Page 31 of Playing with Trouble

Luckily, my parents were still married, and even though my father was retired from the Army, I swore I’d do better.That no matter how demanding my job got, I would be there for the people who mattered.I wasn’t going to be the kind of man who made his family feel second to duty, which was a big part of the reason why I’d never allowed myself to have a serious relationship when I was in the military.I’d refused to make promises to any woman I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep.

“I realize this isn’t what you planned,” Sutton said, his tone leveling out.“But the client can’t be left without coverage.”

“I understand,” I replied evenly.“I’ll remain on assignment.”

I hung up the phone, disappointment tugging at me.Missing my nephew’s birthday stung, but there was no way in hell I’d leave Violet unguarded.Not with the threats against her still unresolved.Family mattered, but so did my responsibility to protect Violet.

Violet frowned at me from where she was reclining on the couch, reading a book.“What was that all about?”she asked.

All I’d told Violet was that I was taking the afternoon and evening off, no details.“The guy who was supposed to cover for me today is sick,” I said, though my frustrated tone betrayed me.“So…you’re stuck with me.”

She tilted her head, studying me for a moment.“You wouldn’t be trying to arrange coverage unless it was important.What were you going to do?”

That was the problem with letting someone close—they learned to read your moods and emotions, too.“It’s my nephew’s birthday today,” I admitted, sitting at the opposite end of the couch from her, the only spot available since her legs were stretched out across the cushions.“I was going to be at the party.”

Her expression softened—something I was seeing more of since our night at the club and liked—but her thoughtful frown didn’t vanish.“And now you can’t, because of me?Ford, that’s ridiculous.Nothing has happened since my accident.I think I’ll survive one afternoon without you breathing down my neck.”

That had hardly been the case, and her exaggeration made me smile.“I’m not about to slack on my duties.”I arched a brow at her.“Maybe nothing has happened because I’ve been here with you.”

She shook her head adamantly.“I don’t want you missing an important day with your family because of me.”

“It’s…” The word “fine” sat on the tip of my tongue, but Violet’s sharp look cut me off.Lying to her suddenly seemed like the worst move I could make.I cleared my throat and replied more honestly.“This job comes with sacrifices.That’s just part of what I signed up for.”

She closed her book and set it aside, studying me curiously.“You like your family?”

She seemed so surprised, and a small smile tugged at my mouth.“I do.We’re close.All of us.”

She looked away quickly, and I caught her subtle swallow and the way her guard crept back up.I knew enough of her history from Chase to recognize the landmines—her dad had been crap, and her mother was gone.All she had was Andrea, Madison, and Christopher.A motley crew of all half siblings she clung to but never gave her the full picture of what it meant to be surrounded and supported and anchored by parental love and that family dynamic.

“Why don’t you come with me?”I asked, the words escaping before I could stop them.

Violet blinked as if she’d misheard me.“What?”

I thought about the best way to handle this, because I suddenly wanted Violet there with me, but knew she’d dig her heels in if she felt like this was just my way of trying to babysit her.“Look, your company is paying for a bodyguard and I still need to watch you.Leaving you alone is not an option, period.But I think you’d enjoy getting out and having fun.It’s a casual pool party, nothing complicated, and you can hang out and relax.My sisters will love you and I promise my nieces and nephews won’t be too annoying.”

Violet glanced around the room tentatively, as if considering the offer, and when her gaze came back to mine there was still a bit of uncertainty lingering there.“It would be nice to get out, but isn’t your family going to resent it if you bring a client with you to the party?I mean, that’s just weird.”

I considered that.My family had always been patient about my schedule, but bringing a client home?That wasn’t exactly subtle.I hated the thought of missing the party, hated disappointing my sisters and my nephew, but my options were limited.

Unless…Violet came as something other than a client.Maybe, as a friend?

I dismissed that immediately because my sisters would never buy that.They’d spend the whole time teasing me, convinced that the two of us were something more…

A thought hit me, and the corner of my mouth curved at my brilliant idea.“You could go as my girlfriend.”

Violet stared at me like I’d lost my mind.“Did you hit your head when I wasn’t looking?”

I sat forward, clasping my hands between my spread knees, my eyes on her.“Hear me out.My sisters are always on me about letting them set me up with a nice girl.Blind dates, their friends, neighbors, co-workers.”I grimaced.“They want me to settle down.”

Her brow arched.“And you don’t want to settle down?”

“I do, actually,” I admitted.“But I want to meet a woman on my own terms, and in a natural way.Not because my sisters roped me into a dinner with a stranger because they want me to hurry up and get married and start a family like they have.That’s just fucking awkward, in my opinion.I don’t mind waiting for therightwoman to come into my life.”

Violet’s expression shifted, and I didn’t miss the flicker of empathy in her gaze.“I get it.Andrea’s said something similar to me, about finding a guy to set me up with,as if,” she said with a roll of her eyes.“And honestly, even if I was into romance, which I amnot,” she insisted, “blind dates sound like a nightmare.The pressure, the awkwardness…yeah, no thanks.”

I grinned.“Exactly, which is why you coming as my fake girlfriend would make the day a helluva lot easier to get through and save me from their meddling.”

She bit her bottom lip, considering my offer, while I marveled at this more amenable side to Violet.It wasn’t long ago that every word out of her mouth had been laced with defiance, every glance a challenge.That recent night at The Players Club had changed a lot of that.