25. Chapter 25
Chapter 25
He’s Just Not That Into You
For the first week after her overnight with Lachlan, Violet jumped every time her phone rang. With every text that came through, she subconsciously held her breath. But each time, a pang of disappointment pinched her heart when she realized it wasn’t him. She hadn’t expected to hear from Lachlan right away, but she thought he’d message at some point just to say hi or see how she was doing. It surprised her and disappointed her more than she wanted to admit.
Their day and night together had been so good, despite the circumstances. No, not good, epic, definitely epic. As time went on, she wondered if it was only she who had thought it was incredible. After all, horses, scotch, and a castle-like home were his norm. More than likely, he had women lined up for that crooked grin and charm and maybe the deep conversations, too. She had felt like there was something special between them, but maybe she was wrong.
Violet knew she should get past it, move on. But Mr. GQ was present in her thoughts more than she wished. "Ugh, but he's my knight in shining armour,” she whined on the phone to her best friend Sierra as she sat on the bed in her Airbnb, trying to put on her makeup using the mirror stand she'd bought that was clearly meant for a solid surface and not a lumpy bed.
“Seriously, I don’t care how dreamy he is. He ’ s just not that into you , which means he is not your knight. Sorry for the tough love, babe, but it’s been a month now. If he wanted to see you again, he would have.”
“I'm sure I put my number on the note I left.” Violet started to second-guess herself, pausing midway through streaking on her eyeliner.
"Of course you did. No one writes a ‘thanks for the night before, the morning after’ note and forgets to put their phone number on it."
"Right." She bit her lip. "Maybe he lost it?"
"Babes, if he wanted to see you again, he would have found a way. He knows the Airbnb you are staying at."
“True. All right, all right. I get it. He would’ve connected.” She sighed heavily in resignation. “Crap."
“Aww, Vi, forget about him. You went to Scotland with dreams in your heart. Follow them, and forget about the boy.”
“I know, you are so right." Violet knew it was true. She'd been far too distracted with fantasies about Lachlan. It was time to move on. "Fine, that’s it. I’m done! No more waiting, hoping, pining, daydreaming about Mr. Not-So-Wonderful-After-All. Done. Back to my life and the reason I’m here. I have goals to achieve, dreams to follow, life to live!”
“There ya go. That’s right, you do! How’s the styling business, anyway?”
“Slow, but there's hope. I landed my first client. She works in advertising and feels like she’s not making the best impression with her wardrobe." Violet mimicked the way the woman had said it to her. "She’s exactly the type of client I want to work with, I just hope I can get more like her.”
“It’s a start, at least. How’d you get that one?”
“Randomly. We met at the coolest little coffee shop, literally a hole in the wall." Violet chuckled. “She gushed over my shoes, and it went from there.”
“Jeepers, well, I guess that’s one way to snag in potential clients: keep going to charming little dives and luring them in with your killer wardrobe.”
The two women laughed.
“Ah, I wish it was always this easy. It’s a start, though. In other news, I got a job at a horse sanctuary.”
“Sorry, you what?”
Violet could practically see Sierra’s confused expression. She had to admit, it did sound strange, even to her.
“Um, it’s just sort of a side thing. I don’t know, I thought I’d try it out to make a little extra money while I get my business going. And you know I adore horses.”
“What are you going to be doing? Like mucking out stables?” Sierra scoffed.
“No, no. Well, I don’t think so. It’s supposed to be a place for kids to go to be around horses, ride them, or groom them. That sort of thing. I'm not sure of much yet, but anything to do with horses, I'm in. I suppose whatever they need.”
“Does it pay well?”
Violet laughed. "What do you think? I mean, considering I don't even really know what I'm doing yet, it is more than minimum wage, so that's good.”
“So you're side hustle is a random job with horses?” Sierra clarified as if she didn’t quite believe it.
“Yeah, sure. Why not?”
“No, that’s fine. I’m just surprised. I thought if you did anything on the side, it might be working in the fashion world. Or at least something that pays well.”
Violet was very aware that her savings would only take her so far, but she was confident it would all work out eventually. “Right, well, I don’t know. It just sounded good at the time. Nobody says I have to stay there. But I need something to do in my spare time, and I get to go riding as often as I wish, which is pretty wicked. I don’t even need Mr. GQ’s horses. He can keep them. I’ve found my own!”
Sierra chuckled. "That’s right. You don’t need his stinkin’ horses. I mean, that’s probably the only reason you even liked him. He’s got no pull on you now you've found your own horses.”
“Oh my God, Sierra, I frickin’ miss you!” She looked in her tilted mirror for a final check and zipped closed her makeup bag.
“Miss you too, lady. How’s the head? Everything still good?”
“Yep, it’s been good, thank God. I still can’t believe how crazy it was that happened.”
“Which brings me to my next question. Have you made any friends there yet?” Sierra said it as if Violet might find herself in need again.
“A few. Actually, my friend Fiona was the one who told me about the horse thing. She’s going to be doing it too, and she introduced me to her friend Andy. We've hit it off, they've been really great.”
“Good, I’m glad you at least have someone out there. And what about a place? Any luck there? Or are you still living at the Airbnb?”
Violet snickered. “I’m still at the Airbnb, and I’m so over it. I’ve checked out a couple of places. One was perfect, but it came with a not-so-perfect price tag. I checked out this one place that should be condemned! It was disgusting and smelled like rotting vegetables.”
“Gross.”
“Yep, it was. Actually, I better get going. I’m meeting the agent at another place this afternoon. I’m afraid to hope.”
“Aww, well, I will hope for you that this one will be the one. Miss you, my friend. Good luck today, and remember, that dude’s just not that into you , so forget about him!”
Violet laughed. “Yeah, yeah, I got it. Miss you too. Talk to you soon. Bye."
The cottage was too good to be true! But as Violet unlocked the door to her new place, the reality sunk in. Sun shone through the picture window, casting an inviting glow to the airy room. The old walnut wood floor creaked in welcome as she walked in. She strolled to the bedroom, where a view of the sea in the distance drew her to the window.
Oh, this place was perfect—so perfect. A little farther away from town than she would have preferred, but it was too good to pass up. And the price was right. It took a while to find. But she knew as soon as she saw it that it was the one. Another draw was how close it was to the horse sanctuary, literally a couple minutes’ walk down the most perfect little country road and only a fifteen-minute drive to town.
Violet sank into the navy winged-back chair and looked around the room, imagining where she might hang her non-existent artwork—one day. She sighed with contentment. Staring out at the green hills and that little patch of sea beyond them, Violet’s thoughts turned to Lachlan.
She had done well to get him off her mind this past month since speaking to Sierra, but somehow, the distant rhythmic sound of the rolling waves took her back to that evening in his lounge. And then the kiss in the hallway—one-sided, and yet not. Either way, it was burned into her soul. A delicious shiver tingled down her spine at the memory. A knock on the ajar front door pulled her from her reverie.
“Hello, anybody home?” Fiona called out.
Aware of the direction her thoughts had taken, Violet was glad for Fiona’s cheerful voice at her door.
“Welcome to my humble abode!” She spread her arms wide as she walked out of the bedroom to greet her friend.
“It’s simply gorge’, love! Let’s celebrate!” Fiona held up a bottle of champagne.
Violet whooped. “I’ll grab a couple of glasses!”
“Better grab me one too.” Andy strode in behind Fiona with more champagne in hand.
“Aww, you guys are the best!”
Fiona and Andy plunked themselves down on the white shabby chic overstuffed couch.
“Pretty great little place, Violet,” Andy quipped as he made himself comfy.
Violet walked back into the living room and looked around meaningfully. “It is, isn’t it?”
Andy did the honours, popping a bottle open and pouring them each a fizzy glass. They held them up for a toast. “First, apologies that we are having champagne out of coffee mugs. I might need to add champagne flutes to the shopping list!”
“Uh, yeah, ye do.” Fiona laughed.
“Thank you guys for everything. I’m so grateful that you interrupted my reading. I'll never forget the deadpan first words out of your mouth and the side eye you threw me: 'is it fuckin' steamy?’”
Fiona grinned widely, her signature bold coloured lipstick on full display. "I'm always looking for new recommendations for my Tbr.”
"What in God's name is Tbr?" Andy eyed them like he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.
"To be read," Violet and Fiona responded in unison, then giggled.
"As in the list of books you want to read," Violet added, noting Andy's confused, slightly ruffled brow. “Anyway, I was just so glad someone decided to talk to me.” She reflected on how lonely she’d actually been feeling—until Fiona popped into her life.
“Oh, I’m certain I wasn’t the first.”
"Fair. But you were the first to ask the fun questions. I never expected to find a lifelong friend in such a short amount of time.” Violet reached over and gave Fiona's hand a squeeze.
“Hey, what about me then? I suppose I'm just the soggy peas on the side that nobody cares about,” Andy said, wallowing in self-pity.
Violet giggled. “And you, Andy! I’m thankful we met, too. I feel like the two of you took me under your wing—thank God. I’m no longer a loner in Scotland, cheers!”
With a laugh, they clanked their glasses. “To no' being a loner!” Fiona concurred and took a healthy sip.
As the sun set, Violet sat in her lovely new cottage, enjoying champagne and the company of her new friends. She felt like she was living her dream life. It was one of the best evenings Violet had had since arriving in Scotland. Only one other could beat it, but she pushed that memory aside.
“So now you have a business client, a job, a place to live, friends, how about a man? Any prospects?” Fiona flashed a sly grin, swept her long dark hair forward over her shoulder, and batted her lashes in a flirty gesture.
Violet guffawed, throwing back the contents of her mug. The champagne made her head spin.
“Nothing?” She looked aghast.
Meanwhile, Andy was kicked back on the couch, intoxicated and laser-focused on balancing his mug atop his rounded belly.
Violet poured herself some more champagne and leaned over to top up Andy's mug and then Fiona's, emptying the contents of the bottle.
"I don't have time for men. What about you, Fiona? Have you met any hunky amazingness as of late?”
“Really, lassies, ye ken I’m still here, aye?” Andy remarked, tuning back into the conversation.
“Ya, ya, Andy.” Fiona swatted at his leg, causing his mug to falter, and he jostled with it before saving his champagne from spilling. "Ye may wanna close yer ears." She teased him and then drew her attention back to Violet. “Have ye seen the owner of the sanctuary, Vi?" Her dark brow raised in a playful arch. "He was there yesterday and och.”
“I wasn’t in yesterday. He’s hot?” she asked, intrigued at this turn of events.
“Oh, girl, ye dinnae ken the half of it.” Fiona fanned herself like a 1950s actress who was all hot and bothered .
“Do tell. I always assumed it was some old rich dude who owned it.” Violet leaned against the cushions of the couch, cradling her champagne eagerly anticipating the details. It was good for her to remember there were other men in Scotland, not just Lachlan.
“Hardly! Mmm, mmm, mmm.” Fiona drawled. “Definitely easy on the eyes.”
“Really. How old is he?” Violet tried to imagine this easy-on-the-eyes enigma.
“Not that old. I would say late twenties to early thirties.”
“The owner’s son, maybe?” He'd have to have either a lot of money or some solid investors to own a sanctuary like Highland Haven.
“No, we were told he was it, the master behind the plan.”
“Hmm.”
“Oh my God, and he was so nice,” she droned exaggeratedly. “He was talking about his vision for the sanctuary and how grateful he was for all our help and how he wanted it to be a place we could also feel good about.” She took a gulp of her champagne as if it were milk, washing down cookies. “Seriously, good-looking, cares about kids, and rich? My ovaries are dancing a fuckin’ jig!
Violet laughed, almost spilling her champagne. “That good, eh?”
“Aye, Miss Canada, eh?” Fiona teased. “That good. I think he’d be right up yer alley.”
“My alley? What about your alley? I thought your ovaries were jigging?” Violet slogged the last of her champagne and looked around as though disappointed more was not awaiting her. She was more concerned with champagne than her supposedly hot, rich, children-lovin’ boss. It was good to know there were other fish in the sea— maybe even other Knights in shining armour. But Violet found herself reluctant to jump into the dating scene in Scotland. After… whatever the heck that was with Lachlan, she realized the last thing she needed was a distraction— especially when what she really wanted was to find her footing here in this country.
“Oh, well, they jigged but more on yer behalf. I think I prefer the bad boys—gruff and rough, that kind of thing. This one is too nice for that.” Fiona yawned, stretching her arms up before settling in a cozied-up ball. “Yep, ye should do the boss. Let us all live vicariously,” she said sleepily.
“I dinnae wanna live vicariously in that scenario. Thank ye verra much,” Andy suddenly piped up.
Violet jumped. She thought he’d fallen asleep. “The only thing I’m gonna do is my bed, like right now. You’re on your own, peeps. Blankets are in the closet in the hall. I’m out.” Violet padded off to her room, leaving her friends to fend for themselves.