Chapter Twenty-Three
THE NEXT WEEK went by so quickly. Violet could hardly believe that tomorrow Joel and Missy would be tying the knot...and she hadn’t given either of them another thought in the meantime.
Violet was more excited about the Fright Fest party that evening. Ryder was taking her. It was officially their first date and Violet felt as eager as a teenager on prom night...only it was just past lunch and there were still hours to wait.
She had even talked Emma, Izzy and Kate into hitting the costume shop in town, as if their extensive accumulation of Halloween costumes over the years hadn’t been enough to choose from. Violet had wanted something new, something for just her and Ryder. Plus, convincing the girls hadn’t been hard and they’d made a fun afternoon of it, meeting up with Kate’s sisters Sydney and Peyton. Aside from one Izzy-round of, your sister sucks, referring to Abby and directed at the McAdams, Izzy had behaved. And Violet got something extra special for the evening. Sophia and Parker were spending the night at Eliza and Carl’s and there would be no sneaking around.
After finally talking to Joel, and thanks to her good fortune, they were on the same page in regards to the kids. Violet and Joel had sat down with Parker and Sophia and together worked through some of the underlying feelings the kids were having. The smiles it left on their heavy hearts was a relief to Violet.
When Joel spontaneously decided to take them for the weekend, Violet was secretly excited at the opening to go on her first date with Ryder. The kids hadn’t been so excited. Violet’s weekend had been booked solid with weddings in each ballroom, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Plus, there had been two tent weddings at the beach. The mass amount of demands required Emma to step in and help, which alternatively gave Violet the opportunity to ask her to fill in on the Bensen wedding. Emma did so gladly.
“I didn’t mean to just drop by,” Ryder said, when Sophia and Parker disappeared down the hall. After having lunch together, the four of them, in Violet’s suite, the kids took their dessert to the toy room. Violet would have been more concerned and strict had she not been eager to curl up on the couch with Ryder.
“You mentioned they were going to the Fright Fest events this morning, and since you had the day off...I didn’t think they were home. I should have called,” Ryder said.
Violet was glad he dropped by. They were being cautious around the kids. They might have jumped into their relationship fast and it felt amazing, but this was new to Parker and Sophia.
As much as Violet wanted Ryder over every second she wasn’t at work, it wasn’t realistic...not yet. She was glad he understood, but she wasn’t surprised. Ryder’s thoughts automatically revolved around family. Sophia and Parker were Violet’s family, and they were always included in Ryder’s thoughts. Just like his current apology.
“Ryder, if you never come over when they’re home or awake...” Violet grinned at him and watched his shoulders drop from their tense position. “They will never get used to having you around,” she told him.
Even though Ryder had been avoiding spending his days and early evenings with Violet, when the kids were tucked in bed for the night, Violet let Ryder in through the poolroom. With the curtains drawn in the living room, and neither kids bedrooms being on that side of the house, they easily snuck right in through the french doors of her bedroom. Ryder wasn’t tip-toeing around her suite, with access to a bathroom, he stayed all night and when the sun still hadn’t risen, he snuck out the way he came and the kids were oblivious.
“I know. I just don’t want to overstep my boundaries.” Overstep? This was the first time, since the supper the evening they spent in the silver ballroom that he’d seen the kids.
“You are not overstepping. I’m so glad you came over today.” She kissed his lips gently and he stiffened until she moved back.
Violet grinned at his caution. Ryder didn’t notice her grin as he glanced over his shoulder toward the hallway to make sure they were alone. He was nervous and it was adorable. She was glad his stress was due to the children catching them together instead of being about Joel. When she’d thought he would never step foot in her suite again, regardless of his promise that she not worry about him, she’d been relieved to find out, he wasn’t only talk, and had made the effort. Now she couldn’t imagine spending one night in her bedroom without him.
“The kids really do enjoy your company.” Maybe not as much as her, but they were being wonderfully supportive about Ryder being part of their lives.
Ryder stretched his arm across the back of the couch, and Violet took the opening to scoot in against him, bringing her plate of dessert with her. Although he tensed at the closeness, he reached down and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you. I don’t want to rush them.”
Violet scooped a forkful of apple pie and ice cream saying, “I don’t think you coming over once a week is rushing it, and maybe you should start coming over a few times a week.”
Violet bit the deliciousness that Kate had dropped off the night before. It was another treat from Mrs. Calvert’s bakery. If Violet was as close friends with the older lady as Kate was, she’d have a whole extra behind for Ryder to grab. The thought wasn’t that appealing.
“We’ve only been seeing each other officially for a week,” Ryder pointed out. “I don’t want them thinking I am honing in on their territory or trying to steal their mother, or...” He lowered his voice and glanced over his shoulder whispering, “Trying to take Joel’s place.”
Violet feigned worry, pushing off his chest and twisting to look at him. “Are you using the children as pawns, because you are having second thoughts about dating me? It’s my snoring isn’t it? I know. I’m a loud snorer,” she teased and shrugged. “I don’t know where I get it from.”
Ryder smiled shaking his head.
Violet wasn’t a loud snorer, but she liked it when he looked at her like she was being ridiculously cute.
“It’s the snoring,” he agreed. “I haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep since I started spending the night here.”
Violet set her bowl on the coffee table, legs folded underneath her she leaned toward Ryder whispering in her bedroom voice, “It’s not my snoring that’s keeping you awake.”
Ryder’s body stiffened. She loved that she knew what was coming next and she was going to push him to his limit anyway.
He whispered, “Your kids are down the hall.” There it was.
Violet touched the top of his thigh and felt his muscles tense beneath her.
“Violet...” The low moan of his voice was intoxicating. If the kids weren’t down the hall, she would certainly drag him down there. Unfortunately, they were and that left them with not much else they could do.
“One kiss,” she begged and teased at the same time.
As her hand moved up toward the bulge in his jeans he caught it. “You’re torture.”
“Sweet torture.” Violet licked his chin to his bottom lip and took the wonderful thick padding between her teeth, sucking and tugging. When she couldn’t handle her own sweet torture, she kissed him. Her body moved without permission, lifting her onto her knees so her body was above him, pressing her hand onto his thigh, hard with all her weight.
He wasn’t as much of an objector as he liked to believe. His head moved up with hers and his free hand gripped her neck, pulling her mouth down harder against his. The kiss couldn’t last long or extend to anything more.
Violet wanted to give into her body, pleading her to press the thin material of her dress against him and straddle him so her arms could snake around his neck and she could push her wet panties against his bulge. The whole notion had her wishing maybe she hadn’t initiated this kiss. This wonderful, intoxicating−
“No! Parker! Mom!”
Violet jumped away from Ryder so fast her neck cracked and pain flared up her back. She ignored it, searching for sight of her kids, only to find Ryder’s horrified face doing the same. There were no children.
r /> Violet let out a breath as she realized the voice came from the toy room. How the joke was on her.
Sophia screamed for Violet again in a sound of anger and horror, but not pain. They weren’t hurt...except Violet’s neck.
Violet smiled at Ryder.
He did not smile back and that made her give into a fit of hysterical laughter.
“It’s not funny,” he growled, standing up and pulling the tightness in his pants. When he caught her watching, he murmured a string of curses.
Violet’s heart was only beginning to settle down. “I don’t think I can handle that again,” she said putting her hand over her pounding heart.
That made him smirk...a little. “Oh it’s not so funny now, is it?”
“Mom!” Sophia snapped from right behind Ryder.
Ryder’s glower returned, not daring to turn around and meet Sophia.
Violet tried to shake away her grin as she moved around Ryder and his distracting bulge, to peer at her daughter’s flustered face. Only the horror that greeted her extinguished Violet’s grin faster than she’d jumped away from Ryder.
Violet’s eyes didn’t make it past the center of Sophia’s purple chiffon flower girl dress soaked in a circle of rainbow ice cream.
Violets smile dropped. “What did you do? Why do you have that on? What did you do!”
The wedding was one day away. One day away! And the dress...the dress!
Take a breath. Pull yourself together.
What did you do! Screamed on repeat in her head and Violet wished her kids had walked in on her kissing Ryder. It would have been so much easier to fix. These dresses were custom made, months in advance. Violet knew, she’d taken Sophia to plenty of fittings to make this dress perfect for Missy’s vision.
A sickening bunch of bile was pushing its way up Violet’s throat. She was going to have a panic attack. Her chest constricted tightly, and her breath was lost to her.
One day. One day!
“Parker did it,” Sophia said, as her guilty-faced son walked into the living room objecting with a, “She started it.”
Who cared who started what. This was a disaster.
“You go take that off,” Violet instructed Sophia, as her voice came back to her and her mind went into overload. She turned to her son. “And you, go get the ice cream bowls, rinse them and put them in the dishwasher. I want you both to meet me in the foyer immediately.”
They took off like little puffs of smoke at their mothers tone.
Oh no. Oh no. Oh no!
While Ryder helped Parker with the dishes and ice cream, Violet searched online for ice cream and silk stains, and a half hour later after trying everything, the stain looked worse. A lot worse.
Sophia needed a new dress. ASAP.
“I have to go to Secret Wishes Weddings in town and get a new dress for Sophia,” Violet told Ryder. Would Lana Morris, owner of the shop, be there on a Thursday right after lunch? Would she be reachable if she wasn’t? And would she be able to either fix the stain or make her a new dress?
“I can drive,” Ryder offered.
That sounded wonderful. Violet’s trembling hands thanked him.
Fifteen minutes later the four of them walked into Secret Wishes Weddings. It was a cute little boutique on the main street of Willow Valley.
Violet was relieved when she caught sight of Lana’s stark black hair behind the counter. As Violet approached, Lana greeted her with a smile. Her jade colored eyes pulled shades of green out of the blouse she wore under her striped black blazer.
“Good evening Violet,” she greeted with a smile that dropped when Violet laid the dress on the counter, stain facing up. Horror widened her eyes and her painted pink lips fell open. “What happened?”
“Ice cream and kids.” Violet was as disgusted as Lana. “I need a new one.”
“In two days?” Lana had dressed the entire wedding party, unfortunately she had the date off by one day.
Violet shook her head, slowly, feeling awful for the job she was about to require. “Tomorrow.”
“Violet,” she breathed as if it was impossible. It almost was impossible, but with the right amount of money, she would make it possible. She couldn’t imagine the look on Joel’s face if he saw what she’d allowed to happen to the dress.
The vision was horrifying.
“I will pay you greatly for your service,” Violet whispered.
“I don’t doubt it,” Lana said, but she still didn’t look convinced she could pull it off. “Let me get Sophia measured up for a quick recap.”
Lana rushed around the counter, ushering Sophia toward the change rooms in the back. Parker followed behind, explaining how the ice cream on her dress wasn’t really his fault. Her darling children...she could string them in the air by their ankles.
Violet rested her back on the counter and closed her eyes. She rubbed the back of her neck, which was growing tenser with each movement. She needed a muscle ointment. She wondered if Kate’s soap shop had an all-natural one for sale.
When she opened her eyes, she found Ryder leaning against the flat side of a belt rack, arms crossed and sending her his cocky look. She knew immediately he wasn’t thinking about the dress at all, and rather the thrill of being caught in her living room.
“Stop it,” she said.
“That was a close call.” He inched closer.
“That was the last close call. I’ve learned my lesson. I think I have whip flash like an old mother hen.”
He inched closer, each step slower with purposefully seductive movements. “Want me to give your neck a rubdown?”
“No. I want you to keep your distance so I am not jumping out of my skin.”
“You know what I’ve learned?”
Violet shook her head at his question, afraid to ask.
“I’ve learned what a thrill it is to almost get caught doing something you’re not supposed to be doing.”
Violet laughed. “That was not a good thrill.”
“That was a magnificent thrill.” He lowered his voice as he came up in front of her. He didn’t touch her with his hands or his body, but his lips reached over and kissed her.
Violet pulled her lips away, but only her head gave any distance from him. He’d trapped her between the counter and himself.
“Stop,” she said, but even she knew it sounded weak.
“You don’t sound convincing.” He kissed her cheek and the warmth of his lips flushed her skin.
“Ryder...”
“Hmm.” He kissed her ear and nibbled on her earlobe.
Violet melted. Her eyes glanced over at the change room area but no one was visible.
“Ryder...”
He took her hands. “They have gone into the women’s changing area.” Ryder pulled her away from the counter and as he walked backwards, he grabbed a suit off the rack. “I need a new suit for Fright Fest tonight,” he said. He gave her a harder tug and she stumbled forward into his arms.
Violet laughed. “What are you planning on being with a suit?”
“A business man,” he said, as though that were a real costume. She couldn’t wait for his reaction when he saw the outfit she chose. “We should go try this on.” He kissed her lips, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against him as he continued toward the change room door.
Violet giggled against his lips. “Oh, this is so not how a mother behaves,” she said, but damn how it felt so good.
“This is how someone behaves when they love someone,” Ryder whispered.
Violet stopped. Loved someone? He’d mentioned that he was falling in love with her, but falling in love and loving someone were two entirely different things...unless Ryder didn’t mean them differently. Unless, he was just mixing up his words and he was still only falling in love with her. What did he mean?
“You heard me,” he said, but she still wasn’t sure exactly what she had heard.
?
??I’m not sure I heard you right.”
“You just want me to say it again,” he teased.
“I want you to clarify what you meant.”
Ryder kissed her. “My mom always told me about what it felt like to find the right woman. And the day you threw yourself into my life you opened a part of me that I hid from the world and gave me a reason to want to live again. I only wish my parents were here, physically and mentally to meet you. They would love you as much as I do. They would love your strength, your stubbornness. They would love that you made me fight for you.”
With each admission, tears gathered in Violet’s eyes and he continued as though her tears weren’t enough. “And they would see the tender side of you that you don’t show many people. Worse than not telling your kids, is getting caught and confusing them. So if you are ready to tell them, then I’m ready. I’m not in this for a one time fling. Violet I’m in this for life. I want to be your happily ever after.”
“I gave up on that.”
“I know you did. And I want to spend every day of our lives together showing you that you’re mine.”
That was so romantic and tacky all at the same time, Violet didn’t know whether to laugh or gasp. The only thing her brain could form was an, “I am?”
“Do you have to ask?” The deep love that she saw in his eyes told her as tacky as it might be, Ryder was serious.
“I always thought it was the wedding that made the happily ever after. The perfect day. The vows. The promise in front of all your friends and family. But right now, for the first time in my life, I realize it’s everything that happens before the vows. I was so scared to let you in. I was terrified of the feelings you brought out in me, but deep down under my cloak of caution, over my heart, was love, for you. A love stronger than anything I’ve ever known or felt and that was you, my happily ever after. I love you. I’m ready to tell the kids. I’m ready to tell everyone.
Ryder kissed her. “Let’s try this suit on first.”
“No.” Her objection was weak. She pushed her hands against his chest, which only tightened his grip around her waist. “Ryder...” His lips lavished her neck, his gruff tickling it and she forgot why she was fighting him. Violet giggled like a schoolgirl, loving the feel of every part of this man. She didn’t hear the bell above the door chime when it opened, or the loud footsteps of the person who entered.
“What the hell is going on?” If the question had come from anyone else, with Violet lost in her blissful state, she would have giggled and hid her head in Ryder’s shoulder, hoping he would move them into the back change rooms and out of plain sight. But it wasn’t just anyone else. It was Joel.
The sound of Joel’s voice sent hot flashes of panic through Violet. His insults, his warnings, the entire conversation they’d had in her office, when Joel had all but threatened her, flickered before her. Seducing you after a shower, and taking you in our bed, when I knew you didn’t want me. Do you think Ryder doesn’t know what a cold, heartless lay you are?
When they’d met last week to talk about the kids, they’d both put aside the conversation from her office and had been civil. But now...kissing Ryder...Joel knew...
He witnessed the kiss they shared, and it hadn’t just been a kiss...Ryder had been all over her. There was not hiding from this, even if her first instinct was to do exactly that.
Violet had ignored the voice in her head, knowing that one day she would have to face Joel about her relationship with Ryder. But being caught like this, with his sharp words still cutting her insides, she wasn’t ready.
Violet pulled away from Ryder, like Joel was the principal who had just walked into an empty classroom during prom. Ryder let her, but caught her hand and made the next moment theirs...not Joel’s.
Violet’s back faced Joel. Staring down at Ryder’s tight grasp, she felt him squeeze her a promise, that he would step out of the shadows with her. How could he know she was scared? Her eyes found Ryder’s watching her with the same promise but lacking the fear consuming her.
You don’t know what he said. Why didn’t I tell him?
With Ryder’s support, Violet turned to face Joel. His pale skin was now piping red and his narrowed gaze was transfixed on her.
This is Ryder’s friend. How is this Ryder’s friend. As suddenly as they’d been caught, Violet had answered her previous question. She hadn’t told Ryder what Joel said because she was scared of what the outcome would be. She was terrified Ryder would leave...for Joel’s friendship. Ryder was a man of loyalty and they’d been friends since childhood. Even holding his hand, she didn’t know where Ryder’s loyalty stood and that was scarier than telling Joel the truth about them.
Ryder pulled her firmly against his side, widening his body like a protective shield around her. She wished that eased her worry.
What did Joel have to be angry about? Joel left Violet. He married her for the money he was able to walk away with. Joel had found the love of his life and was marrying Missy in two days. He had no right to be mad. Except that Ryder was his friend and Violet could understand the tension that might bring to their friendship...or the destruction it might cause to their relationship.
The tight grip Ryder had on Violet’s hand almost reassured her that she came first, but without getting past this conversation, she didn’t know for certain.
Violet opened her mouth to ask Joel what he was doing here, avoiding the obvious, but Ryder jumped right in. He ripped the bandage off and Violet felt blood drain from her face.
“Joel, we didn’t want you to find out like this. Violet and I have been seeing each other. I was going to talk to you−”
“Seeing each other? Or screwing each other?”
Ryder tensed.
Violet tensed too and swallowed past the growing lump in her throat.
“This ends now.” The stern, cold tone that came from Ryder had even Violet turning to look at him. He paid no attention to her. His stern glare was solely focused on Joel. “That mouth you can’t seem to control has chewed off its last ignorant remarks regarding Violet.”
There was her answer. Was Ryder going to punch Joel?
Violet almost cried. Tears she couldn’t control pooled in her eyes and she pushed them away, but didn’t take her eyes off of Ryder.
Why had she ever doubted him? After everything they’d been through together, of course he chose her.
Joel tugged for her attention with his snarky remarks. “Talk to me? What for? To ask me or tell me? Because by the looks of you two, this has been going on for a while.”
Ryder answered again and still his voice lacked the sympathy it had carried at the beginning of this confrontation. “To talk and to tell you,” Ryder clarified and if that wasn’t enough he continued, “I certainly wasn’t going to ask your permission to date Violet. Our dating has nothing to do with you.”
“Except that you’re dating. Do you do this with all your friends ex’s? Sleep with them? Make them think you’ve gotten a little feeling for them, something special?” Joel looked at Violet. “You’re just another one of his tramps.”
Violet inhaled sharply, and narrowed her eyes on Joel.
Who the hell did he think he was talking to her like that? Tramp? Did he forget who he was marrying in two days?
Violet summed up the courage to tell Joel exactly where he could stuff it, but Ryder took the first step. Literally, he released Violet’s hand and closed in the distance between him and Joel.
Violet held her breath.
Ryder hovered over Joel, not only in height, but in width and the hostile way he moved would send any person quivering. Joel didn’t even take a step back and tried his hardest to dictate Ryder’s domineering posture.
“Joel, I will only tell you this one more time, so you better listen closely. You will never disrespect Violet again. If I even catch wind that you’ve uttered a tiny ignorance in her direction, it will be my fist you have to deal with.”
Violet opened her
mouth to end the threats, but then snapped it shut even quicker. This son of a bitch deserved to be threatened. If Ryder even caught wind of what Joel had said in her office, there wouldn’t have been words exchanged but rather fists.
Ryder continued without lessening his tone. “I do not want this to come between us, but if you’re going to make me choose.” Ryder glanced over his shoulder at Violet and his smile lightened as he sent her a wink. He turned back to Joel. “Don’t make me choose. You won’t like the outcome.”
He said it. Ryder chose her. Ryder chose Violet. Violet felt like a waterfall, as her eyes filled for the second time. Her restraint to keep from jumping and throwing her arms around Ryder and dragging him into the change room to say thank you, was proving difficult.
There was a long awkward silence between them as Joel and Ryder stared each other down. Finally, Joel’s shoulders lightened and he glanced around. “I came here after Parker texted me and told me Sophia ruined her dress.”
Parker.
Violet stepped forward to stand directly at Ryder’s side and his hand curled around hers. Violet caught Joel’s eyes drop to their connection quickly.
“She did, but Lana is measuring her and will have a new dress by tomorrow. They’re in the change room if you’d like to go see them.”
Joel glanced toward the back fitting room, considering, and then he shook his head. “I have things to do still.” He eyed them both over. Ryder longer than Violet, but when Joel’s eyes met Violet she felt a knowing threat arise. One Ryder would not understand.
Joel grumbled a goodbye as he left, giving the door a little slam.
“I think he took it well,” Violet said. She was still excited Ryder chose her over Joel, but she didn’t want to throw the sensitive decision in Ryder’s face.
When Violet glanced up at his grim face, her smile faltered. “What?” she asked.
Ryder shifted on his feet, his eyebrows drawn together. He was trying to read her.
Violet shifted her weight to one foot and tilted her head at him. “You have something you want to say?”
“Are you going to tell me if I don’t ask?”
Huh-oh, he suspected. Why was she surprised? Joel’s ignorance had been the reason she insulted Ryder in her office and demanded he leave. “Tell you what?”
Violet was ready to deflect him. There were some things that were better just left alone. Ryder surprised her, when he hugged her. Her legs stumbled at his force, but his strength kept her standing.
“You are a stubborn woman, Violet Caliendo,” he breathed against her head. “I meant what I said, if Joel makes me choose, it’s you.” She loved hearing him say it. “And if I find out he’s responsible for that terror I saw in your eyes, and I suspect he is, you’re going to have promise to bail me out of prison.”
“Ryder, let it go.”
He pulled away and cupped her face. “I will let it go this time, because I know you are strong and I know you can handle yourself. But from here on in, we are a team. If anything inappropriate is passed between you and Joel. Anything. I want to know. Agreed?”
Violet had never had someone love her so much that he was willing to step away from the loyalty he held for a friend.
Violet nodded. “Agreed.”
Ryder relaxed. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me what happened in your office?”
Violet shook her head. “I handled it. And, from your threats, I imagine Joel will think twice next time he talks to me.” Violet reached up and kissed him.
“You know what I really want to do?” Ryder asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her tightly against him, telling her exactly what he wanted to do.
“I can imagine.”
“I...” His kissed her chin and she licked her lips wanting more, as the warmth that always found her when she was in Ryder’s arms consumed her now. “Am...” He licked her chin and her legs trembled. “Hungry.”
Violet’s shocked expression found him grinning at her.
“I hear there’s a little hut on the beach that has killer deep fried pickles,” he said.
Violet laughed and pushed him off her, just as Parker came running from the change room announcing they were done.
“Hey sport, you want to go get some lunch at the beach?” Ryder asked him.
“Yeah! And ice cream,” he negotiated with Ryder.
“Deal.”
“Alright.” Parker high-fived Ryder then tugged his arm. “Let’s go now and the girls can catch up.”
Ryder glanced at Violet for confirmation and when he got it, the two most important guys in her life laughed and joked their way out of the shop.
Now if Lana could finish the dress by tomorrow, everything would be perfect.