Chapter 25
Violet
“Just a few more shots,” the official Brightworks photographer barked. Prince Dugan was more like a drill sergeant than a high fashion photographer given his military background. But his style left positive reviews with the smokejumpers.
Even the calendar star.
“He is perfect,” Sheila said as she joined me.
She’d been one of two lucky people at the end of the straws in being allowed to join the assignment.
Greg was the other, more of a liaison with the jumpers to ensure they had everything they needed.
The two coordinated the daily shots with the team left in California to ensure we were moving forward.
So far, we were days ahead of schedule. There were two reasons.
The eagerness of the subjects, which still continued to shock the hell out of me, and the weather conditions surrounding the most perfect shooting locations in the world. I couldn’t ask for better.
At this rate, the project would be finished weeks in advance.
Which left a horrible knot in the pit of my stomach.
What then? In a little over a week, I’d grown even closer to Steel, learning his nuances, likes, and dislikes.
Given our work schedule, what relationship we’d developed was what most couples would call normal.
Or traditional, although there seemed nothing traditional about the man.
“Perfect. I must agree.” I forgot who I was talking to. When I realized she was my employee, I turned away so she wouldn’t see the hard flush of sheer embarrassment.
“Sheila. I need you over here,” Greg called.
“Be right there,” she yelled back, starting to walk away.
When she turned to face me, I felt a lecture coming on.
“You know, it’s okay to have a personal life.
It’s also okay to want something for yourself, something entirely your own.
Sometimes we’re gifted two different choices, a fork in the road.
But once you’ve made your choice you’ll be at peace. ”
“A little profound for a late afternoon on a Thursday. Don’t you think?”
She laughed. “Dan Fogelberg’s music helped me a lot with that sort of thing. He was a genius and it’s true. You might have destiny knocking on your doorstep. Maybe it’s about time you listened.”
As she walked away, not only did I think about her words, I also felt them deep within my soul.
They weren’t anything I hadn’t mulled over at least once or twice in the last few days.
Being in Missoula not only had the effect of making me feel closer to my mother, but being here also had a calming effect. Not just the place or the people.
Steel.
Who was currently taking direction from Prince alongside his brother. The duo shot had been my suggestion for a reason. A reason yet to be mentioned out in the open. My God, he looked so damn handsome I felt myself swooning. What professional woman did that kind of thing with her subject?
Turning slightly, I had a private moment to myself, enjoying the rapid pulse and the way my skin felt as if it was on fire. As soon as I closed my eyes, visions of his face and his chiseled body popped into my mind. It wasn’t right to tingle all over when you were working.
The buzz of my phone indicating a call was more annoying than usual. However, with Brenda remaining in California to keep the project toeing the line, we conversed several times a day. That’s who I expected would be calling.
Seeing the unknown number flashing across the screen make my skin crawl and my stomach lurch. I answered only because given the notoriety of the calendar already, our team had been approached by various magazines and morning talk shows for possible booking. “Violet Livingston.”
“Violet. We talk at long last.” When I didn’t say anything, the bastard chuckled. “Now, why is it that you’re trying to avoid me at all costs? We were close once.”
Kenneth. Just hearing his voice made my skin crawl.
Was the motherfucker kidding me? I moved further away from the group, doing everything I could to calm my increasing temper. However, as usual, the bastard always managed to get a rise out of me.
“How did you get this number?” I moved away from the group, trying to keep my voice down. A full week of being in Missoula had passed. Five days of relative peace and quiet, if you could consider working morning until night on the photoshoot peaceful.
Maybe so because there’d been no emails. No phone calls.
From one person in particular.
“I can find anything I want, Violet. Since you wouldn’t return my calls, I had to use my resources.”
I headed even farther away from the group. “Fine, Kenneth. What do you want?”
“To have a meeting with you.”
“We have nothing to talk about.”
“Yes, we do.”
There was no hiding anything from Steel.
He’d been unsettled for the last few days.
New locks on the door. Watching me like a hawk.
Not that I minded having him around. He’d become a delicious fixture in my life.
While the excuse of the various photoshoots was convenient, we both knew better. We enjoyed each other’s company.
And my sweet child enjoyed his.
Just hearing Kenny’s voice grated my nerves. “Then talk because I have work to do.”
“You mean a new calendar, the backdrop Missoula, Montana.”
Immediately ice ran through my veins. I gritted my teeth, thinking about People Magazine.
Even I’d received some notoriety in town from the tiny snippet of an article they’d published, but since then, the fifteen minutes of fame had died down.
“I have work to do, Kenneth. So I suggest you tell me what you need to tell me or I’m going to hang up. ”
“Don’t…” The word was said with the same rage I’d heard all those years ago. Maybe since my son’s birthday was in a few days, he felt some fatherly need. Bullshit. “Don’t do that, Violet.” He’d managed to calm down, but I was still on edge.
“Then talk. As I said, I am in the middle of something.” Shit. Steel had turned toward me, walking away from the conversation he was having. When he narrowed his eyes as if asking if I was okay, I nodded fervently. I could only imagine how he’d react if he knew Kenneth had bothered me.
“We can’t do this over the phone and certainly not by email.”
“Then it’s going to need to wait. I am working.
I’m on a deadline and I don’t have time to deal with you.
Let alone, it’s my son’s birthday in a few days.
Not that you give a shit. I don’t want anything from you.
Not any longer. I take that back. I want one thing.
For you to stay out of my life. Don’t call. Don’t email me.”
Steel was headed in my direction. This wasn’t good.
“Now, you listen to me. You will make time for me and Damien is my son too. If you care about him, you’ll make arrangements for us to meet.”
What he said struck me hard. “Are you suggesting you care about our son, Kenneth?”
“Of course I do.”
“Uh-huh.”
Steel appeared in front of me, his eyes imploring. I didn’t bother turning around because he wasn’t going to let this go. In truth, I needed someone to lean on or vent to. Or to have hold me. The last few days had felt as if I was home and that scared me to death.
How could I leave?
And talking with Kenneth was a reminder of how many bad choices I’d already made.
“Let me reiterate what I just said, Kenneth. I don’t have time to see you and I certainly won’t allow my son to endure dealing with the most selfish, self-centered, arrogant man I know, a shell of a person who couldn’t care less about anything but his perfect little world.
Don’t call me again. And so you know, my son’s name is Damon.
Not Damien.” When I ended the call, I threw back my head, ready to scream to the world.
But I didn’t.
There were too many people around.
Steel gripped my wrists, guiding me around to the other side of the tree where I was standing. “What is going on? Was that Kenneth?”
I was close to hyperventilating, trying desperately hard not to cry, but I was failing. You bet I was failing like I’d done with everything else. “Yes. How did he… How did he get my number?”
“I don’t know. What did he want?”
“To talk to me. In person. I think he wants to see Damon. I can’t allow that to happen. That asshole was so pushy. He knows we’re here.”
“Shit. Son of a bitch.” He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly against him. “Don’t worry. I won’t let him bother you again.”
“What if he wants to take Damon away from me?”
“That’s not going to happen. Trust me, baby. I’ll kick his ass.”
“He’s rich. He’s powerful. He can have anything he wants. Why would he want my baby now? Why now?”
“Take a deep breath. I’ll find that out. I promise you.”
I knew he would. Somehow, I felt his need to protect both Damon and me. But we weren’t his responsibility.
His arms felt so good around me, so comforting and so protective. I allowed him the hug, even wrapping my arms around him.
Neither one of us remembered where we were.
“Lookin’ good,” Rock called from a distance.
I pulled away, wiping my eyes, even able to laugh. “Yes, you are.” I winked at Steel, who wasn’t my buying my attempt at making him jealous.
“Listen to me. You heard what Sheldon said about your vehicle.”
“Oh, come on. The insurance company ruled it was an accident, even with his concern. They had their own inspector. Besides, there’s no way Kenneth knew where I was at that point.”
“He discovered your private phone number. Why couldn’t he have decided to check the airport records?”
While I stared at him incredulously, he had a point. “I’m not going to believe him capable of trying to kill me.”
“Didn’t he just threaten you?”
“Not in so many words. But he’s determined to see me.”
Steel rubbed his hand down my arm. “Then we’re not going to allow that to happen. I won’t allow that to happen.”