Naked (25 page)

“What?” He straightened, grabbing the phone from her hand. His eyes widened and he stared intently at the screen.

Prism was one of the sketchiest clubs in the city. There were always shootings outside the front doors and arrests on the news.

“What the hell is going on with her?” Luke asked, still focused on Violet’s skin. He wiped away some of the blood from her skin with a paper towel.

“She’s been acting crazy ever since her boss died.” Archer Anderson had been good to Charlotte for the short time she’d worked for him, allowing her to practically make her own schedule, giving her free rein to plan internal events like the children’s Christmas party and two retirement parties. Since his death, she had completely unraveled. His quiet, polished little sister had become unpredictable and careless.

“You mean like skydiving.” Harper crossed her arms over her chest. “She sent me a picture of her jumping out of the damn plane. I wouldn’t have believed it if it wasn’t for her platinum hair.”

The more incidents like this, the more Noah worried for the safety and sanity of his sister. “Can you please go with her? I don’t want her at a place like that alone.”

Harper scoffed. “Of course I’m going.”

The tightness in Noah’s stomach lessened. “Really?”

She sidled up to him and flung her arm around his shoulders. “I’m always up for a night on the town and given the context of this text…” She held up her phone and shook it in his direction. “Miss Charlotte might need a chaperone.”

“Then maybe we should send Violet to watch both of you.” Luke grunted out a laugh.

“Funny.” Harper stuck out her tongue.

“I wonder what the five hundred dollars is for?” Violet asked just before flinching when Luke got closer to the hip bone.

Noah had forgotten for a moment she was even in the room, concern for his sister overwhelming him. But he didn’t want to know the details of what was going to go on tonight. Harper kissed his temple and bumped her hip against his. “I guess I should go and find the perfect outfit for a night of debauchery.”

With a glimmer in her eye, Harper skipped out and Noah turned his attention back to Violet and the buzzing happening on her skin.

When the ink was complete, the first thing Luke did was take a picture, then he bandaged her up. Violet made quick work of pulling down her hoodie.

“I want you to leave that on for a few hours, then remove the bandage. Put on this ointment and continue to apply for the next two days, every four hours.” He picked up a purple plastic bag and threw in the ointment and a piece of paper. “Aftercare instructions are in the bag.”

Violet thanked Luke, giving him a quick hug, then walked over to Noah, excitement in her eyes. “So…”

“I think this was a great idea. Although I might be biased.” He held up his arm, showing off his ink.

“This place is great.” She looked up and around, admiring the framed pictures Luke had on his walls of his favorite pieces.

“Let me give you the tour of Harper’s office. Show you where the lady magic happens.” He huddled her out of Luke’s tattoo room, his hand at the small of her back.

“Oh…it’s really okay, I—”

He pulled her across the hall. “Come on. It’s the most fascinating thing I’ve ever seen.”

There was only one rule when it came to Harper’s office. If the door was closed, you did not enter. Luckily, the door was open and they were free to go inside.

“Wow…” Violet was practically speechless when they walked inside.

“Isn’t it great?” He placed her by the lighted mirror. “I love the yellow walls. It’s so girly. It just makes me happy that she helps so many people within these four walls.”

She had makeup and photo equipment everywhere. Harper wasn’t the most organized person, but there was a method to her chaos.

Violet stared awkwardly around the room. He was going to miss her. Miss that face, and every expression he’d had the privilege of seeing.

He stalked forward, tipping up her chin. “I had a really good time with you, Violet.”

She lowered her eyes. “I had a great time, too. I…” Her cheeks flushed, that beautiful crimson he’d seen so many times. “Thank you for letting me…” She giggled. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get the chance to do those things again, so thank you.”

“You mean having an orgasm on the subway?”

She nodded.

“Or getting fucked in a public bathroom?”

She nodded again.

“Wait, do you mean getting spanked while fucking in the backyard?”

She laughed. “All of the above.” Reaching up, she ran her fingers over his head. He had no hair for her to thread through her fingers, but he had a feeling she liked him that way.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t—”

He gripped her biceps, stopping her from continuing. “Don’t. We said from the beginning no baggage. And you have your reasons for withholding. It’s all right.”

Silence fell between them and for a few beats he thought she might initiate a kiss. Instead, she cleared her throat. “I have to go.”

He had known that using the last few hours of their time together to get her tattooed meant no more sex. But now, in this moment, it was the stupidest thing they could have done.

With quick steps, she was almost out the door when he yelled, “Violet…!”

She stopped, but didn’t turn around.

“I don’t know where you’re going, what you’re doing, or who you’re even with…” He took the moment to walk closer and catch his bearings. Heartfelt wasn’t his best attribute. “…but I hope one day, you find the person you trust enough to let down your guard.” She finally turned and wasn’t surprised when he was right there in her face. He reached up and tugged at the strings of her hoodie.

Her hand covered his and she held it against her chest. “I hope so, too.”

She bit her bottom lip, and this time, he knew he wasn’t going to let her get away.

He kissed her. Hard. And instead of pulling away and running, she sank into his kiss. He didn’t want to stop. He wanted to go on forever just tasting her.

But he had no regrets. He’d move forward knowing he’d enjoyed his time with Violet for as long as he was able. Their time together had gone by in a flash. And now it was time to let her go.

He mustered the will to pull away. He memorized the sight of her face. The way her eyelids always fluttered open after a kiss. The way her mouth was slightly parted and her cheeks always flushed pink.

Without Violet, and very soon without the house renovations to use as a distraction, he was going to have to assess his own future. But for today, he was going to pretend it didn’t exist.

“Goodbye, Violet.” He kissed the tip of her nose, then she stepped away, their hands still linked together until she was too far away, and they broke apart.

She was already gone when he whispered, “Just Violet.”

Chapter 20

The vote had been unanimous.

Violet had stepped into the office this morning and made a final pitch to the board to purchase the land in Stillbride.

And she’d killed it.

Why wouldn’t she? She had done nothing in her time working at Walker Industries to invite the perception that she was all air and no brains. So why had she let others’ perceptions define her?

Over the last four weeks, she’d come to realize that she was more than just a pretty face. She could put together plans to buy land and fund the building of a subdivision.

Harper had been right. Confidence was the number-one ingredient to owning yourself and your body, and experiencing pleasure. And giving it. She’d seen it in Noah’s eyes each time they’d been together and that was all the proof she needed.

The accident had proved that maybe going out on a limb for selfish reasons wasn’t always the best idea. But today was the first decision, hopefully in a long line, that would lead to expanding Walker Industries and securing a legacy of her own.

She had planned on taking everything she’d learned from Harper and Noah with her as she started a new life, with a new mindset: screw the social norms and judging eyes of her social circle. She was going to live life to the fullest and not look back.

There was no mistaking the high she was riding when she made her way to the worksite that morning. The town car had picked her up outside the office in midtown and driven the twenty-five minutes south to where the latest commercial building was almost complete.

It never failed to make her heart race: seeing her last name in bold, black letters across the metal fencing. Having a say in and contributing to a city’s skyline was a noble profession. And she loved every minute of it.

Lewis Bender, the site foreman, met her at the entrance. She’d had to dig her safety gear out of the closet late Sunday night, knowing she’d be making a trip to the worksite this afternoon. She’d switched out of her Manolos for her steel-toed work boots in the car and left her purse with the driver. With her safety vest and white hard hat in place, Violet followed Lewis to meet the wonder boy—the man her father was recommending to lead the residential project. Although she had the final say, her father did have a good eye for business and employees, and he had already given his seal of approval. The deal was pretty much done.

“It is wonderful to see you again, Violet.”

She clutched his outstretched hand. “You too, Lewis. It’s good to be back.”

She felt the stares as soon as she set foot on the property. A couple of men who stood near the bottom of the crane zeroed their attention on the front gate. The driver of a truck carrying a bed of dirt even stopped short when he’d noticed her.

An older gentleman, about fifty, sidled up to her. “What’s a pretty lady like you doing here? I’m sure you don’t want to get your shoes dirty.”

Violet fisted her hands at her sides to keep from exploding in a fit of rage. But she knew to expect this. She knew being a woman in a man’s world was difficult, even more so now that she was in charge.

Lewis cleared his throat. “Harry, this is Violet Walker.” He stressed the syllables of her last name.

Harry, her admirer, had stiffened. Unable to get out any more words. Suddenly, the smarm had disappeared.

She didn’t bother with introductions or pleasantries. “I assure you, Harry, this pretty lady has every intention of making regular site visits.” She leaned in, invading the man’s space. “And for the record, I left my good shoes in the car.”

There was no mistaking the smile Lewis was trying to hide as he walked her across the site and through the front doors of the building. The lobby was already completed, dirty and dusty, but fully finished.

“The building looks great.”

“Once we lay the asphalt and clear out the grounds, tenants on one through six can move in.”

“Great to hear.”

This had been one of her favorite projects. She’d still been working when the chief architect had drawn up the plans. She had been so excited to work on it. To be involved in the process from sketching to handing over the keys to the property management company. But the accident had squelched that plan. At least she was here to see it completed.

“We’re on budget, on schedule, and not one injury to report.”

Her stomach seized with his words. “Now, Lewis, you know better. You never talk about injury until the day construction stops.”

It was a jinx. She believed that. She fixed her hard hat on her head, making sure it was in place.

He gestured for her to enter the elevator first and when the doors swooshed closed, he said, “I wasn’t sure if you wanted to do this today. You must be busy trying to catch up.”

She shook her head. “The guys need to see I’m back and that now
I’m
in charge of the project.”

That was apparent from the moment she walked in and was pegged as a pretty girl with nice shoes.

Screw you, Harry.

But she was ready to get back to normal. A memo would go around at the end of the day confirming that she was now in charge of the company and that her father had stepped down as CEO of Walker Industries. She knew from her assistant that word around the company was that she’d had a breakdown. While she hated the assumption, some days she felt like it was the truth.

“So, I’m here to meet the golden boy.”

Associate foreman.

There was no such thing, but Lewis had worked for her father for almost fifteen years. He was loyal and a good worker, and her father trusted him—with his business, with his reputation, and to make hard decisions when necessary. Of course he’d agree to bring on another employee if Lewis recommended it.

Lewis didn’t know anything about the residential project. No one would until the land was purchased and the municipal applications and permits were filed.

Lewis nodded. “I’ve known Noah since he was a child. I was good friends with his father.”

Noah?

Her chest tightened.

She had hoped that last night would erase him from her memory. Having to say goodbye had been tough, and if she was going to be reminded about Noah every day, getting over the loss was going to take a lot longer.

“Happy we were able to give him an opportunity to advance his skills and career.” Her father had also been a sucker for young kids looking to excel at something. Young men, particularly. She had always feared it was his own subconscious trying to atone for not having a son to take over the company. She often wondered whether, if she’d had a younger brother, she’d even be here right now.

“Whose idea was it to hire an associate foreman?”

Lewis smiled at her, a sly look in his eye as if he knew she was skeptical of the title and the unnecessary salary.

“It’s a good way for someone interested in management to get experience, and it helps with the shifts. Spreads around the work and time spent on-site. You know how your father feels about a good work-life balance.”

“Yes, I do.”

He smiled just as the elevator dinged, but this time he didn’t extend his hand, as if waiting for her to expand on her response.

“And I’ll be sure to keep that in place now that I’m in charge.”

As soon as she’d stepped off the elevator the smell of drywall and paint flooded her nostrils. A familiar smell. The smell of her childhood when her father used to bring her to the site on Saturday mornings. Back then her hard hat had been pink instead of the white one she wore today.