Page 90 of Always a Bridesmaid
Lexi’s gaze clamped on to his, steady and inescapable and stirring up a whole tornado of emotions. “All I’m saying is that she’s had enough of false promises. So, until you’re sure you’re ready to follow through… Just be careful. For both your sakes.”
Ford glanced at Addie, waiting for her to chime in with her two cents. Needing it, really.
“You deserve to be happy and to experience life,” Addie said. “Decide what you want, and then go after it. That’s my advice.”
What he wanted…?
He’d always had a long list growing up. Each item involved adventure and adrenaline because they overpowered his worries and kept bad memories shoved to the background.
Eventually he’d realized he could use his adventurous nature to help people. To rush toward danger. To help instead of run away. To prove to himself that he could be good and create a different life, no matter where he came from.
And that had become all he wanted. Adventure, training dogs, and a life without complications. Particularly a life without screaming matches where people spewed hateful words and walked away after destroying each other.
At some point between seeing Violet in that kitchen, smoke barreling from the oven, and now, she’d moved to the top of the list of things he wanted.
But if even his close friends thought he was going to hurt her… What if they were right?
And what if he went all in and ended up losing everything?
Chapter Twenty
The bottle of beer Violet downed while talking to Tucker, Will, and Easton wasn’t enough to prevent her anxiety from spiraling out of control.
What had Lexi and Addie talked to Ford about?
He’d shrugged it off with a mutter about wedding stuff, but the mood had drastically shifted, the easygoing guy from earlier replaced with a stoic version. Still handsome and rugged and able to set her afire with one simple glance, but he felt far away.
Why does everything feel off?
Is he going to dump me? Why would he take me to meet his friends and then dump me?
Unless they didn’t like me. But they were so nice, not to mention straightforward enough that surely I’d notice.
After she sorted her fears and concentrated on Ford, though, the repeated raking of his fingers through his hair and gripping the steering wheel seemed more like stress.
While Violet couldn’t do much about the emotional distance, she could eradicate the physical space. Her heart beat at a hammering, punishing pace at the idea of putting herself out there.
Either she could drive herself mad or attempt to provide an anchor for whatever storm was raging inside Ford’s head.
The unclicking of her seat belt sounded loud in the quiet. She slid across the cab of the truck, watching Ford’s profile.
A muscle in his jaw ticked.
And Violet kept on scooting until she was plastered against his side. “There,” she said. “That’s better.”
Give me a sign. Something to go on. Anything…
Ford wrapped his hand around her thigh. The muscles in his shoulders and neck loosened as he slowed for a stop sign. Then he planted a quick kiss on her temple. “So much better.”
Violet clamped on to the bone he’d thrown her as ferociously as Trouble would. Speaking of, she missed the furball who loved her exactly as she was.
Headlights flashed behind them, and Ford glanced in the rearview mirror. “Want me to take you home? I’m working through some shit in my head right now, and it’s making me grumpy. I don’t want you to catch the brunt of it.”
“What if I’m willing to catch it? Or…” she said, afraid she was being too bold but not wanting to wonderwhat if. “We can head to your place and see if I can make the grumpy go away…”
Violet could do without the raw sensation overtaking her chest, but she told herself giving love a shot was worth it. While hoping she wasn’t repeating past mistakes. “Besides, I miss my puppy. Each day I go without a slobbery greeting, this little hollow spot forms in my chest.”
“You’re getting too attached to a puppy that’s not yours. It’s not even mine.”
