone and dial Roman’s number.
Luckily, or not, he answers on the first ring.
“Hey man, I’m here with the Valentine’s Day planning committee. You’re on speaker. ”
That fucker spends the next thirty seconds laughing before he can catch his breath enough to answer.
“I’m sorry, but you are part of the planning committee for the Valentine’s Day dance? You know a night of love and happiness?”
“Shut up, ass—” Mom hits my arm, “We…uh…have a favor to ask.”
“What Liam is beating around the bush to ask is, the dance hall flooded, can we host at your brewery?” Violet leans over into my space to be closer to the phone when she speaks.
“Who is that?” Roman asks. I forgot he doesn’t know she’s back in town.
“Violet Turner. Hey Roman,” she answers before I can.
“Little Vi? Seriously?”
“Seriously. Can we use your space or not?” I grunt out.
“Only if you ask nicely, Lee .”
I growl at the phone, ready to throat punch him. But Violet takes it from me.
“Pretty please, oh sweet Valentine’s Day hall host, can we use your brewery? I’ll even help with the cooking.” She coos into the phone.
“Sure Little Vi. I’m sure we can work something out.”
I narrow my eyes at his response. The fuck he will.
“Ok, that’s enough, the old biddies are present and I don’t want to hear you propositioning my granddaughter. Though I wouldn’t blame you. She’s bangin’ as you kids would say.” Margaret smiles big at her comeback.
I slap my hand over my face, and Violet turns bright red .
“Ok, thanks Rome. I’ll be by after I finish work later to talk about it.” I hang up before he can say anything else to make this situation any more uncomfortable.
Esther closes the notebook she brought, “Well this is just wonderful. I’m so glad that worked out. When you two finalize things with Roman, let us know. Then we’ll have another meeting for planning decorations!” Esther, Margaret and Franklin get up to leave the room.
Violet turns to Mom, “It was so nice to see you Mrs. Keaton, I sure hope I can see you again soon.”
Mom hugs her, “You sure can. You and Margaret better be at my house on Sunday for dinner. I won’t hear any refusals.”
Violet looks at me over Mom’s shoulder and winks, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Even though she’s talking to Mom, she never breaks eye contact with me and I know I’m fucked when it comes to Violet Turner.
The afternoon flew by after lunch with Mom. I was busy prepping the cabins and the four rooms for guests to come when my stomach grumbled reminding me that I actually need food to function. The time on my phone flashes seven o’clock and I still need to go talk to Roman. I fluff the last pillow, chopping it in the middle just like Emma showed me before heading out.
I get one of the last spots in the parking lot. Roman’s special tonight always packs the house. Braised short ribs over mashed potatoes. Clark, his chef, is nearing sixty, and the day he retires is going to be the saddest day in Balsam Cliffs.
My mouth is already watering at the prospect of my dinner .
When I walk in, I start toward the bar where I can usually find Roman. That is until I’m frozen in my spot at seeing Roman and Violet leaned in close together over the bar. She’s laughing at something he said, and his charm is full on. My fists ball at my side and a growl leaves my mouth involuntarily.
Roman points in my direction and Violet turns to see me, waving me over.
Great. Just what I wanted tonight. To see her and Roman all giddy in the corner over planning a dance for lovers.
I grunt and walk over to them, if I don’t, they’ll just come find me. Plopping down on the bar stool next to Violet I subtly scooch myself closer to her while staring Roman down.
He needs to back the fuck off.
“I was just telling Violet that we can move all these tables around the edge of the room. And create a dance floor in front of the stage. Do you guys know if you’re doing a DJ or live band?” Roman gestures wildly at the space in front of us.
Violet and I respond at the same time.
“No idea. Don’t really care.”
“A live band would be so romantic!”
Roman laughs. “Figuring how attached at the hip you two were, you’d think that you might be more similar.” He looks directly at me. “Maybe you used to be before…well…I need to check on some things.”
He walks off to wait on some of the tables and talk to the customers in the brewery.
I turn back to face the bar and flag down the bartender to place my order.
After I order, I realize that Violet has nothing in front of her, “She’ll have the same. And a hard cider. ”
She looks at me. “And just how do you know I want that?”
“Because you always steal my food. And you love anything apple. So I took a gamble that those things are still true.”
A slow smile spreads across her face. “They are.”
I look down into my beer that was just delivered and give myself a little smile. Roman might have the looks, be a gym guy, and own a brewery, but I still know Violet better than anyone on this planet.
“So. What brings you back to Balsam Cliffs to stay?”
“Gran. The bakery. It was really just the catalyst I needed to take over my own life.” A sad frown settles on her face and I hate it.
“You didn’t have control of your own life?”
“Nope. That last summer I was here, Mom married the New York State Commissioner, Larry Archibault, and I was destined to never leave New York City after that. Mom enrolled me in the culinary school of her choice with the help of Larry’s connections to the dean, and I got an internship I was dreading at the restaurant of her choosing. And, honestly? I just want to be in a place like this.”
The bartender drops off our food and we both dig in.
“Mmm. See. This is amazing! I don’t need to be in New York City’s most exclusive restaurant to create delicious food for people!”
She takes another bite moaning again at the taste of her food.
I shift in my seat at her moans. “I’m sorry. I get the feeling. Of not having control over your life that is. ”
If anyone understood that it was me. Stuck at the inn every single day, torn between loving the inn with a sense of family duty and wanting to explore the world.
“What do you—” She gets cut off by Roman coming back over to us.
He places his arm around her shoulders and leans in close to her, keeping his eyes on me, “Do you love it?”
I growl in response to him. He smirks at me, and I know he’s touching her on purpose.
“This is so good, Roman. I can’t believe you can cook like this!”
“Oh he can’t. Don’t give him any credit. Clark is the chef.” I smirk back. I’ll be damned if I let her think he has another good quality.
“Unfortunately, he’s right. I can’t take credit. I don’t know what I’m going to do when Clark retires. He’s been grumbling about it more and more and I’m just hoping he chooses not to.” He gives a half hearted laugh.
“I love this song!” Violet hops in her seat in excitement when the song changes almost as fast as the conversation.
“Dance with me?” Roman extends his hand to her.
Seeing his hand reach out to dance with her, it stirs a jealousy inside me that hasn't shown in a long time.
“No. She’s going to dance with me.” I stand up, scooping her around the waist and pulling her to the dance floor with me.
What the fuck am I doing? I don’t dance. I don’t even know how to dance and I definitely haven’t had enough beer to act like I can dance.
I stand on the dance floor, holding Violet in my arms, neither of us moving .
“Liam, do you know how to dance? I don’t remember you being the dancing type.” Her eyebrow could touch the ceiling if it got any higher.
I’m not.
“Of course.” I look around me and imitate the moves I see other guys making with their girls.
At the end of the song, I try to spin her like I saw some other guy do. Only I end up stomping on her feet instead and knocking both of us over.
She lands in my lap and is laughing so hard she has tears running down her cheeks.
“Oh, my God. You are the worst dancer of all time!”
I grumble and pull myself up off the floor before I reach down and pull her up.
“Sorry. Guess you’d rather be with someone like Roman.” I leave her on the dance floor and stalk back to the bar.
Roman is behind the bar when I return.
I ask him, “So I assume you and Violet can do this? Plan the party here?”
“Yeah, with you though. I’m not letting you out of it.” Violet comes back, with less of a smile on her face. “See man, definitely not letting you out of this. You’ve got to fix that.”
I scoff at him. What the hell does he know?