Naked (29 page)

She whimpered, downing the rest of her wine. “We’re at a retirement party for my father and you’re talking dirty?”

“I can’t help it. You’re the most beautiful woman in the room.” The bartender brought their drinks and he waited for him to leave before he continued, “No matter where we are, I can’t take my eyes off you.” This time he looked right at her, not caring about who might be watching their interaction. “And that’s a dangerous thing working in construction.”

“Violet.” Someone called her name from the other end of the bar.

She frowned in his direction, but then, like the proper CEO, she armed herself with a fake smile.

“I have to go.” She began to reach out and touch the hand he had resting on the bar, but she stopped herself. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

She walked away, leaving him to wonder if this would always be what it was like between them: him making an effort, and Violet leaving him in the dust.

He mixed and mingled for the next hour, always keeping one eye on Violet. He couldn’t help himself. Then finally, he found the one man he’d wanted to talk to all night by himself near the bar.

“Mr. Walker.” Noah held out his hand.

Ward shook it with hesitation, but he had the firmest handshake Noah had ever felt. It was just like his demeanor. Strong. Steady. Focused. You had to be in order to build a company like Walker Industries from the ground up.

“It’s great to see you again, sir. All the best in your new adventure as a retired person.”

His mother was entering the exact same phase. He couldn’t imagine thirty years from now. Where he’d be. What he’d be doing. There was only one thing he knew for certain—his family, Luke, and Harper would be there, no matter what.

“And what do you do?” Ward looked at him like he was a stranger.

“I’m the associate foreman, sir.” Ward looked confused. “I work under Lewis Bender?” His voice tilted up like it was a question. Like he was trying to prompt him to remember.

“Great man.” He clapped Noah on the shoulder. Ward’s arm was closer to his face, and he realized how expensive his suit was. The fabric looked soft enough to wrap a baby in. “You can learn a lot from him.”

This was officially the strangest conversation he’d ever had. He’d met Ward Walker at least ten times over the year that he’d worked at the company. They’d spoken about the project, sports, and the weather. But right now, it was as if Ward had never seen him before.

“Yes, thank you, sir.”

“Please, call me Ward.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “All this ‘sir’ business makes me feel old.”

At his action, Noah couldn’t help but think back to that night in Violet’s foyer. When he’d clasped
his
hands behind his back and she jerked him to—

Violet is his daughter. The man standing right in front of you.

“You
are
old, dear.” Violet’s mother came up behind Ward and held out her hand in greeting. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

She was correct. They hadn’t met yet.

“Noah Young.” Her hands were just as soft as Violet’s. The contrast between his skin and hers was immediately evident. She’d felt it, too, when she looked down and stopped the friendly shake of their hands.

“Yes.” A wave of relief washed over Ward’s face. “Noah.” As if a lightbulb went on in his head, he continued, “This young man can build a house with his bare hands.”

“Dear, why don’t you go and find Archibald Newton? He’s been wanting to speak to you all night.”

If he didn’t know better, Noah could have sworn he saw a flash of terror on Ward’s face. “Noah and I were just—”

“Ward, darling, go on.” She circled her palm on his back with a gentle caress. “Let me get to know Mr. Young.”

Noah’s stomach tightened. Why did this woman want to get to know him? All of a sudden the wife of the CEO—ex-CEO—was interested in what he had to say.

Did Violet tell her mother about their affair?

His suit suddenly became too hot, and he pulled at the neck, slipping his finger between his skin and the fabric, trying to give himself some air.

But it was no use.

Ward clapped him on the shoulder and with one sharp nod, walked away.

“Mr. Young.” She held out her arm as if expecting him to take it. “Why don’t you take me to the bar for a drink?”

He cleared his throat, his eyes searching as best he could for Violet to save him, but she was nowhere to be found.

There was something off about this situation.

“Of course.” He held out his arm, and Bridget Walker slipped her arm through his as they made their way to the bar. “Anything you like.”

“I
am
paying for it.”

This woman was nothing like her daughter. Violet had obviously taken after her father. He was warm, but a straight shooter. There was an iciness to Mrs. Walker. And he feared one wrong move and she’d freeze him out.

At the bar, he ordered her a white wine and himself another gin and tonic. He had a feeling he was going to need it.

“You know my daughter?” It was a question. He wasn’t sure how to respond. Was she pretending she didn’t know about them, or did she not know the truth?

In his experience, it was best to keep things close to the vest.

“We’ve met briefly, as I’m sure she’s met with all her employees since she’s been back.”

“I don’t pretend to understand why my daughter wants to run this company. Why she’d rather wear steel boots and cover her head with a hard hat instead of working somewhere that will appreciate her beauty.” She set the glass of wine down in front of her, and she pressed her fingers to the stem, twirling it against the bar. “The construction business is tough, especially for a woman.”

Her mother might not know it, but Violet didn’t need to be a man in order to be successful in this business. She needed to be fair, innovative, and trustworthy. And so far, from what he’d seen, she wasn’t going to have a problem running things.

Mrs. Walker patted the ends of her short, blond hair in a delicate gesture. “And my daughter doesn’t need any distractions.”

That heavy feeling in his stomach returned. He knew there was a point coming soon. But he’d play along.

“What kind of distractions are you talking about, Mrs. Walker?” He meant to only sip his drink, but ended up downing half the glass. Which she noticed.

“Why, you, Mr. Young.” For the first time, she looked him right in the eye. They were the same green as Violet’s, like the most brilliant emerald.

“I don’t know what you think you saw, but—”

“I know exactly what I saw. And I know her face. It’s the exact same face I’ve seen in the mirror for the last thirty-five years.” She turned and leveled him with a determined glare. “My family means everything to me and I will do everything in my power to keep them above water.”

She turned to face the crowd, her white wine long forgotten. “Everything I’ve done in my life has been to benefit my family. Every charity function, every gala, and every friend I’ve made. I thought Violet had her life all figured out, but fate has a way of ruining your best laid plans.” So Bridget Walker believed in fate. “Sometimes life takes the things you love most in the world and shits all over them.”

She was no longer talking about her daughter. That much was obvious by the way she tensed her fists and clenched her jaw, unlikely actions from such a poised and proper woman.

A soft laugh sounded in the distance, one that he recognized. He followed it and finally found Violet in the crowd. With a man.

He watched her, surprised at how animated she had become, especially in this setting. He wanted to pretend that only he had the ability to bring her out of her shell. But the more she laughed, the more she made eyes at the stranger.

Jealousy, strong and fierce, bubbled beneath his skin. It took everything he had not to rush over there and pull her away, claiming her in front of this entire room.

Look at him. Could he be any more like Prince Charming?

And she was smiling up at him. The same smile she’d given him so many times over the last few weeks. It just proved she was hiding much more than he’d thought.

“Please don’t think I’m trying to discourage you from working at Walker Industries, but my daughter can’t handle another scandal and an affair with an employee is not good for business.”

This entire conversation had not gone down as he’d expected. On the surface, it was reaffirming. Violet had no problem taking him at face value, for the man he was, for the man he’d always be. At least right now. But there was no doubt in his mind that eventually she’d get tired of playing with her employee and move on to greener, more prominent pastures.

But there was also something beneath the surface of this conversation. Disappointment and anger lurked in the cryptic warning he’d just received. This woman had desperation in her words. Couple that with Ward’s sudden exit from the company and he was positive there was more going on that most people in this room didn’t know about.

“You’re not exactly denying my assumption.” She had turned back and was once again sipping her wine.

“Whether it’s true or not is none of your business.” He straightened, clasping his hands behind his back. “And don’t worry, I won’t tell Violet about our little talk.”

With a nod of her wineglass, Mrs. Walker strode away, leaving him to contemplate her words.

She had just overstepped. In a big way. Although he should be offended, he respected her as a mother trying to do what’s best for her child. He recognized that. His mother had spent her life living by that code.

And Mrs. Walker was right.

Once he’d learned Violet’s true identity, he should have backed off. But he’d been selfish. Driven by his desire for her. Driven by something in his gut he just didn’t want to admit.

It was at this moment that he realized the gut feeling had everything to do with falling in love with her.

He watched her across the room. So beautiful. So strong and determined.

Fuck.
He did love her.

He looked around at the rest of the suits and ties, and it only confirmed that he didn’t belong here. A man with callused hands had no business mingling with executives, associate foreman title or not.

Soon enough his contract with Walker Industries would end, and he’d walk away, because that’s what he did. Just as Violet knew her place in the social hierarchy, he knew his future could only amount to a series of temporary distractions.

He’d broken his rule when he’d shown up in Violet’s office her first day back at work, seducing her into spending more time together. Their relationship, just like everything else in his life, was only meant to last a short time.

Violet was a strong woman and he had no doubt she would succeed in business. But he wasn’t going to be the one to distract her from achieving her goals or to have a hand in risking her reputation.

He knew what he had to do. He just didn’t know if he had the strength to let her go.

Chapter 24

A child fucking oncologist?

There had never been a more blatant display of matchmaking. Ever.

Violet’s mother was out of control. This was a retirement party. For her father. A man who’d worked in construction his whole life. And this guy, Patrick Wharton, didn’t belong here. Not one bit.

Because he was here just for her.

She smiled and did all the things she was supposed to, because that’s what you did. She didn’t have it in her to be rude, even though all Patrick did was ramble on about his work. About the little children. The sick little children that she was supposed to fall for. Yes, what he did was noble. He saved the lives of kids. But that didn’t mean he was her soulmate.

She noticed her father, visibly nervous, talking to Archibald Newton. She wanted to race over to him just in case he needed her.

This party had been a mistake. He’d been keeping a low profile for the last couple of weeks trying to minimize the potential for embarrassing himself in a large group of people, just in case he couldn’t remember someone’s name or the ending to an anecdote. But luckily enough of the board members were here that they’d act as a buffer if need be. They’d never betray his secret.

When she turned her attention back to Patrick he was still talking.

God, why hasn’t his hair moved? Is it permanently glued in place?

“I was very sorry to hear about your accident,” he said. Finally, words that had caught her attention. Unfortunately, they were the last words she’d wanted to hear.

His expression had turned serious. A far cry from the flirty half grin he’d been sporting since they’d been introduced. But what kind of impression would this be if he didn’t show every facet of his personality? From flirty to smart to compassionate. To ever-loving douche. Because there was no way she would ever go out with this guy.

As he continued to tell her how sorry he felt for her, the backs of his fingers brushed the side of her cheek. He was using pity to get a leg up. Probably a leg up and over her pelvis.

Gross.

She shrugged away from him, taking a step back, trying her best to be subtle. “Thank you. It was quite devastating.”

“I know all kinds of people in the medical community if you need to talk to someone or see someone about…” He flashed her a million-dollar smile, which was probably the amount of his salary. “Well, whatever.”

She froze. Bringing her hand casually up to curl a strand of hair around her ear, she took the opportunity to make sure the neck of her dress still covered her scars. It was still in place. She breathed out heavily.

What the hell did he know?

“I’m perfectly fine, thank you. That won’t be necessary.”

He looked put out. Like his offer was the best one she’d ever get and she wasn’t interested. “I’m just saying you should have someone look at your scars. The things modern medicine is capable of these days are mind-blowing.”

“How do you know about…?” Her hand covered her neck. She was grabbing on so hard she feared she’d choke herself, but it was the only thing she had to hold on to, the only thing keeping her standing straight.