I gently work the fabric down her hips, brushing my palms over her silky skin in the process. Goosebumps break out on her arms. The dress pools around her feet, baring her toned back, ass, and thighs. It takes every ounce of willpower I possess and then some not to wrap an arm around her waist and slam her back against my chest. I want to be rough, to bury my cock deep in her core and kiss her until my teeth draw blood, but I need her gently more, and for that I’ll always hate her. I’ll never again give her the soft part of me that makes me vulnerable.
It takes even more self-control to will my hard-on away before Sandy gets an eyeful of my cock tenting my pants.
Setting Violet aside a little too roughly, I go to the counter. “How much?”
“Twenty thousand,” Sandy says.
Her contempt makes me smile. “Do I get a discount for cash?”
“No.” She cocks her hip. “We don’t offer a discount on our new range.”
Bullshit. I always get discounts for cash. She’s being spiteful, but I let it slide. The dress is worth every penny.
I take a credit card from my wallet and flick it onto the counter. “Here you go.”
Sandy shakes her head and mumbles, “Asshole,” under her breath as she picks up the dress.
While I pay, Violet gets dressed. Since I’m no longer occupying the sofa, she can sit down to tie the laces of her sneakers.
Sandy hands me the parcel and a receipt, omitting a thank you.
I snatch them from her hands with a grin. “Thank you for your time.”
When Violet passes the counter, Sandy says, “I’d seriously reconsider tying the knot with him if I were you.”
Taking Violet’s hand, I interlace our fingers. “Keep your advice to yourself, sweetheart. I don’t think you’d like me to mention that to the owner.”
Sandy pales a little and shuts her mouth. That doesn’t stop her from staring holes into the back of my head.
“So this is how it’s going to be,” Violet says as I drag her along to the car.
My laugh is cold. “You better believe it, darling. You didn’t expect hearts and roses, did you?”
“Don’t call me that.”
I open the door and bundle her inside. “I’ll call you whatever I like, and you’ll say thank you and please.”
Angry tears glimmer in her eyes, turning the violet color of her irises brighter than sparkly tanzanite. I close the door on her face lest my control wavers, feeling every bit the asshole Sandy accused me of being.
We drive home in another brooding silence. After seeing her inside, I show her how to operate the alarm system and leave her with an instruction to let the moving company in. Then I drive to the office, considering my options.
If Gus disagrees with this wedding, today will end in bloodshed. Although I won’t hesitate to do what I must, I prefer not to go on the run so soon again. I’ve only just settled. The farm has never been for me. That’s Ian’s dream. Whatever Gus’s answer will be today, nothing will prevent me from putting a ring on Violet’s finger tomorrow.
As for Elliot, killing him is too easy. Too merciful. I have other plans for him.
Thinking of rings, I dial Damian’s office. His secretary tells me he’s not available, so I leave a message.
It’s almost eleven when I pull into the parking lot in Midrand. I make my way straight to Gus’s office. From across the floor, Elliot spots me through the window in his door. He’s on his feet and outside his brand-new office before I make it to Gus’s doorstep.
“You’re late,” he says.
I push past him. “Sue me.”
He’s lucky I’ve decided not to kill him.
I knock once and enter Gus’s office.
He looks up from his computer, his glasses balanced on the tip of his nose. “You’re late.”
Elliot files in behind me, presumably to check if I’m going to spill the beans. I’m not a fool. It’ll be my word against Elliot’s. Calling Gus’s only son a liar without proof isn’t the way to win a war, and as the only proof I have implicates Violet, I’m in a catch-22 situation.
“I had business with Violet to settle,” I say.
Elliot rushes to his father’s desk. “What business may that be?”
The cocksucker hasn’t been in his new position for a full day and he’s already pretending to be calling the shots.
“I’m marrying her.” Just to be sure there’s no mistaking my intention, I add, “Tomorrow.”
Elliot doesn’t look as surprised as I expected him to be. For lack of a better word, he looks relieved.
Gus considers the announcement for all of one second before he says, “Fine. Thanks for informing me. Next time, follow protocol and take a day off. Consider this a warning. I won’t let it slide again.”
The ease with which he agrees takes me aback. Violet may not be his flesh and blood, but he raised her. No matter how fucked up his marriage is, he loves her mother. “Fine?”
Gus looks at Elliot and raises his brow. “Did you want something too?”
“Just to say congratulations, it seems.” Elliot salutes me as he walks to the door. “Sorry I can’t make it tomorrow. I have meetings scheduled.”
“You weren’t invited,” I say to his back.