Page 29 of Always a Bridesmaid
Violet and Ford rallied the pawed troops and walked the way they’d come, the sound of leaves and sticks crunching underneath their feet the only sound. When Distracto refused to keep pace or focus, Violet picked him up and carried him.
Ford didn’t comment, so either he was okay with it or he now believed she was a wishy-washy mess. Honestly, she was beginning to wonder herself.
After her nasty breakup, she’d declared she was done with men. For six months, she’d never once been tempted to cross the line. Then, after a mingy hour with a guy whowasn’t even her type, she’d almost thrown herself at him.
The guy was dangerous on too many levels, and Violet worked to remain calm while plotting her escape. She still didn’t want him to think she was a flighty disaster, so that took away fleeing the scene as a valid option.
Once they returned to Ford’s house, Violet plopped Distracto in one of the puppy beds. He tucked his nose into the soft fabric, and his brother and sister joined him. She air kissed them and gave Pyro a last pat, mentally preparing a quick, efficient goodbye.
“So anyway,” she started as Ford said, “Well, what do you—” He paused and made ago aheadgesture. “Sorry, you go first.”
“I was about to say that I should get going.” She started for the door. “But thanks for the puppy time and the save in the bakery. I appreciate it.”
“What about the other part of our deal?” Ford took a step in her direction, and she took a step backward. The spot between his eyebrows crinkled. He closed the distance she’d created, prompting her to repeat her previous motion. “The part where you help me name the puppies.”
“Oh. That. Yeah.” Her feet kept propelling her backward, but she rammed her butt into the gold handle. She automatically frowned at it. “Whoa. I just went to first base with your doorknob.”
“Lucky doorknob,” Ford said, and a flurried pitter-patter tapped its way through her.
“Anyway, so, yeah. Goodbye.” She spun and twisted the door handle. Added a wiggle and a yank, but the door didn’t budge.
Her heart thrashed as a sense of urgency short-circuited her system. She was alone with a charming guy and his adorable dogs, and if she didn’t hurry and get out of here, she might forget she’d sworn off men. She refused to go through the pain again. It hurt too bad. Left her too wrecked.
Violet double-checked the knob wasn’t locked, turning it one way and then the other and tugging and tugging.
“Here, let me get it.” Ford’s voice unbalanced her further, and she forced her gaze to remain on the gold knob. What the hell was wrong with her? Besides the flirty door remark, which seemed more teasing than real, it wasn’t like he was hitting on her.
She jerked on the doorknob like she was in a horror movie and the killer was coming for her.
“Violet,” Ford said in a calm voice. “I’m trying to help you, but you’re in the way. Why are you acting like you’re afraid of me? Did I do something that scared you? If so, that wasn’t my intention, and the thing about the doorknob was just a jo—”
“I’m not scared of you. I just need to get to the bakery, but the door won’t let me go, and I’m worried about how long I’ve been gone. That’s all.”
His arm snaked around her, he gripped the knob, and then he pushed instead of pulled.
Like magic—or engineering, as it were—the door opened, letting her out and a fresh breeze of air in.
“Thanks,” she called, bolting down the porch stairs. She hit the sidewalk and saw his truck. Her lungs tightened, as did her skin.
With a sheepish grin, she glanced over her shoulder to where Ford took up the entire doorway. He casually leaned a hip on the frame and studied her as if she’d lost her mind.
So much for convincing him she wasn’t dramatic or flighty.
“Guessin’ you just realized I drove you here,” he said.
“Uh. Yeah.” She went fishing for the phone in her pocket. “But it’s okay. I’ll call an Uber and be out of your hair in no time.” She tapped the app, which took an eternity and a half to open.
“Hate to break it to you, but we’re short on Uber here. Short on taxis. You can order one, but it’ll take a good thirty minutes to show. It’ll be faster for me to take you into town. Unless you’re scared of me. Then I’ll find you another ride.”
Why did he have to be so nice about it? It only made her feel more absurd. Self-preservation was important, though. Then again, now that she’d calmed down, she could admit that she’d overreacted.
To herself, anyway.
She bounced on the balls of her feet, in severe need of expending the anxious energy coursing through her. “If you wouldn’t mind driving me back, I’d appreciate it.”
And if she could get her hands on a Time-Turner so she could undo her panicky freak-out, she’d appreciate that even more.
…
