Page 17 of My Hired Valentine

I reach into my pocket and pull out my keys, holding them up. "Get in the car."

Her brow furrows. "What?"

"We’re going to my place," I say, my voice steady. "We’re going to talk. No more running, Violet. No more hiding. Whatever you’re scared of, we’ll face it. Together."

She hesitates, her eyes searching mine for something—a sign, a promise. Whatever it is, I hope she finds it.

"Dex…"

"Trust me," I say, my voice softening. "Please."

She takes a shaky breath and nods, her resolve crumbling. "Okay."

I open the passenger’s door for her, and as she slides in, I know one thing for certain: this fight isn’t over. But now, I’m not fighting alone.

CHAPTER 17

Violet

Dex’s coat is heavy on my shoulders, and its warmth wraps around me like a shield, chasing away the lingering chill of being in Harris’ company. I sit quietly in the passenger seat of his Jeep, staring at my hands as Dex drives through the quiet streets. The hum of the engine fills the silence between us, but it’s not uncomfortable—not yet. It’s a holding pattern.

I feel like I’m teetering on the edge of something—a confession, a breakdown, maybe both.

My fingers tighten around the lapel of his coat, pulling it closer. It smells like him—clean, masculine, steady. And that’s exactly what he’s been tonight. Steady. I don’t know how he knew I needed it, but the moment he shrugged it off and slipped it over my shoulders, I felt something inside me crack. It was as if he’d erased Harris’s claim on me with one small gesture.

“You okay?” Dex’s voice is soft, filled with care.

“No,” I whisper, unable to lie. My throat feels tight, and I blink back the tears threatening to spill again.

Dex glances at me, his hands steady on the wheel. “We’ll talk when we get back to my place. You don’t have to carry this alone, Violet. Whatever it is… I’m here now.”

My chest aches at his words.You don’t have to carry this alone.I’ve been carrying so much for so long that I’d forgotten what it feels like to have someone share the weight. But can I really tell him? Can I trust him to understand?

The thought of Harris’s smug face flashes through my mind, his hand on my knee, his threats laced with casual cruelty. My stomach turns. I grip Dex’s coat tighter.

By the time we pull into his driveway, my nerves are frayed, and my pulse is racing. The soft glow of lights from inside his house feels strangely welcoming, like a beacon calling me out of the storm I’ve been caught in.

Dex parks and cuts the engine. For a moment, neither of us moves. Then, he turns to me, his dark eyes searching mine. “Ready?”

I nod, even though I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for this conversation. Still, I let him help me out of the Jeep, and he keeps his hand on the small of my back as we walk inside.

“Sit,” Dex says softly, gesturing to the couch. “I’ll get you some water.”

I sink onto the cushions, Dex’s coat still wrapped around me like armor. I hear him in the kitchen, the clink of a glass against the counter, the quiet whoosh of the faucet. He’s calm. Steady. And I’m falling apart.

He returns a moment later, handing me the glass of water before sitting down beside me. Not too close, but close enough that I can feel his presence—solid and real. I take a sip of water, my hands trembling around the glass.

“Violet,” he says gently. “Talk to me. What’s going on? What did Harris say to you? Did he hurt you? Threaten you?”

The tears I’ve been holding back finally spill over, sliding hot and fast down my cheeks. Dex doesn’t move to touch me, but I can feel his concern like a weight pressing against me.

“He…” I choke on the words and have to start again. “He threatened you, Dex.”

His brow furrows and his jaw tightens. “Threatenedme? How?”

I set the glass down on the coffee table, my hands shaking. I can’t look at him when I say it. “He said he’d sue you. For bruising his ribs when you saved his life. He said he’d drag you through court, destroy your career, ruin you financially. All of it.”

I hear Dex inhale sharply, but he doesn’t interrupt. I force myself to continue.

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