Page 33 of Wallflower
“Courtney. Hello. How are you?”
A surge of protectiveness swells behind my ribs and I cross my arms over my chest, not trying to hide the fact I’m watching to see what happens next.
Violet’s gaze flickers my way before she drops her eyes to the floor. “No, I haven’t checked my email yet this morning.”
She licks her lips as she takes in whatever Courtney is saying on the other end of the line. It’s Saturday morning. Why the hell is her boss calling her outside of office hours?
“Mm-hm.” Violet nods slowly. “Yes, I understand.”
Her throat works again, and she wraps an arm around her middle before turning away from me, and something doesn’t feel right. I move around to the other side of the island to get a clear view of her face, and she spares me a quick look that gives nothing away.
She probably wants me to leave, and I almost do. Except I can’t.
“I know,” she says into the phone. “I’ll work on it. It won’t happen again.”
Violet glances at me again, a look that lingers this time, and there’s no misreading what’s in those big brown eyes now. Powerlessness.
I hold out my hand, palm up, but when she only stares at it, I pluck the phone from her fingers and press it to my ear.
“Courtney? This is Chord Davenport.”
“Oh.” I hear the way she shifts her attitude. “Hello, Chord. How are you?”
“Fine, but there’s a problem here.”
“I understand.” The restrained triumph in her voice makes me clench my jaw. “Violet will return to her role here first thing Monday morning, and we can arrange a replacement—”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
Violet watches with astonishment, her palms pressed together against her mouth, and here I am, wanting to smile again.
“Well…” Courtney falters. “What do you mean?”
“When I asked for an assistant, I expected that person to work for me and only me. Twenty-four-seven. I didn’t expect her to perform two full-time roles or split her focus in a way that makes it impossible to do either job well. That stops today. From now until October, Violet is no longer available outside of her duties here as my assistant. If required, I’ll pay her salary so you can hire a replacement to cover the gap that leaves in your marketing team.”
Silence. And it feels good.
“I’m glad we had this little talk,” I add. “Have a good day, Miss Reynolds.”
I end the call and offer the phone to Violet. She takes it with an uncertain hand, and the amazement on her face feels fucking fantastic.
“You didn’t… I mean, I can’t believe you…” A disbelieving chuckle erupts from somewhere deep in her chest, and I’m living for the sound. “Courtney won’t like this.”
“And I couldn’t care less.”
I turn away and take my seat at the dining table to finish my half-eaten breakfast. Violet gives another amazed laugh, then starts to leave the room. I stop her before she goes, unable to resist the chance to make her smile one more time.
“Take the rest of the day off, Wallflower, because starting tomorrow, you’re all mine.”
Violet’s cheeks flame the prettiest shade of pink, and the color does things to me. Things that heat my blood and make my heart race faster than it does on the ice. Things I want to feel over and over. A high I’m going to crave all summer long.
sixteen
Violet
DAY 12 AT SILVER LEAF... ONLY 74 TO GO
I sit at thetable on the back porch with my open laptop and an iced tea, for all intents and purposes, enjoying the sunshine while working on something for Chord because, apparently, that’s my entire job now. But that’s not the whole truth. I’m out here instead of in the home office because Chord is fixing the fences again, and this is the spot with the best view.
