Page 30 of Wallflower in Bloom

She’s not for manwhores like me. For someone allergic to relationships because he didn’t want to disappoint anyone.

She was a lovely girl who would be a nice fake girlfriend for the summer. He needed to ensure she got something out of it, too, but this could be the answer he needed.

The network would be happy, he’d be offered the lead in the Christmas special so his mother would finally be happy, his father would be desperately happy he had a girlfriend, and he might get to kiss Violet Parker again.

Win-win-win-win.

Though her face had turned a ghostly shade when Shay had mentioned going public. He pulled out his phone and texted Violet, hoping she was okay.

Jack

Thank you for saving my ass today. I’m sorry you got roped into all of this.

Talk when you get home?

Home, he thought. It did feel like home at Violet’s cottage, like he’d been transported to a magical bubble where nothing bad could happen.

He perused Violet’s bookshelf as he sipped his water, waiting for her reply. A series on her shelf caught his attention. It was a steamy romance series, Heat Red. Nearly every title on the bookshelf was a romance now that he thought about it.

In the first season of Beyond the Manor Walls, he’d started reading Regency romances during breaks to stay in character. Eventually, he found it an escape and developed a love for the genre. Though that was a secret he kept to himself.

He spotted a few erotic-looking romances with multiple men on the cover. Her copies looked well-worn, with cracked spines and dog-eared pages. He opened one to skim it.

…She sucked Jayden and Brent’s cocks while Gage railed into her from behind…

He choked on the water, spitting it out in surprise. “Holy fuck.”

He wiped his mouth as he skimmed the rest of the scene. One woman got very creative with five men and all their needs. He glanced up at the bookshelf. This book was the first in a ten-book series.

Innocent, sweet Violet had a naughty side?

Maybe she wasn’t quite as wholesome as he’d initially thought. Things were taking an interesting turn.

He checked the time; he should get ready to meet Gray for dinner. He was to be introduced to the wonder that was a bucket of fried chicken tonight.

His phone vibrated.

Violet

?? happy to help. cya later! ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??

God, she was like a sunbeam embodied.

On his way out of the room, Jack returned the book and glanced at a well-worn copy of a monster menage romance.

A very naughty sunbeam, apparently.

He suddenly couldn’t wait to talk with Violet later that night.

Chapter

Seven

VIOLET

Violet pushed the shovel down into Ms. McClotskey’s front yard as she tried to shove The Very Hot Kiss™ from her mind.

A half-dead lavender plant sat beside her, waiting to be replanted in a sunny spot. After the Library Committee had adjourned, Violet had decided today would be the perfect day to help her former teacher rescue the lavender plants dying in her shady side yard.

---