Page 34 of Everlasting Love

Violet places her hand on my forearm, setting my skin ablaze through my shirt. I swear I feel every cell beneath her touchcome alive.Remember, she’s too good for you.“It was nothing bad. She wanted to talk with me about speaking with the kids about our native plants, and how important they are. Jasmine has been telling her classmates about my job and how important it is to look after our environment.” She chuckles. “Apparently, she was telling the kids that she wants to be the Lorax and speak for the trees.”

My eyebrows rise in surprise. I can’t believe the book I bought for her when Cass was in the hospital has had such an impact. “Well, if anyone can convince people to look after their environment, it would be Jas. She can be very convincing.” It must be a genetic thing because both she and Poppy seem to be able to persuade anyone to do their bidding. Even Toby and Cassia’s daughter, Daisy, has everyone wrapped around her finger and she’s only just over a year old.

Vi nods. “I know, right? Anyway, I’ll be spending some of my day off next week speaking with a bunch of five-year-olds about caring for our environment and why it’s so important.”

“That’s great. Do you do that sort of thing very often?”

She swallows a bite of food and I watch her throat bob up and down. My dick starts to thicken in my pants and I snap my eyes away from her to my plate, scooping up a fork of pasta. “Not in classrooms, but I often speak with school groups when they visit the park. I don’t mind doing it because education is important if our native flora and fauna are to thrive but it’s not my favorite part of the job.”

“What is your favorite part of the job?”

Her eyes sparkle and her energy shifts. “My favorite part is just being able to spend my days outdoors in nature and get paid for it.” She chuckles. “Some days, I have to pinch myself when I stop and look at the beauty around me. But the parts that I adore are monitoring and maintaining the habitat and knowing that I’m protecting our native flora and fauna. So many people don’teven know which species are native and which are invasive or the negative impact invasive species have on our environment.” She swipes her hair back over her shoulder. “Sorry, I’m sure you’re not interested in hearing all that.”

I sip my wine. “On the contrary. I love that you’re passionate about what you do. The way you light up when you talk about your work or Jasmine is beautiful. Too many people work in jobs they’re not happy with.” Like my father.

A flush stains her cheeks, and she drops her eyes away from me. “Thanks.”

We eat for a while, our elbows touching occasionally. My leg seems to have a mind of its own, moving closer to Violet until my thigh is touching her knee, and I’d love to drop my hand beneath the table and squeeze the toned muscle of her leg. I guess all the hiking she does keeps her pretty fit.

Kate and Cassia talk about last-minute preparations for Saturday, while Oliver talks to Toby about their honeymoon in Disneyland with the girls.

We finish eating and I shift in my seat to get more comfortable with a stomach full of rich food. I notice Violet sliding her hand back and forth across her stomach. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just too full. The food was so delicious and I was a little greedy. Sometimes I have no self-control.” She titters.

“Same. I couldn’t resist having a little of everything.”

She nudges my arm with her shoulder. “It’s okay for you though. You probably have a great metabolism and burn off the extra calories quickly. All of that pasta and rich sauce will attach itself to my ass and thighs and probably never leave.”

“I don’t see a problem with that.”

“Of course you wouldn’t. It’s not your ass or thighs,” she shoots back. “Guys are lucky. They’re not judged as harshly as women if they put on a little weight. In fact, the dad bod has become quite popular. Not that you would ever have to worryabout that.” My light mood falls away. I know I’m not dad material and never will be, I don’t need the reminder. I sip my wine and shift in my seat, breaking contact with Vi. She drops her hand to my forearm and I want to pull away. “Are you okay?”

I take another, longer drink, of my wine and respond without looking at her. “Yeah.”

Her hand squeezes my arm. “Are you sure? You seem upset.”

I make the mistake of looking at her. The creases between her arched eyebrows and the way she’s studying me like an insect under the microscope make my skin itch. I put that look on her face and it makes me feel like shit. I soften my posture and smile at her in reassurance. “I’m sure. Promise.”

Her features relax and she returns my smile. That simple action makes my sour mood disappear, and I force the negative thoughts from my mind. Cristo brings out two platters full of delicious Greek desserts along with coffee for everyone. When I notice that Vi isn’t drinking hers, I remember that she prefers to drink tea.

I stand, excusing myself from the table, “I’ll be back in a minute.” Heading toward the bar, Cristo notices me and heads straight over.

“Is everything okay? Do you need something?” he asks.

“Uh, yeah. Violet doesn’t drink coffee, only tea. Can I please order a pot for her?”

Cristo smiles. “Sure. Sure. I’ll arrange a pot of tea and bring it straight to the table.”

“Thanks. Dinner’s been great, and I can’t wait to start dessert.” I dig into my pocket. “Can I pay now?” I figure it can be my wedding gift to them.

He laughs. “No. This is my gift to Cassia and Toby.” He winks. “You’d better get back before Toby and Oliver eat all of the desserts.” Damn. Now I’ll need to think of something else to get them as a gift.

I pat him on the shoulder and return to the table. Someone’s put a plate at my place with a variety of treats. “I didn’t want you to miss out. Toby’s already on his second plate,” Violet tells me.

I glance at Toby who’s reaching across for another ball sprinkled with crushed nuts. “You wanna leave some for the rest of us, man?”

He pops it in his mouth and chews, gesturing toward the plate. “You snooze, you lose.”

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