Mom’s blue eyes are bright with unshed tears. “Right,” she says quickly. “Thank you so much, Violet! I know I kind of ambushed you with—with all these changes, but you’re being so wonderful about it.” She jumps up to give me a big hug. “I’m so happy! I can’t wait for you to meet Bill.”
I hug her back, thrilled with the strength of her embrace. I decide right then and there that I wasn’t going to do anything to screw up this up for her.
God knows she deserves it.
******
Chapter 4
I don’t wear the sapphire colored dress after all. Instead, I slip on a pair of tailored black pants that do good things for my butt, and a short sleeved crimson blouse. It’s still hot at five in the afternoon, so I put my hair back up. I inspect myself in the full-length mirror on the back of my bedroom door and decide I don’t look like I’m trying hard enough. Eyeliner and lip gloss help a little, and that’s as far as I’m willing to go.
Mom seems pleased by my appearance. She’s wearing a dress remarkably similar to the one she wanted me to wear—clearly, she was aiming for the twinsies look. I don’t like to disappoint her, but there’s only so much a good daughter can take.
The restaurant is a beautiful brick and glass building with a stunning view of the bay. And they have valet parking, which Mom and I both handle awkwardly.
“They’re going to see all the candy wrappers I left in there,” Mom whispers anxiously after she hands the guy her keys. “We’ll look like slobs!”
“We are.” I try to shrug it off, already starting to feel nervous.
A man in a suit opens the big glass doors for us ,smiling and gesturing for us to go on in. Mom grabs my hand and pulls me forward, over to the little alcove where a model-like young woman is standing behind a fancy glass lectern.
“Welcome to the Four Seasons,” she greets us with a professional smile. “Do you have a reservation?”
“Um, yes. I’m Lily Mercer,” Mom says timidly, tucking a lock of hair behind an ear. “I believe the reservation is under O’ Connor. Bill O’ Connor.”
I don’t like the superior look the toothpick girl bestows upon my mother. “Yes, Mr. O’ Connor is already here. Follow me, please.”
I don’t miss the snide up and down look she gives me, either. She exchanges smirks with another stunning girl who we pass by on our way to be seated. I can’t help but feel self-conscious. Do we have signs on our foreheads saying we don’t’ belong? Is it our cheap-looking shoes?
Why couldn’t we have gone to Taco Bill’s? I’ve already been dumped there. It can’t possibly get more humiliating than that. Right?
The interior of the restaurant is all shiny dark wood and glass. The bar is off to the left, full of well-dressed people. Mom and I follow Toothpick Girl as she expertly weaves her way through tables. Please don’t let me trip!
She shows us to a table next to a window that displays the setting sun casting pink and gold rays over the water. The man sitting at the table half-rises at our approach.
“Enjoy your meal,” Toothpick Girl says to me with another smirk.
“Thanks,” I say sweetly. “Enjoy your…waitressing.”
I turn away before she can react. Whatever. I don’t know why she thinks she’s so fancy. My attention returns to the man—Bill. My mother’s fiancée and my future step daddy.
Bill is not the powerful corporate tycoon I imagined. He’s really good-looking, but not in that rich sophisticated way I was expecting. He looks so young in his casual shirt and jeans, and kind of scruffy-looking, with longish red gold hair and an unlined, unshaven face. His ice blue eyes never quite look me in the eye, just a quick glance here and there if I ask him a question.
So I find out that Bill actually created the Arpeggio OS—which is what I use on my phone! Mom goes on and on about how revolutionary it is, more user friendly and interactive than any of its predecessors. As if I didn’t know! It’s so cute how she gushes on about his accomplishments, while he just remains quiet, occasionally looking at her and smiling. I find myself really liking him. He’s not what I expected at all, and I’m relieved. I like his silent awkwardness. He’ll fit right in with us.
“So where is Zane?” Mom asks after taking a sip of her iced tea. “I think they’re going to come for our order soon.”
Bill barely looks up when he says. “He said he was going to be late, so we should go ahead and start without him.”
“You’ll like him, Violet,” Mom tells me, her eyes twinkling excitedly. “He’s only a few years older than you, and he’s…he’s a software engineer, right Bill?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Bill mutters, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. I picture a younger geekier version of Bill.
“Zane lives in L.A., but he’s going to be staying at the pool house so he can supervise the renovations while we’re in Europe. Isn’t that nice of him? In fact—before I forget—let me give you his number, Violet. You can call him if you need help with anything. Zane’s going to be working on some project for work, but I’m sure he won’t mind if you give him a call once in a while.”
Mom digs through her purse for her phone. When she finds it, she makes me put his number into my phone. I have no intention of ever calling him, but I do as she asks, since I know it will help her worry less about leaving me for a month.
Four waiters come to take our order—I’m not sure why. I decide on the tempura shrimp, which I had in Hawaii and enjoyed. Despite my nerves, I’m starting to feel a little hungry. This atmosphere, while beautiful and posh, is not the most relaxing. I wish I could just get some fast food and take it home. I wish I could sulk over Matt in private, instead of pasting a smile on my face that feels like it’s going to break into a million pieces any minute. I’m honestly thrilled for Mom, but watching her and Bill exchange secret smiles and glances…it’s just too lovey dovey for me right now.
I have the sudden urge to jump up and shout, “I’ve been dumped! Screw you all!”
Will this night never end? I surreptitiously text Lauren, keeping my phone in my lap.
Me: Bill is cute! And nice.
Lauren: Really? What does he look like?
Me: Young, kind of scruffy-looking. He created Arpeggio!
Lauren: !!! A cute, rich, genius? Your mom really scored.
Me: I know! This restaurant is really snooty.
Lauren: Better get used to it. What’s the son like?
Me: He’s not here yet. Sounds like he’s going to be a computer ge
“Sorry I’m late.”
The warm deep voice startles me. I look up from my phone, and my jaw drops open.
My eyes meet a pair of gorgeous dark ones.
Hot Guy!
“Oh, crap!” I shout.
******
Chapter 5
So, turns out Hot Guy is Zane O’ Connor, son of Bill, and my future brother-in-law. Yes, really, because that’s my kind of luck.
After my initial outburst, I clamp my mouth shut and stare down at my lap. I can’t help sneaking glances at him, though. Hot Guy—Zane—is just as impossibly beautiful as I remember. He looks really good in the white shirt and jeans he’s wearing—casual and effortlessly elegant.
I have his shirt hanging up in my closet right now. In the Hot Guy Hall of Fame section.
He gives my mom a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, then slaps Bill on the back in greeting. My heart flutters nervously when he takes the empty seat next to me. I angle my face away, wishing I had left my hair down so I can hide my red cheeks behind it. This could not get more embarrassing.
“Zane, this is my daughter, Violet,” Mom introduces us. “I was just telling her all about you.”
“Good things, I hope,” he says easily. I sense him turn to me. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Violet,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his sexy voice.
“Uh-huh,” I say faintly, looking everywhere but at him. I see Mom’s eyebrows go up at my rudeness, but I am suffering here!
“Zane, why don’t you go ahead and order something,” Mom says, while giving me the silent “what’s wrong with you?” look.
“Great idea. I’m starving.” He flags down one of our waiters with an authoritative ease I can’t help but admire.
A sudden silence descends on our table like a wet blanket. Mom and I seem to be the only ones bothered by it—which is bad. One of us is bound to break and start babbling senselessly.
"So, Zane, doesn't Violet have a nice tan?" Mom says, smiling desperately. "She just came back from Hawaii."
"Oh, yeah?" He leans forward, resting an arm on the table. "Which island?"
Oh, wow, he smells so good!
"Oahu," I mumble shortly.
I know Mom is waiting for me to elaborate, but I don't. She tries to catch my eye. I pretend to be fascinated with my fork. I can feel her growing more and more flustered by my unfriendliness.
"Yes, she worked as a stripper in her grandmother's bakery!" she blurts out.
What?!
It's so unfortunate that my mouth is full of rice right now. Why did I take such a big bite? It's taking forever to chew!
"Stripping in a bakery, huh?" Zane says with a ridiculously adorable half smile. "That's pretty awesome."
I just keep shaking my head in a tiny mortified sort of way. "I don't...I'm not a stripper," I stumble over my words, hideously embarrassed.
Mom's eyes are huge right now. "Oh, no!" she gasps. "Did I just call you a stripper?!"
Indeedly-doodly, Mother.
"I'm not," I scoff to Zane and Bill. "That's so...why would you say that, Mom?"
I didn't really see a resemblance between father and son. Not until they both start coughing behind their fists.
"I'm so sorry! I don't know why—things just slip out when I'm really nervous. Violet is the furthest thing from a hooker there is—"
Aaaaauughh!
"Stripper, Mom," I say through gritted teeth.
We never look more like mother and daughter than when our faces are the color of humiliation.
"Right," Mom is saying. Her hands are actually shaking now! "She is not a hooker or a stripper. In fact, today she just told me she's a virgin."
It can't get any worse. It just cannot.
For some reason, I find myself staring at Bill. He catches my eye. "Good for you, Violet," he says awkwardly.
Mom shoots me a horror-filled look. "I think I should go to the bathroom," she whispers.
I rub my throbbing temples. "Please do."
Both guys stand up when she excuses herself. Bill stares after her indecisively for a second, then mutters something and goes after her. I stare longingly towards the exit. If i made a run for it now, who could blame me? Not the woman who called me a hooker and a stripper, that's for damn sure.
"So, Violet." Zane turns his chair in my direction. "Is your day getting better yet?"
"Pretty sure it's getting worse as we speak," I say.
He laughs, displaying brilliant white even teeth, and a sudden jolt of attraction sizzles through me, sending my pulse skittering out of control.
Matt who?
I can't believe I'm here, sitting in this fancy ass restaurant, talking to this guy, who is easily the best-looking person I've ever seen—and he's my future step brother. I don't know how to act around him. Nice? Flirty? Or should I just continue making a fool of myself?
Yeah, that sounds like more fun.
Zane's dark eyes are sparkling with humor. "Come on," he says. "It's not that bad, is it?"
"Oh, let's see." I stare up at the fancy glass ball lamps hanging from the ceiling. "I got dumped at Taco Bill's today; fell down, split my pants, and generally humiliated myself in front of a complete stranger; went to dinner at a snooty restaurant, found out said stranger is my future step brother; got called a stripper, hooker, and virgin by my mother...did I leave anything out?"
"Well, I don't know. The night is still young—anything could happen." The corners of his beautiful mouth twitch upwards. "It can only get better, right?"
I frown. "Don't say that, you'll jinx me. Now my mom will come back and blurt out how she and Bill had kinky bathroom sex, and I'll run away before she can go into detail, and trip over that waiting carrying that flaming dessert—he'll go crashing into the lady with way too much product in her hair, and then the whole restaurant will be on fire."
Zane just looks at me for a moment, as if unsure what to say. He probably hangs out with gorgeous super confident women all the time, and I'm like a new species of insect to him. The neurotic kind that fly into your face, and freak out when you try to swat at them.
"So, you got dumped, huh?"
I wince. Me and my big dumb mouth. "Yup."
"Hey, it happens to the best of us. Hang in there, you'll find someone new in no time."
I peer over at him. "Are you reading from a list of the ten worst clichés, ever?"
"Saved the best for last: there's plenty of fish in the sea.” Zane shrugs good-naturedly. So some asshole dumped you at a Taco Bill's. Do you really think he was the love of your life?"
A waitress sets his food in front of him. She is pretty and bold, striking up a random conversation about the weather, all the while flashing the "do me" eyes.
When she finally leaves, I raise an eyebrow at him. "Have you ever been dumped before?"
He looks up from his plate, that cute half smile on his face. "Is this a trick question?"
"I thought so." I go back to poking at my food with a fork.
"Alright," he says. "Tell me one thing you didn't like about your ex."
"He has tiny girl wrists," I say promptly. "They're so delicate, he should model, like, tennis bracelets for a jewelry store. It really bothered me. And he would make these huge spit bubbles whenever he'd get excited and talk. I used to worry the bubble would explode, and splatter me in the face. So gross."
"Wow, that's just off the top of your head, huh?"
"And he's a terrible kisser." I blurt out. "It's kind of like he's...attacking my face! Even my friend, Lauren—she saw us kissing, and she said it was the most disgusting thing ever. Like a snake eating her young. Or maybe it's me. Maybe I'm the bad kisser."
Zane is staring down at his food, and it looks like he's really trying not to laugh. "Have you had any complaints before?"
I bite my lip. "No, but, I've only ever kissed Matt."
His head comes up at that, but before he can say anything, Mom and Bill show back up. She looks much more calm and composed as she takes her seat. I try not to notice that Bill is wiping lipstick off his mouth with his napkin.
"Violet," Mom begins, reaching over to grab my hand. "I am so sorry for calling you a stripper and a hooker. You know how I go on when I'm nervous." She smiles tremulously me, then turns to Zane. "Zane, I hope you can understand...sometimes I say things that are completely out there—and have absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand. For example, Violet. She worked as a cashier at her grandmother's bakery, not as a stripper. She would never take her clothes off for money, nor would she ever—”
I clear my throat loudly to interrupt the train wreck that is her good intentions. "I accept your apology, Mom. It's in the past, and let's just let those painful memories die."
Mom opens her mouth. "But Zane..."
"No worries, Lily," he says smoothly. "I assure you, I didn't believe for a second that Violet was a stripper, or a hooker."
"Thank you," I say warmly.
"Welcome," he says, and smiles over at me. My heart bumps around erratically.
Mom looks pathetically relieved, and things go better after that. Zane is super easy to talk to, and seems nothing like his awkwardly shy dad. I can't help stealing glances at his incredibly perfect profile, the sculpted features...that sexy mouth...I bet he's a fantastic kisser. And I've always been a sucker for broad shoulders. And a hard muscled chest and washboard abs—visible even under his shirt.
My eyes helplessly trail down his trim waist and hips to his lon
g jean-clad legs sprawled carelessly under the table. When I finally get back to his face, I realize he's watching me check him out.
Oh, my god! So embarrassing!
I meet his amused gaze for a split second, before I turn away so fast I nearly give myself whiplash. I try to think of something to say to explain my staring, but what can I say that will excuse all the drooling?
I'm not really drooling. I touch the corners of my mouth to make sure.
Oh, thank goodness. Mom is talking.
"Zane, I gave Violet your number in case of an emergency. I hope that's okay?"
"Absolutely. Feel free to call me anytime, Violet."
"Thanks," I mutter, still blushing like a freak.
"Violet, call Zane so he can have your number," Mom says to me.
"Um, I will," I say uncomfortably. “Later.”
Never. With any luck, I won't have to see him until the wedding. Maybe by then he will have forgotten about my perverted eye-lick.
Ugh!
"So, what do you think?" Mom asks me on the drive home.
"Bill seems nice," I mumble, looking out the window at the passing scenery. "Good-looking, too. You guys are cute together."
"Thanks! He likes you, too. I know he seems like the strong silent type, but once he gets to know you, he'll open up more."
I try to picture Bill and I sitting side by side on the couch, eating popcorn and talking about our feelings. The image refuses to come. Instead, I see us sitting quietly together at a table, sewing different parts of a quilt.
I don't know why I'm imagining that. It doesn't make sense.
"Once again, Violet, I am so sorry about the stripper/hooker thing. I don't know why those words were in my head, but I would never—"
I turn away from the window to pat Mom's shoulder. "Forget it, it's fine. I know you didn't mean it. It's like the time you had car trouble, and that mean cop hassled you."
Mom clutches the steering wheel with both hands and groans. "Oh, don't remind me about that. I nearly got arrested for that one."
I snicker. "Hey, anyone can get 'blowout' confused with 'blow jo—'"
Falling for the Ghost of You Page 3