suggested, hating it that I wasn’t more help.
“But we’re so close to the rental lot.” I could practically see the wheels turning in her mind. She spared a glance in my direction when her face brightened with an idea. “Turn on the heater!”
“The heater?!?” I didn’t bother to hide the questioning tone of my words. It wasn’t cold outside and turning on the heater seemed like the last thing we would want to do for an overheating car.
“Yes,” Violet nodded confidently. “It seems counterintuitive, but it will actually pull some of the excess heat away from the engine.”
I moved my hand to comply with her odd request. Sure enough, the temperature gauge began edging back towards the normal range.
Vi beamed a smile at me. “It’s not a long-term fix, but it should get us back to the rental lot, and then they can deal with it.”
“Smart,” I said, as she rolled down the windows to let some fresh air into the quickly warming interior of the car.
“Being a life hack queen has its benefits,” she said, obviously proud of herself.
Seeing my opening, I said, “I don’t think I want to go back to a life without all of your genius hacks.”
Completely misunderstanding my meaning, Vi said, “You should start listening to my radio show! You’ll be implementing handy life hacks into your world in no time.”
“I will,” I promised, since it seemed important to her. As she turned into the car rental lot, I added, “But I’d also like to have direct access to them. I want to keep seeing you, Violet.”
She was quiet for so long I began to wonder if she had heard me. After she pulled into a designated spot for car returns and put the car into ‘Park,’ she finally turned to look at me. “We agreed that this would be for the weekend only.”
“I know,” I admitted before adding, “But I developed real feelings for you, Violet. Strong feelings. And I don’t want to let you go. I can’t.”
I lifted her hand to press her palm into my chest, so she could feel how rapidly my heart was thumping.
She stared at me with wide eyes as if she couldn’t quite believe my words––even though they were some of the sincerest of my life. I was aching to know what she was thinking, but she didn’t seem to be in a sharing mood.
Deciding I was in too far to back out now and that I’d kick myself for the rest of my days if I didn’t try my best to win her over, I said, “Violet, I’ve never said this to anyone, so that should tell you how serious I am about these words… I’m in love with you.”
35
Violet
I stared at Oliver as we sat motionless in the parked car. My lashes fluttered as I tried to comprehend his words. I’d spent the entire weekend reminding myself not to fall for his significant charm and trying to give him my body, without sharing my heart. The news that he loved me seemed impossible to understand.
“Love?” The word came out scratchy. This man was known for not falling in love. He used women for their bodies and quickly moved on to his next conquest. I was aware of that, and I had been mentally and emotionally prepared for that outcome.
What I hadn’t been expecting was to return to the city and have him proclaim his love for me. I stared blankly out the vehicle’s front windshield as I tried to make sense of this unbelievable turn of events.
Finally, turning to face him, I said, “But you don’t love anyone.”
“I love you,” he said. His tone was filled with confidence and joy. When I continued staring with disbelieving eyes at him, he brought my hand up to his lips and pressed a kiss to it before repeating, “I love you, Violet. So much. Please don’t send me away. I want to be with you for as long as you’ll have me. Forever, if you’ll allow it.”
I hadn’t let myself even consider falling for Oliver. He’d been off limits, so I’d kept my heart carefully walled off. Even though I had reminded myself repeatedly that this was a fun fling, and nothing more, I had developed a significant soft spot for him.
I’d been intending to go home and nurse a freshly re-broken heart. My thinking had been that at least I would now know that it would eventually be possible for me to move on with someone other than