The Billionaire's Beautiful Mistake(6)

“Okay, time for bed!” Jane called out, lifting her hands into the air and laughing at whatever had just popped into her mind.

Debbie, Sherry and Beth all agreed, but still groaned when they pushed their chairs back and stood up. The bar was still full of patrons, but it wasn’t rowdy or brutally crowded although Violet didn’t understand why. The beer was superior and there wasn’t that disgusting stale beer smell that normally permeated bars. Everything was clean and comfortable.

She pulled her keys out of her purse and started herding the other ladies towards the door.

She was hiding. Oh yes, she was definitely hiding! As she managed to get her group going in the right direction, she made sure to stay behind at least one of them, not wanting Creek to see her again. She was painfully self-conscious of her small boobs and her well-worn jeans. Her hair wasn’t streaked with interesting highlights and she’d barely bothered to put on makeup. She was so completely different from Boobie Barbie and she didn’t want to be compared because Violet knew she’d come up lacking. In every department!

“Going so soon?” Creek asked, stepping behind her and putting a gentle hand on her elbow.

Violet swung around, startled because she’d thought he was still behind the bar. Darn it! She should have looked! She should have figured out his position before she’d tried to sneak out.

“Yes,” she replied, glancing down at her boot covered toes.

“Do you need a ride home? I can just…”

Violet quickly shook her head. “I’m actually the designated driver,” she said, ignoring the warm sensation that snuck up her body with his offer. It was sweet, but he probably offered that to anyone. “Thank you.”

Violet realized that her friends were already out the door. “I have to go,” she told him, feeling self-conscious.

He stopped her. “Come on back another night,” he encouraged. “You never know what specials are happening.”

Violet smiled, looking up at him once again. She didn’t understand the look he was giving her and she felt too inept to simply speak out and ask him why he was stopping her. So instead of setting herself up to look foolish, she bowed her head again and said a simple, “Thanks.”

Hurrying out the door, she berated herself for being so shy and insecure. Darn it, why could she negotiate with the toughest vendors and artists, but when it came to men, especially handsome, gorgeous, tall, and fascinating men like Creek – she became a silly schoolgirl, hiding and cringing away from any sort of connection?

As her friends piled into her Jeep, she looked back at the bar. Violet had to clench her hands to the steering wheel to keep herself from rushing back inside.

“Oh! Wait! I forgot something!” Beth exclaimed, as she jumped out of the vehicle and hurried back inside.

Violet watched, the warm lights of The Rotten Apple beckoning her to go back inside and give Creek her phone number. Wasn’t that how things were done? She could just write her number down on a piece of paper and hurry out. If he didn’t call, she’d be no worse off. If he did call…!

But Beth hurried back out the door and the moment was gone. “Okay, let’s go!” Beth said and slammed the door shut.

Violet was looking back at the bar one last time, so she missed the look that the four other women gave to each other. Beth and Jane even high-fived in the back seat.



Creek stared at the cute woman as she rushed back outside into the darkness, then down at the piece of paper. With a surge of satisfaction, he almost laughed out loud. The piece of paper had Violet’s name, phone number and an address on it. Bingo!

“Looks like you struck out on the cute one,” Knox commented as he moved behind the bar to fill three beers.

Saeger and Tucker were leaning against the other side of the bar and chuckled. “Went down in flames, if you ask me,” Saeger teased.

Creek ignored all of them as he stuffed the paper into his pocket. “Go to hell,” was his only response.

Tucker took a long sip of his beer. “Looks like you might already be there,” he commented, looking pointedly at the painted blond woman who was obviously trying hard to gain Creek’s attention.

Creek glanced over at the woman, then back down at his friends. “Not my type,” he replied, completely uninterested after seeing Violet’s adorable bottom and the way her sweater hid what he suspected were very fine curves. Damn, he thought, shifting uncomfortably as his body hardened just at the memory of the woman reaching up to grab the beer mugs, revealing a small slice of white flesh. Her waist had been so tiny, he suspected he might be able to wrap his hands around it. A smooth, flat stomach and those hips! If he could get her naked, he knew he’d be in heaven.