Then Came You

by Iris Morland

  At that, Violet started giggling. Not because any of this was funny, precisely, but because she’d gone from elated to horrified to elated all in the space of five minutes, and really, the only reaction one could have was laughter. It was better than sobbing, she thought, even though her eyes did tear up as she laughed.

  Ash, clearly confused, let her laugh for a little while longer until he said, “Did I miss something?”

  “No, no, I’m sorry.” Violet wiped her eyes. “Just seeing you with that woman, I thought the worst. I thought you’d forgotten about me, and I couldn’t blame you if you had. Ash, I’m so, so sorry. I was stupid. I was an asshole to you, and if you can’t forgive me, I won’t be upset. I mean, I will, but I won’t be upset with you—”

  He squeezed her lips shut with his index finger and thumb, just like he had when they’d first met. His confused expression had transformed into a dazzling smile. Violet practically melted from its radiance.

  “You’re sorry?” he repeated. “How sorry?”

  “Sorrier than I can ever say.” Reaching inside her purse, she pulled out a piece of paper. “I have someone willing to buy the business. I’m going to let it go. It’s not worth it. I keep hurting people with it; it just drives a wedge between us.”

  Ash took the paper, scanning it before crumpling it in his fist. Violet blinked in surprise.

  “I’m not going to let you give up on what you love,” he vowed.

  Now it was her turn to smile. “Don’t you see, though? You’re the one that I love. Not my business, not my pride—you. I love you, Ash.”

  The paper fluttered to the ground, and Ash stared at her until she felt his gaze like a brand on her skin.

  “Say it again,” he growled.

  “I love you.”

  “One more time.”

  She laughed. “I. Love. You.”

  The ferocity in his eyes melted instantly, and right then, Violet saw how much he loved her. Wrapping her in his arms, he muttered, “Thank God.”

  Then he was kissing her, kissing her with such heat and tenderness that it was a marvel that she didn’t melt into a puddle at his feet. He groaned, deepening the kiss. Until someone cleared their throat behind them.

  “Um, there are kids here,” a woman said. “Can you not do that here?”

  Violet started giggling when she realized that practically the entire playground was staring at them. Some of the kids were making gagging noises, while others simply looked on in wonder. The parents, however, looked like they’d like to put them both in timeout.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here before we get arrested,” said Violet.

  Ash took her hand wordlessly, taking her into a copse of trees that surrounded the park. Twigs and leaves crunched under their shoes, and before Violet knew it, they were in a little forest, away from the world completely.

  “God, Violet, I’ve been trying to find you for days now,” said Ash, his voice anguished. “I went to Martha, but she wouldn’t tell me a damn thing. Cruel woman, your mother-in-law. You wouldn’t answer my calls or texts.”

  Violet squeezed his hand. “I know. I’m sorry. I thought a clean break was the best for both of us, but I was wrong. Completely wrong. When Martha told me that you’d been looking for me, I knew I had to come back to find you. Even just to say how sorry I am.”

  “You’re sorry?” he said incredulously. “I’m the one who should be apologizing. I went behind your back and did something monumental without even asking you. You had every right to be pissed. I wanted to help you, but I know now that helping people doesn’t mean running over them, either.” His lips quirked. “Believe it or not, that woman you saw me with was one of the people who told me as much.”

  “Really?” Violet looked over her shoulder. “I should go find her and give her a medal.”

  “Seriously, though. Violet, I love you.” His eyes blazed as he said the words, and Violet could barely catch her breath. “I never thought love was possible for me. I thought it was a fairy tale, some bullshit people made up to make themselves feel better. But with you—” He touched her cheek, his touch gentle. “With you, I know that what I believed was the bullshit. With you, I know that love not only exists, but it’s exactly what I feel for you.”

  She laid her hand over his, tears pricking her eyes. “I didn’t think I’d ever love again,” she admitted. “But you showed me that that wasn’t true.” Holding up her left hand, she showed him her bare ring finger. “I had to let go of some things—of some people—first. My past was holding me back from embracing my future.”

  Ash took her left hand and kissed where her wedding ring had once sat. “I didn’t want you to forget your first husband. I know how much you loved him.”

  “I know. I didn’t do it for you. I did it for me. It’s not that I’ve stopped loving William. It’s that I’ve put that love away so I can look forward to a new love.” Violet wrapped her arms around Ash’s neck. “I want to be with you. No matter what.”

  Groaning, he took her mouth. She groaned at his heat, at the way his beard scraped her chin. They were messy and wild, and soon they were grabbing at each other’s clothes and pulling and tearing at them. One moment Violet was yanking Ash’s shirt over his head, the next he was pushing her blouse up and kissing her breasts.

  Ash sucked a nipple through the lace of her bra before blowing on the turgid peak. The cool air made her moan. Her toes curled.

  “I want you,” she whispered as she attacked the zipper on his jeans. She cupped him through the fabric, which made him shudder. He was already hard, and it only heightened her need further.

  Ash suckled on her neck. “I don’t have a condom. We can’t—”

  “Don’t care. I’ll take my chances.”

  Ash stilled, and when his gaze met hers, she saw need, fire. Love. “Are you sure?”

  “Totally sure. Now, are you going to take off your pants or am I going to have to do it for you?”

  It took all of ten seconds before Violet’s back was against a tree and her legs were around Ash’s hips. In one swift movement, he thrust inside her.

  “Oh my God, oh my God,” was all she could say as he pounded into her. The tree shook with each of his thrusts, leaves falling around them.

  “I love you. I love you.” He punctuated the words with the movement of his hips, and Violet felt her orgasm building with stunning speed. Reaching up, she kissed him, loving how he filled her sex and her mouth at the same time.

  “I love you,” she gasped. “Shit, I’m going to—” Her orgasm burst upon her and she screamed, her neck arching.

  She heard Ash swear, his fingers digging into her ass, before he stilled, shouting his release. Violet had the vague thought that they’d probably been loud enough that people nearby could hear them, but she didn’t have the energy to care. Her arms and legs wrapped around Ash, Violet was the happiest she’d ever been.

  “Say it again,” said Ash as they hastily got dressed some time later.

  “How many times do I need to say it?” Grasping the front of his shirt in a fist, she brought his head down so she could whisper the words against his lips. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” he said, his eyes sparkling. “And now I’m going to take you back home and show you just how much I mean it.”

  Epilogue

  Violet had hoped that her exhibit at the convention would do well today, but she hadn’t expected this level of interest.

  Then again, it helped that her boyfriend had consented to be her jewelry model this afternoon. At the moment, Ash was wearing five bracelets, three necklaces, and four rings. Earrings, unfortunately, weren’t possible since he didn’t have pierced ears.

  He looked over his shoulder and mouthed the words Help me when a particularly handsy woman started handling one of the necklaces hanging from him while her other hand was caressing his bicep.

  “May I help you find something?” asked Violet, startling the woman so much that she ju
mped. “Or have you found what you were looking for?”

  Sensing that Violet wasn’t playing around, the woman sniffed and moved away from Ash with a sour look on her face.

  “God, you’re sexy when you’re riled,” Ash growled in Violet’s ear.

  He palmed her ass as he said the words. Violet smacked his hand away, but it was halfhearted. She touched him in inappropriate places at inappropriate venues as often as he did it to her.

  “I thought you needed saving,” she replied primly. Turning, she straightened the necklace made of blue and violet beads hanging from his neck that the woman had been handling. “You look so dashing in your jewelry, I have to say.”

  “Don’t forget the deal we made.” His teeth flashed white. “I get to do whatever I want to you tonight. Anything.”

  Violet shivered and scampered back to her table, where multiple people had congregated.

  Six months after she and Ash had gotten back together, she’d worked her ass off to get her business out of the red. With Ash’s help and encouragement and a lot of wine, Violet had started making headway. She’d also agreed to let Ash pay off her debt—except she would then pay him back. Ash had protested initially, but Violet could be just as stubborn as he could. He’d finally agreed after some late-night persuasion.

  To mark six months together, Ash had surprised her not with an engagement ring, but with a betta fish. The purple-red fish had darted around in its bowl, bashing into the glass when it had noticed Violet’s finger on it.

  “I wanted to get you that clown fish,” Ash had said, “but you have to get a whole aquarium for it. Plus, they’re saltwater fish, and you need an anemone or two to go with it. So, a betta fish.”

  Violet had fallen for her betta fish, Marty, almost as fast as she’d fallen for the wonderful man who’d given her the fish in question.

  Now, at a huge convention for all kinds of arts and crafts businesses—from basket weaving to jewelry to knitwear to leather working—Violet couldn’t believe how much business she had already gotten. She’d already sold enough pieces to pay for the registration fee and for all of her brochures and business cards that she’d brought with her. She just hoped that she’d brought enough to last the entire day.

  Ash laughed, and Violet couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face as she watched him interact with his newest fans. She’d never thought she could be as happy as she was now, and every day, Ash showed her how much he loved her.

  Although Violet continued to live with Martha for the time being to help her keep her diabetes in check, she saw Ash as often as they both could with their work schedules. If they weren’t together physically, they were texting and calling each other constantly.

  “This is quite a nice collection,” a woman said as she held up one of Violet’s necklaces. With her silver hair in a stylish bob, lips a crimson red, the woman looked like she could be thirty or sixty.

  “You make these all yourself?” the woman asked.

  “Yes, I do. I also do custom designs. Anything you’d like to try on?”

  The woman shook her head, although she continued to look at each piece on Violet’s table with an attentive air. “I’m just perusing for now. I’m Georgia Kelson, by the way.”

  Violet introduced herself to Georgia, the two women shaking hands. After Violet had given Georgia one each of her brochures and business cards, Georgia wandered away from her table. Violet frowned at her retreating figure. Why did that name ring a bell?

  “Hey, I’m out of rings,” said Ash, displaying his bare fingers. “Got any more for me to wear?”

  “Of course I do.” Grinning, Violet placed the biggest rings in her stock on Ash’s hands, although she had to put them both on his pinkies since they were way too small for the rest of his fingers.

  “Thank you.” Turning, he flashed his sparkling hands at his current groupies, wiggling his fingers. “Who wants to try on a giant ring with a dragonfly on it?” he asked in a theatrical voice.

  Violet was definitely going to pay for this later that night, and she couldn’t wait.

  As the convention drew to a close, Violet began packing up, Ash placing the remaining jewelry in individual plastic bags. Who would’ve thought that he’d make the perfect jewelry assistant? Violet would never have broken up with him had she known he’d be so helpful, she thought with a grin.

  “Oh, excellent, I’m glad you haven’t left yet,” said Georgia as she returned to survey Violet’s mostly bare table. “Do you have a moment? I wanted to speak with you about a business opportunity.”

  Ash raised his eyebrows at Violet, and Violet shrugged, wordlessly replying, I have no idea.

  “I actually wasn’t planning on making any offers today,” said Georgia as Violet followed her to a more private corner, “but I have to say, your jewelry is some of the best I’ve seen in a long time. And the fact that it’s handmade? Fantastic.”

  Violet blinked. “Thank you,” she stammered. “That’s very kind of you.”

  “I’m an investor, and I’m always on the lookout for new and upcoming businesses like yours.”

  Georgia pulled out a card, handing it to Violet. On the back was a list of companies that Georgia had invested in. Violet’s eyebrows shot up as she read the list.

  Georgia Kelson…Georgia Kelson…oh my God, I know who she is! She’s a billionaire! thought Violet as she barely restrained incredulous laughter.

  Georgia smiled when she saw that Violet had finally recognized her.

  “I want to invest in your business, Ms. Fielding,” she said. “I’ve yet to invest in jewelry, but I have my fingers in a number of related companies. Purses, hats, scarves. How much is your business currently worth?”

  Violet floundered. Her business was such small potatoes that she’d never considered that anyone would want to invest in it. She had no idea how that even worked. Shaking her head, she said, “Ms. Kelson, I’m beyond flattered, but it’s just me. I don’t have any employees or a storefront. I’m not sure it would be worth your while.”

  “Believe me, I know when something is worthwhile, and your business is.” Georgia winked. Taking the card she’d just handed Violet, she scribbled something on the front and handed it back to her. “That’s my offer. If you would like to discuss further, give me a call.” As she was about to leave, she added, “And I have to say, your male model is darling. I hope I’ll see him again if you decide to move forward.”

  Violet returned to Ash, flabbergasted. He shot her a concerned look.

  “Everything okay?” he asked. He pointed at the card in her hand. “What was that about?”

  Violet glanced at the card, her gaze landing on the scribbled number on the front. Her eyes bulged when she read the number: $500,000. She looked more closely, sure that she’d misread. Georgia must’ve meant to write $50,000. More likely, $5,000. But half a million? There was no way…

  “Ash, what does this say?” Violet handed him the card, pointing to the amount written on it.

  “Looks like five hundred thousand dollars. Why?”

  Violet swallowed, her throat dry. “That woman just offered me that much money to invest in my business.”

  “What?”

  “I can’t believe this. Oh my God.” The realization that her business could not only be saved, but could become bigger than she’d ever imagined? Violet started laughing. “Ash, do you know what this means?”

  “That either this woman is crazy or you’re going to be very rich?”

  “Yes!” Violet snatched the card back.

  She was going to frame this card. Whirling, she looked for Georgia in the crowd to really thank her, but Georgia had already left. Violet would just have to call her, wouldn’t she?

  “Oh, Ash, this is so amazing. I can’t believe it.” Violet wiped away tears of joy. “Can you believe it?”

  Ash embraced her, his smile wide. “I believe it, because you’re amazing. And this business is going to be amazing, and our life together is going to b
e amazing. Amazing, amazing, amazing. That’s the only word I know.”

  “Actually, I don’t think that’s true.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Really? You don’t think it’ll be amazing?”

  “Our life isn’t going to just be amazing together: it’s going to be fan-fucking-tastic.”

  Laughing, Ash picked her up and began to twirl her around in a circle, the remaining convention-goers looking on with a mixture of confusion and envy at such obvious happiness.

  Thea Younger uncapped her marker and began to fill in the final panel in her graphic novel. It had taken her over a year to finish this bad boy, and as she inked the character’s cape with her blue marker, her sense of accomplishment only grew.

  “There,” she said as she finished. “It’s done.” Getting up, she did a happy dance in the middle of her living room, not caring in the least that there was no music playing or that if anyone saw her, they’d think she was crazy.

  Thea was used to people thinking she was crazy, or at the very least, odd. She’d gotten her first tattoo at thirteen (a friend of a friend of a friend had unwisely agreed to do it). Thea couldn’t regret the ugly little beetle that was still inked on her right wrist. You couldn’t tell that it was a beetle at this point—it looked more like a blob with skinny arms—but Thea didn’t care.

  Thea didn’t much care what anyone thought about her. She hadn’t for a long time. She was a free spirit, she was a girl moving against the current, she was—

  Oh, who was she kidding? She was a receptionist at a law office and a wannabe graphic novel artist. Except that she hadn’t yet gotten the courage to actually show her graphic novels to anyone. Not even her siblings. Not even Ash, her favorite brother. She was in the small town of Fair Haven without any prospects of getting out. She’d lived her entire life here and had seen only a few bordering states. She’d never been to New York City, or Minneapolis, and definitely not London or Paris or Rome.

  Her phone rang. Answering it, she said, “What’s up?”

  “There’s a protest on Saturday. You’re going, right?” her friend Mittens Haverford III said.