Chapter 23 Violet
Chapter twenty-three
Violet
“What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?” Two big blue eyes blink up at me, ice cream smeared across her mouth like war paint. Her expression is so serious, you’d think she just asked me one of life’s most profound questions.
“That’s easy,” I say, grinning as Chase swipes a napkin over her sticky face. “Mint choc chip—till I die. How about you, Lillie? What’s your favorite?” I ask.
She lets out a dramatic sigh, like the weight of her ice cream journey has been tough. “It used to be cookie dough,” she says. “But then I got sick, so now it’s peanut butter chocolate.”
“Solid choice,” I nod, playing along. “But what happened with the cookie dough?”
Her shoulders shake with quiet laughter—the kind that comes when kids know they’ve done something they shouldn’t. She throws a glance at Chase, her eyebrows lifting like she’s asking permission to spill the story.
Before she can, Santi—ever the straight-shooter—beats her to it.
“I told Uncle Chase not to let her get the monster four-scoop,” he says, shaking his head with the heavy disapproval of someone far older than five. “But he always lets Lillie do whatever she wants.”
His sigh is so world-weary. I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. This must be what Chase meant when he said about getting owned by a five-year-old.
“Interesting,” I tease, flashing Chase a wicked smile. “And there was me thinking you’d be all strict—like you are in the office. Honestly, guys?” I lower my voice, mock-serious. “I’m not allowed to do anything.”
Chase tilts his head, his gaze locking on mine in that deliberate way that makes my pulse skitter. “Some people need discipline more than others,” he murmurs, low and edged with heat.
Holey mama. If he keeps looking at me like that, I’m one second away from ripping his clothes off at a kid’s trampoline park, and I’m pretty sure that’s a federal crime.
It doesn’t help that today he’s wearing jeans that cling to his thighs a little too perfect and a white tee that shows off his golden skin and the ink curling up his biceps, giving off the whole bad-boy vibe that’s irresistible.
I clear my throat, willing my brain to reboot. “What about you?” I ask Chase. “Favorite ice cream flavor?”
“I don’t have one,” he says, like that’s a perfectly normal response.
Three jaws drop in unison.
“Are you even human?” I ask, reaching for his wrist like I’m checking for a pulse.
Lillie and Santi dissolve into giggles while Chase slides his hand onto my thigh under the table. The warmth of his touch burns through the fabric, and when I glance at him, there’s a challenge in his eyes—a silent promise that I’ll pay for teasing him. And I’ll enjoy every second.
As if he can’t help himself, he presses a quick kiss on my cheek.
“Yuck, Uncle Chase!” Lillie squeals, pulling a face. “Stop kissing Violet all the time,” she demands, her tone full of exaggerated disgust.
Santi, ever the wingman, nods along. “Yeah. Why are you always kissing her? It’s gross.”
I slap a hand over my mouth to stifle my laughter, but Chase is completely unfazed.
“It’s because I like her,” he says with a shrug, planting another feather-light kiss that makes heat crawl up my neck.
Lillie narrows her eyes suspiciously. “Well, I heard Dad tell Mom you’re crazy about Violet.”
I groan, burying my face in my hands, but Chase doesn’t even flinch. Instead, he just looks at me—calm, certain—and says, “That’s because I am.”
His hand reaches for mine under the table, the warmth of him pressing into me. And just like that, I fall a little bit harder. I always thought it would be the ruthless side of Chase that would ruin me, but it turns out it’s his softer side that is dismantling me piece by piece.
“Violet, will you come on the trampoline with me?” Lillie’s little voice brings me back down to earth. A broad smile fills my face. “I would love to. Trampolining is kind of my thing.”
With a goofy grin, Lillie grabs my hand and tugs me toward the enormous play area.
Santi drags Chase toward the basketball hoops, clearly thrilled to have his undivided attention.
It’s hard to keep up with Lillie’s boundless energy as she bounces and giggles across every trampoline, diving headfirst into a giant foam pit with fearless abandon.
Her curly chestnut hair bounces wildly in time with her movements, and even as I laugh, there’s a part of me on edge—nervous she might get hurt under my watch.
I’m so absorbed in having fun that when they announce time over the loudspeaker, I’m surprised at how quickly it flew by.
As we walk back to join the others, Lillie suddenly stops, a serious look on her face. She starts whispering, and I crouch down to hear her better.
“Are you going to marry Uncle Chase?” she asks, her voice quiet but her words hitting me like a truck.
“Oh.” I blink, scrambling for a response. “I’m not sure about that—we’re just friends.” It’s the first dumb thing that comes to mind.
“I think you should,” she says with confidence. “I can tell you make him really happy.”
My heart swells so hard it might burst out of my chest. “Just like you and Santi,” I say, bopping her nose, shooting back up when she grabs my hand, yanking me in a run toward Chase and Santi.
“Uncle Chase, Violet said you’re just friends,” she says at full volume, her announcement echoing across the entire trampoline park.
Chase’s grin is instant, a wicked gleam lighting up his eyes. “I see—I’m being friend-zoned already, huh?” He quirks a brow, clearly savoring every second of my mortification.
“I think she’ll still marry you, though,” Lillie adds, her forehead furrowed in thought. “Maybe if you buy her some more ice cream.” Her earnestness is so sincere, I can’t help but laugh.
“Yeah, try the monster four-scoop,” Santi adds in his matter-of-fact way. “Although it might make her sick.”
“I’ve got something else in mind that may persuade her,” Chase says, the promise in his tone doing nothing to dissolve the sexual tension that’s been fizzling between us all afternoon.
“Stop,” I mouth at him.
“What?” he mouths back, batting his eyes like butter wouldn’t melt
“Anyway, kids,” Chase says, steering the conversation to safer ground. “We should get home before your mom calls out a search party.”
Their matching groans melt into excitement when he adds, “And since you’ve been so good today, there might be some gifts from Tokyo in the car.”
Lillie throws her arms up, demanding to be carried, and Chase obliges without hesitation. The girl has him wrapped around her little finger—I should be taking notes. Santi falls into step beside me, shaking his head.
“Mom says Lillie’s too old to be carried, but I guess Uncle Chase is too scared of her to stop.”
Chuckling, I ruffle his hair. “I can tell you and I are going to get along just fine.”
“Okay, jump in your seats, and you’ll get your gifts.” Chase opens the back door, lifting them up so they can climb in.
They scramble in eagerly as I help to buckle them up while Chase goes to the trunk. He returns with two shiny toy shop gift bags. They both squeal with delight when they look inside. Lillie has a cute baby doll and Santi, an action figure with about a million buttons.
“Thank you, Uncle Chase,” they chorus with matching grins.
As I make my way to the passenger seat, Chase catches my wrist. “Hey,” he murmurs, his voice rougher, more intimate. “You didn’t think I’d forget you, did you?”
I blink in surprise as he leads me to the trunk, placing a small, elegantly wrapped box into my hands. For a moment, I’m speechless, just staring down at it. “Oh—thank you,” I finally manage, a little breathless. “I wasn’t expecting anything.”
Tearing off the paper, I reveal a cream box with Van Cleef & Arpels embossed in silver. My heart stutters when I open it to find a delicate white gold diamond pendant necklace—one that probably costs a lot more than a few months' salary.
“I love it. Thank you.” My words are quiet but genuine.
He lifts it from the box and fastens it around my neck, the brief contact setting my skin ablaze. Then he pivots me around and claims my lips with a soft kiss, his tongue flicking out with a gentle tease.
I try not to smile too hard as my fingers toy with the pendant as we commence the journey back to Austen’s house in Greenwich.
“Look at you doing grown-up things like driving your own car,” I tease as Chase pulls onto the highway.
“Yeah, I have to give Albert a day off once a year.”
I shake my head with a soft laugh. “It’s slightly concerning that I’m not sure whether you’re joking.”
“Come on,” he flashes me a grin. “I’m not that bad. Sometimes, I even let him have two.”
The backseat hums with excited chatter, broken only by bursts of laughter. But after a stretch of silence, I glance over at Chase. “It’s gone very quiet back there.”
I twist in my seat to check on the kids, and my heart melts. Lillie is curled against Santi’s shoulder, both fast asleep, their gifts still clutched tightly in their hands.
“Aw, they’re sweet,” I say, turning back around.
“Yeah, especially when they’re asleep.” He winks. “No, but they’re good kids.
I can see that he loves being with the kids, so I’m surprised he hasn’t had a family of his own. I’m sure he would make a great dad. But I put it out of my mind before my thoughts wander to places they have no business being.
As we pull into Greenwich, the streets widen, lined with towering oaks and driveways so long they disappear into the trees.
The air seems quieter here, like even the wind knows not to make too much noise.
When Chase turns onto a long, curved drive, my eyes pop.
Austen’s house is an architectural masterpiece—glass and steel framed by ivy-covered stone, its towering windows reflecting the golden glow of lantern-lit pillars.