Tales of Darkness & Sin - Pepper Winters Page 0,11
skim milk—because you’re watching your figure.
One must keep up appearances after all.
I know you like to bury your nose in romance books while secretly trying to convince yourself that great loves like those don’t truly exist and it’s all just fiction.
But that’s just another lie you tell yourself.
Because you’ve always been a hopeless romantic.
However, those hopes were dashed six weeks ago when you caught your husband-to-be fucking your maid of honor in the bathroom at your rehearsal dinner.
He never deserved you, Violet.
You’re a rare, exotic flower in a field of weeds.
One that needs to be cherished and taken care of.
You deserve someone who truly values you…the real you.
You deserve a man who knows how you like to be kissed, the way you like to be touched.
You deserve a man who knows exactly what you need.
Fortunately, the time has come for you to meet that man.
Again.
Because I’m your new neighbor, Violet Meadows…
And I have every intention of getting what I want this time.
You.
CHAPTER TWO
Monday
Violet
“Smile for the camera, Nutmeg.”
My Bengal cat blinks at me and glances around her new abode with lingering suspicion in her eyes. She doesn’t trust this place yet, and I can’t say I blame her. All week, I’ve felt as if something was off. I haven’t been able to decide if it’s the recent cataclysmic events of my life or something else that has me glancing over my shoulder every few seconds.
When I bought this house, I thought I’d be unpacking all my things in a haze of newlywed bliss. Instead, I’m here alone, screening all my calls and sending my ex’s texts straight to purgatory where I’ll never have to think of him again.
Shaking off those thoughts, I tap out a quick caption and post the selfie with Nutmeg to my Instagram account. Within seconds, I have hundreds of likes pinging in my notifications. The comments start flooding in from an army of strangers admiring the perfection of my life. They compliment my wardrobe, my smile, my posed snapshots of the few seconds where I can fake it just for them.
Cringing, I set the phone aside and rub Nutmeg’s ears. “It’s all going to be okay. You’ll see. I think we’re going to love it here.”
She stands up and swishes her tail in disagreement before walking away. This is what my life has come to. Talking to my cat in an empty house on a Friday night. If only my followers really knew what a disaster everything has turned out to be. I have everything I thought I ever wanted, but I’ve never felt more empty.
My phone rings while I’m pouring myself a glass of wine and my sister’s name flashes across the screen. I’ve been avoiding her calls a little too much, and I know she’ll freak if I don’t answer this one. While her intentions might be good, I just don’t want to hash out my feelings about the recent dumpster fire that has become my life.
“Hey.” I turn on the speakerphone and push open the screen door as I step onto the back patio.
“Hey yourself,” Valerie says. “I was about to send out a search team.”
“Sorry.” I sit down in my comfy new wicker chair and take a sip of my wine. “I’ve been unpacking all day.”
“You know I could have helped you. Just say the word and I’ll be there.”
“It’s okay.” I lean my head back and stare up at the stars. “I really wanted to do this on my own.”
The line is quiet for a pause, but it doesn’t take long for Val to get straight to the point.
“Are you holding up okay?”
“I’m fine,” I insist, even though it’s a lie.
“You’re allowed to have a breakdown,” she says. “You know that right? There’s nothing wrong with taking some time. The world won’t implode if their favorite model misses a few posts on social media.”
“I don’t need to have a breakdown.” I roll my eyes. “I just need… well, to be honest, I don’t know what the hell I need right now. But the last thing I want to do is talk about Scott or the wedding.”
Val is quiet again, and that can’t be a good thing.
A light flips on in the house next door, and I peek over the rim of my wine glass trying to catch a glimpse of my mysterious new neighbor. During the course of my move this week, I’ve met most of the neighbors except for the one on the left of me. Our houses are only about