Imperfect Affections
CHAPTER10
Leon
Not a word is said about last night. No questions are asked, and no apology is offered. I take a few hours off for all the overtime I put in and go home early. It’s not to make up for coming home late and drunk yesterday. We have an appointment with Damian. I don’t look forward to facing him, but I may as well let him rub my face in my mistake and get it over with.
Violet is loading washing in the tumble dryer when I walk into the kitchen just after lunch.
She straightens with a start. “You’re home early.”
Crossing the floor, I take her in. She’s wearing a T-shirt and yoga pants. Her dark hair is tied in a ponytail. A strand that came loose is stuck to her temple where a sheen of perspiration coats her skin. It’s a hot day, but the AC is on in the house. She’s been working.
I frown. “You don’t have to clean the house.”
“It’s not going to clean itself.”
I hated the way Gus made her work. The last thing I want is to turn her into some kind of Cinderella in my house. Correction, our house. The idea takes some getting used to but only in the best way possible.
Reaching out, I twist her ponytail around my fist. The thick strands are heavy and silky. I coil them into a rope, playing the long tresses over my fingers. “Did you have lunch?”
She stands dead quiet, looking like a mouse that’s being teased by a cat. “Yes.” Her throat bobs. “You?”
It’s not my objective to make her nervous. I let her hair slip from my fingers. “Yes, but thanks for your concern.”
She doesn’t smile at my attempted humor. She remains serious, studying me with careful attention. I don’t like it. If she’s on her guard around me, I only have myself to blame.
“Have a shower and get dressed.” I step back, putting space between us. “We have an appointment in town.”
More caution sparks in her eyes. “What appointment?”
“With Damian.”
“Damian? Your brother?”
“Do you know another Damian?”
She blinks. “Why?”
My tone is business-like. “You need a ring.”
She looks at the simple band on her finger. “I have a ring.”
“That cost me all of eight hundred bucks from a cheap chain store.”
Her flinch is minute, but I notice it.
“So what?” she says. “Do you have to make a statement by getting a more expensive wedding ring?”
I smile. “The wedding ring stays. I made my vows with that ring, and it’ll remain on your finger until the day you blow out your last breath.”
A look of wow comes over her face, but it’s not the good kind of wow. “Thanks for enlightening me. I may have missed the statement you so clearly intended with our wedding rings.”
“I’m glad I could clear it up for you.” I’m not going to apologize for marrying her with a price knockdown. She sold herself cheap when she stole my work.
Her jaw tightens. “If I’m dying with this cheap ring on my finger, why are you getting another one from your brother? The last time I checked, his rings were notoriously expensive.”
“You’ve checked, have you? Before or after you married me?”
Her nostrils flare. “Before. I happened to page through some of my mom’s glossy magazines.”
Getting her worked up before picking out a ring isn’t my intention either. “We’re going to see Damian for an engagement ring. You have ten minutes to change, unless you’re happy to go barefoot and dressed in an old high school T-shirt.”
There’s nothing wrong with her clothes. She looks classy no matter what she wears. I just know enough about women to know she may not feel comfortable in Damian’s fancy office if she thinks she’s dressed down.
“Do I have a choice?” she asks, her eyes spitting fire.
“No,” I drawl. “Nine minutes.”
Making a frustrated sound, she storms from the room.
My chuckle is humorless. Great going. It’s not how I envisioned this outing to be starting. I just can’t help being a prick. My ego is still too raw.
While she gets ready, I put in my weekly online order of groceries for a home delivery, adding a few items Violet may enjoy. When she comes downstairs dressed in a simple white dress with ballerina flats and her hair piled in its usual messy bun on her head, I make use of the opportunity to give her the new credit card and cell phone I ordered.
“These are for you.”