3. Violet
VIOLET
I pull Drew through the crowd, my hand wrapped around his like a vise. I’m not letting him go.
The music is loud—bass vibrating through the floor, bodies pressed too close, voices blending into noise. It’s the kind of chaos that makes people lose track of things.
I guide him straight to his table. The one he’s been sitting at all night.
He blinks when we stop, like he just realized he let a woman he met five minutes ago drag him across a bar.
“You’re very... confident.”
I smile. “Is that a bad thing?”
“No.” He shakes his head quickly. “No. Not bad. Just unexpected.”
He’s still trying to understand me.
That’s something I’ve noticed about Drew. He wants things to make sense. Even when they don’t.
I release his hand and slide into the chair across from where he’d been sitting. He hesitates for half a second before sitting.
He always hesitates before committing to anything.
But I can’t let on that I know.
Poor guy spooks easily.
I rub my finger over the edge of the table, grounding myself.
Don’t scare him.
You’re trying to date him, not kidnap him.
Although I never rule anything out completely.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just wondered how you knew…”He gives me an embarrassed smile. “You were sitting in the back.”
I nod.
He noticed me. Finally!
A warm rush of satisfaction spreads through me. “I was.”
“I thought...” He looks down at his beer. “Never mind.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I hide my smile. Drew saw me looking at him and convinced himself I couldn’t possibly be interested.
I reach out and grab his hand. “You can tell me.”
He blushes, and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
This man has no idea what he does to me.
“I guess I just didn’t expect you to be here. Sitting with me.”
“Why not?”
He shrugs, peeking up at me like he’s not sure how to say it. “Look at you, then look at me.”
“I am looking at you. And I really like what I see.”
He blinks like he can’t believe what he’s hearing. “You do?”
I nod. “Very much.”
I catch the waitress’s eye and gesture for her to come over. Drew needs a drink to relax.
“You’re the type of man who thinks he’s average. That you blend in.” The waitress weaves closer, but I keep my attention on him. “But you’re not. You’re incredible.”
Drew blinks like he couldn’t have possibly heard me right.
“What can I get you to drink?” The waitress asks.
“He’ll take a Heineken. I’ll have a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.”
She gives Drew a quick glance before she walks away.
Smart woman. She knows to keep her eyes off my man.
Drew leans back slightly in his chair, still watching me. “You’re… very confident for someone who just met me.”
I smile. “I trust my instincts.”
That’s putting it lightly.
He scratches the back of his neck, an uneasy look on his face. “What did you say?”
I prop my chin on my hand. “When?”
“Before she came over. About...” he swallows hard. “... me.”
“I said that you stand out. You don’t blend in like you think.”
He blinks at me like he’s repeating my words in his head. His brows furrow as he compares what I said earlier to what I said now.
The waitress returns, sliding his beer in front of him, then handing me my glass of wine. “Anything else?”
Drew shakes his head, still looking at me.
I shake mine as well, and right before I lift my glass to my lips, I murmur, “You have no idea how special you are.”
“Did you say something?” Drew asks.
I set my glass on the table. “It’s pretty busy tonight.”
“Oh.” He runs his hand through his hair, looking around as if he’s in a daze. “Yeah. I guess it is.”
A slow smile spreads across my lips. He’s so distracted by me, he can’t focus.
“I don’t usually come to places like this.”
Of course not. This isn’t your scene.
It’s not mine, either.
I’m only here because you are.
“Why are you here tonight?” I glance at Ivy and Sebastian, playing dumb. “You here with your friends?”
“My brother and his wife. It’s her birthday.”
I know.
But I like hearing him tell me.
Did Sebastian get her—
Shit.
No.
I almost said that out loud.
Wine.
Drink wine.
Abort mission.
Pretend you’re normal.
That you haven’t already memorized pieces of his life.
The way he always shows up ten minutes early but still keeps his watch three minutes fast.
The way he orders the same coffee every morning but stares at the menu like he might actually try something different one day.
He won’t.
Drew likes consistency. Predictability. Things he can trust.
Which is exactly why I can’t rush this.
Drew Locke isn’t the kind of man you barge into.
He’s the kind you slowly convince that you were always supposed to be there.
He takes a long pull from his beer, then makes a face. Setting his beer down, he yanks his phone from his pocket, scowling at the screen.
My muscles tense as anger licks through me. Lemme guess? It’s your bitchy ex-wife.
But I don’t say that.
I don’t say anything.
Drew shakes his head, an apologetic expression on his face. “Sorry.” He hits a button, sending the call to voicemail. “Damn telemarketers.”
I know it’s not someone trying to solicit his business at 11:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. But I don’t call him out on it. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to talk to her.
And even though that pleases me, a flash of irritation curls low in my stomach.
Her.
She’s a problem.
I’ve seen the way he looks after his ex-wife calls. Exhausted. Frustrated. Like he’s carrying a weight he’s no longer responsible for.
She needs to mind her own business and keep her nose out of Drew’s.
Which is ironic, considering I know more about his business than she probably does.
But my intentions are better.
His phone rings again. He stabs the button quickly, then looks at me like he hopes I didn’t notice.
“Persistent.” I take a drink of my wine, staring at him over the rim.
He blows out a breath. “It’s my ex. She’s... annoying.”
Very. She needs to stop.
Or I’ll make her.
Drew has spent enough time trying to save people who don’t want to be saved.
“Is that the person you were arguing with outside?”
He nods. “She’s having a problem with the new guy. Or something like that.” He shrugs, lips curling in a slight smile. “I wasn’t really listening.”
Good boy.
“Ah. Sounds like one of those people who don’t appreciate what they have until they lose it.”
He snorts. “Or at all. I don’t think she ever appreciated anything about me. Too busy trying to change me. Mold me into who she wanted me to be.”
He takes another drink, his eyes on mine. “I seem to have forgotten my manners. I’m Andrew. I go by Drew. Drew Locke.”
I don’t tell him I already know his name. He’d think that’s creepy. Probably scream and try to run away.
I can’t let that happen.
Not after I’ve waited all this time.
I take the hand he holds out, wrapping his larger one in mine. “Violet. Violet Quinn.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Violet.” He releases my hand, his eyes still on mine. “Beautiful name. Matches your eyes.”
And then he blushes.
It’s so freaking adorable.
“Thank you, Drew. Have you lived in Hollow Creek long?”
Six months and twenty-five days.
“A little over six months. How about you?”
“Moved here about three months ago.”
He raises his brows as he takes a drink of beer. “Oh, yeah.”
“Needed a change of scenery.”
And to finally connect with the man I’m destined to be with.
Of course, I don’t say that. It would terrify Drew.
“How do you like living in Hollow Creek?” he asks.
I paste a polite smile on my lips. “It’s... nice. Very small town.”
Drew snorts. “Very. I call it the nosy neighbor affliction.” He leans across the table, his eyes on a blonde woman gossiping with a group of women, all of whom look like they stepped out of 1998. “Have you run into Heather Mitchell yet?”
I shake my head. I’ve been too busy running my business and watching you.
“Oh, you’re lucky.” He nods in her direction.
“Heather Mitchell, she’s the leader. She pretends to be friendly.
But let her trap you for five minutes and your ears will be bleeding from her fake, high-pitched voice firing fifty questions at you non-stop.
” He makes a face. “It’s like nails on a chalkboard. ”
“Yikes.” I lean closer, taking a good look at Heather and her band of retro friends. “Noted. I’ll steer clear.”
Drew leans back and takes a drink of beer. “Good idea.”
He winks at me. Actually winks.
I’m deceased!
The door opens and Drew’s shoulders stiffen, then relax.
“Are you okay?”
His gaze drops to mine and he blushes again.
“Yeah.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I might sound like a wimp but... you don’t think Smoke will come in here?”
I shake my head, a smile on my face. “Not after I humiliated him. He’ll be too embarrassed to come inside.” I reach across and grab his hand. “Besides, he’s probably searching for ice for his balls.”
Drew chokes out a laugh. “You nailed him pretty good. That was... impressive. And also...” he squirms in his chair and winces. “Painful.”
“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” I say, cheerfully.
“Noted.” He shifts on the chair again. “I won’t be playing any stupid games with you.”
“Good.”
He opens his mouth, but then closes it.
He's about to apologize for talking too much. He always does when he thinks someone's actually listening.
I tilt my head slightly, softening my expression. “I almost didn’t go outside,” I add, like a casual afterthought. “I’m glad I did.”
He stares at me for a moment.
“But it’s loud, and I needed some quiet. A breath of fresh air.”
It’s a lie.
I didn’t hesitate when he got up from the table and gestured to his brother to let him know he was going outside.
But he doesn’t need to know that.
“Me, too.” His Adam’s apple bobs. “I mean, I needed some quiet and air.”
I stare at him, not saying anything.
He shifts in the chair. “I mean, my phone rang. And I had to go outside to answer it. But the quiet and air were nice.”
I give him a patient smile.
“I suck at this.” He blows out a breath. “What I meant to say is I’m glad our paths crossed. That I got to meet someone new.” His cheeks flush. “You.”
“Me, too. I’m glad we met.” The word comes out higher than I mean it. “Especially since we’re… strangers. At least, until a short time ago.”
At least one of us is.
He huffs out a quiet breath. “Well, we’re not strangers now.”
My smile widens. Oh, you have no idea, Drew.
His gaze travels over my face like he can’t believe someone like me is sitting with him.
A shiver rolls through me.
Drew is a rare gem of a man, but he doesn’t know it. And that’s why I like him.
He’s not cocky.
Quirky, sure, but not arrogant.
Besides, I happen to like quirks. Especially his.
“Definitely not strangers now.”
He huffs a quiet laugh, like he doesn’t know what to do with that. “So, uh… what do you do?”
Ah. We’re doing this.
“I work in design,” I say smoothly. “Own my own business. It’s mostly remote.”
That part is true.
I’ve always liked my job, but since moving here, I appreciate the flexibility even more. It gives me time to build a life. To get to know the town. And maybe notice certain people more than I should.
“That’s cool,” he says. “I’m in accounting.”
I nod like I don’t already know that.
“I live with my brother,” he adds, like he feels the need to fill the silence. He looks away, embarrassed.
“I know.”
The words slip out before I can stop them.
Shit. I said too much.
His head snaps to mine. “What?”
I smile. “That’s nice.”
He blinks slowly. He looks skeptical.
Dial it back.
We’re easing into the truth, not launching it at his face.
I lean forward slightly, redirecting the conversation. “Do you like it? Living with him?”
He hesitates again.
“Yeah,” he says slowly. “I mean… yeah, it’s fine. It just makes sense right now.”
I nod, filing that away.
Temporary.
Good to know.
“Are you close?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Yeah. Sebastian’s—he’s… a lot sometimes, but yeah. We’re close.”
I smile. “I think that’s sweet.”
He looks surprised by that. Like he wasn’t expecting me to say it.
He opens his mouth to say something, but a deep voice interrupts. “Drew.”
We both look up.
Sebastian stands beside the table, his wife tucked against his side. His eyes flick from Drew to me, sharp and assessing.
He doesn’t trust me yet.
And he’s protective of his younger brother.
How nice.
Ivy, on the other hand, gives me a smile that lights up her entire face before turning her attention to Drew.
“Well, this is interesting,” she says, stepping forward without hesitation. “You disappear for five minutes and come back with a girl?”
Drew immediately straightens. “It’s not— I mean, we just met—”
“I’m Violet,” I cut in smoothly, standing and offering my hand.
Ivy ignores it and pulls me into a quick hug instead.
Oh, wow. I like her. I think we’re going to be good friends.
When she pulls back, she says, “I’m Ivy. And this is my husband, Sebastian.”
Sebastian nods once, still watching me. He’s not smiling.
“Nice to meet you.” Finally.
“You found him fast,” Ivy adds, glancing between us.
I smile sweetly. “I’m very good at spotting what I want.”
Sebastian’s gaze sharpens.
Drew chokes on his beer.
I turn and take a sip of my drink like I didn’t just say that.
Drew is staring at me like he’s scared...
And intrigued.
I’ll take it.
At least he’s paying attention to me.
And now that I have it, I’m not giving it back.