I’m so sorry, baby. I never meant to hurt you. I love you.
She reached for the phone and then jerked her hand away as if burned. He was a sweet manipulator. He’d charm her into forgiving him, and next time, he’d catch her in a weak moment and she’d welcome him, again. Bodie was impossible to resist.
She told herself the same thing now as she’d told herself that final night back at their condo in Dallas when she’d finally risen from the chilly water, alerting them to her presence. Caught in his cruelty, Victor had cursed. He tried to apologize, but when she’d stopped him, he turned on his heel and walked out. Bodie had attempted to explain, the pain of being torn between them evident in his beautiful but bloodshot eyes as he watched her pack all of her clutter and crap, which didn’t take long at all.
I deserve better.
On the way to a hotel that night, she’d been listening to a talk radio program. Most of it had gone in one ear and out the other until the host of the show had asked a key question of the guest. “What is your one true objective? What is your true north?”
She was painfully aware she’d been a people pleaser all her life. Now it was time to take care of herself for a change. She looked around the store, her thriving business, caught a glimpse of herself in her mirror, and then smiled at the sounds Josh made as he worked. No longer sitting dead in the water, she took a deep breath and finally embraced the course correction and smiled at the customer who walked up to the counter.
* * * *
Josh hadn’t even closed his truck door when Lucas met him out in the parking lot. On the way back in, he filled Lucas in on the morning’s events at Violet’s, including her phone call. He kept to himself how much it’d bothered him to see her in tears. She deserved better.
“And you’re sure she was okay?” Lucas asked as Josh placed his keys on his desk.
“By the time Joseph Hazelle had left she was fine, but something about that phone call had her upset enough to cry.”
“You should’ve texted me.”
Josh shook his head. “And what would you have done? Come over and put pressure on her to tell you all about it? That could easily backfire. Besides, like I said, she was fine by the time I left.”
Lucas sighed with frustration and turned to reach for something on his desk. “Speaking of Mr. Hazelle, he dropped this off for you this morning.” He held up an envelope.
Josh sat back in his office chair, the beginnings of a smile crossing his lips as he examined the heavy, dark purple envelope with its gold seal. Lucas leaned against his desk, expectation in his eyes, obviously waiting for him to open the envelope. His brother had never been the type to enjoy delayed gratification.
Tapping the front of the envelope, Josh asked, “He hand delivered this?” In the Emporium, earlier that afternoon, he’d caught the pleased grin on Joseph’s face when he’d glanced up at where Josh had been working on Violet’s chandelier and acknowledged him with a nod.
Lucas nodded. “Aren’t you going to open it?”
Josh was more curious as to why Joseph had made a similar delivery to Violet earlier. Whatever was in her envelope had made an impression on her. After Joseph had left, she’d looked his way. Something in her eyes had been different, and he’d felt a small flicker of hope flame to life inside him. He didn’t know if it had to do with the contents of the envelope or the phone conversation that had obviously upset her moments before Joseph had arrived.
He’d spent enough time around her to know when she was upset because she’d begin cleaning and tidying. His heart had clenched when she’d blinked and a tear had fallen before she quickly swiped away the evidence of her hurt. He’d wanted to descend from the ladder and check on her, but experience working near her for the last several months had taught him that she would thank him but keep whatever was bothering her to herself. He’d almost done it anyway, but then Joseph had walked in.
He lifted the seal and revealed a thick piece of printed parchment. When he removed it, another smaller piece of paper fell out with it. He scanned the printed parchment and chuckled.
“What is it?” Lucas asked. Josh handed it to his brother.
Lucas read aloud, “‘Explore your erotic fantasies and hedonistic desires at Hazelle House.’ I know the two of you are friends, but I wonder what Joseph is up to. I mean, you’re not a member of the club—are you?”
Josh shook his head and offered him the hand-written note, which Lucas also read out loud. “Consider this a helpful nudge between friends. I hope you and Lucas will come as my guests.” He looked again at the invitation. “Is this supposed to be like a Fantasy Island weekend? Like ‘It’s de plane, boss. De plane!’?”