14. Chapter 14
Having to pack Violet up with gear to go out with Alexander was a fucking punch to the gut. But I know I have to let her go. I have to let her do it so she can see I’m not trying to control her or her life.
Fuck that sucked. But I trust her.
Her confession that she’s a virgin sparked something inside me. A deep need to have her as only mine. And for some reason the way to do that was to let her go with another man. With some instructions to make sure she is thinking about my body on hers while she’s with him.
I can’t wait to see if she actually did what I asked.
I’m also thinking about our conversation. It gave me a secret thrill that she asked Emma for the name of the furniture designer for the inn. I should have told her it was me, but the moment didn’t feel right.
My phone vibrates on the table, and Cooper’s photo flashes across the screen.
“Hey Coop.”
“Hey. What are you doing?” Cooper and I are most alike, he was still a jock, but it wasn’t his personality like the others. He often chose to spend time in the dark room with his photographs.
“Just working in the barn. Where you at?”
“The Highlands. It’s beautiful, man. I’ll send you some photos. But I’m coming home soon. Just wanted to let you know.”
Cooper doesn’t own a house here. But every time he comes home we mark off a cabin for him.
“You got it. I think the only cabin available is cabin five though. You good with that?”
Cabin five is a massive three bedroom cabin. We reserve it mostly for families.
“Yeah. I can always move if you need it.” I sit on one of the chairs I’m building. Good time as any to test it out.
“How long you staying?” He usually says he’ll be gone in a few days.
“Uh, that’s a little up in the air right now. I’m tired, man. This constant traveling is killing me. I need a break.” He sounds tired now that I hear him say that.
“Well, I’ll be happy to have you back. You know that.”
“Will you be happy? From what I’ve heard you haven’t been too happy with any of us.” Fuck. I deserve that .
“Yeah. I recently learned I needed to make some personality changes. I found out from Violet that I was being called the town’s grumpy recluse.”
“Violet? Sweet Violets Violet?? I can hear the shock in his voice.
“Yeah. She’s back for good. She’s currently living at the inn and using our kitchen. We’re all much better fed now that she’s here.”
“No shit. Is that the woman Hunter was talking about you being with?” The higher pitched his voice gets I can tell he’s interested in this gossip.
“Yup. But don’t worry I already fucked it up. I got too alpha-hole according to her, and now she’s out snowshoeing with another fucking guy.”
“One. What is an alpha-hole? Two. Who the hell is she with?”
“I tried to tell her she was mine in front of the guy, a guest from New York staying here during the week.” I sigh.
“Shit man. Now she’s dating him?” I could slam my forehead into the table for the mess I got myself in.
“No. She’s definitely mine. But she told me I had to earn her not by claiming her and by wanting her all the time, not just when someone else was around. So letting her go with him snowshoeing and not being an asshole felt like the right move. So here I am, sitting in the barn, talking to you.”
“You gotta do something big. Women love those grand gestures. At least I think they do. Not like I have much experience beyond international one night stands.” I laugh at him, until it doesn’t sound like he’s laughing .
“I’ll think about it. What’s really going on with you though, something is wrong.”
“How about you just set a night aside for me and a beer and we’ll talk about all our woes. I gotta run now though, going to do something that might kill me just to get the photo the magazine wants.”
“You got it, brother. I’ll put ‘em in the fridge now.”
He hangs up and now I’m worried about him. He’s never sounded so exhausted and miserable while on a trip. He lives to travel and photograph for the magazine that he works for.
But something he said did spark an idea. A grand gesture. I could build the table she wants for the bakery.
I grab my notebook and immediately get to work designing what I will build for her, and I’ll carve violets all over it for her. Small ones along the edging and maybe large ones in millwork boxes along the front of it.
After an hour, and a lot of drafts, I finally have the start of a design that I’m happy and excited about. I need to go see Margaret first. Since it’s her bakery and I’m trying to keep Violet in the dark for a surprise, I’ll need Margaret to give final approval before I start working, and stop Violet from trying to find the designer.
I pack up my stuff and bring my notebook with me to find Margaret. If she’s not at the bakery, she’s at Emerald Roasters.
I send a quick text to Emma to let her know that I’m going out to run an errand, and ask her to listen if any guests need anything for an hour.
I’m pumped about my idea and decide to drive to town instead of walk, to get there faster .
I park in between the bakery and Emerald Roasters, peering into the windows of the bakery, I only see Hunter’s crew so I try the coffee shop.
I walk up the steps and open the door, finding Margaret and Esther at a table. I wasn’t ready to give this speech in front of Esther. That never crossed my mind in the excitement to get started.
“Well, if it isn’t Liam Keaton gracing my doorstep. What can I get for you?” Esther stands, ready to make my coffee.
“I’m actually just here for Margaret.” I nod in the direction of where she sits at the table.
Esther sits back down, letting me know she’s staying for whatever it is I have to say.
Margaret looks at her, and pushes the chair out with her foot for me to join. “To what do I owe the pleasure of being hunted down by a Keaton man?”
“I have an idea. A surprise for Violet. But I need your approval. And when I say surprise, I mean surprise and secret that you two are not to speak to another soul.” I level both of them with a stare.
They use their fingers to mock zipping their lips and throwing away the key.
“I mean it, you two. Not. A. Soul.”
“Okay, sheesh. Who knew you Keaton boys were so intense.”
I grin, and feel a little bad.
I pull out my notebook and open to the page that the design was on.
“Oh Liam, this is beautiful, did you design this?” Margaret pulls the book closer to her .
“Yes ma’am. You know the furniture Violet was looking at at the inn?” She nods. “Well. That’s me. I design and build all of our furniture. I carve all the designs myself too.” I fidget with my hands in my lap, nervous to say that out loud for the first time to someone.
“Liam, everyone raves about the furniture! I’m always being asked if it’s a local designer and I never know what to tell them. You’re so talented.” Esther responds, pulling my notebook to her.
“So, if I’m understanding correctly, my granddaughter told you that she wanted this, and she wanted the name of the designer, and instead of telling her, you whipped this design up in no time at all, and you want to build it for her. Because you love her. Did I get all that right?”
My cheeks redden and I stare at Margaret. Thinking of the right words. But do I need any more than what pops into my head first? “Yes ma’am. I do.”
“Well son, you have my blessing. For the table and Violet. But don’t you make any mistakes with the second one. She’s a special girl.” She waggles her finger in my face.
“You got it. I’m trying to fix one right now.” I smile big, happy to have her approval.
“Okay, I can’t have this.” Esther says.
I look at her confused. I know most people don’t like me, but I didn’t think she’d object like this.
“Oh, not about Violet,” she waves me off after reading my mind. “I can’t have this masterpiece over there , and nothing over here . I want tables too.” She pouts.
“You want my furniture in your shop?” I ask, shocked .
“Of course I do. I’ve admired that craftsmanship for years. You better put me on your books next.”
“You got it.” I wink at her. “But I’m not ready to put myself out there yet, so please don’t spread the word.”
I leave the ladies in the coffee shop and I’m more excited now to get home and see what I have to start the project.
When I get back, I run to the barn to go through my stockpile of reclaimed barn wood.
I lucked out this summer and a contractor was going out of business. He used to take down old homes and barns, and preserve as much of the wood as he could. Since he was moving south to be a retired beach bum, I got his stockpile of wood for pennies on the dollar.
It’s served me well in a lot of my furniture and he’s given my number to a few of his old clients who might be selling wood.
I look for pieces that are similar in color for Violet’s bar. I want to go with a dark wood to offset the light lavender color of the walls I saw when I peeked in.
I pull out what I think is enough pieces for the bar and set them off to the side. I am going to make one long table, and then one side is going to be shelves with a plexiglass covering for pastries that comes up taller than the table itself. I’m going to make the front of the table a solid piece so you can’t see behind it, and I’ll add millwork boxes and carve bouquets of violets into the center, matching their logo. For the first time in a long time I feel like excitement has been breathed back into me. Creating something for Violet has relit my fire for creativity .
I’m laying out boards of where I think they’ll fit best before cutting when I hear laughter coming from outside. I know it’s Violet from the melodic sound.
It guts me to know it’s not me making her laugh, but I punish myself for it by getting up to look out the window.
She and Alexander are walking out toward the cliffs. She is touching his arm, maybe holding on to him for balance and it burns to see her with him. Even though I don’t think she feels anything for him, I think he does for her. And there’s no guarantee she won’t at some point. Especially if I let myself go deep into the asshole behavior of my insecurities.
I take a deep breath and go back to my design. I know this is the right thing to do.
But maybe a visit to the inn for dinner wouldn’t hurt my chances.
It’s much later than I thought it would be when I finally finish my work for the day. I spent the afternoon working on the table for the bakery and ignored some check out chores from the guests that left today. Luckily I’m at the inn so I know that Violet is in the kitchen, and that Alexander is in his room. Alone.
I head downstairs and throw the sheets into the washer to start the load here instead of bringing them home like I normally do. Then I can toss them in the drier after dinner with Violet. If she’ll have me .
I sneak into the kitchen from the office door, Violet is dancing and singing along to some nineties country song.
I stare at her in awe. She’s completely unaware that I’m here. Her beauty is something I don’t think I’ll ever tire of looking at.
The song changes to another nineties country hit, this time a slower version. I slide my body behind her, wrapping my arms around her middle.
“Did you find a spot?” I whisper in her ear.
As soon as she hears my voice her body melts back into mine and fuck if that doesn’t make me hard all on it’s own.
“Maybe.” She continues stirring what looks like mashed potatoes.
“Maybe? I was hoping for a better answer.” She spins in my arms and drapes hers over the back of my neck.
“I have a few. It’s hard to decide.” She pouts up at me.
“Why not all of them then?”
“Well that sounds like a challenge, big bad wolf.”
I crash my lips to hers. I can’t stop myself. Not that I want to.
She deepens the kiss and runs her hands up into my hair, tugging at me to pull me closer to her. I’m starved for her body, and I don’t know that I’ll ever be close enough to her.
Before I take her right here on this island, I pull back to answer her, “It sounds like a challenge I’m more than willing to take on.”
“But when should we start?” Her hands roam under my flannel over my tee.
I pick her up by her ass cheeks, and she wraps her legs around me. “Now sound good? I think you need a reminder. ”
“A reminder?” She looks at me confused.
“A reminder of who wants you the most in their arms.” I nip the spot on her neck she likes.
“Mmm,” she moans. “I think I do.”
“Well then. Where should we start?” I walk over to the stove with her in my arms, and shift her to one arm so I can shut the stove off with the other hand. Whatever she’s cooking can wait or burn for all I care. As long as I get her alone.
“Didn’t you come here for dinner?” she asks.
“I told you before, a big bad wolf would be thrilled to eat you all up.” She shivers in my arms.
“The office. Now,” she demands.
Sounds perfect to me.
I walk into the office and place her on the chair. I sweep the desk off with my arm, clearing everything off it. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“Emma is going to murder you.”
I scrunch my nose, “Can we not bring up my sister right now?”
She giggles, walking over to me. She slides in front of me under my arm and wraps her arms around my waist dragging her fingers lightly across my skin under my tee.
“Noted. How about you lay me out on this table and feast away, big bad wolf.” She hops up on the desk and scooches her ass backward.
Heat lights my eyes and matches hers. Stalking toward her like my prey, I stand between her legs, wrapping my arms around her and tangling my fists in her hair.
I take her mouth with mine, devouring her, filling every one of my senses with her .
I lift her shirt over her head, and trail kisses down her body until I reach her waist line. Undoing her jeans is a frantic move, desperate to get them off her.
I tug them down until they fall to her ankles. Throwing her legs over my shoulder and sliding her to the edge of the desk.
I drop to my knees and lick one swipe up, “So ready for me, beautiful. Have you been thinking about me doing this again all day?”
“Yes.”
“Even when you were with him? You knew I’d be better at playing your body just the way you like, didn’t you?” I plunge two fingers inside her, rubbing circles around her clit with my thumb.
“Yes,” she pants out again.
“Good girl.” I reward her with my tongue, licking and nipping at the same trail that my finger rubbed just a second ago.
Her hips arch off the edge of the desk and she pushes down on my shoulders with her legs. Desperate to get closer to me.
She is so responsive to my every touch. I splay my hand out on her stomach adding pressure to keep her hips down, denying her what she wants while I bring her to the edge of an orgasm.
“Do you want to come, beautiful?”
“Please,” she pleads.
“Do you want my mouth or my cock? You’ve been so good I’ll give you the choice.”
“Cock, fill me now. Please,” she chokes out.
“You deserve more than this desk for your first time.” I stand, looking down at her .
“I don’t. I want this. I deserve this. You can do it right later, just please. Fuck me here. Now.” Her begging is a quiet breathy moan as she rubs her bare pussy on my lap, begging me for more.
I undo my zipper, and she reaches between us, freeing my cock. Her slender fingers wrap around, and I could come just from feeling her grip me.
I sink into her, she’s so fucking tight and I have no idea how I’m going to last with her choking my cock the way she is.
I move slowly at first, relishing every inch that she takes. I pull back, teasing her with just the tip trying to control myself. Her body flinches with each slow, excruciating movement. She doesn’t let me do that long before she wraps her legs around my ass and pulls me to her.
Fuck. She feels like heaven.
I tap her leg and flip her onto her knees, pulling her back to my chest. She leans into me and I reach around to grasp her breasts. They’re the perfect handful. I tweak her nipples through the barely there bra she has on and she lets out a moan.
Dragging my hands around her neck, and down her back, I gently push her down onto the desk so she leans on her elbows.
I splay my hands on her back rubbing down and around the perfect globes that are lifted in the air, her glistening pussy waiting for me to drive into her again.
She pushes her hips back, impatiently waiting for me. I give her what she wants and drive into her hard and fast.
“Fuck. I could die a happy man right now,” I whisper to myself .
She reaches back to rub her own clit and I enjoy the view as I move in and out of her.
“Please,” she reaches back for my hand, letting me know that she wants me to take over.
I happily oblige, reaching around to follow the same path that her fingers took.
Her knuckles are white around the edge of the desk as she slams her ass into me, making me take her deeper and harder.
I bring her to the edge, where I know she can’t take much more.
“Are you ready to come for me, beautiful?”
“God yes, so fucking ready,” she grits out.
I slap her ass with my hand, while still rubbing circles with the other and the sensation throws her over the edge into an orgasm, with me not far behind her.
After the tremors stop, I roll her over and pick her up off the desk, placing her on the floor in front of me.
“Fuck that was worth the wait today,” I tell her.
She grins up at me, “Totally worth it.”
We both gather our clothes and get dressed again. I can’t take my eyes off her as she moves around the room.
Once we’re both dressed, I do pick up the papers I knocked off the desk, and the pens that Emma keeps. I am trying to not be an asshole. Plus I don’t need every one of my siblings knowing that I fucked Violet in the office.
“Would you like some real dinner now? I was in the middle of making shepherd's pie until someone interrupted me.” Mmm. One of my favorites.
“Yes, please. But I need to make sure you’re okay first. ”
She leans into me, wrapping her arms around my waist and looking up at me. “I’m perfect. I can’t wait to see what you can do after dinner.”
I follow her lead into the kitchen where she turns the stove back on. Not a minute later, Emma walks into the kitchen.
“Listen you two. Just a friendly little PSA, we have fucking cameras in the office.” She turns to face me directly, “and I want a new desk and my own office.”
She walks back out muttering about how disgusting I am. I totally forgot we had installed cameras in there since that is where we keep the cash in the safe.
Violet walks up beside me, “Think we can get a copy?”
“Oh, I can.” I didn’t think I could find her any more perfect, and then she goes and proves me wrong.
She walks away laughing at the shock that’s evident on my face from her question.
When she is done cooking she serves up two plates and we take them into the living room where I’ve started a fire for her to enjoy our meal in front of.
“Thank you for today.” She is cuddled up into my side, eating.
“For what?”
“For not being an alpha-hole. And listening to me. It means a lot that you trusted me enough to give me what I asked for.” She reaches up to kiss my cheek.
I kiss her forehead without responding, and soak up the moment, enjoying her nestled into my side and knowing that I made the right call.
Something I haven’t been doing recently.