Lust Thy Neighbor (11 page)

"Must've been hard,” Violet said softly.

It was. "It would've been better if she had just broken up with me. That I can handle. But it was the lying that made it worse." If Serena hadn't wanted to be with him, fine. He could live with that. In fact, it wasn't like they were looking towards marriage or anything. But it was the fact that she had gone behind his back that hurt like a bitch.

Violet quieted down and he didn't make the effort to revive the conversation. He had revealed way more than he had intended but it wasn't as if he could take things back.

"What about you and your last relationship?" He finally broke the silence and glanced quickly at her as he exited the highway. She didn't answer for a minute and he snuck another peek at her. "Violet?"

"Like I said before, it ended badly." There was an odd catch to her voice and he wanted to ask about it but the GPS on his dashboard beeped. He pulled up to a huge, opened gate as the GPS announced that they had arrived at their destination. Her attention was diverted and taken up with the enormous house beyond and the cars that were neatly parked out in front.

"We're here." She made it sound as if they were going to a funeral.

"Looks that way." He unbuckled his seatbelt then reached across to release hers. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be.”

Declan got out of the truck and opened her door for her. He grinned when he saw her slip the candy bar in her bag. "It'll be fine. I know; don't listen or take to heart anything you say, and I've already been warned that I will be grilled and scrutinized by your family, especially by Alexandra."

"And everyone else," she added miserably.

"Right." He reached for her hand and interlocked their fingers together.

"Hey, Dec.” She lightly tugged on his hand.

He stopped and looked back. "Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"You've already thanked me enough," he punctuated the statement with a teasing smirk. "I'll be looking for payment at the end of the evening in the form of your smeared lipstick and tangled hair.”

“I meant for telling me about your past. Thank you for being upfront."

He nodded. "I figure that if we get all that out in the open, at least we're honest about what's happened. Everyone has a past and bring their own baggage, but I don't want you to be surprised by the luggage I carry."

"That's very refreshing. I'm used to being the last to know.”

"Believe me, I suck enough at relationships, casual or otherwise, and I might very well screw things up entirely. I might as well be truthful about the shit I've done."

She stepped close to him and brushed her lips against his. With her heels, it brought her just under eye-level to him. He kept her fingers laced with his and let her direct the kiss. She shyly explored his mouth with hesitant licks and he enjoyed every moment of it, feeling like they were kissing for the first time again. Bringing up his other hand to ride low on her back, his fingers just brushed the curve of her ass and he groaned. Declan felt her pull back and he allowed it, lazily sifting the soft, fabric of her dress.

“How's that for smeared lipstick?” she breathed against his lips.

"That doesn't count for the kiss you're going to owe me at the end of the night."

She shivered against him. “You're demanding, Mr. Pierce.”

He reluctantly released her but kept a hold on her hand when he went to ring the doorbell.

"V
iolet, so good to see you, sweetheart." She was taking off her coat when she heard her grandfather's voice cut into her action. Feeling Declan slip behind her to help her slide the coat off her shoulders, she sent him a grateful smile.

"Grandpa!" Even in her heels she went on her tiptoes, pressed her cheek against her grandfather's and accepted his hug. "Looking good tonight, old man.”

"And you're as beautiful as always." He looked over her shoulder. "You must be the young man that Alexandra has told me about. I’m George Clarkson.

Declan extended his hand. "Declan Pierce, sir. Nice to meet you."

"Alexandra mentioned you're a writer."

"A columnist, Mr. Clarkson."

"And you've got a younger brother that you care for?"

He nodded. "My brother, Jacob is fourteen, yes."

"I am sorry to hear about your parents, son. Must be hard raising a teenager by yourself."

"There's no other choice. I'm all Jacob has and we're family."

Violet beamed when she saw Grandpa get that approving glint in his sharp blue eyes. She knew that George Clarkson valued loyalty in those around him. He was a man who was used to being in a position of power and expected people around him to respect him and remain loyal.

"That's good son, very good."

And Declan was
looking
particularly good tonight, if she did say so herself. When she had teased him in the car about his tongue hanging out at the sight of her all made up and in a nice dress, she cleverly left out how much she appreciated his appearance as well. His black suit was pressed and neat but the darkness didn't drown him out or make him appear out of his element. He looked comfortable all suited up. But then again, Violet mused, she figured that a man who was as confident as Declan would be comfortable in a pair of dirty jeans and t-shirt and equally so in full penguin get-up.

The cut of the suit emphasized his muscles and lean strength. The suit had obviously been tailored for him specifically and Violet could appreciate a well-made piece of clothing. Declan's snowy white dress shirt was complimented with a swath of color by a dark blue tie. A heavy watch peeked out from under his cuff. His dark hair was in its perpetual tousled state, but it looked damn near perfect to her. It made her want to run her hands through it to calm it down and then mess it up all over again just because she preferred it that way.

"Violet, why don't you go and get a drink for you and Declan? Afterwards, go find your grandmother and let her know you're here, alright? I have to go speak with a colleague."

"See you later, Grandpa."

"That wasn't so bad." Declan looked around. "Wow, nice place." He saw a group of people crowded around Violet's grandfather and another little group by a baby grand piano.

She nodded and guided him over to the bar, where she asked for a glass of red wine. The bartender grabbed a goblet and tilted it as he poured in the dark liquid, focusing his gaze on Declan. "For you, sir?"

"Scotch, neat."

Violet couldn't help but smile. "Such a grown up drink."

Declan reached for the squat glass, bringing it to his lips for a drink. "I've grown out of my days when I used to suck on a keg."

"Nice."

Stretching out his hand, he lightly skimmed her temple. He dipped down to brush her collarbone, and she felt that whisper of a touch clear to her toes. How could this man affect her like this? One touch from him and her body seemed to sizzle. She bit her lip, embarrassed to discover that her body—from her nipples to that sensitive spot between her thighs— had grown taut at his touch. .

"You're looking deliciously turned on right now." He stepped closer and coiled his free hand around her waist. “You are, aren't you?” He spoke tenderly with a sexy gleam in his dark eyes.

She allowed him to pull her closer and rested the side of her body against the hardness of his chest. She didn't, however, lean and cuddle into him, no matter how much she wanted to. She needed to leave a certain amount of respectable space between them. She needed it to retain her sanity. "I'm starting to understand what all those other women must've seen in you."

When she peeked up, she saw his jaw tighten. "You're nothing like them."

Feeling inexplicably flattered, she teased him with a very brief kiss on the corner of his mouth. "Suck up."

He groaned so softly that no one else could hear. "You better stop or else I'll be throwing you over my shoulder and taking you straight home."

That sounded awfully promising to her, and she found herself biting her lower lip. “That's the second time you've threatened that, so I really hope you plan on following through.”

"Violet?"

She jerked out of Declan's arms, her wine sloshing dangerously to the side of her glass. She knew that voice. Knew it with her back turned and her eyes closed. Funny, she thought, that once she found that voice sexy but now after having heard Declan's low, sexy growl, she didn't think it could compare.

Still, her heart skipped a beat as she twisted around slowly and stared into blue eyes she hadn't seen in months. "Hello, Henry.” She lifted her chin high.

Declan stiffened and instantly disliked the sight of the tall blue-eyed stranger. He also didn't like how Violet had jumped away from his touch the second the other man said her name. He moved in to reclaim his place by slipping his arm around her waist and was pleased when she didn't move away this time.

"I didn't think you'd be here. Grandma didn't mention anything."

Declan saw the guy not so subtly check out Violet, sweeping his eyes over her body slowly, savoring inch by beautiful inch. He had to suppress his instinct to deck the guy for looking at his date like he was mentally undressing her.

She was with him tonight.

"It was a last minute decision. I was visiting my parents and they forgot to tell me they were coming to this party.” His lips pressed into a half-smile. “My mother talked me into tagging along.”

“And you couldn't just say no?” Violet demanded breathlessly.

“She said just because you and I are ... no longer a thing ... doesn’t mean she has to stop being friends with your grandparents."

“No longer a thing? I see.” Violet stiffly stepped aside so that she was no longer standing in front of him. "Declan Pierce, Henry Abee. Henry, this is Declan, my date for the evening."

Declan frowned, but he supposed he shouldn't get too picky. They definitely weren't at the point where they had more intimate labels, but the words 'date for the evening' grated his nerves. Henry Abee obviously had a history with Violet, and part of Declan wanted nothing more than to remind him just that—that whatever they had was in the past.

A hand was extended to him and Declan put a little extra force into his grip. "Nice to meet you.”

Retracting his hand, Declan watched in childish satisfaction as the other man discreetly flexed his fingers and slipped his hand into his pocket before he turned his attention back to Violet who was standing a few feet away, fidgeting her fingers and looking utterly stunned.

Declan could feel the effect this guy—whoever the hell he was—had on Violet and he hated it. But he stayed silent and forced himself to breathe through it. He didn’t want to embarrass her, but the second she looked to him and gave him the word, he was more than willing to ruin Abee’s expensive-looking suit.

"You're ... beautiful tonight, Vi." Henry’s voice dropped to an intimate octave.

"Thank you." She swiveled her head around, searching the room, looking almost as if she were terrified of who or what she might find. "Is ... Is Natalie around?"

"No." Henry dropped his gaze and Declan thought he saw a flash of guilt. Interesting. "She had a conference to attend in Chicago." He took a step towards them, prompting Declan to hold her closer. "Can I speak to you for a moment.” He turned his dark blue eyes to Declan. “Privately?"

"Um.” She paused but Declan got the feeling that her hesitation was directed at him. She was looking for a way to be alone with this guy without hurting his feelings.

Lips pressed together, he gracefully inclined his head and spoke only to her. "I'm going to call Jacob and make sure everything's okay."

She smiled gratefully but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thanks."

He nodded and left them alone.

*

"W
ho's that?"

Violet watched Declan's muscular form retreat into the crowd and heard herself numbly answer, "My new neighbor."

"Looked like a little more than that."

Her nostrils flared at her ex’s sarcastic tone . And what if it is?” She turned and met Henry's blue gaze. "He's also my friend," she added pointedly, not wanting to divulge or explain any further. He didn't deserve that from her.

"Right." He took a step closer. "I’ve been wanting to talk to you. Explain some things."

She swallowed a healthy gulp of her wine and eyed the bar, knowing that it would probably be the first place she went after speaking to him. "So talk?"

"Nat mentioned that she might have said some things to Beckett.” He appeared very nervous. "And that, maybe, Beck had passed along the information to you."

“We don't talk about you. Or her, for that matter,” she lied.

“I see.”

He stared at her in silence and she stared back, waiting patiently. She knew that Henry was skirting around the topic of his impending engagement but that he also didn't know for certain whether or not she knew. Beck would never betray their conversations and allow her to be caught off guard like that.

He pinched his bottom lip before he asked,“So you weren't aware that I've proposed to Natalie?” .

Even though she already knew it was coming, her entire body still went numb. "Congratulations."

He winced. "I'm sorry."

"What's there to be sorry about?”

"Don't be dense, Violet. I'm sorry that things didn't work out with us."

Being confronted with Henry tonight had made her realize two things: One, she wasn't attracted to him anymore. And two, she still needed to know what went wrong or she'd never be able to move on and pursue things with Declan or any other man.

“So why didn't they work out?” she demanded quietly. “And don't tell me because you fell in love because you stayed with me for months after you started seeing Natalie. So why?”

Henry ducked his head. "I don't know."

"Now who's being dense?” she ground out. “Of course you know.”

"It just didn't work out."

"Why?" she persisted.

He raised his voice. "I don't know!"

She glanced around to see that they were attracting attention. Suddenly thinking about the candy bar in her purse—that Declan had jokingly given her to remind her to keep calm—she wondered where he was, and if he had really gone to call Jacob.