Chapter 12 #2
"Yeah." Why did he feel like any second now, he was going to walk into a trap.
"I was young. I married a local weather girl.
It didn't last long." He shrugged. "She'd been more interested in fame than a relationship, and when it became clear that investigative reporters didn't court the limelight, she left.
She's married to an actor now and lives in Vancouver. "
"Right." Her shoulders relaxed somewhat. "So, you know how to get married."
That didn't seem to need a response.
Violet started pacing the very small room. Four steps, turn. Four steps, turn. It was making him dizzy.
"I'm assuming that before you got married there was a whole romantic relationship thing?" she said as she passed him. "Hearts, flowers, over-the-top gestures?"
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," he said. "Could you stop pacing, it's making me seasick."
She came to an abrupt halt in front of him. "My point is, you know how two people are supposed to behave in the days before they get married."
"Well, yeah, I guess."
She narrowed her eyes. "Yes or no, Max. This is no time for guessing."
There would have been a lot less guessing if he had the faintest idea where this conversation was heading. "Yes, I know how two people behave before their wedding."
"Okay. That's good." She took a breath, nodding to herself before staring him right in the eye. "In that case, there's only one thing to do. I will take charge of the security side of our partnership." She wet her lips. "And you will take care of the fake relationship side of it."
She seemed to think she made perfect sense. She didn't.
"I don't get it," Max said, feeling very stupid.
She made a frustrated little growling sound. "You're going to make me say it, aren't you?"
"Say what? I have no idea what's going on here."
"What's going on," she said through gritted teeth, "is that I am prepared to cede control over part of this operation." She cleared her throat and lifted her chin. "To be specific, the part that involves making everyone believe we're in love and want to be married."
"And how are you giving up control of this?" he asked warily.
"By letting you direct the physical and romantic aspects of our cover.
" She took a step toward him, closing the distance and obviously becoming angrier by the second at his inability to keep up with her line of thought.
"You decide when we touch. You will lead in romantic gestures, glances, verbal expressions, and all that other stuff.
" She seemed to be a little confused as to what that other stuff might involve but she carried on regardless.
"You will tell me what to do and how to behave.
And I will follow orders." She looked a little sick when she said that last sentence.
He cocked a brow. "You'll follow orders?"
"Yes," she ground out.
He pushed away from the sink and stood in front of her, mere inches apart. So close he could feel the heat coming from her. "You won't flinch when I touch you?"
"No, I won't." It could have been said with less enthusiasm, he thought. But not much.
Max reached up to brush her hair back from her face, watching her still as he did so. "You won't scowl when I reach for you?"
"No."
"Or growl if I invade your personal space?"
"No."
"Or threaten me if I act familiar or loving?"
"No." Her fists were clenched at her side. This was costing her big time.
His Violet didn't like giving up any control.
His Violet?
He shook the thought off as his fingertips trailed down the curve of her cheek.
"And there will be no violent retribution for anything I ask you to do?"
Her eyes darkened. "Just so long as you don't take advantage."
"I'd never," he vowed.
She swallowed hard. "Then, we have an agreement?"
He caressed her bottom lip with his thumb, wondering if he was making a pact with the devil. "Yeah, we have an agreement."
She let out a long breath. "Okay, that's good." Her gaze swept the room before coming back to him. "What now? Do we kiss or something?"
Max smiled, slow and wicked. "Our first kiss isn't going to happen in a toilet, Vi."
She was back to being angry. "Then how are we going to become familiar and comfortable with each other?"
"By you following my lead." He gave her a challenging look. "That's the deal, right?"
"Right." She forced the word through her teeth.
"Well then." He stepped back, putting some space between them.
"Here's what's going to happen. We're going to go back to dinner.
You are going to smile at me whenever I talk to you.
I'm going to touch your shoulder, or hand, or back of your neck.
You're going to look like you enjoy it. And we're going to have a nice meal. "
She blinked several times. "That's it?"
He unlocked the bathroom door and stepped outside before looking back at her over his shoulder. "For now," he said holding out his hand for her to take.
Her jaw clenched as she took it. Max figured it was progress when she made no attempt to break one of his fingers.
"You two okay?" Rodrigo asked when they reached the table and took their seats.
"We're good," Max replied, clasping one of Violet's shoulders. "We've come to an understanding and the wedding is still on."
Violet smiled his way. It looked a little manic, but it was a start.
Rodrigo and Katrina shared a worried glance but before anyone could reply, there was loud raucous laughter from the golf course.
As one, the team turned to see their redheaded teammate, dressed completely out of character in blue jeans and an untucked white dress shirt, lead a group of young men onto the course.
Most of the men seemed to be several sheets to the wind already.
"For Scotland," Evan roared before whacking the ball up the course.
There was a wild cheer from his new friends.
"Guess the party's started," Abasi said as he came up beside them.
"He better not have been drinking. I was very specific about him staying off the booze.
" He cast a wry glance at the table. "Never met a Scot who couldn't drink everybody around them under the table. It's like they're immune to alcohol."
"Where did he find his new friends?" Max asked as he took Violet's hand, aware she was making the effort to remain relaxed and follow his lead.
He smiled her way, letting her know he appreciated it, and she gave him a slight nod in return.
It was all very civil and very unlike Violet Lee. He wondered how long it would last.
"In a bar, where else?" Abasi said. "I swear, you drop a Scotsman anywhere on this planet and they'll find at least a half dozen more of their countrymen before the night is over.
Believe it or not, these guys are on a bachelor weekend away, before the wedding in Glasgow next week.
Evan introduced himself and suggested a round of golf on Wedding Island.
One of them wanted to invite some strippers.
" Abasi looked bewildered. "Evan actually texted me to ask if that would be okay. "
As a loud, tuneless rendition of Flower Of Scotland started on the golf course, Max turned to Violet and smiled.
And she smiled back. Not the smile of a woman under duress, but one of an intimate partner sharing a joke.
The sight took his breath away and he couldn't help but think he was completely out of his depth.