11. Violet
VIOLET
I smile as I sit across from Drew in the coffee shop. He’d be terrified if he knew the lengths I’ve gone to for him.
When he asked about my busy morning, I had to hide my smile.
It was because I was watching him.
I was up early, back on my motorcycle, engine humming as the first rays of dawn broke over the horizon.
After cutting the engine, I grabbed my binoculars from my backpack and headed for the now familiar spot by the pine tree at the edge of the woods.
I lifted my binoculars.
A sigh of pure contentment drifted from me as I watched him. He seemed distracted as he moved to the kitchen.
I giggled as I watched the cat attack his pants leg. I’ve never seen it attack anyone but Drew. I’m not sure what he does to him.
Ivy left the room with the cat and her laptop, leaving Sebastian and Drew alone. I’m not sure what they were talking about, but my guess is it’s me. Drew’s tense demeanor and Sebastian’s teasing smile were dead giveaways.
Now, he’s on the couch with his laptop.
And once again, he tensed, then looked around as if he sensed he was being watched.
I smile.
He sensed me.
It’s a sign we belong together.
He tried to work, but he was distracted.
I watched the moment he gave up and set his laptop aside. He grabbed his keys and headed for the front door.
I ran to my motorcycle and was racing out of the woods behind him six minutes later.
Catching up to him was too easy. Maintaining a safe distance was even easier.
Drew drives like a grandpa, never going over the speed limit.
I didn’t park near the coffee shop. That would be careless.
The last thing I want is for him to see me on the bike, even though the helmet obstructs my face.
Instead, I pulled onto a side street two blocks down, tucking my motorcycle between a pickup and an old sedan that looked like it hadn’t moved in days. I took off my helmet, fluffing my hair, before securing it to the bike.
Out of sight. Exactly how I liked it.
My lips curved faintly as I rounded the corner and watched Drew head inside.
Then I followed.
The bell jingled as I stepped into Bramble & Bean.
My gaze found him immediately.
He was at the counter, but he tensed, as if he felt me behind him.
He slowly turned, his eyes locking with mine. Recognition flashed and then shifted to surprise. The kind of surprise from seeing someone you wanted to see.
My stomach fluttered.
“Hi, Drew,” I managed to say calmly.
Internally, I purred.
“I was hoping I’d run into you again.”
He was off-balance. Flustered.
It was cute.
We engaged in small talk, and then he turned his quiet focus to the menu—even though he already knew what he wanted.
Such a creature of habit.
He ordered and then told me to order.
When he offered to pay, I was stunned. I’ve never had a man do that for me.
Not only did he pay, but the dear, sweet man pulled my chair out for me.
We fell into conversation easily. Naturally. Like this just happened.
Like I didn’t plan this encounter piece by piece before he ever walked through that door.
I couldn’t resist testing the waters. Layering in things just to gauge his reaction.
He’d pause. Sometimes his brows furrowed.
But he laughed off the things I said. Dismissed his instincts as soon as I said something to ease his fears.
If I were anyone else, I’d think he lacked self-preservation.
But I’m not.
And I already knew enough about Drew to know why he’s ignoring his instincts.
It worked in my favor.
His voice breaks through my thoughts. “You and Ivy really seemed to hit it off Saturday night.”
I stare at him for a moment.
His expression is slightly guarded. His posture is stiff.
He’s searching for something.
I keep my smile the same. “Yes, she’s lovely. So warm.”
He watches me intently.
I lean a little closer. “I thought it was a little strange when she hugged me. She just met me.”
His grip on his cup relaxes. “Yeah. She can be a bit… much.”
There’s a guarded look on his face when he says it. The way he falters for words is... interesting.
“Oh? Is she always like that?” I ask nonchalantly.
Drew spins his cup. “Actually… no. I’ve never seen her hug another woman.”
Hmm.
His brow furrows again. “She doesn’t hug anyone except Sebastian and her dad. She hugged me before, but that was only because… she’d been hurt.”
“Hurt?” I raise my brows questioningly.
He waves a hand. “She’s fine now. It was just… she was grateful for my help. She hugged me, then seemed embarrassed.”
“She’s not generally an affectionate person?”
Drew chokes on his coffee.
I gingerly rub his back, my palm tingling as if I’d touched an electric fence.
“Oh, she’s very affectionate with my brother.” He makes a face. “Clingy as hell. But he loves it. Eats it up.”
I cock my head. “I’m confused. Why does her hugging you—or anyone else—surprise you?”
He glances at me, then away, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.
“She’s very loyal to Sebastian,” he says slowly.
Ah, I get it.
She’s obsessed with Sebastian.
Although they’re definitely in love. I clocked that as soon as I saw them together.
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“Yes,” he says slowly.
I can practically see the gears in his head grinding as he searches for a way to explain Ivy’s obsession with his brother without it coming across as stalking.
I’d never judge her for stalking. In fact, we have more in common than I thought.
I make a mental note to keep digging for information about Ivy and Sebastian.
“I mean, she touches me some, but it’s never in a way that would anger my brother. Like she’s one hundred percent devoted,” he rushes out.
Got it. She’s definitely an obsessed stalker.
I want her to be my new best friend.
“She sounds sweet. A very loyal wife.”
Drew blows out a breath. “She really is. It’s taken me a bit to get used to her. She’s… quirky.”
“Quirky? How?”
He tenses again, like he said something he didn’t mean to say. “For one thing, she has a psycho cat.”
Ah, yes. The black cat I saw through the window.
The disadvantage to being so far away when I watch him is I can’t hear what he’s saying. But I have to figure out the camera situation first.
“His name is Mr. Pickles. He hates everyone. Well, he used to. The straggly stray likes her and my brother. Me… well, he waged war.” He shakes his head, lips curving slightly. “Still does.”
Mr. Pickles. An odd name for a cat… but I like it.
“That’s an unusual name.”
“Fits that damn demon cat. Ivy caught him licking pickle juice from a jar. It fell out of her dad’s trash can. She told me that when she left saucers of milk outside for him, he went feral.”
“Aw. Poor thing.” I take a drink of my coffee. “Sweet of her to rescue him, though.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m glad she fed him, but when they brought him into Sebastian’s house, I wasn’t happy. I’m more of a dog person. Although…” he finishes his coffee and begins opening the bag with the coffee cake. “I’ve gotten used to the damn cat.”
I nearly say I know. I saw you arguing with him. But I stop myself.
Growth. Callie would be proud.
“Cute. Does he sleep with you?”
“Actually… he has a few times.” He grabs a fork and cuts into his coffee cake.
Most people eat it with their fingers.
But not Drew.
“This one time, he was lying on my back, doing that kneading thing cats do. Ivy calls it making biscuits. It scared the hell out of me at first. His purr sounds like a rusty lawnmower. But then I realized he was happy and let him continue.” He grins. “Best massage I ever had.”
I take a slow sip of my coffee, watching him over the rim of the cup.
His hands are steadier now. His shoulders are more relaxed. The tension fades as he settles into this shared moment.
“Sounds like the two of you bonded.”
His smile is genuine, but then it fades. “We have.”
“Why do you look sad?”
He shifts again, then takes a bite of coffee cake, stalling.
After he swallows, he speaks. “My brother is married. He said he doesn’t mind me staying there… but I need to get out. To get my own life… and let him lead his.”
I can help with that.
We can build a life together.
“Don’t ever tell Sebastian or Ivy but… I’ll miss Mr. Pickles when I leave.”
“You’ll see him when you visit. And you could probably pet-sit for them.”
He nods. “Yeah, I’ve already thought of that. I’d just… miss the daily chaos. Sometimes, that cat seems to sense when I’m feeling lonely and—” He falters, then shakes his head, an embarrassed flush on his cheeks. “It’s stupid.”
I reach over and grab his hand. “Not at all. Tell me.”
He looks relieved. “He makes me feel like I belong.”
My heart pounds faster.
That’s exactly what I want, too. To belong to someone. To belong to him.
I squeeze his hand. “You do.”
Drew squeezes my hand back. “Thanks, Violet. I’m glad you don’t think I’m a wimp.”
“Not at all.”
I sit back, watching Drew finish his pastry.
“I’d like to meet Mr. Pickles sometime.”
Drew’s hand goes over his mouth as he starts laughing. He manages to swallow without spitting any of it out.
“Sorry. I’m not laughing at you.” He grabs a napkin and wipes his mouth. “Did you hear the part about the cat hating everyone?”
“I heard. He wouldn’t hate me, though.”
“Oh no?” A challenge glimmers in Drew’s eyes. “Wanna bet?”
“Sure. If I win, you go to dinner with me.”
He gapes at me, mouth opening and closing like a fish, before he says, “Okay. Um... yeah. Sure.”
“And if you win…” I lean closer. “What do you want, Drew?”
His eyes are wide. He looks like it’s his birthday and Christmas rolled into one.
“Um… well… you go to the movies with me.”
“Done.” I hold out my hand, and he takes it, shaking it.
His phone beeps. He pulls it out and reads it. “Shit. I should get back to work.”
“I’ve distracted you long enough.”
“Yeah.” His smile is teasing. “But I didn’t mind.”
I smile. “Good. I’m not sorry.”
He chuckles.
I really, really like that sound. I could listen to it for the rest of my life.
“I enjoyed this. Very much.” He stands and grabs our empty trash. “But I should probably get home and actually do some work.”
“Ah. Okay.” I stand, watching as he hurries to a trash can.
When he returns, I say, “I need to text my sister.”
He pauses. “Why?”
“I didn’t drive today,” I say casually.
It’s a lie, but I can’t let him see the motorcycle.
“My sister dropped me off. She’s running errands nearby.”
Drew nods. “Do you want me to give you a ride home?”
Hell yes.
And stay there with me.
Forever.
But I don’t say that.
I let the silence stretch, pretending to consider it.
“I don’t want to impose,” I say, looking at him from beneath lowered lashes.
He swallows hard. His voice is raspy when he says, “No imposition.”
“Are you sure?” I ask softly.
“Yeah, of course.”
He says it like he wants to be with me.
My smile softens with just enough warmth and gratitude. “That would be really nice.”
Game.
Set.
Match.
I planned this with patience and precision.
Like a game of chess, he’s exactly where I want him to be.
He gestures, and I lead the way to the door.
A quiet laugh builds in my chest as we step outside, the air warmer than earlier, caressing my skin.
Drew isn’t careless. He’s just… selective.
And I’m quickly becoming something he doesn’t want to question. Something he wants.
My gaze flicks to him as he reaches for the car door, holding it open for me like this was his idea.
My lips curve.
He thinks this is the beginning.
But I know better.
This started long before he noticed me.
Now I get to write the rest of it.