Page 48 of Wallflower in Bloom

“Happy to redo them when you’re ready.”

How could she handle six more weeks of this?

Twenty minutes later, they parked outside the cozy Italian bistro. Vichetti’s had Edison light bulbs strung out front, and pretty plants with twisted old vines decorated the entrance.

Jack grasped her hand and led her to the front door. Violet tried to put on a brave face, but her breath came quicker and quicker as they got close.

A panicked heartbeat thrummed inside of her. She was going to walk in, and all those people would turn and stare at her. They’d look at her and think she was ridiculous.

“Hey now,” Jack said, registering the look on her face. He squeezed her hand. “It’s going to be fine. You look gorgeous. I look barely good enough to be with you.” He pulled a face to make her laugh. “Just think, what would Shay do?”

What would Shay do?

“She’d stroll in, acting like she owns the place.”

“Rightfully so,” he said. “Order the most expensive thing on the menu.”

Shay’s voice echoed in Violet’s head. The world deserves every inch of you. Violet threw her shoulders back and nodded nervously to Jack.

“Let’s do it.”

“All right, Monstera. Let’s go kill them with sexy confidence.” Jack opened the door for her, and they walked into the cozy Italian restaurant.

Heads turned as they stood in the entrance.

They’re staring at Jack. They’re just staring at Jack, she told herself over and over.

Jack leaned to whisper in her ear, “Giggle as if I made a joke.” Violet did a passable fake chuckle. “And remember, if people are staring, they’re just wishing they could bend you over a table in that skirt and do everything I’ve been picturing.”

Violet whipped her head around to him with surprise.

“Table for two,” Jack said louder to the hostess, putting his hand on the small of Violet’s back.

She gripped his hand like a lifeline as they walked to the table, his words still tumbling around and around her brain on spin cycle.

“Here’s the table you requested, Mr. Grant.” The perky hostess pointed to the table in the corner. It was private, but one chair was still visible to the restaurant. Jack led Violet’s hand to a seat covered by a half wall and took the more visible seat.

“Was this Shay’s doing?” Violet asked as they looked at the menus.

“I did recon beforehand. This was the best table for people to gawk at me without making you uncomfortable.”

He perused the menu after saying the most earth-shattering thing as if it was nothing.

He planned. He thought of her.

This was a stark contrast to her last date ten months ago. Her date had been along for the ride and made her feel like she was lucky to even be asked out, like usual.

The phrase if he wanted to, he would echoed through her head.

Violet’s heartbeat was back to normal after everyone had stared at her.

She’d done it.

That was a win, right? She stared at the center of the table, gathering her wits.

“Hey,” Jack said, quietly reaching for her hand. “You did great, okay? We’ll have a nice meal and bottle of wine; I can already see people holding their phones now.” Violet peeked around the half wall and saw several people aiming their phones at Jack’s profile.

“How did you…?”

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