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Was she covering up something? Did Violet commit a crime? “Layla, I need to know. I cannot have someone around my children if I only have a vague explanation of their past.”
Layla didn't say anything for a moment, considering my words. “I understand.”
She was protecting her friend's privacy, I understood. But my kids’ safety came first.
“So?”
Layla sighed. “Well, Violet came to Cape Worth after a bad breakup.”
“Bad breakup?” That gave me nothing. People broke up all the time. Except, maybe this breakup went beyond the usual cutting off ties.
“Yes.”
I waited for a few seconds, hoping she'd add more, but clearly, she was done. "This is what she told you?"
"Yes, Shawn." She sighed. "Look, Violet has been through a lot, and just because she's not forthcoming with her entire history doesn't mean she's unfit to work with you and your boys." She paused. "Has anything happened that makes you suspicious?"
I thought back to the night with the frying pan, weighing it against the weekend the boys enjoyed with her. She was a positive influence regardless of how scared she got, and Layla didn't need to know she was so nervous. "No, nothing."
“Great. Give her a chance, Shawn.”
“I am. I will.”
Troy came back on, and we chatted a bit more. Minutes later, we called it a night and ended the call. The latter conversation did nothing to diminish my curiosity about Violet.
I flipped open my laptop and pulled up the email with her résumé. I skimmed through it, but it offered nothing new. Sighing, I closed the laptop and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Layla didn't offer much apart from a breakup, but something about the hesitation to admit it at all was curious. Maybe that was the key to understanding Violet's motives. But I'd never know if I didn’t ask her.
I needed to spend some time with her tomorrow and see what I could dig up. A smile came over my face. Violet would undoubtably run for the hills if I suggested we spend time together. I wasn't the friendliest bastard, and I'd been a little too hard on her at first. But I had to get her to trust me and confide in me so I could lay my curiosity to rest.
I wrapped a fist around the beer bottle and brought it to my mouth. For the sake of my kids, I reminded myself. That was the reason I would ask Violet to spend time with me. Not because I wanted to see the spark in her eyes or listen to her breathy soft voice. For the kids.
With that settled, I tossed the beer bottle into the recycling bin and went upstairs. As always, I couldn't help but glance at Violet's room door more than once.
Soon, she wouldn't be a mystery any longer.
Chapter5
Violet
It seemed there was something new to learn about my boss every day. Like last night, I discovered dim lights and Shawn made me think dirty thoughts that undermined a naughty session in my bathtub. Today, I learned he was richer than I had imagined.
As I drove home from dropping the boys off at school, I carefully kept to my lane and drove just above the speed limit. The silver, sleek car I drove, that looked like a futuristic model, was the least impressive of Shawn's cars.
After the boys ate, threw on their backpacks, and were ready to leave for school, we went down to the garage to pick out a car. I imagined it'd be one of two choices, but as the boys pointed out the multiple vehicles that belonged to their dad, I had a mini heart attack. They looked too exquisite to take out on the open road. It'd probably take a year's worth of my previous salary to fix a dent in any of these cars.
“This is Dad's favorite.” Leon pointed to a black Jeep.
"Fits the man," I muttered, looking around for the least expensive-looking car that wouldn't leave me in debt forever if I somehow wrecked it.
“What?” Leon asked.
“Nothing.” I shook my head, and my eyes snagged on a silver car. “That should do. Let's use that one.”
The boys got in, and I drove them to school. I went back home, pulled into the garage, and parked the car. As I got out, I skimmed over the vehicles. I was never one to do anything solely for monetary gain. I loved to impact individuals positively, and there was no better stage to start than with kids. In the past, I might have turned up my nose at anyone with such an income. But the last few months taught me money was important. If I had the means, getting away from Eric would've been much easier. Heck, I could go to another continent, and he'd never find me again. So, yeah, I certainly couldn't take a moral high horse over Shawn’s wealth. Instead, I admired him. It took a lot of drive, passion, and hard work to get to where he was. That should be commended, not scorned.
Since the boys were at school, I had a few hours to myself. I took the elevator back up, and once I was inside, the silence hit me. No game sounds filtered to the foyer. No boys teasing each other. I frowned, realizing I hadn't seen Shawn all morning. Maybe he went to work. Or perhaps he was avoiding me because of last night.
My hands covered my cheeks in an attempt to cool the flush brought on by my memories. I took the stairs two at a time until I reached my bedroom. I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, sighing as I thought about what had transpired. I certainly hadn't expected him to be there in a tight-fitting tee with his lean muscles on display. And after thinking of him while I pleasured myself in the bathtub, it felt like my arousal was written all over my face.
