Page 38 of Wallflower in Bloom

“I assure you, as someone who professionally escapes into other personalities, being unapologetically yourself is brave. You’ve been brave this whole time. You just need a little help being the center of attention.”

“I never thought about it like that.” Violet bit her lip, and he desperately wanted to bite it too.

“We need to go on public outings to sell the relationship.” He leaned on the counter. “Maybe take a few more photos and post them on social media.”

“It’s not a burden to fake date the star of my favorite TV show.” She blushed and looked away as she said it, unwilling to make eye contact with him.

“Favorite show?” He laughed, poking her in the ribs. His finger came into contact with a firm barrier under her oversized fuzzy pajamas.

Almost like corset boning.

He didn’t say anything, though, not wanting to embarrass her further.

“I was thinking you could help me be bolder. Help me get more comfortable with people looking at me. So I can make it through a client pitch for Bloom.” She sent him a wobbly smile as she sipped her tea.

“You should know it’s not a hardship to look at you, Violet. But I’d be happy to help you get over your stage fright.”

However, he needed to establish boundaries, or whatever was building inside him would get even harder to handle.

“What are you comfortable with? Was what I did outside the restaurant today okay?”

She sucked in a large breath and nodded enthusiastically.

He swallowed a smile. Fucking adorable. “Okay. So, we’re okay to kiss? What about touching, like when I put my arm around you and squeezed you to me?”

She nodded, eyes trained on her slippers. “Yep. For the record, you can do pretty much anything you want to me that won’t get us thrown in jail.”

Her eyes shot back to his briefly before looking away with a smile.

Fuck yes.

Jack put out his hand to shake. “We’ll fake date until I go back to filming at the end of August, and I’ll help you get more comfortable talking in front of people. Deal?”

His heart was in his throat as Violet considered his offer.

Finally, she stuck out her small, firm hand and shook it vigorously. “Deal.”

A grateful whoosh of air escaped him, and he pulled up his phone. “Shay will have a cow from happiness.”

Jack

Photos are fine. We can’t wait to show the internet our love.

PR Goddess

Hell yeah! I’ll see if Gray can shoot it.

Tell Violet I’ll be at her house in two days.

And that I plan to burn all her other clothes.

Luckily, Jack had filled Gray in about the fake dating scheme during dinner. He wasn’t too thrilled, but he made Jack promise within an inch of his life to treat Violet like an absolute fucking queen.

Jack

Spare no expense. Whatever you think she’d look great in, order it on me.

And be. nice.

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