Burning Violet

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Burning Violet Page 6

by Watson, A. P.


  “Why is it that everyone I care about leaves me?” she asked, her voice barely audible.

  I knelt next to her bed and stared into her eyes. Pain, unhappiness, despair, it was all there, darkening the usual light blue. “That isn’t true.”

  “The ones who should love me drove me away.” She sighed heavily, her gaze never breaking away from mine. “And I don’t want to be alone anymore. The nightmares come whenever I’m alone.”

  Her words cut through me like knives. The sadness hovering around her was almost palpable. I racked my brain, wishing there was something I could say to end her suffering. I didn’t know much about her family, but from what she told me, they were virtually nonexistent in her life. Such a thing seemed unfathomable to me, because from the moment I laid eyes on Violet, all I wanted was to be around her.

  I wrapped my hand around hers, holding on tight. “I’m not leaving.”

  “Really?”

  “I promise.”

  Her lips curled into a slight smile. “Good. I don’t want you to go.”

  I kissed her forehead, still kneeling next to her bed. If she needed me to sit here all night, I’d do it. In the thirty years I’d been alive, no one had ever looked at me the way she was right now. In this one flickering second of time, Vi needed me. When was the last time that happened?

  I pondered the question as I watched over her. Eventually, her breathing slowed, and she fell asleep once more.

  Chapter Five

  I rolled out of bed, my head throbbing like it had been caught in a vise. Why the hell did I drink so much?

  Before I could even head to the kitchen for a huge dose of aspirin, my phone began ringing. I grabbed it off the table beside my bed and unplugged it from the charger. I didn’t even remember plugging it in, but then again, my memory was particularly foggy this morning. I quickly answered the video call from Nadine.

  “Hey, gorgeous!”

  “Hey to you too,” I groaned.

  “Woah. Sounds like you had a rough time last night.”

  “That’s one way to put it.”

  “Do you need me to call back later?”

  “Nah, I just need some coffee, like maybe more than one pot.” I yawned loudly, padding down the hallway toward the kitchen. “Did you just get off work?”

  “Yeah. I’m headed home from the club now.”

  “How did you fare for the night?”

  “Fucking killed it. As always.”

  “Of course you did. You’re a fucking force of nature.”

  “I miss getting to work with you, but I’m so glad you got out of this city.”

  “Me too,” I replied. “Have you heard from Jasmine lately?”

  “The hell?” a voice asked from the living room.

  I screamed, dropping my phone on the carpet.

  “Are you okay?” Nadine asked, her voice shrieking through the phone. “What is going on, Violet?”

  Hunter stumbled out of my living room wearing nothing but a pair of pants. Lines of muscle appeared to be carved into his flesh. I should have answered him, but instead, I stared at his body, regarding him with an awkward mixture of lust and confusion. Dear God. To top off his ridiculous physique, he had an intricate tattoo etched into the left side of his ribcage. I was so fucked. He rubbed his hands over his face and bent to retrieve my phone.

  “And who the hell are you?” Nadine questioned as Hunter held up my phone.

  “Hunter Desmond. I work with Violet.” He handed the phone over to me, smiling slightly.

  “Thanks.”

  “I’m going to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

  “Of course. It’s right down the hall,” I said to him, ducking into the kitchen. I watched until he was out of sight before returning my attention to Nadine.

  “Jesus Christ, Violet! You have some serious explaining to do!”

  “I completely forgot he came over last night. Oh my God. Nadine, that is my boss!”

  “The one who kissed you?”

  I bit my lip and nodded. “Yeah.”

  “He looks like he was created in a lab.”

  “Believe me, I know.” I turned on the coffee maker and set it up to brew an entire pot of coffee. “You should see him in a suit.”

  “I thought you said he was a player.”

  “I thought he was, but I don’t think those rumors I told you about are true. He’s actually really sweet.”

  “Awe.”

  “No, not awe. He’s my boss.”

  “Awe.”

  “Bitch,” I muttered under my breath.

  “I heard that!”

  “Good.”

  I opened the fridge and searched for something to make for breakfast when I heard someone walk into the kitchen. I turned to see Hunter leaning against the stove.

  “Well, I better let you go, Nadine. I’ll call you later.”

  “Okay. I’m getting up at five for work, so just call me after then.”

  “Will do.”

  “It was nice to meet you, Nadine,” Hunter said, watching as I picked up my phone.

  “Same to you, sexy bossman.”

  He laughed at her comment, the sound of his voice filling up the entire room.

  “Goodbye, Nadine,” I spat.

  “Bye, gorgeous.”

  I ended the call, laying my phone on the counter and facing Hunter. “Hi.”

  “Hi.”

  “Coffee should be ready in a few minutes. Do you want to stay for breakfast?”

  “I don’t want to bother you.”

  “Let me phrase it this way, are you hungry?”

  He grinned sinfully. “Starving.”

  “How does scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast sound?”

  “Wonderful.”

  Pouring each of us a cup of coffee, I added creamer to mine and a little sugar to his mug. “Here you go.”

  “Thank you.” He accepted the mug from my hand, immediately taking a sip.

  Pulling out two skillets, I set several strips of bacon in one, and turned on the burner. Then, in the second one, I cracked open some eggs and added a bit of milk. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course.”

  “Why in the hell did I let you paint my fingernails last night?” I stared at my red splotched fingers. They looked ridiculous . . . no, wait, horrendous seemed to be the right word in this scenario.

  “Honestly, I have no idea. Although, I did warn you that I grew up with two brothers and had never painted any nails before in my life.”

  “I suppose that’s true,” I replied with a laugh. “Your family sounds really nice, by the way.”

  “They are nice. My mom can be a little pushy, but she means well.”

  “She seems really sweet. I enjoy talking to her on the phone.”

  “I told her you were the one who suggested our lunch reservations for yesterday, so she is now your biggest fan.”

  I grinned at him, turning on the burner to cook the eggs I’d scrambled. “I can’t wait to meet her in person one day. Maybe I can convince her to stop by the office.”

  “You won’t have to convince her, trust me. I’m sure she’ll just show up out of the blue one afternoon,” he replied. “Is there anything I can do to help with breakfast?”

  “Would you mind tossing a couple pieces of bread into the toaster?”

  “Not at all.”

  I showed him where I stored the bread and then stirred the eggs, patiently waiting as they cooked. In a couple minutes the bacon would be done, so I set out a plate covered with paper towels for it. I couldn’t remember everything that transpired last night, but I remembered nuzzling my face against Hunter’s neck. We had an undeniable attraction, there was no doubt about it, but he was my boss. And I definitely didn’t want to compromise the best job I’d ever had. Working at BB&B kept me away from Vegas and a home I never cared to see again. There were secrets lurking in the trailer my family still lived in. Secrets that should never see the light of day.

  “Ar
e you okay?” Hunter asked, moving to stand next to me. He set his hand on my arm gently. People always said actions spoke louder than words, but I didn’t understand what they meant until now. It was as if he was siphoning strength from his own body and transferring it to mine. If I felt all that from a single touch, what else could his presence do?

  “Yeah.”

  “Look, nothing happened last night. I put you in your bed and sat with you for a few hours and then I moved to the couch. You asked me not to leave, so I didn’t. But nothing else happened.”

  My brow furrowed as I turned to look at him. “I asked you not to leave?”

  “And I promised I wouldn’t.”

  “Did I say anything else?”

  He nodded once, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “Yes.”

  “What else did I say?”

  “You said you were tired of being alone and that the ones who should’ve loved you drove you away.”

  “I told you all that?” I asked, horrified. I took the eggs off the hot burner and gave them a final stir. Then I turned to the bacon, setting strips on the plate I’d set out.

  “Yeah. You also mentioned something about nightmares.”

  Shit.

  “I probably didn’t know what I was saying. I mean I did let you paint my nails.”

  “Vi,” he breathed, his voice as calm and comforting as his touch had been. “You can talk to me.”

  My body stilled at his words. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” My reply came out barely louder than a whisper, but he heard me all the same.

  “You hardly know me, but I’m here for you.” He returned his hand to my arm, lightly stroking my skin with his thumb. “Whatever you’ve been through is terrible. I can tell because you had fear in your voice when you spoke last night.”

  A lump caught in my throat and I tried my best to swallow it down. Everything about his presence was soothing. The truth was that I’d been searching for someone to erase the horrible memories my father and Ted had left behind. And I would find that person, the one who held the key to my freedom. When that day came, those memories would fade and ultimately cease to exist.

  “It’s such a burden,” I sighed heavily. “And definitely not something that should be forced on another person.”

  “Sharing burdens makes them easier to bear.”

  “Not this one.”

  “Your father did something to you, didn’t he?” I nodded my head, confirming his suspicions. “I’m sorry.”

  I nodded again. “I . . .” I wanted to speak, but it was as if the wind had been knocked out of me.

  “If you don’t want to tell me anything else, you don’t have to. You can talk to me whenever you’re ready,” he soothed.

  It had taken me years to suppress those memories. Nadine was the only soul who knew the truth other than my worthless family. My family should have protected me. Instead, Jasmine and Sutton turned a blind eye. My own siblings ignored the issue at hand, and as a result, I was fed to the fucking wolves.

  “I need to sit down for a minute.” I plopped on the floor of my kitchen, my eyes staring blankly ahead. Normally, I was strong. I tried my best not to dwell on the past, but the last few months had taken their toll. First, everything that happened with Ted, and then Nadine telling me Jasmine tried to call her a few weeks ago to find out where I was . . . It had all thrown me for a loop.

  Hunter sat across from me, moving so close that his knees touched my shin. Gently, he took my hand in between his. “What do you need me to do?”

  Air filled my lungs as I sucked in deep breaths. “I’m okay.”

  “You know, it’s alright to not be okay.”

  I glanced up at him, concern flooded those green irises. That was the first time anyone had told me that before. I’d always been so strong, always needed to be. But maybe for once, it was okay to be weak. Deep down, I wasn’t fine and hearing someone tell me it was okay to feel that way was liberating.

  “No one has ever told me that before.”

  “Have you talked to anyone about it?” he asked softly.

  “Just Nadine.”

  “What did she say when you told her?”

  “She bought me a new cell phone and loaned me some money so I could move away.”

  “Sounds like she is a good friend.”

  “She is. I miss her so much.”

  “When did you move out here?”

  “Four years ago. I met her right after I turned eighteen. I lived with her for a few years, but my family wouldn’t leave me alone. That’s why she helped me move out here. She wants me as far away from them as possible.”

  “Do you have any grandparents or any other family?”

  “I have a few family members I haven’t seen since my mom died, but that’s it. Besides Nadine and Rhonda, I’m not really close with anyone.”

  “Well, whenever you want to talk, I’m here.”

  “Thank you.”

  His hands continued to rub mine, and slowly, every muscle in my body began to relax. Looking back on it, Ted’s touch had never provided me with this much comfort. The words he whispered in my ears had been sweet and filled with so much care, but they were all lies. He hadn’t cared about me. He had only been interested in one thing. And when I had made it clear I wasn’t ready to sleep with him, it pissed him off to no end. Deep down, I knew he was a piece of shit. I could sense something was wrong beneath the perfect façade he always wore. That was why I couldn’t give in to his desires. The rage he displayed after I denied his advances had only confirmed my suspicions.

  After a long while of sitting in silence, Hunter helped me to my feet.

  “I’m sorry the food is cold now,” I said.

  “Don’t worry about it. Everything still looks delicious.”

  Before I even knew what was happening, I turned to face him and slid my hands around his neck. I don’t know why I did it, but part of me wanted to be weak, to be comforted, and I had no doubts Hunter’s embrace would touch a part of me I’d never revealed to anyone before. Warm arms folded across my back, covering me like a shield.

  “I just need a minute.”

  “Take as long as you need.”

  “I haven’t been okay for a while.”

  “I know.”

  The tips of his fingers traced small circles on my back as he continued to hold me. Eventually, I’d have to let go, but not right now. Minutes passed. I wasn’t sure how many, and honestly, I didn’t care.

  “Thank you,” I finally said as we parted.

  “Any time.” His hand stayed on my back as I faced the stove. “After we eat, why don’t I go back to my place to shower and get dressed, and then I’ll come pick you up so we can do something fun today.”

  And get your mind off your shit storm of a family history. Although he didn’t explicitly state that as his intention, I could tell it was what he was trying to say.

  “I’d really like that.”

  “We can even stop by Vito’s if you want.”

  “You know how I feel about Vito’s.”

  “I do, and I’ll buy you whatever you want.”

  “What if I want a four-tier cake?”

  He barely chuckled, his hand still pressing into my skin. “Then I’d ask what color icing you wanted.”

  Despite everything swirling inside my soul, I smiled. Rhonda always said she knew I would meet a nice guy one night at Eddie’s, and I’d be damned if she wasn’t right. I did meet a nice guy.

  Too bad he was the one signing my paychecks.

  Chapter Six

  After leaving Violet’s place, I hurried to shower and get dressed. If I thought I’d been taken with her after meeting her at Eddie’s the other night, I was even more so now. Her strength was awe-inspiring. She never revealed any details, but when she confirmed my suspicions that her father had done something awful to her, I felt it in my bones. It didn’t matter how long ago it happened, I wanted to break the fucker’s jaw. My instinct to protect her began the mo
ment I saw Garrett placing his hand on her shoulder, and it only intensified when Bartlett grabbed her. The woman was a spitfire, there was no doubt in my mind she could hold her own, but I didn’t want her to have to do that. She deserved to be treated with nothing but respect, and I’d make sure she knew it.

  After lacing up a pair of boots and shrugging on a plain navy T-shirt, I grabbed my wallet and phone and locked my loft behind me.

  When Violet opened her door, she was all smiles.

  “Hi,” she said, sliding her arm through the handles of her purse.

  “Hey.”

  I watched her lock the deadbolt to her place and join me on the sidewalk.

  “So, what is the plan?” She tossed her long hair over her shoulder and I was suddenly hit with a gust of her perfume. She smelled like heaven.

  “I was thinking we could go to the Museum of Fine Arts. They have an exhibit featuring work by M.C. Escher.”

  “Oh, that’s awesome! I love his stuff.”

  I smiled at her, taking in her outfit. She wore leggings and one of those long shirts that seemed to drape over her curves in just the right way. God, did the woman even know how lovely she was?

  “Let me,” I said, stepping ahead of her and opening the passenger door to my car.

  “You would.” She rolled her eyes, her smile slightly widening.

  “I would what?”

  “Drive a damn Mercedes.”

  “It’s a nice car.”

  “I’m sure it is.”

  “Well, we can’t all be as cool as you and drive a vintage VW Beetle.”

  “How did you know the bug was mine?” she questioned.

  “I had a hunch.” I shrugged my shoulders, waiting as she sat down. “It’s also parked closest to your door.”

  “That’s true.”

  Grinning, I closed her door and jogged around the front of my car. It took nearly half an hour for us to drive to the museum and park. Every time I came here, I was always impressed with the sprawling structure. The towering Ionic columns were the perfect complement to the classical architecture. My mother used to bring Derek, Alex, and I to the museum several times every year while we were growing up, so coming back was more like a habit than anything else. The only place I ever enjoyed visiting more was the Boston Public Library. I’d always loved to read. It was the one thing my father and I had in common. We both had a fondness for books, especially the classics.

 

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