by Rose, Lila
“Wrong way, Violet.”
Damn it.
Pivoting around, I glared at him when he chuckled and followed him down the other hall beside the large stairs. Though, I wasn’t sure following was a good idea. I should have raced ahead, so I didn’t get to gaze at his butt in jeans. His butt always looked edible.
All right, Violet. Harden the fuck up. Get over how good-looking that man is and get done with the night.
I nodded to myself and then bit my bottom lip when Travis bent over in the fridge. But his arse…. No, Violet. Don’t remember how it felt in your hands when he buried—
“Violet?” Travis stood, his lips twitching. He was trying to hide his smug smile but failed. I saw it and wanted to punch it off his face.
So what if he caught me staring at his arse. I didn’t care.
Glaring, I asked, “What did you say?”
“Red or white wine?”
At the counter, I sat on one of the bar stools. “What do you think my answer will be?” He made out like he still knew me, but he didn’t.
“Water,” he answered.
Fuck him.
“Yes,” I gritted out. Maybe he knew some small things about me. “So why did you ask what I wanted?”
He shrugged. “I had hoped you’d take me up on a drink because then I know you wouldn’t drive home.”
“And I wouldn’t stay in your room if I did.”
He snorted. “Of course not. Izzy is home. I do have multiple spare bedrooms.”
“Water still. Thank you.”
He nodded and got me a tall glass of water while he took a beer for himself. “Thank you again for coming to dinner. Izzy has been excited to see you.”
My brows dipped, puzzled about why she would attach herself to me like that to begin with. “Does she often invite strange women to dinner?” The question popped out before I could swallow it down.
Travis’s eyes narrowed. “No, she doesn’t. Trisha is the only woman figure in her life. I didn’t put her up to asking you, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m also not having you here to replace anything you think may be missing from my daughter’s life. As I said, Trisha helps take care of her when she can. If not Link.”
“I didn’t mean anything by the question, Travis. I was just surprised a little girl, who doesn’t know me, would want to ask me to have dinner.”
Someone cleared their throat. We turned to Link in the doorway. “Izzy will be down in a second.” He moved into the room and grabbed a phone off the counter. He faced me. “She talks about you.” My body jolted back a step.
“What?” I whispered.
His head tilted towards Travis. “He won’t tell you, but I will.”
“Link,” Travis growled out.
Link shook his head. “He keeps a photo of you in a frame in his office. Izzy told me about how she found it and asked her daddy who the lady was. He told her how he used to love you so much, but work got in the way, and he missed his chance at his happy ever after.”
Stupid tears threatened, and my chest ached in a way I wasn’t sure was healthy. I gripped the counter tightly.
“I think this is Izzy trying to give her dad his happy ever after.”
“Goodbye, Link,” Travis clipped.
Link scoffed. “Yeah, later you two. Be good for Izzy.”
All I could do was nod stiffly as Link walked out quietly.
He’d missed his chance at a happy ever after.
With me.
He’d said that to his daughter.
That was how Izzy knew me, was comfortable inviting me over.
Damn him for the tears that dropped. I quickly stood and turned away, fisting my hands over and over. How dare Link tell me those things. How dare my heart react to those words. How dare my eyes leak as they were.
Damn it all.
I wouldn’t cry. I didn’t know why I felt like crying.
“Lettie,” Travis whispered into the quiet room.
“Don’t,” I begged. I wasn’t ready for any of this. I was still pissed about him tapping my phones, and his business. I wasn’t ready to have my body fill with need.
A need for Travis.
No, I still refused to melt completely.
I swiped at my eyes, turned, grabbed my water and gulped it down. Clearing my throat, I asked, “What’s for dinner?”
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “It’s a roast.”
He always liked cooking, even back when he lived in his shitty apartment with his crappy mates. He’d been the main cook for the household, and I did love going there for whatever he’d created. Thinking of it reminded me of the times we’d had alone in his apartment. Since I lived in an even bigger shithole, I loved going to his place when his roommates weren’t there and pretending we lived in the apartment alone.
“Sounds and smells good.”
He smiled softly. “It should be ready soon.”
Travis saw me as his happy ever after.
Why?
Yes, we’d had an amazing relationship back in the day, but how could he still think that? Why would he tell his daughter that?
Pushing those thoughts aside, I took my seat again and nodded. “Um, this house is huge for just you and Izzy.”
He chuckled as he checked the roast. “It is. But it reminded Izzy of a castle when we started looking. When her whole face lit up, I knew it was the one. We love the area, the peace to it, and I had hoped when Izzy starts school next year, she’ll enjoy the country schools more than she would have the city ones.”
“Does she go to kinder now?”
He leaned back into the bench and nodded. “She does. A few days a week. Trisha had already been living in Ballarat, so she helps with pickups and dropoffs when I’m busy with work. Though, I do try to do most of it.”
I just bet the kinder teacher loved it when Travis went there.
My lower stomach burned.
I wouldn’t admit it was jealousy.
“You have a beautiful daughter.”
His eyes warmed. “I do.”
We both looked towards the entryway when we heard the sound of tiny feet making a big slapping sound on the floor.
“Miss Violet,” Izzy yelled, entering the kitchen. “You should see my room. There’s fairies everywhere.” She grabbed my hand and tugged on it. “Come look.”
Travis chuckled. “How about you show her after dinner since it’s ready?”
She pouted, and I would have given her everything, but then she smiled. “Okay, Daddy.”
Daddy.
Travis was a father, and from what I learnt over sharing a meal with them, he was strict when needed, but other than that, he was the sweetest father, and she shone from his words, praises, and teasing. I honestly wasn’t sure I’d enjoy myself, worried I’d be too wrapped up in my own head, but I was wrong. They made sure to include me in every conversation. Travis even teased me when I pushed the beans aside, reminding me how I used to do the same when we used to date, how he’d hoped I’d grown out of it.
I screwed my face up. “That’s something I’ll never grow out of.”
“Does that mean I don’t have to eat my beans?” Izzy asked.
Travis shook his head. “Eat four at least.”
She groaned. So I tried suggesting, “How about we both suffer through it and eat just four.”
Izzy nodded eagerly. We picked one up and shoved it in our mouths. She didn’t seem to gag like I wanted to, but I held it down for her. Travis, of course, knew this and laughed hard.
But then… God, then, since he knew I was struggling, he took the other three from my plate and then Izzy’s and ate them for us. I wasn’t sure why his actions thawed my heart just a little more, but it did.
He winked. Izzy clapped and giggled.
I smiled and laughed more in that night than I had in a long time.
Chapter Eight
Travis
I could have killed Link for telling Violet about the photograph in my office.
I was sure she’d run from the room scared. She hadn’t. It had killed me to see the tears in her eyes, how her body shook, her hands fisted, but she’d stayed. I could have kissed Link instead.
After dinner, Izzy took Violet to her room to see the fairy lights Violet got her. That had shocked me as well. Violet bought Izzy a present. Knowing she’d thought of Izzy was sweet. While I knew my girl was amazing, I hadn’t thought Izzy would manage to capture Violet so quickly, especially since Violet used to tell me she never wanted children.
Things could change.
Hopefully, they kept changing.
For her, for me, for us.
As I was coming from the hall near the staircase, I watched Izzy holding Violet’s hand coming down the stairs. They were talking about something, well, mainly Izzy was, but Violet was grinning down at her. They were lost in each other and didn’t even see me as Izzy guided Violet towards the living room. Seeing their hands clutched together was… something beautiful.
Izzy didn’t know her mother, and if I could, I would make sure it stayed that way. I wasn’t interested in Violet as a replacement mother figure for Izzy. I was selfish and wanted Violet for myself, but seeing them interact with each other tightened my chest in the nicest way.
Walking into the living room, I spotted Izzy sitting on the couch and Violet on the floor in front of her. “I love your hair,” Izzy commented.
“And I love yours.”
“You can do mine after, if you want?”
“I’d enjoy that.” She winced when Izzy pulled too hard.
“Be sure to be gentle, Izzy.”
They both looked over at me. “I will, Daddy.”
My steps stopped when Violet smiled up at me.
She was smiling at me.
At the man who’d tapped her phones. I was a fucking idiot.
At the man who pimped women out.
Violet was smiling up at me.
It started to fade because I stood there staring at her like a goddamn fool. Quickly, I grinned back and then asked, “Would anyone like ice cream for dessert?”
“Me! Me, me, me,” Izzy said, bouncing on the couch.
Violet glanced behind her, laughing. She looked back at me. “I guess I’ll have some too, thanks.”
Christ, I could picture this every night for the rest of my life. I wanted it to be true. I wanted Violet always at my side.
I had to make it happen.
Nodding, I said, “I better go get some before my princess turns into a monster.”
“Daddy,” Izzy whined. “I’ll never be a monster.”
“Sure, Izzy. Sure.”
She cackled.
By the time I made it back in with a tray of bowls full of chocolate ice cream, it was to see Izzy holding Violet’s head and shouting, “See, Miss Violet, that’s Ariel. Isn’t she beautooful?”
It looked like Izzy was teaching Violet all about princesses. Ariel was her favourite.
“I see, Izzy.” Violet grinned.
Of course, when I noticed her hair in two pigtails on the top of her head, I started chuckling. “Nice hair, Lettie.”
I didn’t miss the way her body tensed, until Izzy started hugging Violet around her neck saying, “See, I told you Daddy would love it. He loves my hair like that.”
Fuck me.
Violet’s lips twitched. Then she laughed, her hands reaching up to pat Izzy’s arms still around her neck. “I’m glad he likes it.”
“Yay,” Izzy cheered. Then she shouted, as if Violet couldn’t see already, “Look, Daddy has ice cream.”
“How about we forego the hairdos and eat while watching Ariel?”
“Yes,” Izzy chimed in. “Come sit next to me, Miss Violet.” She patted the spot next to her. Violet got up, which gave me a shot at staring at her arse, then sat next to Izzy on the couch waiting.
I handed out bowls, took the last one for myself, and then sat on Violet’s other side. She didn’t tense or glare at me. Instead, while she ate her ice cream, she asked Izzy questions about The Little Mermaid.
She seemed relaxed, even enjoying her night. For the life of me, I couldn’t concentrate on the TV; instead, I watched the show beside me. Violet and Izzy.
“Miss Violet, do you work?”
“I do.” Violet nodded. I reached for her empty bowl and put both Violet’s and mine on the tray with Izzy’s already finished bowl. “I work as a private investigator.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Violet smiled.
“What does that mean?”
Violet laughed. “It means people come to me if they need help in finding something out, and I help them.”
“Wow. That’s cool. Daddy, I want to do what Miss Violet does.”
Violet blanched. “It’s not exactly safe.” She was worried about my daughter.
Violet was worried about Izzy. Fuck, that felt good.
“That’s okay,” Izzy said. “I can so do it. We can work together when I grow up.”
Violet hummed as she patted Izzy’s hand on her arm and said, “We’ll see how it goes when you’re older.”
“Yay!” Izzy sat back, her eyes went back to the TV, and she started singing off-key to one of the many songs on the show. Meanwhile, Violet looked to me, her eyes wide. I started laughing.
Leaning in, I whispered, “Don’t worry, she’ll change her mind like she does every other day.”
“Okay,” she whispered back, and went back to watching the movie, while I kept my eyes on Violet.
“Daddy,” Izzy called.
“Yes?”
“You have to watch the movie, not Miss Violet.”
Shit. I’d been caught and called out on it.
Violet’s cheeks heated. “Yes, Travis. Watch the movie.” Her lips fought a smile. She didn’t seem annoyed I’d been watching her. I liked that.
“All right.” I grinned.
It wasn’t until the second movie about some rat cooking that I noticed Izzy yawning more and more. “Kiddo,” I called.
“Yes, Daddy?”
“It’s time for bed before you yawn your face off.”
She giggled. “I can’t yawn my face off.”
“With the amount of yawning you have going on, I wouldn’t be surprised. Say goodnight to Violet, princess, and I’ll come up with you and get you into bed.”
“But—”
“Izzy,” I said.
Her mouth clamped closed. My daughter rolled her eyes and sighed. “Okay.” She got to her knees, wrapped her arms around Violet’s neck, while Violet hugged her back with her arms around Izzy’s waist. “Night, night, Miss Violet.”
“Goodnight, Izzy. I loved spending time with you.”
Izzy pulled back. “You did?”
“Yes, honey.”
Izzy beamed. “Yay. Means you’ll come back. Right?”
“Of course I will.”
Izzy leaned in, kissed Violet quickly on the cheek, and bounced off the couch. She made her way to the doorway. “Daddy, I’ll see you up there.”
“You will. Violet, would you like to stay longer or….” Her lips thinned and her eyes flashed wide for a moment before she controlled it. I left the choice up to her, unsure if she was ready to be alone with just me or if she wanted to run from the thought of just us alone in the room.
“I should get going.”
Maybe she was scared to be alone with me… or scared of how her body would react if we were alone.
I smiled. “Princess, I’ll just walk Violet to her car.”
“Okay,” she yelled, already headed out of the room. Violet stood and started for the door.
Standing, I followed her. She opened the door and went out. At least she didn’t slam it, but rather, she left it open for me to come after her.
Violet stopped at the driver-side door. She turned, her hands playing with her dress. She fixed her bag on her shoulder, the one she’d left near the front door after giving Izzy her present. As I approached, she cleared her throat.
“Sir, Kathleen Stewart is at the gate.”
“No shit,” I answered. “Tell her I don’t want to see her and call the police.”
Violet’s eyes darkened, her jaw clenching.
More honking and yelling.
“That’s fucking it,” Violet snapped. Her bag dropped to the ground, and she headed for the gates.
Ending the call, I quickly slipped my arm around her waist. “Stop. The police are on the way. She’ll get taken in.”
“And probably let out because she’s not exactly on your property,” she fumed.
“At least it could lead to her not showing her face here. She’ll know we’ll call the police from now on.”
“The woman needs a good fist to the face.”
“Until she tries to harm Izzy in any way, I won’t let anything happen to her because she is, unfortunately, Izzy’s mother. One day she could get clean and realise what a huge mistake she made when it comes to her daughter.” It was what I’d always hoped for. It made me fucking ill knowing she’d chosen drugs over a decent life. And I knew drugs messed with her mind the night she’d accused her own daughter of being a monster. She hadn’t meant to stab me. I saw the regret in her eyes when she’d been sober. I also saw the woman I’d cared about at the start. So I kept trying to placate her for Izzy’s sake, all for Izzy to have a relationship with her mother. A daughter needed a mother in her life. I glanced at Violet. Or a daughter needed a good female role model in her life.
“Do you honestly think that?”
“For Izzy’s sake, I do hope so.”
“You’re a good man, Travis Stewart.”
My fucking chest expanded at her comment.
“Daddy,” came from behind us. I turned both of us, not wanting to release Violet to see Izzy standing on the steps above. “Is that my mummy?”
Violet went to her before I could. She swept Izzy up in her arms and took her inside. Protecting her. Christ, she thought I was a good man, but she was a better woman.
It was an hour later, after the police had taken Kathleen away and Violet had read to Izzy until she fell asleep, that Violet and I were once again standing outside near her car.