36. Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Jealousy’s Venom
Violet didn’t stick around after getting back from her "whisky tour" with Lachlan. When they came back up to the main room, Violet’s heart sank when none other than Anna MacDonald stole Lachlan away. Just because they’d had sex, it didn’t mean he was suddenly hers, despite her heart yelling to the contrary.
“I was looking for you,” the woman crooned, latching onto his arm, not even sparing Violet a glance. It was the first time Violet witnessed Lachlan looking completely uncomfortable. If she didn’t feel so vulnerable in the moment, she might have found it comical. Lachlan cleared his throat.
“Anna, this is Violet. She works with me at the sanctuary.”
Seriously, they’d just shared the most incredible connection, and that was how he introduced her. Violet didn’t have time to be offended as Anna clearly had other plans for Lachlan.
"Violet." The woman's eyes coolly assessed her. "Not a common name."
Before Violet could respond, Anna had already turned her attention back to Lachlan. "The first minister and his wife just arrived. Since they are friends of mine, I thought I could make the introductions,” Anna said smoothly.
Violet sensed it was more of a ploy to get Lachlan's attention. She didn't consider herself the jealous type, but something about this woman rubbed her wrong. Not that she had any business being jealous at all, did she? Now they'd come upstairs, she felt so uncertain as to what had just happened between them. What did it mean? Did it mean anything at all?
Lachlan scanned the room. "Aye, I'd appreciate that."
Violet was surprised when Lachlan turned back and stepped close to her. She couldn't help her instant reaction to him being in her space again. Her pulse kicked up with need snaking through her as if her body wanted nothing more than to be wrapped in his.
She swallowed, looking up into his reassuring eyes. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear that had come loose downstairs.
“I’m sorry, lass. Duty calls.” Why did he have to look at her like she was an angel while at the same time rejecting her? Maybe she had no right to wish that he would want her by his side. His right hand, as Orlagh had said, but also something more—her heart hoped.
“It’s fine." The words felt like a lie. "I know you have lots of people to talk with.” It was true. He was the host of this party, after all, but her heart wished that he wanted to keep her on his arm. Show her off proudly. She almost snickered out loud at her own stupidity. What had she thought, that they'd given into desire and suddenly they'd be a couple? She was his employee! God, she was such an idiot.
He kissed her forehead and gave her hand a squeeze before turning from her and striding toward an eagerly awaiting Anna. Violet watched them get lost in the crowd and wondered how she'd gotten it so wrong—again. For a suspended moment in time, she felt like he was hers completely. Now back upstairs, it was like the magic of that cask room was broken. Hadn't he felt it, too? That indescribable pull, that all-consuming need? Surely, it was not common place between two people.
And then a terrible unbidden thought crossed her mind. Despite knowing that everyone had sex, the thought that he’d probably had sex with Anna not only flashed through her mind, but it had her questioning—had it been like this for them? Was Lachlan just a casanova? She hated that she even questioned it after what just transpired between them.
Ugh . What was she doing even thinking about it? She'd be lying if she denied the sting of how he'd introduced her to his so-called ex after just having earth-shattering sex with her.
An ache settled into her temples. What did she want him to say? That she was his girlfriend now? After all that had just transpired, it felt like nothing had changed. She was still just his employee. A friend.
Violet had made her way to the front foyer to retrieve her wrap and head home when she was approached from the side.
"Going home already?”
Violet looked at the woman, who was a couple of inches shorter than her. Her beautiful face was marred with a smug smile—Anna. Alarm bells went off in her mind.
“I have to work in the morning," Violet responded.
"Oh yes, that's right. You’re a worker at Lachlan's horse place.”
"Highland Haven. Yes." Violet got the sense the woman was trying to belittle her in some way, and she was in no mood, with the incessant ache taking up residence in her head. She turned to face her in hopes she would cut to the chase.
"Lachlan is a very important man, a very prestigious man," Anna said as if it were somehow relevant.
"Mmhm. Important, but not pretentious,” Violet lobbed back.
"Well, let me frank with ye. It would be a bad look if he were to”—she ran a judgmental gaze over Violet—“dabble with the help.” Her beady little eyes were pointed on Violet.
She could not believe the nerve of this woman. Violet had never been made to feel like she was inferior, but this woman was clearly trying to do just that. Violet wanted to give her an earful, but before she could respond, the woman slipped a piece of paper from her gem-encrusted purse, and Violet's heart sank.
She recognized it immediately. It was the note she'd left Lachlan when she'd stayed at his place. How on earth did this woman have it? Oh God . The pieces started to fall into place. Lachlan was dating her when she'd stayed at his house. Violet felt like she was going to be sick.
"Ye may want this back," Anna said, a snide smile spreading across her face.
Tears stung Violet’s eyes but she'd not give the woman the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Taking the note from her hand, she turned and left as fast as her high heels would carry her. Thankfully, there was a cab waiting outside, and she slipped inside. She pulled out her phone and texted her friends that she had a headache and was heading home, and then she sat back and let the tears come as she re-read the note she'd left Lachlan at what felt like a lifetime ago.
Hi Lachlan,
What a wild weekend! I never expected quite so much excitement when I arrived in your country. I honestly don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come to my rescue on the pier. I'm eternally grateful. And then being willing to let me stay here. You're a pretty great guy, Lachlan Mackenzie. Thank you for being the best nursemaid a girl could ask for. I owe you one, to say the least. If you ever want company when you go riding or someone to hang out with and listen to The Beatles, or you need a whisky taster, haha, let me know!
Yours,
Violet x
0161 569 8991
And for the first time, she wondered if he'd ever seen it. Was that why he didn't contact her? Sierra's words came back to her, he could have found you if he wanted to. That was still true. She bit her lip. But did he even know she'd left him a note at all?
Walking into her little cottage, she headed straight for her bedroom and took off her gown. The events of the night played over in her mind. She didn’t know how she felt. Thoughts of his hands and mouth all over her and of how good it felt to have him inside her consumed her as she undressed. She climbed into bed and snuggled under the covers.
There was a distinct chill in the air tonight. Immediately, she imagined him in bed with her, warming her up. His ripped body pressed against hers. She shivered. Then she picked up her phone and looked at it. Nothing. No phone calls. No texts.
She rolled over with a sigh. Fortunately, her headache had eased a bit. That Anna woman was a piece of work. She couldn't fathom the Lachlan she'd come to know being with her. She thought back to what Orlagh had said—something about Anna making Lachlan's skin crawl from having to dance with her. Was he just playing nice? Being the dutiful host? But it was clear to Violet now that this woman wanted Lachlan and likely had him at some point if she had come into possession of Violet's note. And Orlagh had said something about the woman trying to win Lachlan's affections back .
It made her head hurt again trying to understand it all. God, what a night. She let her mind wonder back to being with Lachlan down in the cask room—without a doubt the most erotic experience of her life. Mmm, and he felt so good inside her. Geez, what would have happened if they hadn ’ t heard the tour coming? She cringed at the thought. Thank God, they were able to get out of sight in time. Then she thought about how he’d torn off her panties with such masculine determination. A wave of desire shuddered through her at the memory. She rolled onto her back, throwing her arm across her forehead.
“Shit, shit, shit,” she cursed. As incredible as the night was, when it came down to it, she was afraid. Afraid she’d let him in and not just physically. He had her wound in knots. Telling her how he’d wished she’d been there on his trip. But that was for business, she reminded herself.
She was actually thrilled with how he’d come to rely on her with business. She loved it all so much. She’d grown in the past six weeks and could see the potential for her role in the sanctuary. She was so passionate about it all, but it turned out she might actually have quite the knack for business. Even his sister said that he talked about her. Did it mean something? Or was it just all about the business? And then she wondered if what had happened tonight would change things.
Anna's words rang in her ears about it not being a good look dabbling with the help. What a horrendous thing to say, and yet, Violet couldn't help the little seed of doubt that had formed in her mind.
All the walls she had worked so hard to build. Business was one thing. But their chemistry was off the charts. Och, lass, I’ve needed to taste your lips for two long months. His words haunted her now. She had learned not to think about him—to not dream about him. She’d almost taught herself not to want him. Almost. And now it was like all her walls and rules had been scattered like shredded paper to the wind in one wild, unbelievable evening. She was exposed. No walls to protect her heart. Maybe something had changed. Maybe he did want something more with her. Ugh, she was so unsure. She wanted to cry again, but she was so tapped out.
I need ye, V. His words echoed in her mind.
She was so fearful that it was she who needed him. For him, perhaps it was just a night of passion, a fling. The ones who got away always tasted sweeter, didn’t they? But for her, he was seared on her soul. Branded.
“FUUCKK,” she hollered out to the cool quietness of her room.