Chapter 18
Austin
Cleaning my hands with a towel, I survey my home with a critical eye. The pasta is ready, the Alfredo sauce is perfect, and the garlic bread is almost done. My house is clean and everything seems to be in order.
I think I am ready for Violet.
I designed this house a few years back, and I’m damn proud of it. It’s in a great neighborhood with tree-lined streets and good people. The house has a modern, cozy vibe with just the right amount of rustic to keep things grounded.
The open layout connects the kitchen, living room, and dining area—perfect for when I have people over. My favorite part? The kitchen. Dark cabinets against light granite counters and stainless steel appliances. The island in the middle pulls it all together. It's not just for cooking; it’s where people gather.
Tonight, I’ll be serving chicken Alfredo; Violet’s favorite. No pressure, right?
The living room’s just as comfortable. Big sofa, modern fireplace, and a few pieces of art which add some personality without going overboard.
I glance at the clock, it’s almost seven.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the nervous energy buzzing inside of me. This dinner has to be perfect. I want Violet to feel special, to know that I’ve put thought and effort into tonight.
The sound of the doorbell jolts me out of my thoughts. I quickly run my fingers through my hair, give myself a once-over in the hallway mirror, and head to the door. When I open it, there she is.
Baby, you take my breath away.
Violet looks stunning as she steps into my home. She’s wearing a soft pastel purple sundress that hits her mid-thigh, the light fabric swaying gently with each subtle movement. It perfectly complements her beauty and makes her eyes shine. Paired with her dress are simple brown sandals that accentuate those long, never-ending legs. The same legs that I want wrapped around my head while I go down on her.
Take it easy. She is not ready…yet.
I am speechless and my mind is running a mile a minute with all the things that I can’t wait to do to her. Just by looking at her, my dick wants to stand at attention, and I need to act quickly or she will notice that I am hard.
It’s like being a teenager again. Just the sight of a pretty woman and I’m full mast… Well, only with my beautiful Violet.
As she steps further into the room, her eyes sparkle with curiosity. The combination of her outfit, her hair, and her natural grace creates an image that takes my breath away.
“Hi, Violet,” I say, smiling warmly.
“Hi, Austin,” she replies, her eyes lighting up as she steps inside.
“You look…amazing,” I tell her, genuinely impressed.
“Thank you,” she says, blushing slightly. Looking around she continues, “Your house is incredible.”
“Come on in, make yourself at home,” I say, closing the door behind her. “Dinner is almost ready. I hope you like my chicken Alfredo.”
“I know I will, I told you that I love pasta,” she replies, her smile widening.
We move to the kitchen, and as I finish the last touches on dinner, I can't help but feel excited. Everything feels right, and I’m eager to spend the evening getting to know her better. I walk to the wine cooler and select two different kinds; one red and one white. I turn toward Violet and say to her, “Which one would you like? White or red?"
“Umm, let’s go with white.”
I put the red back in the cooler and grab the wine key. Once the cork is popped, I grab two glasses and place them in front of Violet. She looks perfect standing at my kitchen island. I pour us each a glass and hand her one.
“To a lovely evening,” I say, raising my glass.
“To a lovely evening,” she echoes, clinking her glass with mine.
We each take a sip at the same time, our eyes remaining connected. I can see the delight in her gaze as she tastes the wine. I smile, feeling the warmth of the moment settle around us.
With everything in place, I lead her to the stool on the other side of the kitchen island, ready to share a meal with this amazing woman.
As we sit down, I can't help but steal glances at her, marveling at how effortlessly she fits into this space. She’s enchanting, and I’m more than ready to discover everything there is to know about what makes Violet, Violet.
As we sit down to eat, I serve the pasta. The creamy Alfredo sauce glistens on the plate and the smell of garlic bread fills the air.
“So, what do you think?” I ask, watching her take the first bite.
Her eyes widen, and she smiles. “It’s delicious, Austin. You are an amazing chef.”
“Thank you,” I reply, feeling relieved. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I could get used to this,” Violet says, a playful glint in her eye.
“Well, that’s part of my evil plan,” I say with a chuckle.
“So, you have an evil plan?” Violet asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Why, of course. But I can’t share it with you. You just have to wait and see the mastermind in action.”
She laughs, and the sound is music to my ears. “Alright, Mr. Mysterious. Tell me about these house plans.”
“I’m glad you asked,” I say, leaning back a bit. I reach for the folder that have the changes that I made. Opening it in front of us, I continue. “I made a few tweaks to the original design. Added more windows for natural light, expanded the kitchen a bit—because let’s face it, the kitchen is the heart of the home—and I created a little reading nook for you,” I say while I point at the area where I added that space for her. I don’t know if she reads but I thought it would give the house a nice touch.
Violet’s face lights up. “I love it! The reading nook is a brilliant idea. Adrian and I love reading together.”
“Great! Then if you approve, I’ll send the plans over to Noah and Esteban so they can start construction as soon as possible.”
“You’re amazing, Austin. Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure, really. And speaking of Adrian, he mentioned wanting a puppy when we were at the river?”
“Yes,” she says, smiling. “He’s been asking for a puppy for a while now. We’re planning to go to the animal shelter this weekend to see if we can find the perfect dog for him.”
“That’s wonderful. A puppy will be a great addition to your family. And if you want, I can add in a doggy playhouse in the backyard.”
“Oh wow, thanks Austin. And I think so too. Adrian’s been so excited about it.”
When we finish eating, Violet offers to help me clean up, but I shake my head. “Nope. You’re my guest. Sit back and relax.”
“You sure?” she asks, looking a bit unsure.
“Positive. Just make yourself comfortable.”
I quickly clear the island and clean the dishes, then join Violet on the sofa. She’s looking around, taking in the details of my home.
“You designed this place yourself, didn’t you?” she asks.
“I did,” I say, proud of my work. “It’s my dream home. I wanted it to be open and inviting, a place where I could feel comfortable, you know, happy in my space.”
“You did a fantastic job. It’s beautiful. When did you decide that you wanted to be an architect?”
“My parents told me that since I was a little kid, I was always drawing. I guess that with time I started to draw houses, then bigger buildings. I liked to play with Legos and create these amazingly intricate structures. So when it was time to decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, it was easy. I wanted to create.”
“That’s awesome. Did you stay local when you went to college?”
“No, actually. I wanted to explore the world. I was born and raised here, so I wanted to see more. I went to college in Chicago to study architectural design. Right after I graduated, I enlisted in the Army as an NCO.”
“Really? How long were you in the Army?” Violet asks. I think she’s impressed .
“I served for four years and got out. I didn’t want to make it a career so I came back home. I completed my architecture internship down in Raleigh, and then I opened my own firm.”
“That’s incredible,” she says, her admiration clear. “You’ve accomplished so much.”
“Thank you. It’s been quite a journey,” I reply, feeling a pleasant glow from her praise. “And what about you, Violet? What did you want to be when you were a kid?”
She laughs softly. “I wanted to be a vet. I’ve always loved animals, but as I got older, I realized it wasn’t the right path for me. I ended up choosing marketing, and I enjoy it a lot.”
“Well, you’re great at it. The social media campaign you did for Josy’s coffee shop is amazing.”
“Thanks! It’s been fun working on that. I love helping Josy’s business grow.”
“So, tell something I don’t know yet?”
She thinks for a moment. “Well, I love to read like I said earlier. It’s something I picked up as a hobby a few years ago, and it’s become a great way for me to relax.”
“That’s amazing. What kind of books do you like to read?”
“I only read romance books,” she says, giggling—I love her playfulness.
“Why do you giggle? Now I’d love to see some of the books you’ve read,” I say with a wink.
“Because I can’t picture you reading smut.”
“Aha, so you read smut. Are we talking very dirty smut? Like fifty shades of grey,” I ask as I wiggle my eyebrows.
“Yes and no. Some are, but some are dark romance, others are small town flings, and sometimes I get in the mood for a good romantasy. But it’s only because they all have amazing men as the main characters.”
“So you fall in love with all these fictional men. Damn, I guess I will need to up my game. I can’t be beaten by a fake man created by a woman. Better yet, name a book and I will read it. I’ll do my research.”
She laughs, a melodic sound that makes my heart skip a beat. “Really? You’d read a romance novel just to see what I like?”
“No, I will read a romance book so I can show you that I’m better than any book boyfriend. Consider it a challenge.”
“Okay, deal. I’ll pick one for you,” she says, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Fair warning, you might find yourself competing with some pretty perfect fictional guys.”
Seriously, there are fictional book boyfriends out there that women fall hopelessly in love with? Please, I got this.
“I’m up for it,” I reply with a grin. “Besides, they’re just words on a page. I’m the real deal and right in front of you, baby.”
We both laugh. From there, our conversation flows easily. I can see she’s starting to feel more comfortable, and that’s exactly what I want.
“So, any other hobbies?” I ask.
“Well, I also love cooking,” she says, taking a sip of her wine. “And I enjoy painting. It’s another way to express myself.”
“Painting? That’s awesome. What kind of things do you paint?”
“A little bit of everything. Landscapes, abstract pieces, sometimes portraits. It depends on my mood. I’m not very good, but it helps me relax.”
“I’d love to see your work sometime,” I say sincerely.
“Maybe I’ll show you,” she replies, a hint of shyness in her voice.
“Do you need a model for your next painting session?” I ask with a smirk.
“Are you offering to be my model?” Violet flirts back.
If she only knew that I would do anything to make her smile. I am game to pose for her. I could even pose naked. That would be fun.
“Sure. How would you like me to pose for you?” I ask her. I am very intrigue to know her answer.
“I don’t know, I will have to think about it.” The way she say those words with a hint of mischievousness makes me believe that her mind went straight to the gutter, and I love it.
We continue talking, sharing stories and laughing. The more I learn about Violet, the more I’m drawn to her.
“You know,” I say, looking into her eyes, “I’m really glad you came tonight.”
“Me too,” she says softly. “This has been wonderful.”
I lean in slightly, testing the waters. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course,” she replies, her eyes never leaving mine.
“This is the first time that I have this kind of feeling. You’re special, Violet. I can’t wait to see where this goes.”
She blushes, a beautiful pink spreading across her cheeks. She looks at me with a puzzled expression. “You have never been in love?”
I take a deep breath and answer, “No. I never thought that I would be able to fall in love.”
“Why?” Violet asks
“Because in all my thirty-five years, I have never felt a connection with a woman. Yes, I’ve had a good time and I’ve had my fair share of hookups, but it never lasted more than a day.”
“Ahh, I see. You were the type of man that loves them and leaves them?”
“I guess that’s the best way to put it, but any lady friend I’ve had knew where I stood beforehand. Since the moment I saw you, though, something changed in me. And if I am honest, I have been waiting for this moment. I grew up with parents who love each other, and I want that, just never thought it was in the cards for me. Now that I know you, I feel like I can have that.”
“That’s so sweet. My parents have been together forever, too, and I thought I had that with my ex….” Violet trails off, a shadow passing over her expression.
I lean in slightly, genuinely wanting to understand. “Tell me, what happened with your ex?” I already know bits and pieces from Josy, but hearing it from Violet herself feels different. It feels important.
She takes a deep breath, her gaze dropping for a moment before meeting mine. “Taylor and I met in college. We dated for a few years, and when I was a junior and he was a senior, I found out I was pregnant. I decided to quit school and move to Maryland with him.” Her voice softens as she continues. “At first, everything seemed perfect. He was supportive, and I thought we were building a life together. But over time, things started to change. Taylor… He became mean.”
At her words, a pit forms in my stomach. My jaw tightens as I prepare for the worst. “Did he physically abuse you? Did he ever hit you?”
Violet shakes her head, her hair moves with the motion. “No, he never laid a hand on me like that. In fact, after Adrian turned one, he stopped being intimate with me altogether. When I asked him why, he said…” Her voice falters, and I see her swallow hard before continuing. “He said I wasn’t attractive anymore. That I was fat.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I feel my hands clench on my lap.
“When we met, I was skinny,” she explains, her tone steady but tinged with pain. “After I had Adrian, my body changed, like it does for most women. I gained weight, sure, but I’d just had a baby. Instead of being understanding, he started criticizing me constantly. He made me feel ugly and worthless.”
I don’t interrupt, but I can feel the anger simmering just beneath my skin.
“He always had an opinion about what I wore, how I acted—he wanted to change everything about me. I got tired of his constant comments, so I started working out. I thought maybe if I could go back to looking the way I did when we met, he’d start loving me again. But it didn’t work. Even after I lost the baby weight, it was never enough. Then he said I looked too skinny.” She pauses, shaking her head as if to clear away the memory. “It was this never-ending cycle of body shaming. And then…” Her eyes harden, a flash of defiance in them now. “I found out he was cheating on me. With his secretary. That’s when I decided that I had enough. I was holding on for Adrian, but I was miserable. I realized staying with Taylor wasn’t teaching my son anything good about love or respect.”
I feel a rush of admiration for her strength, but it’s drowned out by the rage building inside of me. How could anyone treat this amazing, resilient woman that way?
“That motherfucker,” I mutter under my breath, unable to hold it in.
Violet’s lips twitch, the smallest hint of a smile breaking through. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
“You deserve so much better, Violet,” I say, my voice firm but softening as I look into her eyes. “You deserve someone who sees how incredible you are. Someone who doesn’t just love you for how you look but for the strength, kindness, and courage that you carry. He didn’t deserve you then, and he sure as hell doesn’t deserve your thoughts now.”
Her eyes glisten, and she looks down, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “Thank you, Austin. That means more than you know.”
In that moment, I make a silent promise to myself. To show her, every single day, that she is worth so much more than the pain she’s endured. That she is beautiful, inside and out, and I’ll never stop reminding her of it.
She smiles at me, and I can see small tears welling up in her eyes. I smile back at her and caress her face, tucking loose hair behind her ear. “You will never have to hear those words again. You are beautiful, inside and out. I really want to see where this goes, and be beside you through it all. Be my somebody Violet, let’s see where this goes.”
She nods, her eyes softening. “Okay, Austin. Okay. Let’s try us.”
We sit in comfortable silence for another moment, just enjoying each other’s company, and it’s the best feeling in the world. Is this what falling feels like?