Chapter 7
After jotting a quick note for Violet and leaving it on the night side table, Devon leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. He suspected he’d be back before she woke up – she’d only been asleep for a few hours – but just in case he didn’t want her doing something foolish like regretting the previous night, or jumping to some insane conclusion before he got back. But there was something he needed to do and he wanted it done before she woke – have a chat with his mother.
It took twenty minutes to drive across town and to his parents’ house. While his night with Violet had calmed his anger, with each mile he got closer to his parents’ the anger increased until he was vibrating with rage by the time he pulled into the driveway.
Cutting the engine of the truck he gave himself a moment to calm down. If he went in there on a rampage she’d only get defensive and lie through her teeth to him or simply refuse to answer his questions. After giving himself a couple of minutes to settle his temper, Devon got out of the truck and made his way into the house. He’d barely gotten through the front door when his mother came rushing from the living room and into the foyer to greet him.
“Devon! What a wonderful surprise. You’re just in time for breakfast.” Grabbing his arm she escorted him into the kitchen where his father was already seated at the table, an omelet on his plate. The pleasant aroma of recently fried bacon drifted to him, tempting him, but he was here for one and only one reason.
He and his father exchanged hellos as he sat down at an empty spot at the table. Once the pleasantries were exchanged the older man returned to his meal, shifting his attention to the newspaper on the table. Devon kept trying to convert his father to reading Internet news, the newspaper was becoming obsolete, but his father was having none of it. He insisted on reading the morning paper with breakfast stating he’d been doing it for twenty-five years, he wasn’t about to change now.
His mother quickly served him a helping of breakfast and then resumed her spot at the opposite end of the table of his father, next to Devon. She buttered a piece of toast and took a delicate bite, eyeing Devon. “So what’s brought you around this early? It’s been forever since you’ve joined us for breakfast.”
“I’ve been really busy.”
“You should never be too busy for family, Devon.”
Devon smiled at her and ate another slice of bacon. “Well, Mother. I’ve come across some interesting information and was hoping you might have some insight.”
She took a drink from her orange juice and then nodded, gracing him with a smile. “If I can.”
After scooping a serving of hash browns into his mouth he smiled. “Well, Mother, it has come to my attention that you’ve been lying to me for seven years.”
His mother’s dark eyes narrowed as her gaze locked with his. He became aware of his father’s eyes lifting from the paper to look over at them. “Devon Alexander Land! Exactly what are you accusing me of?”
“I’m talking about the little deal you made with Violet.”
The way the color drained from her face, he knew it was the truth, not that he’d doubted Violet. But her expression gave him confirmation. “I… I don’t… What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about Violet Phillips and how you blackmailed her.”
She huffed and rolled her eyes at him. “Oh please, Devon, I did no such thing.” She looked nervously at his father and then back at Devon.
Devon cocked a crow at her. “You didn’t tell her that if she didn’t break up with me you’d tell her father about her mother’s affair with Dad?”
“Just wait one minute, Devon.”
Devon glanced over at his father and gave his head a shake. “Don’t even try to deny it, Father. Don’t even.” The two men glared at each other a moment, sizing each other up, but it was his mother who broke their stare.
“Fine. Yes, I did. But it wasn’t like she didn’t get anything out of the deal, I paid for her college tuition! She should be thanking me!”
“Thanking you? Are you insane? You chased her out of here by blackmailing her with the threat of hurting her dying father.”
“And if she’d loved you she would have stayed anyhow. Or she would have come clean when her father died, but did she? Did she, Devon? No. Want to know why? Because she was getting a free education from me. You two were kids, she knew her future wasn’t here, especially after she experienced New York without you. I bet she never gave you a second thought.”
“That’s not even the point. The point is you lied to me. You knew the pain I was going through and you lied through your teeth to me. You let me believe she didn’t give a shit but that was also a lie.”
“I think your life turned out quite well. And why are you bringing all of this up now anyway? You’ve moved on, she’s moved on.”
“She’s back, Mother.”
His mother remained silent a moment and then slowly nodded. “I see. So she told you what a mean and wicked bitch I am, that right?”
“I don’t think she used those words. But she told me what you did.”
“I see.” His mother straightened her back, jutting her chin out as she eyed him. “And you’re seeing her?”
“I am.” He could feel his father’s eyes on his again, but refused to look at the other man. It may not have been his father who had sent Violet away, but he was the reason she’d been blackmailed. Devon was still working out his feelings on that.
“How long has this been going on?”
“She just got back a couple days ago. And the reason I came here to see you is because I wanted you to know I know the truth now and to tell you to stay away from her. And never interfere with my life like that again.”
“Your mother did what she felt was the right thing, for everyone,” his father cut in, but Devon ignored him.
“You two were moving too fast Devon, if you had stayed together you would have brought each other down. Every time you were in trouble she was the reason for it.”
“She wasn’t.”
“She was,” his mother insisted.
“We were in it together, and you know, I’m not here to argue about the past, I’m here to tell you to butt out of our relationship from here on in. And that I know. No more lies.”
“Relationship? With her…” she spat the word “her” as if the whole idea were distasteful.
He didn’t have an answer for her. “The thing is, that’s not your business. I hope we’re clear on this.”
Her lips pressed into a firm line and with reluctance she nodded although he hardly believed she’d give in that easily. Pushing his chair back, Devon stood, leaving his breakfast untouched for the most part.
“Thanks for breakfast, Mother.” Giving his father a curt nod, he left.
~*~*~*~*~
Violet moaned as she stretched on the king-sized bed, a soft smile spreading across her lips. Her body ached, but it was a good ache, a very good ache. It felt like the years had rewound and they were back to where they were when they were teenagers and she was falling all over again. It seemed impossible, but it was true.
“Devon?” She slowly opened her eyes, turning to his side of the bed, expecting him there. To her disappointment, he wasn’t. She’d been hoping for a little morning… She looked over at the clock mounted on the wall. Shit, afternoon? It was 4pm. “Devon?” she called out a little louder as she swung her legs around to the side of the bed and slid off and to her feet.
She was just noticing the note he’d left when the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs redirected her attention. Moments later he appeared, his broad frame taking up most of the bedroom doorway. He was wearing a t-shirt stretched across his broad chest, with a pair of faded jeans sitting enticingly low on his hips.
“It’s about time you woke up.” He paused a moment, eyeing her. Normally she’d have been self-conscious at his blatant staring at her naked body, but she wasn’t – not in the least. It was Devon. “I thought you’d be sleeping the day away, is that how they do it in New York?”
Laughing, she crossed the room to him, stretched up against him lacing her fingers behind his neck and brushing her lips across his. “No, smart ass. But considering the long night we had I figured you’d still be in bed with me when I woke up.”
He kissed her back. “Mmm. Would have been nice, however, I had animals to feed and things to do.”
“And are you done?” She pulled out of his arms and took his hand, leading him back to the bed.
A wicked grin spread across his lips. “Not entirely.”
“Can you spare an hour… or…” She reached the bed and looked down, her eyes catching sight of the note sitting on the night side table. She picked it up and brought it to eye level. “What’s this?” Her nose crinkled up as she read it. “Where’d you go this morning?”
“Not important.” Snatching the note from her hand, he crumbled it up in a ball in his fist and tossed it at the trashcan; it went in effortlessly. Grabbing her hips, he pulled her to him and lowered his lips to the side of her neck. “Just to see my mother for a minute.”
The mention of his mother turned her blood cold and she stiffened in his arms. “Why?”
With a shrug, Devon pulled back. “Confront her. Tell her that I know what she’d done and warn her about interfering this time.”
This time? Were they really starting over, never mind the logistics, but… Wasn’t he the one who said just the previous evening that this was just the two of them having fun, reconnecting? Or was she thinking too much into his statement? She shook her head, clearing her mind of that train of thought.
“Your mother already has it out for me, are you sure it was such a good idea to rile her up?”
He sighed, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “It’s fine, Violet. Let me handle my meddling mother. I promise she won’t be an issue again.”
“All right.” What could she do other than trust him on it?
“Now, as much as I’d like to toss you back onto that bed and fuck you to exhaustion, I have a surprise for you.”
“Surprise?”
He grinned. “You might want to get dressed, though. I have no objections to you naked, but it’s not recommended.”
“What have you got planned?”
Releasing her, he flashed her a mischievous smile. “Get dressed and meet me outside, then you’ll find out.”
Smiling and eager to see what he had in mind she watched him leave the room. She took a brief shower just to refresh herself and quickly got dressed, helping herself to one of his short-sleeved button-down shirts. It was gigantic on her, but it was clean. It smelt nice, a combination of Land detergent and his cologne.
Rushing downstairs she found him outside, leaning back against the fence near the stables. The two horses were already saddled up and ready to go. “’Bout time.”
“I had to shower!” With each step she made towards him her mood lifted, excitement filling her. “I haven’t ridden a horse since I left.”
“Bah, it’ll come back in no time.” He motioned to the mare she’d cuddled the previous night. “You’ll like her, she’s sweet and easy to ride. She pretty much knows the trail I’m taking you down already.”
Going to the left side of the horse, Violet slid her foot into the stirrup and pulled herself up, then waited for Devon to mount as he gave her a quick refresher on how to ride. As they started down the trails, to heaven knows where, Violet realized he’d been right, it came back effortlessly and the beautiful mare was an angel to ride. As much as she wanted to think it was her calling the shots she suspected Devon and the horse were simply humouring her.
After forty minutes of riding, she was expecting to come into a clearing or perhaps another skinny-dipping excursion, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, a bar came into view, done up in an old-style rodeo look – there was even a rail to tie up the horses. It took her a moment, but the name of the bar came to her just as she saw the sign: Tanner’s Tavern.
“What are we doing at Tanner’s?” she asked, nudging her horse to catch up with Devon.
“You made such a fuss about me not taking you out to dinner I thought I’d better take you out. We were never old enough to go to Tanner’s together, so I thought it was about time we did.”
“I did not make a fuss.” He gave her a skeptical look over his shoulder as he dismounted the horse. “Okay, maybe a little,” she conceded.