by Amelia Jade
So far that was turning out to be easier said than done.
Chapter Four
Ivore
Stifling a yawn, he guided the pickup truck around another corner, heading for the third destination of the day.
Despite being a powerful dragon, his kind still needed sleep to recharge. Ivore had sacrificed much of his the night before to stay up and research just what was necessary for opening a cupcake shop. Everything from the size, location, costs, and everything in between. He’d spent hours upon hours learning how to look up properties for sale and weeding them out.
Then he’d called up several real estate agents bright and early in the morning and gotten permission to go look around at several of them. It had taken some bribes to ensure they be allowed to do so alone, but in the end they had all agreed. Money was everything to humans, and when there was as much to go around as the military had made available to him and his brothers, Ivore knew he’d get what he wanted in the end.
“Am I boring you that much?”
He shot Violet a frown, trying not to stare at the way her cute little nose twitched every time he looked at her. “Of course not. In fact, the furthest thing from it. I’m having a wonderful time with you.”
Violet looked away, several bits of hair shaking loose from the bun she’d swept it up into. Her eyes focused out the window, looking anywhere but at him. Ivore cursed his big mouth. Sometimes he was too honest and straightforward and it got him in trouble. This, it seemed, was another one of those times.
For whatever reason Violet was completely and entirely against any sort of compliments, kind words, or even flirtation. It was making his job of seducing her and claiming her as his mate far harder than it should, while also leaving him utterly confused as to why. If she were his mate, shouldn’t there be some sort of connection between them? A tingling buzz that made her more receptive to his gentle advances?
Maybe he should ask Cowl how things had gone with Andria. After all, it wasn’t like any of them had experience with finding mates before. Drinking and women perhaps, but nothing like the permanency he desired to have with Violet. She was unlike any woman he’d met before. Her composure was epic, she kept everything hidden from him except for the slightest bits that slipped through her cracks. It would have been impressive if it weren’t worrisome. Why was she so intent on keeping herself apart from everyone?
“Perhaps place number three will be the one,” he suggested, trying to reinvigorate the subject.
“Maybe.”
He waited for her to say more, wondering if he just needed to out-patient her.
Violet sighed, a tiny thing that if he hadn’t been watching her out of the corner of his eye he would have missed completely. “Place number one was just too big, and really not a great location. Lots of vehicle traffic, very little foot traffic.”
“Right. I’ll make sure to keep that in mind if we need to keep selecting more sites to view.” This was the sort of information he had no idea about prior to this morning. Violet, however, had apparently done a lot of thinking on the subject, which impressed him. Often people just had “wishes,” not dreams, and they’d never actually thought through the process of achieving it. Violet, he was glad to know, wasn’t like that.
“The second place wasn’t bad, but it was a little small, and the rent was pricey. We probably would have either had to charge too much, or we would have ended up losing money.”
Ivore nodded, focusing on parking the truck as they reached spot number three. He slipped it into a spot on the side of the street. His driving instructor would have been damn proud of his parallel-parking job.
“Well, what do you think?” He pointed out the glass at a storefront perhaps fifty feet up the road that had a sign reading “For Rent” in the window.
Violet perked up almost immediately. She looked at the potential store, and then around at the location, the traffic, and everything, her keen golden-brown eyes taking it all in.
“This has potential.” She slipped out of the truck and started walking toward the little shop.
Ivore followed her. He wished nothing more than to walk alongside her, taking her hand, or perhaps bending his elbow so she could rest her hand inside it. Closeness and contact were something he desired more than anything, and it ached to know his mate was right there, but that there was nothing he could do about it. Not yet, at least.
The shop was tucked between a sandwich shop that looked old but clean and busy, and an esthetician. Ivore had to read the sign several times to decipher what that word meant. They cut hair, and did nails and things. He idly wondered if they did dragon claws. His could use a buffing.
“Ivore, look at this!”
The excitement in her voice drew him back to reality and he hurried over to the front of the potential store. “What?”
“Look,” She pointed up.
He followed her finger.
“Isn’t that awning just the cutest? We could have it redone in our colors, and make it look nice. It would shelter from the elements and we could even hang a sign down from it like this, so people walking along will see it from either direction. What do you think?”
Ivore flashed her his best smile. “I think it sounds like a wonderful idea.”
“Maybe we could even set up a table out here for people to sit at if they wanted. It would be great for handing out samples when we first open too. It really helps mark it as our space, you know? Since nobody on either side of us has one, it sets us apart.”
Her excitement was palpable, and Ivore wanted to keep it going. Anything that brought her out of her shell. He doubted she was even aware of the fact that she was displaying a positive emotion, so the longer he could keep her focused on the shop the better.
“Let’s go inside then. Hopefully that will work out just as well as the outside.” He approached the door, and as before stuck his hand out to the lock. Unbeknownst to anyone, even Violet, ice flowed out from his palm, filling the lock and pushing the tumblers up and freezing the entire mechanism. He turned his hand, and the lock snapped. To the outside it looked like he was just turning a key.
This was part of the reason for the bribes. Oops.
Finished, he commanded the ice to disappear, and then pulled open the door, holding it for her. Violet nodded in thanks at his chivalrous nature and practically ran inside. Two stairs right at the entrance led up to the main level. Ivore decided he would replace that with a ramp if given the chance.
“This will work.” She stated that almost immediately upon viewing the empty space. “It’s going to take some work, but it’ll be exactly what I…we, need. The counter will be L-shaped and run down the right-hand side here, before cutting across. Registers at both ends, just in case. We’ll wall off the back and bring in some ovens…” Violet spun to face him, face stern once more. “If you’re serious, then this is the place.”
Ivore studied her for a second, and then nodded in agreement. “Done. I’ll call the agent and we’ll get the paperwork going.”
It was Violet’s turn to give him a long look. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Why did she have to continually doubt him? Ivore had done nothing but tell the truth since he’d met her, and yet he still couldn’t get her to shake the concept that he was lying about the entire thing. “You make good cupcakes. I think you can be profitable. I like making money.”
She scoffed. “You’re positive this is all about the money?
No. “Yes. It’s a business partnership,” he stated.
Violet cringed. “Let’s just call it a deal, okay? A business deal. I…don’t like the idea of calling it a partnership.” She looked away. “Personal reasons, okay?”
Ivore forced his face to remain neutral as he got a small, almost insignificant clue about what it was that was bothering her. It could lead to so many conclusions, but he knew now that someone she’d trusted had left her hurt. Somehow. At some point. But it was an important insight. He needed to ensure he didn’
t do that to her. Ever.
“Of course.”
“And you promise that there’s no catch? That this is strictly about the money.”
Ivore hesitated, and it nearly cost him his mate.
“I knew it,” she hissed. “There is more to it. Nobody is that kind and generous. They always want something more.”
“Whatever you’re thinking my motives are, you’re wrong,” he stated. “And okay, yes, I have my reasons for wanting to see you succeed, but I promise you that they are not evil, nefarious, or any other word you want to use.”
“So explain then. What are your other reasons?”
Ivore was mad. He’d not intended to go down this path. Not yet. Not until their deal was formally signed. Now, if he told her, there was every chance she’d back out of the deal to try and avoid him.
Wait. That was it. His problem was also his solution.
“I’ll tell you. Tonight. Over dinner.” He held up a finger as she started to protest. “While we sign the paperwork for this and the creation of our business.”
Violet fell silent. It wasn’t the sort of agreement he wanted to make, because he was essentially forcing her to dinner, but Ivore was about out of options. If he didn’t do that, she would bail, and he’d probably never see her again. Not on purpose at least. He needed another shot to show her he could be whatever it was she needed to be.
“Dinner? Like a date?”
“No. Like a dinner meeting. Business meeting.”
She crossed her arms over her soft, ample stomach. He purposefully did not stare at the increase the action brought to her cleavage. That was harder than he cared to admit, his desire for his mate nearly overwhelming. She was hurting, and everything Ivore had ever professed to be as a person said that he should go to her, hold her, and do whatever it took to make it better.
“I’m not interested in you,” she stated.
Ivore tried not to feel hurt. There was no malice in her words, and it sounded more like she was convincing herself, not him. “Okay. But we still need to sign the paperwork and discuss the next steps. I also like to eat.”
He hoped a little levity might help the situation. Violet’s lips spread in a tight smile, but it was a placeholder, an action driven by politeness, not humor. Still, it was better than nothing. Ivore would take what he could get until he could break down the walls and find out why his mate was wounded, and how he could help heal it. Ivore liked to fix things. He was going to help fix her.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
Ivore grinned, unwilling to hold in his own feelings. “No.”
“Fine. A business meeting. Nothing more. We’re entering into a business deal together, and that’s it.”
He nodded. “Of course. I’ll take you home, contact the agent, and get the paperwork started. Then we’ll meet up again for dinner.”
“And you’ll tell me why you’re doing all this as well.”
“Yes.”
The how of that was still eluding him, however, but Ivore had several hours to come up with a way to do so without scaring Violet off. Hopefully.
They got in the truck and pulled away, both of them lost in their own thoughts.
Behind them a silver four-door sedan pulled out from a spot near them, moving easily into the flow of traffic behind the black pickup.
Chapter Five
Violet
She was frustrated.
What made it even worse was that she was frustrated with herself for something easily controllable. This had the added effect of doubling down on her frustration, and pushing it closer toward outright anger.
But at least she looked cute.
Unfortunately, that was the crux of the entire issue. This was just supposed to be a simple business dinner. So why had she allowed herself to go and get dressed up for it, to the point of putting on makeup and a dress?
At first she’d just brushed it off as trying to even things out for her disastrous appearance during the day. So she’d taken a shower and straightened her normally wavy hair. That wasn’t a big deal she’d told herself. It was simply polite, the nice thing to do. After all, he was funding the entire operation.
But now, as she stood in front of the mirror in the reception area of the restaurant waiting for Ivore, she realized that she was lying to herself. The restaurant he’d asked her to meet him at was nice, and so a certain level of dress was appropriate. She could have worn pants, however, and she definitely hadn’t needed to wear anything that showed even a remote hint of cleavage. But she was.
All in all, it was a bad idea. So now she was left frustrated, but at least she looked good. It wasn’t a black dress either, though the slate gray might appear that way in the dimness of the restaurant.
The door opened and Ivore entered, looking fantastic in his black dress shirt tucked into black dress pants. The top button was undone, exposing just a bit of the pale skin at the base of his throat. His hair was perfectly parted and pulled over, the vivid white clashing with his outfit in the most spectacular way. She noticed most people doing a double take as he walked by, and she could understand why. It was a hell of a good look on him.
“Sorry for that,” he said, stepping up next to her. “Had to go the next block over for a parking lot.” He frowned at the hostess. “They didn’t seat you yet? I have a reservation.”
Violet waved him off. “She offered, but I decided to wait for you.”
Again, something she wasn’t sure why she’d done. All that did was ensure everyone looked at her as she walked in. They would all be asking why the two of them were together, making guesses, assuming they were more than they were. Then they would ask why someone like her was with someone as hot as him. Violet looked forward to that. She needed that reminder of who and what she was.
“You do look quite wonderful,” he murmured as their hostess picked up the menus and gestured for the pair to follow her.
“Thank you,” she said primly, trying to sound professional but appreciative.
It came out cold and frosty.
Dammit, just because she couldn’t get close to him didn’t mean she had to be a bitch. Violet thought about saying something, but before she could come up with an appropriate set of words they reached their table.
Why was it that being complimented by Ivore had to make her feel so uncomfortable? She wanted nothing more than to change the subject, to switch it to business and keep it there for the entire evening. That way, if she brought it up, maybe he wouldn’t notice that she didn’t tell him how hot he looked, his muscles filling out the dress shirt as if it had been custom-made for him.
Hell, if he had as much money as he claimed, then maybe it had been.
“So, spill,” she said as they finished ordering drinks. “What’s going on here? Why are you offering up all this money?”
Ivore smiled that annoying, far-too-charming smile of his that made her feel uncomfortably good. Not happy—that wasn’t something she’d allow herself to feel—but…it didn’t make her feel bad either. Yet another thing to dislike about him.
“Would you be asking the bank the same question?” he countered. “To me it sounds like you haven’t actually thought through the scenario where you would have been approved. Have you?”
Mostly,” she said immediately, without hesitation. The truth was, she’d spent far too much time thinking it through. It was the only thing she had left after…After. So she’d planned it out to the last detail more than once. Now it was just a matter of executing it, which is something she hadn’t prepared for. “I just didn’t expect it to happen so fast. I suppose I figured I’d have more time. Your unexpected generosity is moving it forward quickly.”
“Have you thought the next steps through?”
She nodded. “Yes. I think I know what I want. I’ve done a lot of research and brainstorming. Names, designs, etcetera. So hopefully that should all go easily. It’s still daunting, however. There’s so much that needs to happen.”
&nbs
p; “Well, it’s good to hear that you’ve done your research. I want to see my money put to good use.” Ivore smiled at her once more, something he did with annoying frequency.
Why the hell did he have to be so damn good-looking? Couldn’t he have just been normal-looking? That would have made the whole thing far easier for her stomach. Now though, she kept getting distracted by his good looks. The clean lines of his chin and face, the smoothness of his skin. He was just hot, and that was an issue. Violet knew she was physically attracted to him, and that was a problem. A major problem.
It made her extremely uncomfortable with their business deal. Part of her wished that he’d put up more of a fight when it came to decreasing his share. Then she could have claimed she was unwilling to do such a deal and back out of it. Now though, they were committed, and by his account he’d already called the agent and said they were going to lease it. Or buy it. She hadn’t really asked that question, and it was probably an important one.
Come to think of it, she hadn’t asked very many questions at all. She barely knew a thing about Ivore, besides the fact that he was Cowl’s brother. Cowl she knew, and he was a nice person, and she was quite happy for her friend. Unlike herself, Andria deserved someone like Cowl, especially after all she’d been through.
But that was no excuse not to know more about her financial backer.
“What do you do, Ivore?” she asked, changing the subject completely. It was time to get to know him a little better. Just who was she letting buy into her business?
“Like, for work?” He seemed a little put off by the question, and she doubled down on it immediately.
“For work, for fun. I don’t know a thing about you, and yet I’m supposed to give you twenty percent of my business.”
“I work for the government,” he replied smoothly. “I do various jobs for them. Right now I guess you could say I’m interested in finance.”
“Like what, a financial advisor?”
He shrugged. “Close enough.”
“And you’re still employed?”
