15. Chord
fifteen
Chord
75 DAYS TILL HOCKEY SEASON
I have no idea what time Violet leaves her room in the morning because for as long as she’s been here, I’ve been out the door at sunrise, but I’m skipping breakfast with Dylan, Daisy, and Izzy today to get past the weirdness as fast as possible. I want her to feel safe with me. I want her to stay.
Last night was so freaking awkward .
Awkward or not, my cock twitches every time I think about it, and I adjust my pants while scowling at the coffee machine as it doles out my espresso.
The picture of Violet standing there in those flimsy blue panties, luscious tits bare, squealing at a mouse like a goddamn city girl… So damn adorable and so freaking sexy, someone will have to physically carve it from my brain before I ever forget it.
I’m sitting at the informal dining table on the opposite side of the kitchen island, sipping my second cup of coffee and devouring my overnight oats, when Violet appears. I look up just as her eyes widen at the sight of me, and she actually spins on her heel and takes three steps in the opposite direction before she stops herself.
She’s wearing denim cut-offs today, exposing her long, smooth legs, and I watch with interest as she straightens her back and tosses her head—obviously giving herself some kind of internal pep talk—before she turns around again and strides into the kitchen, focused entirely on the coffee machine.
“Morning,” I say.
There’s an imperceptible pause in her movements as she goes to fill a cup. “Hello.”
I watch her move about the kitchen with a focus that tells me she plans to look anywhere but at me, but when she checks the fridge for today’s to-do list, I clear my throat and hold it up.
Violet glances at it, then me and her brows draw together. “Do you need more time with the list?”
“No. I wanted to go over a few items, if you’ve got time?”
She adjusts her glasses and casts a furtive look down the hallway. Toward the home office where she works or the front door where she can escape, I’m not sure, and I cover my uncertainty by lifting my coffee cup to my lips. I’m relying on her being too timid to tell me no, but after what happened last night, I’m not entirely certain she won’t just bolt.
I give myself a point for guessing right as, with an almost silent sigh, she slips into the chair across from me. “I’ve got time. What did you want to talk about?”
So many things. The felt board and sketchbook I saw in your room. The flimsy little thong I hope you’re wearing under those shorts. How pretty you were with your face bare last night, and how I’ve wasted too many hours thinking about it.
How I can’t stop wondering how well your tits would fill my hands.
I shift in my seat to give my dick a little more room, set down the list between us, and tap the top line. “How are the plans coming along for the move? Any leads on a new apartment?”
Her forehead creases as her shoulders drop. “Oh.”
I see the moment Violet gets it that I’m not going to mention the mouse, the sketchbook, or the partial nudity. The tension between her brows fades as she twists the paper on the table to face her and then wraps her hands around her mug.
She still can’t meet my eyes, but if reading my notes gives her something to do, I’m okay with that. It means she doesn’t notice the way I count the freckles on her nose or watch her lips form each word.
“There’s not a lot out there, and I want to get you the best.” She touches the paper again before hiding her fidgeting hands under the table. “The realtor sent me a list of options, but only one was anywhere near good enough.”
“One is better than none.”
“Right.” She glances at me from underneath her lashes and offers a tentative smile. “When I’ve found at least three for you to choose from, I’ll set up times to inspect them. You don’t mind returning to the city for half a day in the next few weeks, do you?”
I shake my head. “I’ll make it work.”
“Great.” Violet drags her teeth over her bottom lip as she peruses the other tasks I’ve asked her to do today, and I lean back in my seat to watch her. “You’ve got physio twice a week every week from now until the season starts in September, but we can always add more if you need it. I’m sorting through the game tape we have so far and should have another batch for you by the end of the weekend. I’ve read through all the updated paperwork from the nutritionist…”
She trails off and glances up, and there’s a tiny smile on her mouth, which makes the corner of my lips tip up before I even know why.
“I’m sorry, Chord. No Pretzel M&M’s in the plan, I’m afraid.”
I let my smile stretch a fraction wider. I appreciate her joke, but I like the shape of my name on her lips even more. “But you got them anyway, right?”
She lifts one shoulder, shifting her tee down her arm and exposing a gray bra strap. Now I’m wondering if she saves her colored lingerie for the bedroom, and my cock likes the idea.
“Right,” she agrees. “There were just a few other things to sort out today. Invitations to summer events you might want to attend.”
“I don’t,” I reply, rougher than I intended, but gruff is my go-to when I’m uncomfortable, and talking about making a public appearance while I’m also dealing with a hard-on is all sorts of uncomfortable. “You can RSVP no.”
Her posture stiffens again, and I try to relax.
“Okay,” she says. “Aside from that, there’s just one or two other things. You have an email from a warehouse in the city. Whatever you’re storing down there needs more room, and they want to upgrade—”
“I’m satisfied with whatever they suggest. Upgrade or move or whatever.” I don’t want to talk about the warehouse or answer questions about what’s in it.
“No problem.” She slips her hands under the table again and curls her shoulders forward. “I’ll return their email today.”
Stop being a fucking asshole.
I take a sip of coffee as a kind of reset. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Violet suddenly stands and looks around like she’s searching for an excuse to leave, and I curse myself for giving her attitude.
“I’m sure you’ve got a full day planned,” she says. “I don’t want to keep you.”
She walks away and sets her coffee cup in the sink. My breakfast is only half-finished in front of me, but I follow, keeping a tight enough grasp on common sense to stay on this side of the island where I can still see her face.
“I’m going to go for an early run then I’ll get in a few laps.” The conversation is starting to time out, and I’m not ready to let her go yet. I scramble for a topic of conversation, and the first thing that comes to mind is the morning I found her on the Silver Leaf hiking trails. “Do you, uh, run?”
“Me?” She smiles to herself as she rinses out her coffee mug. “No, I don’t run.”
I want to see that smile again. “Swim?”
Violet glances up at the ceiling and considers her answer, and whatever she thinks of teases the corners of her lips again. “I… float.”
I can almost see her petals unfolding, and I round the island to get a little closer. “Float?”
“Yeah. You know, like on those inflatable beds?”
“Sure. I get it.”
She shakes her head and gives me a shy glance. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not much of an athlete.”
“You couldn’t disappoint me.”
The words are out before I can stop them, and we stand there in an odd kind of silence, Violet blinking at me like she’s sure she must have misheard me, she’s just not sure how.
“Right, well.” Violet picks up a towel to dry her hands and gives me a tight smile. “I guess I’d better—”
A buzzing ring sounds from the pocket of her jeans. She whips it out and checks the screen, but I don’t miss the way her body tenses, and her throat bobs with a swallow as she swipes to accept the call and holds the phone to her ear.
“Courtney. Hello. How are you?”
A surge of protectiveness swells behind my ribs and I cross my arms over my chest, not trying to hide the fact I’m watching to see what happens next.
Violet’s gaze flickers my way before she drops her eyes to the floor. “No, I haven’t checked my email yet this morning.”
She licks her lips as she takes in whatever Courtney is saying on the other end of the line. It’s Saturday morning. Why the hell is her boss calling her outside of office hours?
“Mm-hm.” Violet nods slowly. “Yes, I understand.”
Her throat works again, and she wraps an arm around her middle before turning away from me, and something doesn’t feel right. I move around to the other side of the island to get a clear view of her face, and she spares me a quick look that gives nothing away.
She probably wants me to leave, and I almost do. Except I can’t.
“I know,” she says into the phone. “I’ll work on it. It won’t happen again.”
Violet glances at me again, a look that lingers this time, and there’s no misreading what’s in those big brown eyes now. Powerlessness.
I hold out my hand, palm up, but when she only stares at it, I pluck the phone from her fingers and press it to my ear.
“Courtney? This is Chord Davenport.”
“Oh.” I hear the way she shifts her attitude. “Hello, Chord. How are you?”
“Fine, but there’s a problem here.”
“I understand.” The restrained triumph in her voice makes me clench my jaw. “Violet will return to her role here first thing Monday morning, and we can arrange a replacement—”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
Violet watches with astonishment, her palms pressed together against her mouth, and here I am, wanting to smile again.
“Well…” Courtney falters. “What do you mean?”
“When I asked for an assistant, I expected that person to work for me and only me. Twenty-four-seven. I didn’t expect her to perform two full-time roles or split her focus in a way that makes it impossible to do either job well. That stops today. From now until October, Violet is no longer available outside of her duties here as my assistant. If required, I’ll pay her salary so you can hire a replacement to cover the gap that leaves in your marketing team.”
Silence. And it feels good.
“I’m glad we had this little talk,” I add. “Have a good day, Miss Reynolds.”
I end the call and offer the phone to Violet. She takes it with an uncertain hand, and the amazement on her face feels fucking fantastic.
“You didn’t… I mean, I can’t believe you…” A disbelieving chuckle erupts from somewhere deep in her chest, and I’m living for the sound. “Courtney won’t like this.”
“And I couldn’t care less.”
I turn away and take my seat at the dining table to finish my half-eaten breakfast. Violet gives another amazed laugh, then starts to leave the room. I stop her before she goes, unable to resist the chance to make her smile one more time.
“Take the rest of the day off, Wallflower, because starting tomorrow, you’re all mine.”
Violet’s cheeks flame the prettiest shade of pink, and the color does things to me. Things that heat my blood and make my heart race faster than it does on the ice. Things I want to feel over and over. A high I’m going to crave all summer long.