Naked (28 page)

When she looked up at Harper she had expected sympathy. Instead, Harper burst out laughing.

“How is this funny?”

She continued to crack up. Even jabbed Violet’s shoulder in jest.

“Did you not hear anything I just said?” Harper was making light of a terrible situation. How the hell was Violet supposed to be taken seriously when people found out she’d had an affair with an employee?

“You’re the daughter that had a breakdown and was sent away?” Immediately Harper gasped and held up her hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry. Word vomit. It’s just…that’s what Noah told us one day.”

Funny how Noah didn’t mention anything about believing the rumors.

“It’s a rumor. I didn’t go crazy.” At least not in public. “I took a leave of absence. And you know exactly why.”

She’d disclosed everything to Harper. This virtual stranger knew more about her life—how she felt about the accident, her future, herself—than anyone else on the planet. Even Roxy didn’t know the whole of it when it came to her feelings for Steven.

“Well, you
are
here ranting at me.” After a few beats of silence, Harper blurted, “I’m kidding.”

Violet let out a breath. One she hadn’t even noticed she’d been holding. “I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing.”

“Sorry.” She cursed under her breath. “Why would you encourage me to date your friend when clearly I
am
unstable?”

“You’re not unstable.” Harper stood, straightening her top so her breasts didn’t fall out of her shirt, then sat in her usual seat at the small table. “I think you’re unsure of yourself. And overwhelmed. I think you thought Noah was a way to get all those feelings out of your system. The ones you think aren’t you.” She used air quotes to stress her point. “Then you’d never see him again and never have to be that person again. But the problem, Violet, is that person
is
you, and seeing Noah is a reminder of that person. The one you
want
to be, but think you can’t be.” She clasped her hands together on the table, her red fingernails shiny against the lighting. “And it scares the crap out of you.”

She’d talked to this woman three times. She’d told her everything. She thought she’d told her everything, but Harper had a unique gift for reading between the lines.

“How are you not a therapist?”

Harper waved her off. “Because I’m too scary to be a therapist.”

Violet shrugged. “Only at first.”

The pink-haired beauty gave a hearty laugh.

She might not be a therapist, but she charged for her services. In the long run, Violet knew from experience that her fee wasn’t in line with the time and kindness she gave in return. She wondered what had ignited the passion Harper had for helping others.

“Why do you do this?”

Harper grew silent, morose. Her face taking on an expression Violet never seen on it before: sadness.

“Let’s just say I made a promise to never let another woman feel bad about herself. At least not under my watch.”

Her response was cryptic. It really wasn’t an answer. Violet knew there was more to that story. But she also knew all about privacy and keeping your secrets close to the vest. Maybe one day Harper would trust, just as Violet had trusted her.

But enough about Harper. Violet had come here for advice. For a solution to her Noah problem.

“What should I do now?” Encountering him on the job site had thrown a wrench in her comeback.

Harper placed her palms flat on the table. “Why can’t you be with Noah?”

“I thought I’d never see him again. I did things with him…”

Her entire body vibrated thinking back on all of the things they’d done. Public sex. Intimate sex. Rough sex. Just extraordinary fucking sex.

“And obviously those things were awesome.” Harper eyed her with a grin. “You’re grinning right now. Do you know that?”

Grin or not, it was never going to happen again.

“Embarrassment isn’t a good enough reason to end it.”

“How about the fact that he works for me? I have too much riding on the next few weeks. Too much to prove, too many board members to win over.”

She’d already encountered a dumbass on-site yesterday. She expected a lot more by the end of the week. And with her father keeping his distance from the company, she didn’t have the support or buffer that would make her transition smoother.

The board had just approved her proposal to buy the land in Stillbride. She was off to a good start. She didn’t need a scandal with an employee to tarnish her return. Her exit had already been too dramatic.

“And finding love doesn’t fit into your schedule.” Harper rested her chin in her hand and stared, waiting for a response.

“Whoa…Who said anything about love?” Violet’s stomach tightened, and so did her chest. Not in fear, but in sadness. She might not want to love Noah, but somehow he had wiggled his way into her heart. “Love is…complicated. Finding it, even more.”

What she didn’t tell Harper was that her mother had somehow taken it upon herself to find her an eligible husband. It might be conjecture, but Violet had a feeling her mother was trying to minimize the damage of her father’s illness. Maybe she feared that once men found out, they wouldn’t want to marry into their family. A family with a father who had no idea who he was and a daughter who was severely scarred and emotionally damaged as a result of guilt and fear. Maybe her mother was right. What man would take that leap?

“Why does it have to be complicated?” Harper asked. “What’s your criteria?”

Violet shrugged. “I thought I knew, but that man turned out to be everything I didn’t want.”

Steven had been a good man, just not her match.

“Look, I’m not saying you have to get married, but maybe you need to be with someone the exact opposite.” Harper tapped her finger against her chin. “I just happen to have a friend who fits that criteria.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“So what are you saying?”

“I’m saying have fun.” Harper reached across the table and grasped her forearm, tight. “Just don’t treat my friend poorly or I will hunt you down and kill you.”

The serious look in her eye told Violet that Harper wasn’t kidding. Her mama bear attitude was fierce.

“Have fun?” It was an interesting concept. One she’d indulged for the last few weeks, and she’d had the time of her life. Maybe she could do both. Maybe she could be the high-powered businesswoman
and
have passion in the bedroom at the same time.

And if there was any man willing to take the chance with her, it was Noah.

Her phone buzzed in her purse and she apologized for having to check it. These were technically still business hours and she might be needed.

When she saw the name on her display, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Letting Violet know she needed a minute, she answered the call. “Brian, where have you been? I’ve been calling you for hours.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Walker. I had my exam this morning, remember?”

“Right.” Now she remembered. Unfortunately, the massive orgasm she’d had in her office last night had rattled her brain. She’d been a zoned-out zombie all day. “I’m sorry.”

Apologizing again. She needed to stop doing that. Apologizing showed weakness.

You are not weak.

“How did it go?”

Brian was doing his master’s in business administration and had been mentoring under her father. He was probably pissed that she’d taken over. She was still practically a mentee herself. But he had picked up her slack during her time away and had done a good job according to her father. She owed it to him to keep him on even though every time he spoke with her she had the distinct feeling he was judging her.

“My exam went well, I think.” Silence. “Although I don’t think you called just to ask how my exam was?”

“Right. Sorry.” She fisted her hand and shook it at no one in particular. “We got the go-head for the project. I want you to start contacting homeowners immediately.”

“You want
me
to do that?”

“Yes, I want to make this personal. I think it will lessen the blow and people might be more apt to sell if we put a face to the offer.”

Her father had always been about forging personal relationships with clients. He’d said it always made the work easier.

“Offer them above market value; start with ten percent, and get them to sign a confidentiality agreement. I don’t want this getting out before we have all our ducks in a row.”

Her plan was starting to come together. She had to admit, excitement was building.

“Can I ask why we’re going about this so quickly?”

“I want to get in there before another company gets the inside scoop and beats us to the punch.”

That was a lie. She wanted to impress the board. She didn’t want to waste any time floundering. If she could have the offers signed in a couple of weeks, there was no way the board could question her abilities.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“What have I told you about calling me ‘ma’am’?” It made her feel old.

“Sorry, Ms. Walk—Violet.”

Despite being the new boss, she wanted to break down some of the barriers people might think kept her at a distance.

She turned to Harper, who had tuned out, absentmindedly sipping on her cream soda and riffling through a stack of papers. Violet moved closer to the door and lowered her voice. She couldn’t risk Harper hearing this part of the conversation.

“Approach everyone but at 737. I’ll handle that offer myself.”

After a few more instructions, Violet ended her call with Brian.

Noah had been flipping houses for years. She couldn’t wait to let him know that she wanted to buy this house for well above market value. Just another thing she’d forgotten about as soon as he’d made his appearance in her office last night.

But giving him a great price was the least she could do. He’d done so much for her sexually, emotionally. He’d been a friend when she didn’t even know she’d needed one.

She froze, replaying her thoughts in her head.

Noah had done so much for her in the few short weeks they’d known each other. Why shouldn’t she take the opportunity to keep it going?

She woke up her phone with a swipe across the screen and sent Noah a text.

Retirement party tomorrow night for my father. Will you be there?

She couldn’t exactly invite him as her date. Not technically. There was too much riding on her propriety right now. But she hoped that he’d read between the lines. At the very least, she hoped he’d understand her predicament and that this was her version of an olive branch. This was her way of saying yes to keeping their relationship going.

Chapter 23

Mrs. Walker had rented out a restaurant for her husband’s retirement party—one of the best steakhouses in the city. The really expensive kind where the menu was à la carte and you couldn’t buy a combination meal that included a salad and dessert. And by the looks of it, the head chef seemed to be a family friend. He’d been deep in conversation with Violet’s mother for almost thirty minutes now.

He’d been ecstatic when he’d received Violet’s text about the party. Although Noah knew deep down that Violet was his date, they had shown up separately. In fact, the party tonight was the first time he’d seen her since that night in her office when he’d rocked her socks off with a monster orgasm. Despite wanting desperately to spend time with her, he was happy for the space. He’d managed to make great progress with the renovations.

So far tonight, the only time they’d spoken was in a large group of upper management people that Lewis had wanted him to meet. He had to give Lewis credit. He was doing his best to get Noah’s name out there. Noah feared it would all be for nothing. His contract was only temporary, and he usually preferred to move on once his contract was complete rather than setting down roots.

Violet knew everyone in the room. That is, everyone wanted the chance to speak to her. She smiled brightly, engaging in conversation like a proper CEO, but he could tell she was uncomfortable. He finally spotted her alone at the bar. For the first time since he’d shown up, she wasn’t surrounded by a large group.

The woman he’d come to care for was now in charge of an entire company. Before the age of thirty. He’d be lying if he said it didn’t stir up his feelings of insecurity when it came to the opposite sex. Megan had done a number on him all those years ago, and the lingering effects of her careless disregard still haunted him.

Maybe Luke had been right. Maybe Violet was slumming.

He sidled up to her at the bar. Without even looking in his direction, her body responded. She went rigid and that sexy crimson color flooded her cheeks. After letting out a slow, but hard breath, she asked, “Are you having a good time?,” still not looking in his direction.

She had the most flawless profile, not one hard angle or blemish. He wanted to take his finger and trace every soft curve of her face. Preferably while she was naked.

“I’d be having a better time if we were alone.”

She smiled. He saw the side of her lips curl upward. “So would I,” she said, then took a sip of her white wine.

“Can I get you a drink, sir?” Noah nodded to the bartender. “I’ll have a gin and tonic, and another white wine for the lady.” He pointed at her drink.

The bartender nodded and walked away to get started on his order.

Violet stared ahead with a smirk, pretending as if they weren’t having a conversation.

“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”

She sucked in a breath.

“Correction. You look fucking sexy tonight.” He leaned closer, but had his head turned in the opposite direction, pretending to look at his shoe. “As soon as I saw you in that dress, I imagined it on the ground in my backyard.”

The dress was black and although it covered her body from neck to knee, it hugged her figure just like it should. Every move she made, that dress ebbed and flowed with her hips, her shoulders, and did he mention how smoking hot her ass looked? There were many times when he’d had to stop himself from walking across the room and smacking it.