Chapter 11
It was March, and Leo didn’t even need his fingers to count the number of times he and Violet had hung out since their second kiss, or even last month’s auction. Exactly zero.
Not having Violet as a friend made life feel barely worth it. And not having her as a girlfriend was even worse.
How did his apology for the way he’d made things uncomfortable between them turn into him agreeing to be nothing more than friends? He’d wanted the night of the auction to go a different way altogether.
He’d thought it smart to apologize, because he’d made her uncomfortable, but then suddenly the conversation was over and he was still in the friend zone. He hadn’t even had a chance to share his I’d-be-a-great-boyfriend argument with her.
And she hadn’t bid on him, either. Instead he’d spent a long day landscaping for Mrs. Fisher and her husband. Which hadn’t been too bad, but it sure didn’t rate as high as spending time with Violet.
She wanted to be friends, and he should respect that.
And yet, deep down inside, he felt she was avoiding him because she was scared. From her perspective he had a lot of checkmarks on her don’t-date-him list, and she’d had her heart broken enough times to be extra cautious.
But he wasn’t going to give up on her until he’d had a chance to argue his case one more time.
And he hoped today’s wedding would help him get around Violet’s very serious defense system.
Today he’d tell her the truth about how he felt about her.
And maybe, if he was lucky, she would be willing to try one more time when it came to finding the love of her life.
Violet inhaled the salty air coming in through the window of the pink cottage along the ocean shore in Indigo Bay, South Carolina. The white curtains billowed in the breeze as she set down the curling iron.
“You’re a beautiful bride,” she said to Daisy-Mae. Her eyes filled with tears, as did her friend’s.
Daisy-Mae quickly dabbed a finger under her lashes, trying to collect the tears before they ruined her carefully applied makeup. “You’re making me cry!”
Violet scrambled to collect tissues, passing her a handful. “I can’t believe you’re getting married.”
Daisy-Mae’s watery smile filled with happiness. “I know. Me, either.”
“I predicted this back in September!”
“I totally didn’t believe you.”
“I know.” Violet had lost track of when the fake relationship had become real for Daisy-Mae and Maverick, but was elated her friend was getting the man she’d crushed on for so many years.
“Things are good. No, more than good.”
“I’m so glad.”
“How about you? You haven’t been yourself lately.”
“Oh. I’m fine.” Violet waved her off.
“What did I miss?” Daisy-Mae grabbed Violet’s hands, holding them as she peered at her, searching for the truth.
“Nothing,” she insisted. “You’ve been busy falling in love and getting engaged in the most public way possible.” Violet laughed. “Trend alert. Daisy-Mae is in the house!”
Her friend looked heavenward and sighed. “Who knew I’d be the one to suggest eloping?”
“All is wrong with the world: Daisy-Mae is willing to elope!” Violet teased.
Eager to get them moving toward the beach for the small, private ceremony, she started to pull her hands away, but her friend tightened her grip.
“Maverick’s witness is Leo.”
“I know,” Violet replied lightly. She’d heard that Brant Wylder, who’d set up Leo with an older rescued dog, was dog-sitting so Leo could come to the Indigo Bay beach wedding between game nights. It was a whirlwind, hush-hush trip, Maverick and Daisy-Mae so eager to wed that they were eloping. But they needed two witnesses. Violet was one, and for some reason Maverick had wrangled Leo to come as the second.
However, the need for witnesses turned out to be a mistake. It was North Carolina, not South Carolina where they needed wedding witnesses, but by then the tickets had been purchased for Indigo Bay, South Carolina and everyone was ready to go. Violet’s slightly superstitious side felt that it was all a sign—especially with having Leo as the other witness.
But most of all, it was an opportunity for her to get brave and tell him how she really felt about him. She just hoped she wouldn’t chicken out, or that Leo didn’t shatter her heart, because her control was already long gone when it came to him.
“I tried to convince Mav to ask someone else, because I know you two are going through something, but everyone’s so crazy busy. Dak’s on his honeymoon, the Wylder men have calving or spring football or who knows what, etcetera, etcetera. You get the point.”
“It’s fine, really.”
“Are you sure?” Daisy-Mae asked.
“Yes. Certain. Thank you for inviting him.”
“You’re up to something.”
“No. Yes.” She sighed.
“You love him!”
“No!” Violet covered her face. “I mean…”
“Tell me how he makes you feel.”
“It’s like you’re standing at a cocktail party all alone with a drink in your hand. You join a conversation, but you don’t know what everyone’s laughing about. Then he comes along and suddenly you’re comfortable and laughing and a part of things. But now he’s gone again and I’m back at the party standing there awkwardly, hoping somebody will include me and it’ll all turn into fun again.”
Daisy-Mae sighed, her expression full of sympathy and confusion. “Oh, hon.”
“It’ll be fine.” She’d checked the NHL trade lists that morning. The deadline had officially passed and Leo was with the Dragons for the time being. That gave them time. Time to figure things out before she once again faced the gut-wrenching fear that he might get traded away from her.
“Come on,” she said, feeling nervous. She hurried toward the door and held it open. “The bride can’t be late or the groom’ll start panicking.”
Daisy-Mae, in her flowing white sundress and flowered crown, stopped on the threshold and gave Violet a long hug. “It’ll all work out. I promise.”
“I know, and I’m fine.”
“I want to see you happy.”
“Thanks.”
They shared a smile and Daisy-Mae stepped out onto the veranda, arms raised as she sucked in a deep breath. “This is it. The day I’ve been waiting for!” She turned and did a little dance as she squealed in excitement, scaring a small yellow bird off the railing.
With a grin, Violet hooked her arm through her friend’s, leading her down the sandy seashell path. “Come on, Daise! Let’s go lock this man in.”
And, hopefully, by night’s end, she’d have Leo locked in as her new boyfriend, as well.
Leo stood as Daisy-Mae and Violet came across the sugary sand, the breeze toying with the hems of their dresses. Maverick was already standing under the rose-covered archway, waiting for his bride. The wedding was casual, and Leo, as a witness, was to sit in one of two chairs set out in the sand.
Two chairs. Spaced a half foot apart.
Leo edged the chairs closer together and waited for the women to arrive.
Violet was smiling, arm in arm with her best friend. She looked happy. Free.
One word: heart-stoppingly beautiful.
Again, he needed more than one word to describe the woman.
The women hugged, and Violet came to stand on the far side of the second chair. She didn’t look at him, and surreptitiously edged her chair farther from his before she sat down.
Leo, pretending to steady his chair in the soft sand, moved it closer again before he sat.
“Hi.”
“Hey,” she said, her hands twisted in her lap, her gaze solidly on the couple under the archway.
She was wearing what he thought of as an angry panda outfit. It was a white-and-black, half-sleeve sundress with a skirt that grazed her knees, and a giant pink flower splashed across her waistline, the petals flowing out from her right hip. Her hair was in an up-do, with tiny pink roses tucked into the folds, her bangs nearly brushing her lashes. She was gorgeous.
She was biting her lower lip as if nervous that the bride was going to run off or do something equally crazy, and she was still avoiding looking at him. He’d love to believe he was simply too handsome, and she was fearing self-combustion if she dared look at him.
Either way, it made it difficult to start a conversation about the two of them.
“The wedding is up there,” she said calmly, raising a finger to point to the couple.
Leo shifted and reached inside his jacket pocket, then held out his palm in front of Violet. On it rested a homemade peach muffin wrapped in plastic and a folded piece of paper. “I was going to make you a cobbler, but I thought a muffin might travel better.”
Violet blinked at the offering, then wordlessly, slowly accepted it. Her cheeks were pink and she looked like she was having trouble breathing. He pointed to the square of paper. “This is a list of good cars and salesmen who won’t rip you off if you still need to upgrade. But if you’d like, I’ll come with you.”
Violet blinked again and swallowed. “That would be really nice,” she whispered.
The ceremony began, and already tears were leaking down Violet’s cheeks, but Leo had a feeling they were more about him than the wedding. He shifted in his chair to wipe them away.
She looked at him, her chin trembling. “I’m scared. But I want…” Her voice broke and she glanced back at the flowery archway.
He knew this wasn’t the time or place to have this conversation, but he desperately wanted to hear what else she had to say. He caressed her cheek with his knuckle, then slid one arm across the back of her chair, angling his upper body so her shoulder fitted against his chest.
“I want you and love,” she breathed. “And I don’t know if…”
“If I can fall in love?”
She bobbed her head.
“Vi, the past few months without you in my life have been the hardest I’ve ever endured. I think about you all the time. I miss our laughter and conversations. I keep thinking about things we should do together, and I check my phone a million times a day hoping there’s a message from you.”
Those tears weren’t stopping, but neither was he. “I want a lot more of those kisses we shared. I meant it when I said I think friendship and love are the best foundation for a relationship. And you and me? I believe we have both of those things. I believe we can go the distance.”
“Oh, Leo.” Her breath hitched, and her eyes filled with something that fueled his hope.
“I know I don’t have everything that I’d like to offer you when it comes to a life together. My career is unstable, and I know I could get traded next year. The only thing certain in my life is my desire for you.”
Leo.
How had she ever missed seeing his affection? It was right there, written on his face. His right words and actions were her right words and actions. That’s why they hadn’t worked with Christine. They were Violet’s, and had been all along.
She’d let her own fears block her from seeing what was in front of her—a man who loved her.
Speechless, she swiped at her tears before Leo could. She’d planned to be the one arguing her case for love at some point today, and here he was, stunning her. Violet didn’t know what to say, how to react other than to kiss him.
Would that be an acceptable reply?
His chair was nestled up to hers, his arm across the back. He was caressing her shoulder in a gentle, soothing motion and she shivered as something raw ran through her nervous system.
He was beautifully turned out for the casual beach wedding in tan linen trousers, the hems rolled up, leather flip-flops and a loose-fitting cotton shirt and suit jacket. Everything looking as though it had been cut to hang magnificently off his muscled shoulders, torso, hips and legs. She’d never seen him look more handsome, and she took a mental picture to save for later.
“I’m praying you still have enough hope in that wounded heart of yours that you’d be willing to give a man like me a chance,” Leo said. “That you’ll let me try to be your heart’s superglue.”
“I want more than a year.”
“A year is only a start.”
“What if we need more time?”
“If things are good and I’m traded, you move with me. Or I quit.”
“Quit the NHL?”
He’d do that for her? The man was insane. Intense. Committed and half crazy.
Or really and truly in love.
Or crazy. But maybe love and crazy were actually the same thing.
The woman performing the marriage ceremony cast a warning look Violet’s way after her outburst, while Maverick and Daisy-Mae, oblivious to the fact that their witnesses weren’t paying attention, continued to smile at each other.
“You know what you want, Violet. And I trust that about you. You’ve taught me so much about love over the past few months. So…” Leo took her hand in his. “I’m stepping off that cliff right now, hoping the air will catch me.”
“You don’t need the air to catch you,” Violet said, her eyes welling up again. “You’ve got me above the rocks, waiting with my arms open.”
She tilted her body, leaning against his chest as he angled in for a kiss.
“I think I love you, Violet Granger.”
“I think I love you, too, Leo Pattra.”
The kiss started off sweet. And maybe it was the magic of the wedding, the sunshine, or the sound of the gulls playing above the ocean waves that made this kiss feel different than anything she’d ever experienced.
Or maybe it was Leo.
Maybe it was love.
And maybe, just maybe, that pesky curse that had been plaguing her family’s matriarchal line was finally being broken and dissolved by a love much stronger than some bad juju.
Leo shifted closer, his right hand cradling her jaw as he deepened the kiss. She pressed her hands to his chest, wishing to be closer. The kiss stole her breath, and she forgot her surroundings.
The man was magic. That’s what it was. It wasn’t the atmosphere or anything else; it was him. Their friendship. Their growing love.
She didn’t need to change to be with someone who truly loved her, because he saw her flaws and believed they were beautiful strengths.