5. Violet
VIOLET
“Thanks for walking me out.” I look up at Drew from beneath lowered lashes. “Very gentlemanly of you.”
He blushes again.
It’s the cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen.
“No problem.” He runs the toe of his shoe along the pavement, his hands shoved in his pockets like he doesn’t trust himself.
Come on, Drew. Get some confidence.
“Which car is yours?” He looks up at me, then at the row of cars behind me.
Shit. I was going to wait until he got in his car before getting in mine. Because... reasons. Good reasons. Strategic ones.
I jerk a thumb over my shoulder. “That one.”
He looks dubious. “Um... there’s three cars behind you.”
“Oh, yeah.” I shrug. “The black one.”
He stares over my shoulder, his throat working. “One’s a Mercedes. And the other is a Porsche.”
“Yeah.”
I drove the Porsche tonight. Which will eliminate the use of that car for surveillance.
Not ideal. I like options.
Good planning requires contingencies.
This is why preparation matters.
People judge until they need a backup plan. Then suddenly you’re the smart one.
But I’ll work around it. I always do.
“You drive a Mercedes?” His eyes are wide. “Or a Porsche?”
I have both, but I don’t want to tell him that. Not right now. He’s intimidated enough.
“Yup,” I say with a shrug like it’s no big deal. Because in my world, it isn’t.
“Wow.” He looks impressed for about ten seconds before his face changes.
I clock it instantly. “It’s no big deal, Drew. It’s just a car.”
“Just... umm...” he trails off, dumbfounded. “I drive a Volvo.”
I know.
“It’s a safe, practical car,” I say, my smile reassuring.
Sums him up perfectly.
Reliable.
Underappreciated.
Very Drew.
He drags his toe across the pavement again, eyes downcast.
“Drew.” I step closer, my hand wrapping around his arm. He’s lean muscle, not bulky like Ivy’s husband. “It’s just a car,” I say, smiling up at him.
My palms tingle from touching him.
He’s warm. Solid. Genuine.
I’ve always preferred lean guys. And smart ones. They have more substance than guys who think muscles are a personality
And usually?
Bigger dicks.
Never underestimate a skinny guy.
He may be packing.
I suspect Drew is.
My research is incomplete.
Not because I haven’t tried.
I would've confirmed it a month ago, but a raccoon came out of nowhere, hissing at me from beneath his deck.
I chose life.
The mission was aborted.
“Most women run the second I say I drive a Volvo.”
“I’m not most women.”
Not even close.
“I have no intention of running.”
Unless it’s to chase you.
He blows out a breath. “I don’t even know why I said that. It’s not like we run in the same circles.”
“We did tonight.” I’m still holding onto his arm. He hasn’t pushed me away. That’s a good sign.
“True.”
“Hollow Creek is a small town.”
He nods. “Also true.”
“You never know. You may see me more than you think.” I wink, smiling at him. Although I’m sure I’ll see you more than you’ll see me.
“Yeah, you’re right.” He blows out a breath. “Well, I should get going.”
But he doesn’t move. He just stands there.
Does he want a kiss? Maybe I underestimated him.
I’m happy to fix that—
“I’ll wait here until you’re inside your car.”
Aw. So sweet.
I’m a little disappointed we aren’t smooching, but I can be patient. Drew’s worth it.
“Okay.” I reluctantly release his arm. “It was very nice meeting you, Drew,” I say as I walk to the driver’s door, Drew trailing behind me. I nearly pat myself on the back for saying that.
The alarm and locks disengage with a beep.
Drew looks at my car like it’s a robot that’s going to attack him before he reaches out and pulls the door open. He looks relieved when it doesn’t.
So damn cute.
“Wow. Thank you, kind sir.” I move closer, inhaling him. He smells clean. Not sharp or overpowering. Just warm, like soap and cedarwood. The kind of scent that makes you lean closer without thinking. It’s comforting.
His throat works as he swallows. He looks like he wants to kiss me—or run away screaming. It’s hard to tell which urge is stronger. And I kind of want to find out.
I brush against him as I slide into the driver’s seat, already missing the feel of him.
I want to throw him against my car and press myself against him, rubbing all over him like Mr. Pickles, the judgmental cat he lives with.
But I don’t. I can’t. That would really send him screaming into the night.
Patience, Violet.
“You sure you’re okay to drive?” he asks.
Why? You want to take me home and tuck me in bed with you? I debate lying and saying I’m wasted.
“I could call you an Uber if you’re too—”
“I’m good.” I’m not leaving my car in this parking lot. No way. And since Drew isn’t going to take me home with him, there’s no use lying.
I change tactics. “Are you okay to drive home?”
Please say no.
Please say no.
I’ll take you back to my house and keep you.
“I’m good.” He gestures at my seat belt. “Buckle up.”
I grab it, feeling slightly disappointed.
It’s not the end of the world, Violet.
Plenty of time.
You’re nothing if not persistent.
And patient... when it matters.
I click my seatbelt into place, then smile at him. “Happy now?”
“Very. Safety’s important.” He grins at me. “Well...”
My hands tighten on the steering wheel. He’s going to say he had a nice time and walk away.
“I had a nice time tonight.”
See. I knew it.
He leans in, warm lips pressing against my cheek. “Thank you for the lovely evening, Violet,” he says when he pulls back.
I blink at him, surprised.
He’s already pulling away before I can grab him and give him the kind of kiss I’m dying for.
“I’ll follow you home.”
“Oh, you don’t have—”
“I know. I want to.” His hand grips my door. “Make sure you get home safely.”
My heart pounds faster. “That’s sweet of you.”
The guys I get involved with are usually assholes. They try to get rid of me at every opportunity. I’ve been left in situations that could’ve ended badly. That’s why I took self-defense classes. I enrolled my sister, Callie, in those classes as well.
The world is a scary place.
But then I look at Drew.
The man who would’ve gotten his ass beaten by Smoke if I hadn’t intervened yet still put himself in harm’s way when Smoke grabbed me.
The man who wants to follow me home to make sure I’m okay.
He doesn’t even realize what that does to me.
No one has ever made me feel safer than the man I had to save.
I like his concern.
His protectiveness.
I want to grab him and take him home with me.
Keep him forever.
But I can’t.
He pats the door and steps back. “Goodnight, Violet. I’ll be right behind you.”
He shuts the door and heads to his car. I watch him through the rearview mirror.
“You’ll follow me home.” A smile curls my lips. “And then I’ll follow you home.”
Not because I need to. I already know where he lives.
But tonight is different.
Tonight, he knows I exist.
“Only you won’t know it, my dear, sweet man.”