19
THE NEED TO assure himself that everyone was okay drew Hogan again and again to the hallway. He peered into his bedroom to see Violet asleep in his bed. She was on her back, her bandaged arm resting over her stomach.
What if that bullet had caused more damage? Just as he’d been doing all morning, he forced aside the god-awful fear with deep breaths... And the sight of her—her hair fanned out everywhere, and from the bottom of the sheet, one small foot showed.
She would never want Colt to know, but once they’d been tucked into the bed, she’d cried. Restrained, nearly silent tears of pure emotion. She, too, understood just how badly things could have gone.
Never again would Hogan waste time on regretting his past. Now he was only looking forward to a beautiful future.
Next he looked in Colt’s room. His son sprawled on his stomach, long limbs everywhere. Hogan knew he had to be exhausted, but he’d set his alarm to wake him early so he could spend some time with Charish.
Hogan wanted to get to know the girl better. He had a feeling she’d factored into Colt’s decision on a local college, or at the very least, she’d made that decision easier.
He also wanted to tell Colt that he truly had choices now. Not only would he have the bonus cash flow from his accounting work, he and Violet would be splitting expenses.
By admitting his love for her, life had gotten easier.
When Diesel lifted his head, Hogan patted his thigh, calling the dog to him.
As if aware that Colt needed his sleep, Diesel picked his way carefully from the bed, joining Hogan with a wagging tail.
Life was good. This, Hogan thought, this was what he wanted.
The people he loved all together.
He and Diesel walked out to the front yard. Carrying a steaming cup of coffee and wearing only jeans, Hogan sat on the top step of his porch and allowed Diesel to take his time finding just the right grassy spot.
Morning sunshine bathed his face. A squirrel chattered. Birds sat atop the tree branches.
Life was good.
He couldn’t help but think of Violet and what she meant to him. Because he wasn’t a man to do things lightly, he wanted it all. Yes, her in his house, in his bed. But he also wanted his ring on her finger. He wanted the vows.
The commitment.
He knew now that he’d been seeing women differently, that he’d looked for the possible deceit—something he’d never thought about until Meg had upended his world.
Then he’d moved to Clearbrook, and there was his sister-in-law, Honor, one of the sweetest women he’d ever known, perfect for his brother.
And Lexie, who drove Sullivan nuts with her shenanigans—yet she was as caring and honorable as anyone he knew.
There was Kristy, flighty, sometimes silly, but overall a nice girl just making her way in the world.
And Joni, a definite user—as some people were, male and female.
He didn’t like admitting that he’d been a shallow ass, but he had to admit that despite all the evidence, he’d continued to view women through the same lens.
Until Violet shook him out of that absurd mind-set. She was all the things he admired in other women, plus things the others never could be, because her qualities complemented his own and vice versa.
He was more with her, better, happier. Literally, just more.
“Any coffee left inside?”
He glanced to where his brother cut across the yard. Diesel ran to greet Jason, so Hogan stood. “I’ll get a cup.”
“Sullivan’s on his way over, too. Might as well grab him one.”
Hogan shielded his eyes from the sun and found Sullivan crossing the street.
“Got it. Be right back.” As quietly as possible, he poured coffee into two cups, then made a fresh pot in case Violet woke up and wanted any.
When he turned, he almost ran into Colt. His son wore shorts and nothing else, and he made a beeline for the fridge and the orange juice.
“You sure you don’t want to catch a little more sleep?”
“I’m good,” Colt said around a wide yawn. He nodded at the tray Hogan held. “We have company?”
“Jason and Sullivan.”
Colt nodded and, carrying a tall glass of juice, led the way back out.
When they stepped to the porch, they found Nathan just pulling into the driveway.
Diesel abandoned Jason and loped over to Colt, practically crawling into his lap, forcing Colt to hold the juice high as he laughed.
“Coffee?” Hogan asked Nathan while handing a cup to Jason and Sullivan.
“No, thanks. I finished a pot before I left.” He rubbed his tired eyes. “How’s Violet?”
“She’s still sleeping.” Hogan sat on the top step again. “If you ask her, she’ll tell you she’s fine. And she is. She had some pain last night, but mostly it was the aftermath of everything that made it hard for her to sleep.”
“Having an asshole point a gun at you would do that,” Jason said.
Hogan had called his brother from the hospital last night to fill him in, since he was bound to notice that neither Colt nor Hogan had made it home. “Brooklin?” he asked.
“Still feeling guilty, but she’ll realize soon that she has no reason.”
Sullivan sat below Colt and became the recipient of Diesel’s affection. He stroked him idly while he sipped his coffee. “You have the guy locked up?” he asked Nathan.
“He’s not going anywhere.”
Jason gave a grim smile. “I heard Hogan worked him over.”
“And then some,” Nathan admitted. “Broke his nose and loosened a tooth, but he’ll survive.”
With a touch of awe, Colt said, “I’ve never seen Dad go at anyone like that.”
“Your dad was a hard-ass in his youth.” Jason lifted his coffee cup in a salute. “Sounds like it paid off last night.”
Hogan shook his head. Before moving to Clearbrook, it might have seemed odd to sit outside an hour past dawn holding council with three other men, his son and his dog. Now it just felt comfortable.
These crazy people had become the best of family and friends. For a while there, trust had seemed elusive. But Hogan trusted each of them, so he admitted, “Violet coped by focusing on the diner—if she’ll have to stay closed, the damage done. She fell asleep fretting about it.” Hogan pictured the mess in his mind. The overturned boxes and scattered cans, the bullet hole in the wall, the blood—her blood.
“Far as the sheriff’s department is concerned, she can open today as usual,” Nathan said. “We already got everything we needed.”
“I’ll head over there first thing,” Jason said, “so you can stay with her. I’ll patch and paint the wall, no problem.”
Sullivan said, “I have a few hours yet, so I’ll help clean up.”
Nathan nodded. “Count me in if you need anything.”
“Well, as to that...” Hogan hoped they’d get on board. “We’d planned to open the new space next week. I have an idea on how to really get things swinging again.” With all the guys waiting, he cleared his throat. “You know how that goofy column in the Trickle kept focusing on us?”
“Mainly you two,” Sullivan said, referencing him and Nathan. “They’re after the single guys.”
Hogan shook his head. “I’ve been considering a big event to open the upstairs, sort of the requested ‘ladies’ night’ that was mentioned.”
“Love it,” Nathan said, jumping ahead before Hogan could finish explaining. “You want the band there? We could easily set up outside.”
“I do,” Hogan said. “But more than that, I want us to perform.”
Blank faces stared back at him.
Finally, Jason repeated, “Perform?”
“Cowboy hats, some line dancing. We’ll give the ladies a real show, since that’s what they’ve been asking for—”
“Hell no.”
“Forget it.”
He stared at Jason and Sullivan. Colt, he noticed, was still grinning, and Nathan just seemed to be giving it some thought. “You know it’d be a big hit.”
“Nope.”
Lexie, who showed up without anyone realizing it, hugged up to Sullivan’s arm. Her short, pale blond hair was flattened on one side, proving she’d come straight from bed and hadn’t taken the time to primp first. “You can count on Sullivan. He’ll do it.”
Horrified, Sullivan said, “No, I won’t.”
Her smile never slipped. “He’s in.”
“I’m not!”
“You have to. Violet needs you.” She batted her eyelashes at him, stroked his chest and said, “And I really want to see it.”
Sullivan stared at her a second more, then gave in. “Shit.”
Hogan laughed. One down. He turned to his brother. “Jason?”
“You know I don’t dance.”
“It’s line dancing,” Honor said from behind him.
Jason jumped. “When did you get up?”
Barefoot, dressed in one of Jason’s T-shirts and her shorts, her honey-colored hair mussed, she said, “When Lexie called me and said you guys were all congregated out here.”
Jason slanted a look at Lexie.
“It’s convenient,” Lexie said, “living across the street from each other.”
Honor covered her mouth as she yawned, then leaned against Jason. “Line dancing isn’t really dancing. You guys could keep it simple—but sexy.”
Jason groaned. “I don’t do ‘sexy,’ damn it.”
“Is that a joke?” She stared up at him and whispered, “You do sexy better than anyone.”
“Hell.”
Knowing she’d gotten her way, Honor hugged him.
Having the women show up had made it much easier to convince the guys, Hogan thought. Too bad Brooklin wasn’t around. “Nathan?”
“Hell, I love the idea. I’m not shy. And the band will totally be on board. I even know the song we should use.”
Colt, who hadn’t said much, asked, “Am I invited to this dance-off?”
Hogan further messed his son’s sleep-rumpled hair. “You’re going to be our lead, kiddo. You’ll get the younger crowd there.” Then he turned to everyone. “It has to be a surprise. I don’t want Violet to know about it. And it has to be a simple presentation, because we’re opening the upstairs next week. We’ll have to advertise by word of mouth. Think we can manage that?”
The women, Nathan and Colt gave a resounding yes.
The men grumbled, with a lot of attitude, that they’d do their best.
By now, Violet knew he wasn’t concerned with keeping their relationship private. After the show, she, as well as everyone in Clearbrook, would know that she meant the world to him.
All in all, Hogan could hardly wait.
* * *
Violet woke slowly, her head aching, her body heavy. When she started to stretch, pain lanced into her arm and everything came crashing back. She’d been shot.
She gasped as she opened her eyes. At first disoriented, she looked around and remembered that she wasn’t in her own bed.
She wasn’t home alone.
Hogan had not only insisted on her staying over, he’d insisted on her sharing his bed. Colt had been in complete agreement.
She looked down at her arm. It ached from wrist to shoulder, and around the stark white wrapping she saw bruising spreading out. She hadn’t actually been shot, not directly. But the bullet, which had ricocheted off cans, cut through her arm, then embedded itself into the wall, still caused enough damage.
Moving her arm more cautiously now, she placed her hand on Hogan’s side of the bed and found it cool to the touch. Sitting up, she looked around at his sparse but tidy furnishings.
Where was he?
She used the bathroom, brushed her teeth, frowned at her bedraggled appearance and then went looking for Hogan. She found him at his desk, but the second he noticed her, he closed his laptop and stood.
“How do you feel?”
“Hungover, even though I didn’t have a drop to drink.”
He drew her in for a warm kiss and a gentle hug. “You look beautiful.”
She snorted. “Your bathroom has a mirror, you know.”
He only smiled. “Coffee?”
“Please.” As she looked, she asked, “Where’s Colt and Diesel?”
“Colt took the dog with him when he left to meet Charish before work.”
“Before work,” she repeated, sinking down into a kitchen chair. “We’ll be able to open today?”
“Nathan stopped by. He said it won’t be a problem. Jason and Sullivan are headed over there now to fix the wall where the bullet hit and...clean up.”
Violet shuddered. They were cleaning up blood. “I should do that, not them.”
“Well, here’s the thing.” He set the coffee in front of her and pulled out a chair, turning it to face her. “We all agreed that you needed a couple of days off.”
The coffee tasted delicious and cut through some of the cobwebs. “We who?”
“Everyone. Nathan and Brooklin, Jason and Honor, Sullivan and Lexie, and Colt and me.” He gently cradled her hand in both of his. “I know you’re tough as nails, Violet. So does everyone else. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”
“I wasn’t trying to.” Was she? Sure, it had taken years to prove herself, but no one had stood in her way. Mostly she’d been proving her worth to herself.
She pulled free of his unsettling hold and sipped her coffee again. “Mmm. That’s good.”
“Why do you refuse to rest?”
“It’s my diner.” Violet didn’t want or need to be handled like fine china. “It’s my job to be there.”
“You have to take a vacation every now and then, right?”
“Well, actually...”
He sat back. “When was the last time you took off a week?”
An entire week? “Er...never?” She gulped more coffee, burned her tongue and cursed. “Look, the diner is my responsibility, okay? I can take the occasional day here and there, but not a whole week.”
Hogan studied her. “I want you to move in with me.”
Wow, what a switch! Quickly, she set down the cup before she dropped it. She opened her mouth, but with no idea what to say, she closed it again.
Did he mean permanently, as in she should sell her house? Or for a day or two? Maybe the week he wanted her to vacation?
When she remained silent, he said, “I like sleeping with you, waking up with you and sharing everything.”
She resisted the urge to leap on him and said with placid agreement, “I like it, too.”
“I never thought I’d want that with another woman. But here you are, and you mean so much to me.”
He didn’t say he loved her, but it was close. “Do you think maybe you’re just reacting to the danger from last night?” Not giving him a chance to answer, she said, “Because I know I am. I cried last night when I hate crying.”
“You cried with me,” he said softly. “Just me.”
He was the one she least wanted to burden. “And I’m still shaking.” She held out a hand to show him. “It’s all reaction.”
“Yeah.”
What did he mean, yeah? “I don’t want you to say or do anything that you might regret later.”
“I’ll regret it a lot if I don’t convince you to stay with me. We can get enough of your stuff today for you to get by, then get the rest later.”
She stared at him. “Get the rest?”
He shrugged. “I’m not trying to rush you, Violet. But yes, I want you here, with me.”
Her heart tried to thump out of her chest. “So we’d live at your house?”
“If you’re okay with that. Colt’s had enough changes, and Diesel is settled here. It’s nice having my brother right next door, too.”
That all sounded wonderful to her.
“Will you move in, honey?”
Reaction or not, she wanted to grab his offer with both hands and hold on tight. Nodding, she managed to squeak out, “Yes.”
Relief put a happy smile on his face. “Will you also take off a week?”
“Don’t push your luck, Guthrie.”
He laughed. “Going forward, let’s compromise on things, okay?”
“I suppose this compromise starts with me taking time off?”
“It’d be a big step toward trust, right?”
“Trust?”
“I trust you. Don’t you think you could trust me back?”
Violet almost slid off her chair. Hogan trusted her. She let that settle in, fill her up, and finally she smiled. After everything he’d been through, he’d still let her in.
“I’ve always trusted you,” she said. “Even when you were an ass, you were a hard worker and good brother and great dad. I figured that meant you were a great guy, deep down at least.”
Hogan laughed.
“Then when I screwed up with Joni, and you let me off the hook, I knew you were the best of men.”
“As the best of men, I swear I’ll take good care of the diner.” He scooped her up and into his lap, his mouth touching her nose, her temple, her chin. “I know what the diner means to you, Violet. I know it’s yours, that you’ve built it into a successful business with your own blood, sweat and tears. It’s a familiar, comfortable place loved by everyone in Clearbrook and beyond. I promise you, I’m not trying to take over and I won’t let anything slip through the cracks. I’ll—”
Violet leaned up and kissed him. “Compromise,” she whispered. “I’ll take off through Thursday, but I need to be there for the weekend.”
He appeared ready to argue, then changed his mind. “Guess I better take what I can get.”
Violet squirmed on his lap. “Well, as to what you can get...”
“You’re wounded, woman.” Holding her close, he came to his feet.
“Just my arm.” Bobbing her eyebrows, she said, “Every other body part is working just fine.”
“But Colt might come home anytime now. Not likely, but I wouldn’t want to chance it.”
Her face went blank. “I hadn’t even considered that.”
“You’re not used to living with a teenage son. But I am.” Hogan nuzzled her throat. “Monday through Friday he’ll be gone to school until the afternoon.”
“That gives us every morning.” With Monday feeling a long way off, she sighed. “Show me where I can store my stuff, and after you go to work, I’ll get Brooklin to drive so I can move over what I need right now. Toothbrush and change of clothes, things like that.”
“Don’t overdo it,” he told her, “but feel free to bring anything you want.”
In the two hours before he left for the diner, Hogan helped her get familiar with his house, showed her where to find anything she might need, and cleared out two dresser drawers and half the closet for her to use.
Then he helped her with her bath so she wouldn’t get her arm wet.
* * *
Over the next few days, Brooklin proved herself a true friend by helping her move in. With Colt’s added muscle, they even managed to rearrange the bedroom furniture to make room for her big dresser.
Thanks to a special version of the Advice Anonymous column in the Trickle, everyone knew what had happened and that she was staying with Hogan. The author of the column made her out as a hero, describing her as coolheaded, fierce and a great defender.
That’s when Violet figured out who wrote it.
For a fact, she knew Hogan, Colt and Nathan hadn’t authored the advice pieces urging women to chase them down, and no one else had been on the scene—except Brooklin.
Violet didn’t say anything to her. She enjoyed the column too much to chance making Brooklin uncomfortable about it.
Visitors stopped by to check on her, often with flowers, and soon the house was overflowing.
Neither Colt nor Hogan complained; they just doted on her, showing her in a dozen different ways how happy they were to have her with them.
She and Hogan slept together each night, and each morning after Colt left for school, they indulged each other.
Diesel kept her from being lonely when both the guys worked. He rarely left her side, except for when he slept with Colt. Each evening when her guys got home they told her how the day had gone.
It was a surreal time, wonderful but very different from what she was used to—since she usually worked sunup to sundown. She liked being busy, so by the time Friday arrived, her arm felt much better and she was anxious to get back to her normal routine.
She and Hogan rode to the diner together. A lot of progress had been made in the upstairs area and they were all set for their grand opening.
Of course, when she went out back to talk to Hogan, she noticed the outdoor stage right away. Prepping for the bigger crowd expected, Hogan loaded his grills.
Violet nudged him. “What’s up with the stage?”
He kept his gaze on the grill, saying, “Nathan and the band are going to play for our grand opening. Nice, huh?”
The band had performed at Screwy Louie’s many times, so that still didn’t explain things. “They’ve never used a stage before.” Usually they set up their equipment around trees and tables and made do.
“Maybe he’s trying to impress Brooklin.”
“Hmm. Maybe.” She put that aside as she oversaw their new signature burger, the Colt. Because of his part in handling Russell’s intrusion, Violet had insisted.
Colt laughed every time they mentioned it.
It was a big juicy burger with all of Colt’s favorite toppings. She expected it to be a hit, and the perfect way to introduce the feature.
The upstairs looked amazing and a new spotlight at the outside stairs helped showcase the additional entrance. Charish would help tonight, directing the young people to the special area.
Violet had expected a crowd, but the number of people filling the diner, the upstairs and the yard exceeded her expectations. By seven o’clock, she was ready to happily collapse. When the music started, she and most of the other guests moved to the outdoor area.
People were everywhere. She beamed with the pleasure of it. If this kept up, she thought, expanding the space might be a good idea.
“Always thinking ahead,” Hogan whispered near her ear, as if reading her mind. “I like how you do that.”
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” She opened her arms and turned a circle, taking it all in. “First you with your sinfully delicious ribs, and now that awesome area upstairs.” She threw her open arms around him. “You’ve been great for business, Hogan.”
He kept her close. “Have I been good for you, too?”
She filled her lungs with the joy of it. “You’ve been amazing for me.”
“Amazing enough to make it permanent?”
Good grief, would he always throw her for a loop?
Crowds literally swarmed around them. Nathan and the Drunken Monkeys wrapped up their song with a loud crescendo. People applauded.
“Way to keep me in suspense,” Hogan said with a grin. Then he kissed her.
Not a quick peck, either, but a toe-curling, tongue-sliding, damp-heat kiss that turned her knees to noodles.
Soon as he let up, Violet gasped, “I moved in. Did you think it was temporary?” Good thing she hadn’t put her house up for sale yet.
As if he’d read her mind, he said, “But we still have two houses. And we’re not married.”
Her knees gave out and she clutched at him to keep from falling. “Marriage?” she croaked.
“I love you.”
Oh my God. He said that like he wasn’t confessing something monumental. Violet nodded fast. “I love you, too.”
“Tell me you’ll marry me. Quick. I only have about fifteen seconds left.”
Was the marriage proposal going to expire? She had no idea, but blinded by the sudden tears, she whispered, “Yes, I would love to marry you.”
Hogan kissed her hard and fast. “Stay put, okay? This is for you.”
“What—”
Just then, Nathan announced, “Come on, Hogan. Let’s get the show going.”
Violet stared as Hogan stripped off his Barbecue Master shirt and laid it over the chair. The crowd went nuts, especially when he pulled a cowboy hat out from under his table and slapped it on his head.
Completely off balance, Violet grabbed the chair to steady herself.
Until Hogan started for the stage, she hadn’t realized he wore cowboy boots.
Putting her hand over her mouth, she laughed. What in the world!
Bounding onto the low stage and smiling toward Violet, he said into the mic, “She said yes.”
The cheers erupted into a deafening roar.
Colt came to stand beside her. He wore a cowboy hat and boots, too. Putting his arm around her, he said, “I’m glad you’ll be official, Violet.”
She nodded and whispered, “Me, too.”
The music started, and other than moving away from the mic, Hogan stayed put.
Nathan and the Drunken Monkeys started playing.
Her eyes widened. “I recognize that song!”
“Good.” Colt kissed her cheek, stripped off his shirt and headed for the stage. Charish, along with a whole group of friends, egged him on.
While singing “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy,” Nathan unbuttoned his shirt, shrugged it off and donned his own hat. Brooklin sat near the stage and she whooped—along with all the other women.
As if on cue, Sullivan and Jason emerged from the crowd, both already shirtless, jeans slung low, their hats tipped forward to hide their faces.
Lexie and Honor bounced and cheered.
Violet couldn’t stop laughing. Far as surprises went, this was the best. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so tickled.
And that proposal? She hugged herself to contain the utter joy.
When all the guys were onstage, they lined up and started to dance.
She laughed until she doubled over, loving the show, loving life.
Loving Hogan Guthrie.
The audience began to clap in time to their movements so that everyone seemed involved.
The tears overflowed, happy tears.
When at last they finished and the raucous applause began to fade, Hogan again took the mic. “One Friday night each month will be ladies’ night. I can’t guarantee a show every time—”
He had to wait for the protests to end before he could continue.
Wearing a huge smile, Hogan said, “—but Violet has some great ideas on how to keep you all happy.”
That brought out renewed celebration and a chant of her name.
“Come on up here, Violet.”
She tried to shake her head, but suddenly Kristy was there, urging her forward. And once she was close enough, Hogan took her hand and brought her up.
Grinning, Hogan said again, “She’s going to be my wife.”
The place went nuts.
He calmed them down, saying, “One more dance, and this time, any guy who wants should join in.”
The band immediately stripped off their shirts, even though two of them looked much better with them on. Their hats, a mix of straw and felt and, for Stan, decorated with a big feather, had everyone chuckling.
Nathan set a big box off the edge of the stage. “Help yourself to some hats, boys.”
She looked at Hogan, and he whispered, “Costume hats. Cheap, I promise.”
Aww, even now he had her bottom line in mind. “It’s an amazing idea,” she said, impressed and madly in love.
There was a general rowdy removal of shirts as men flaunted their not-so-impressive chests and wore the comically small cowboy hats in a variety of black, brown and white.
Nathan said, “Don’t forget your hardworking servers, okay? Show them some appreciation.”
Kristy, busy refilling drinks, gave him a thumbs-up.
When Nathan fired up another fast-paced country song, Hogan led Violet in a dance on the stage.
Sullivan went after Lexie, Jason after Honor. Colt abandoned them for Charish, and Nathan brought Brooklin up to join them.
It was, by far, the best night of Violet’s entire life.
With his hands holding her hips, Hogan gently swayed them, saying close to her ear, “I know it doesn’t make up for missing dances in school. But I promise you, going forward we’ll fit in lots of fun.” He brought her closer, slow dancing even though the music raced. “Not that I ever want to neglect your diner.”
“Our diner,” Violet said, leaning back to smile up at him. “We’ll share everything, okay?”
Hogan studied her face, half smiled and nodded. “I’m a lucky man.”
It amazed her that he could think so after all he’d been through. She stopped dancing. “I’m sorry that the past was so hard on you, but I’m glad life eventually brought you to me.”
Hogan glanced out at Colt dancing with Charish, surrounded by his friends, then to his brother, who laughed with Honor. When he smiled down at Violet again, he said, “Being here, now that I have you, I wouldn’t change a single thing.”
And that, more than anything, told Violet that the past was where it needed to be, no longer a part of their lives.
* * * * *
Look for Lori Foster’s next sizzling book, , from HQN Books.
For the men of the Body Armor security agency, the only thing more dangerous than the job they do is the risk of losing their hearts.
Read on for an exclusive sneak peek from by Lori Foster.