Violet
She was frustrated.
What made it even worse was that she was frustrated with herself for something easily controllable. This had the added effect of doubling down on her frustration, and pushing it closer toward outright anger.
But at least she looked cute.
Unfortunately, that was the crux of the entire issue. This was just supposed to be a simple business dinner. So why had she allowed herself to go and get dressed up for it, to the point of putting on makeup and a dress?
At first she’d just brushed it off as trying to even things out for her disastrous appearance during the day. So she’d taken a shower and straightened her normally wavy hair. That wasn’t a big deal she’d told herself. It was simply polite, the nice thing to do. After all, he was funding the entire operation.
But now, as she stood in front of the mirror in the reception area of the restaurant waiting for Ivore, she realized that she was lying to herself. The restaurant he’d asked her to meet him at was nice, and so a certain level of dress was appropriate. She could have worn pants, however, and she definitely hadn’t needed to wear anything that showed even a remote hint of cleavage. But she was.
All in all, it was a bad idea. So now she was left frustrated, but at least she looked good. It wasn’t a black dress either, though the slate gray might appear that way in the dimness of the restaurant.
The door opened and Ivore entered, looking fantastic in his black dress shirt tucked into black dress pants. The top button was undone, exposing just a bit of the pale skin at the base of his throat. His hair was perfectly parted and pulled over, the vivid white clashing with his outfit in the most spectacular way. She noticed most people doing a double take as he walked by, and she could understand why. It was a hell of a good look on him.
“Sorry for that,” he said, stepping up next to her. “Had to go the next block over for a parking lot.” He frowned at the hostess. “They didn’t seat you yet? I have a reservation.”
Violet waved him off. “She offered, but I decided to wait for you.”
Again, something she wasn’t sure why she’d done. All that did was ensure everyone looked at her as she walked in. They would all be asking why the two of them were together, making guesses, assuming they were more than they were. Then they would ask why someone like her was with someone as hot as him. Violet looked forward to that. She needed that reminder of who and what she was.
“You do look quite wonderful,” he murmured as their hostess picked up the menus and gestured for the pair to follow her.
“Thank you,” she said primly, trying to sound professional but appreciative.
It came out cold and frosty.
Dammit, just because she couldn’t get close to him didn’t mean she had to be a bitch. Violet thought about saying something, but before she could come up with an appropriate set of words they reached their table.
Why was it that being complimented by Ivore had to make her feel so uncomfortable? She wanted nothing more than to change the subject, to switch it to business and keep it there for the entire evening. That way, if she brought it up, maybe he wouldn’t notice that she didn’t tell him how hot he looked, his muscles filling out the dress shirt as if it had been custom-made for him.
Hell, if he had as much money as he claimed, then maybe it had been.
“So, spill,” she said as they finished ordering drinks. “What’s going on here? Why are you offering up all this money?”
Ivore smiled that annoying, far-too-charming smile of his that made her feel uncomfortably good. Not happy—that wasn’t something she’d allow herself to feel—but…it didn’t make her feel bad either. Yet another thing to dislike about him.
“Would you be asking the bank the same question?” he countered. “To me it sounds like you haven’t actually thought through the scenario where you would have been approved. Have you?”
Mostly,” she said immediately, without hesitation. The truth was, she’d spent far too much time thinking it through. It was the only thing she had left after…After. So she’d planned it out to the last detail more than once. Now it was just a matter of executing it, which is something she hadn’t prepared for. “I just didn’t expect it to happen so fast. I suppose I figured I’d have more time. Your unexpected generosity is moving it forward quickly.”
“Have you thought the next steps through?”
She nodded. “Yes. I think I know what I want. I’ve done a lot of research and brainstorming. Names, designs, etcetera. So hopefully that should all go easily. It’s still daunting, however. There’s so much that needs to happen.”
“Well, it’s good to hear that you’ve done your research. I want to see my money put to good use.” Ivore smiled at her once more, something he did with annoying frequency.
Why the hell did he have to be so damn good-looking? Couldn’t he have just been normal-looking? That would have made the whole thing far easier for her stomach. Now though, she kept getting distracted by his good looks. The clean lines of his chin and face, the smoothness of his skin. He was just hot, and that was an issue. Violet knew she was physically attracted to him, and that was a problem. A major problem.
It made her extremely uncomfortable with their business deal. Part of her wished that he’d put up more of a fight when it came to decreasing his share. Then she could have claimed she was unwilling to do such a deal and back out of it. Now though, they were committed, and by his account he’d already called the agent and said they were going to lease it. Or buy it. She hadn’t really asked that question, and it was probably an important one.
Come to think of it, she hadn’t asked very many questions at all. She barely knew a thing about Ivore, besides the fact that he was Cowl’s brother. Cowl she knew, and he was a nice person, and she was quite happy for her friend. Unlike herself, Andria deserved someone like Cowl, especially after all she’d been through.
But that was no excuse not to know more about her financial backer.
“What do you do, Ivore?” she asked, changing the subject completely. It was time to get to know him a little better. Just who was she letting buy into her business?
“Like, for work?” He seemed a little put off by the question, and she doubled down on it immediately.
“For work, for fun. I don’t know a thing about you, and yet I’m supposed to give you twenty percent of my business.”
“I work for the government,” he replied smoothly. “I do various jobs for them. Right now I guess you could say I’m interested in finance.”
“Like what, a financial advisor?”
He shrugged. “Close enough.”
“And you’re still employed?”
Ivore lifted his eyebrows. “Pardon?”
“You’d think a financial advisor would do smarter things than spend government money on a lonely cupcake shop that may or may not succeed. Don’t you think?”
The big man smiled, perfect teeth glinting in the dim light, looking just as white as his hair. She yanked her gaze away before his deep, dark blue eyes could lure her in. She was not falling for that trick with him.
“Who said I was spending the government’s money?” He winked at her, and Violet had to be careful not to splash her newly delivered water as her stomach flip-flopped on her.
“Well, shouldn’t you be smarter about your money then?” She carefully focused her attention on her arm so that it wouldn’t wobble as she lifted it to her mouth, irritated at the reactions he was able to garner from her with little more than a gesture.
Ivore waved off her objection. “Everyone should be free to indulge in their vices every now and then,” he countered. “After all, what good is money if you never spend any of it? I didn’t acquire my wealth simply to hoard it. I earned so I could spend it.”
The way he finished his last sentence seemed off. Like he’d intended to say more, but had cut himself short abruptly. What was it he wasn’t telling her about spending his money, she wondered?
“Well if you’re already wealthy, then why are you so interested in a little cupcake shop?”
Ivore sipped at his own water. “Unlimited free cupcakes.”
“Right. You realize you could buy that for the amount of money you’re going to put into this, don’t you?”
“Not ones as good as those I had the other day. They were some of the best cupcakes I’ve ever had.” Ivore was smirking now, but for the life of her she couldn’t figure out why.
“If you say so.” She refrained from saying any more as the server returned to take their orders.
***
Dinner itself was amazing. She ordered the prime rib after Ivore insisted he was paying for the meal, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. They signed some documents and made small talk about the next steps, but for the most part it was an uninteresting dinner. True to his word, Ivore didn’t try a thing.
He was perhaps a little overzealous in jumping out and opening the car door for her after bringing her back to the house she shared with Andria, but Violet wasn’t about to dwell on it.
“Goodnight, Ivore,” she said as he closed the door.
“Goodnight, Violet.” He stood next to the car, arms dangling at his sides awkwardly, as if he wasn’t sure what to do with them.
Shit. Was she supposed to hug him? Was that what he expected to happen?
“Thank you for dinner.” This was getting uncomfortable. Could he just leave and go get in his car?
“You’re very welcome. I’m happy to be in business with you.” His eyes darted around everywhere, and then without warning he stepped in close to give her a hug.
Violet closed her eyes and lifted her own arms. Did they really have to do this? She didn’t want to hug him…did she? Well, her ass certainly wasn’t out. And now they were holding the hug.
Still holding it.
His body was so warm in the cooler fall evening she suddenly didn’t want to let go. She wanted to pull him in tighter, to suck his warmth from his body. Violet was ready to drape him over her like a blanket, feeling the heat from his firm, muscular body pour into her.
She pulled back abruptly, the thought of him in a sexual manner spurring all sorts of self-hating thoughts in her head. This wasn’t right. She couldn’t be doing this.
“Goodnight,” she said in a rush, hurrying up the front walkway to her house, leaving Ivore standing there without any sort of explanation.
The truth was, she wasn’t entirely sure she had one. Too much was going on in her brain, and she needed to sort out what was truth, and what wasn’t.