Page 67 of One of Six

"I wonder what will happen to Lincoln Construction if Richard is arrested? My dad won't have a job."

"A lot of people work for them. Most of them are just regular guys who need a paycheck to live. I wonder if David knows anything about construction?"

Violet snorts. "You'll have to deal with it."

"No!" I shoot into a sitting position. "I don't know the first thing about it... There's always the possibility it could be shut down if Richard used the business for illegal purposes."

"I wonder what my father will do. I hope he doesn't insist on moving."

"We'll get a place together before that happens," I say. "You can't say anything to your parents' Violet. Your dad will go straight to mine and tell him what's going on."

"My lips are sealed." Her stomach grumbles loudly. "Do you think we can make breakfast? I'm hungry."

She looks at the clock, it's almost eight. "Evelyn's in the kitchen." I roll to my feet and stretch, my body aching in places I'm not used to. Essex knows what to do with the beast he hides in his jeans. Just the thought of it brings a blush to my cheeks.

Violet shakes her head of bouncing curls. "Stop thinking about sex when I'm not getting any." She pouts.

"He's really hot, Violet." I link arms with my friend and continue, "He's got a nice,” I whisper, “penis, and he knows what to do with it. His tongue is just as deadly. I can still feel it between my legs."

"You really need to shut up!" She huffs and walks ahead of me.

I grin and follow her into the kitchen. My eyes struggle to take in what I'm seeing—David and Evelyn are sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee. I clear my throat and push Violet into a chair. "Uncle David, Evelyn, what a surprise."

David snorts. "Considering the night we had, did you really not expect me to come check on you?"

"I'll start breakfast." Evelyn gets busy in the kitchen.

"Are you eating with us?" I ask.

Evelyn stops what she's doing, and David looks just as surprised by my question. To Evelyn: "Um, I don't suppose we could have bacon and eggs with pancakes today, since David is here?”

She rolls her eyes. "Of course... And while everyone's eating, you can tell me what's going on, because I feel like I've woken up in an alternate universe."

She turns back to the task at hand while I catch David's eyes. He shakes his head gently. "Evelyn, we can't tell you anything. Safer that way... Don't let anyone know I was here for breakfast."

Frowning, Evelyn nods.

Violet suddenly shifts her seat so that she's next to David. He looks at her with a raised eyebrow.

I slurp the coffee that Evelyn hands me while keeping an eye on Violet, because I just know from the way she's watching David that she's up to something.

"Violet, drink the coffee in front of you."

"Thank you, Evelyn.” Violet looks back at David, "you're much more attractive now." Violet smiles. "I don't suppose..."

"No! Violet, leave Uncle David alone, please."

"You told me not to flirt with, well, you know who, so I figured, David's hot and single, so why not him?"

David blushes as he shakes his head and takes a sip of coffee.

"Young lady," Evelyn snaps. "Mind your manners." She pushes plates of food onto the table. "David's way too old for you. Flirt with boys your own age."

I cringe at the anger I sense in Evelyn at Violet's teasing. The woman helped raise me, and looking at her now, she's different in some way.

Violet blushes and David gives Evelyn a dark look. He slowly puts down his cup and stands. "No need to get mad at the girl. It's a bit of harmless teasing... Besides, I'm not that old." He winks at Violet and leaves through the back door.

As soon as he's gone, Evelyn drops into a seat. "You want to tell me what's going on?" Her eyes go to the door. "I don't think I've ever seen David so relaxed."

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