But at the same time, he’d been filled with a strange sort of longing for that kind of closeness. Not with just anyone.
With her.
He directed a disgusted grunt at himself. She was the last person he deserved to have that kind of relationship with.
And he was the last person she’d want a relationship with. Especially if she knew the truth about him.
He cleared his throat and stepped into the room.
The moment she turned to him, her eyes widened with surprise and something more―like hope. But a second later, they darkened. She looked away. “I thought you were at work.”
“I, uh―” Nate’s voice had suddenly dried up, like a desert stream that had gone too long without rain. “Could we talk?”
She pressed her lips into a line but nodded.
He moved closer, remaining on his feet and keeping the low coffee table as a barrier between them. “First of all, I wanted to clear things up.” He licked his lips.
She was watching him closely, but her expression was nearly blank. She didn’t encourage him to go on, but she didn’t stop him either.
“I just thought, ah―” Okay, this was going to be harder than he’d thought. “I mean, I wanted to say that the woman you saw at my office― I’m not―” Why was this so difficult? “I’m not seeing her. Or anything. She’s a business associate. We had a working lunch.”
Violet shrugged and looked away. “There’s nothing to clear up. It’s none of my business whether she’s a business associate or―” She blinked. “Or something else.”
Nate’s heart shriveled to a dehydrated lump. Much as he knew she was better off without him, he wanted it to be her business. He wanted her to care. He wanted her to want to be the only one he cared about.
Because she was.
But he forced himself to nod. To say, “Good.”
She got up and walked toward her desk. “I should get back to work. I’m swamped today.”
Nate swiveled to take in the empty store. It was Monday, so she wasn’t even open today.
“Actually―” He followed her. “There’s something else.”
When she turned, her eyes, usually so warm, were shuttered. “What is it?”
He swallowed. He’d do anything not to tell her this. But he didn’t see any way around it. “I just spoke to my father. And I think you might need to start looking for a new space.”
Her expression crumpled, but she didn’t move, didn’t make a sound.
“I’m sorry, Violet. I tried. I’m still trying. But this Talmadge guy isn’t giving up, and for some reason my dad is determined to give him what he wants. I don’t know―”
“It’s fine.” Her voice was strained but loud.
“I’ll keep―”
“I said it’s fine. I’ll figure something out.”
Nate took a tentative step closer, but she retreated. He dragged a hand through his hair. “Let me help, Violet. We have some other properties that might―”
“I said I’ll figure something out, Nate. Thank you for letting me know.” Her overly polite tone stabbed at him.
“Yeah, of course.” He walked to the door.
When he reached it, he allowed himself a glance over his shoulder.
Violet was holding a small music box in her hands and didn’t look up.
He let the door close behind him with a soft click.
Chapter 26
In spite of herself, Violet glanced toward the back door of the workshop. It was Friday, and she’d caught herself doing the same thing all week at this time. The time Nate used to come home from the office and stop by to talk.
She’d barely seen him at all since Monday when he’d told her she might as well give up, and she suspected he was avoiding her as much as she was avoiding him. On the few occasions they’d accidentally run into each other, they’d said hello or made a bland comment about the weather.
But nothing more.
Every word between them was stilted and formal now. Too polite.
Violet felt like a part of her―the part that had started to thaw―had frozen over again, more solid than ever.
She told herself it was for the best. If she’d let it keep thawing, it would only have hurt more when she fell through.
She turned her attention to the silver she was polishing. At least she could rub the tarnish off of some things.
A clang from the chimes drew a groan. She should be happy to have a customer, but it wasn’t going to do a lot of good at this point. Nate had as much as told her she was out of here after next month anyway. She didn’t know if she had the energy to start her store again in a new location. Maybe it was time to give up Cade’s dream. Even if it had become her dream somewhere along the line, too.
She gave the spoon one last rub, then wiped her hands and started for the front of the store.
But the moment she saw her visitor, she wished she’d run away instead.
Talmadge looked up from a display of muskets and gave her the smile that always made her think of a rodent. She held back a shudder. Something about the guy didn’t sit right with her, but she nudged the feeling away. Just because he wanted the same property she wanted didn’t make him a bad guy.
“Mr. Talmadge.” Her voice wasn’t exactly welcoming, but she worked hard not to sound rude. “How can I help you?”
Talmadge approached and held out his hand, as if he were greeting an old friend. She shook his reluctantly.
“Came to take some measurements. My designer needs them to draw up plans for my new space.” His smile morphed into a leer. “I trust you’ll have all this junk out of here by the time I’m ready to start work.”
Goosebumps rose on Violet’s arms, but she refused to flinch. “To my understanding, no agreement has been finalized. I’ll be staying here until I receive word otherwise.”
“Look―” Talmadge lowered his voice. “I don’t know what your boyfriend has promised you. But let’s just say, this space is going to be mine one way or another. You should take a hint and move out. Before anything forces your hand.”
Violet drew back. Was that a threat? Something hardened in her gut. She wasn’t going to let Cade’s dream go to this man. Not if she could help it.
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable here, Mr. Talmadge. I have a lease with Benson Properties, and I intend to hold them to it.”
Talmadge’s barking laugh bit against her ears, but she didn’t move. He held up his tape measure. “You and your intentions can do what you want. I’m going to go take some measurements.” He swaggered toward the workshop, still chuckling to himself.
Steam boiled through Violet’s blood. Who did this guy think he was, marching into her store and treating it as his own? She was tempted to call the police, but she didn’t want to let him know he’d gotten to her.
For half a second, she wished Nate would show up to rescue her. But then she reminded herself that Nate wasn’t on her side anymore. He’d probably tell her Talmadge was right and she should start packing.
She prayed for the clock to move faster. In ten minutes, the store would be closed, and she could ask Talmadge to leave. She tried to sort through the day’s mail, but she had no idea what she was looking at. Every few seconds, her eyes darted toward the workshop. She could hear him shuffling around back there, but she couldn’t see him. And she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of thinking she was curious about what he was doing.
Finally, with one minute to go before closing time, he emerged. “Got everything I need.” His voice was jovial.
She gritted her teeth, eyes still on the mail.
But a second later, she had to look up as he invaded the space right next to her. She resisted taking a step back. She couldn’t let him think he was intimidating her.
“This is the last time I’m going to say this. Make things easy on yourself and get out now. Believe me when I say you’ll regret it if you don’t.”
“You’ll forgive me if I decline.” Violet pushed pa
st him toward the front door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. My store is closed for the day, and I’d like to lock up.”
“Of course.” Talmadge offered an oily smile and followed her. Halfway to the front of the room, he stopped. “Almost forgot my tape measure.”
Violet waited at the front door as he disappeared into the workshop again. Her teeth were clamped so tight, she was afraid her jaw would be locked like that forever. Half a minute later, Talmadge emerged, whistling and tossing his tape measure from hand to hand as if it were a baseball.
He winked at her as he passed through the door. “Have a good evening.”
The moment his feet cleared the threshold, she slammed the door and twisted the lock. Then she stood for a moment, her breath heaving.
When she finally managed to walk away from the door, it was on shaky legs.
She had no idea what Talmadge thought he was going to do to get her out of the shop. But seeing him in here had convinced her: She wasn’t going to give this place up without a fight.
Nate shut down his computer and shuffled toward his office door. He was a coward, and he knew it.
All week he’d been leaving for the office by six in the morning, long before Violet would be up. He’d been coming home after her store closed, too, slinking past her workshop like a kid sneaking in after curfew, just in case she was still there.
Every time he saw her was like a punch to the gut. A reminder of the life he couldn’t have. He needed the distance to help him get over his feelings for her.
Not that it was helping.
Behind the scenes, he was still working to find a way to keep her in the store. But Talmadge had refused to look at the last three properties Nate had proposed to him. And he was getting impatient. The other day he’d threatened to hire movers to come and remove the pieces from Violet’s store.
Nate had finally talked him out of it.
He was pretty sure.
The sigh that slipped out as he locked up his office building felt like it would never end. The late September nights had started to cool, and a light breeze blew in off the lake. It was a perfect night to share with someone special. Maybe at dinner. Or maybe a walk on the beach. Or just sitting side by side on a couch.
He picked up his pace.
He had to come to grips with the fact that he would never have that. He kept his head down and walked.
A sharp scent caught at his nose as he approached the back door of the apartment building. He inhaled, trying to place the smell.
Was that smoke?
He looked up and down the street but didn’t see any signs of fire. Someone nearby could be grilling out. But the scent wasn’t quite right for that.
He gave one last look around before opening the door. The odor hit him full force the moment he stepped inside, and panic flooded his system at the haze of smoke that hung over the stairs. Blood roared in his ears as his hand instinctively flew to cover his mouth and nose. His eyes watered as he swiveled, searching out the source of the fire.
There.
The workshop was supposed to have dim security lights, but it was pitch black now, aside from a faint orange glow in the far corner. Nate’s heart kicked up another gear. There were all kinds of chemicals in the workshop.
Flammable chemicals.
And Violet’s apartment was directly above it.
Not pausing to think, he tore up the stairs three at a time and rushed her door. But it was locked.
He pounded on it―hard. When she didn’t come after a few seconds, he pounded again, then ran to Mrs. D’Angelo’s door.
No one answered there, either.
“Come on!” Nate ran back to Violet’s door, pounding until his hand throbbed.
The prayer came instinctively. Please, Lord, let her be okay. Let her answer this door and get out of this building. I don’t care what happens to me, but please save her.
He waited a second, as if he actually thought God might answer his prayer this time.
But when the door still didn’t move, he decided he’d have to take things into his own hands. He backed up three steps and charged the door.
He was half a step away from it when it opened, and he went careening through, right into Violet.
He managed to get an arm under her to soften the blow before they both hit the ground.
“Oof. Nate, what―”
“There’s a fire. Downstairs.” He pushed himself upright but had to stop to cough, and she watched him as if she thought he’d lost his mind. He waved her toward the door, but she didn’t move.
He swallowed down the rest of his cough so he could talk. “You have to go. Get outside and call the fire department. I’ll get Mrs. D’Angelo.”
Her eyes widened in fear, and she scrambled to her feet. A slow stream of smoke had started to filter into the room. She reached a hand to help him up.
But he didn’t want her help. He wanted her to get out.
He jumped to his feet. “Go, Violet, now.” He grabbed her arm and dragged her into the hallway and toward the stairs, then turned to Mrs. D’Angelo’s door.
He pounded on it with two hands.
When he stopped, Violet was right there next to him. “Get out, Violet. Now. Some of those chemicals are explosive.”
Violet trembled, but she didn’t move away. “Give me your keys.”
“What?” But he knew what she was asking. And he wasn’t going to let her stay here and risk her life for his dog. He’d get Tony in a minute. After he got Mrs. D’Angelo.
“I’m not leaving without you, Nate, so give me the keys so I can get the dog and you can get Mrs. D’Angelo, and we can all get out of here.”
“Why do you have to be so stubborn?” But he was already digging the keys out of his pocket. They didn’t have time to stand here and argue. The moment the keys hit her hand, Violet flew across the hall.
Nate gave one more pound on Mrs. D’Angelo’s door. When she didn’t answer, he barreled at it with his shoulder. It didn’t budge. But on the second attempt, he got through.
There was more smoke in here than there had been in Violet’s apartment, and he pulled his shirt up over his nose.
“Mrs. D’Angelo?” He ran through the apartment and into her bedroom. She was lying in the bed, eyes closed, and Nate’s heart lurched. Had she been overcome by the smoke?
“Mrs. D’Angelo?” He shook her shoulder, but she didn’t respond.
He slid one arm under her knees and the other behind her shoulders and lifted her, then careened through the apartment to the landing. The smoke was thicker now, and he fought to see through his watering eyes. “Violet? Tony?”
He moved toward his apartment, but a voice called from the bottom of the stairs. “We’re down here, Nate. Get out.”
He followed the sound down the stairs and into the night.
Chapter 27
Violet had never seen anything more beautiful than Nate emerging from the building carrying Mrs. D’Angelo. She ran to them and wrapped her arm around Nate’s back, steering him to the grassy hill.
Nate laid Mrs. D’Angelo on the grass, and she dropped to the older woman’s side. Tony hovered close to them.
Next to her, Nate gasped around coughs. “Is she―”
“She’s breathing. And she has a pulse.” Her heart eased a little as she felt the faint rhythm in Mrs. D’Angelo’s wrist. “The fire department is on the way.” Already sirens had cut through the quiet of the night, drowning out the crickets and the waves below.
Nate moved closer to kneel at her side, and they both stared toward the building. From out here, everything looked almost normal, aside from the smoke drifting out the back door. “How bad do you think it is?” she whispered.
A hand slid into hers and squeezed, and she leaned into him. Tony pressed up against her other side.
“It will be okay.” His voice was hoarse, but its low rumble was reassuring. “Everyone’s safe.”
Violet nodded against his shoulder.
A sec
ond later, the first fire truck rumbled into the parking lot, an ambulance close behind it.
“Stay with her.” Nate jogged toward the rig, where firemen were scrambling to roll out hoses and flip switches. With their equipment on, there was no way to tell if any of them were Jared or Ethan. Violet sent up a prayer for the firefighters’ protection, whoever they were.
A few seconds later, Nate returned, along with two firefighters carrying a stretcher between them.
“It’s going to be okay, Violet.” She couldn’t make out Ethan’s face in the dark, but she recognized his voice, and a wave of reassurance washed over her.
As Ethan dropped to the ground next to Mrs. D’Angelo, Violet scrambled to get out of the way. Nate moved to her side. The arm he wrapped around her was solid and reassuring. She didn’t care about anything else that had happened between them. Right now, she was grateful to have him here.
She bowed her head. She wasn’t going to stop praying until this whole thing was over and all those firefighters were out of there safely. She’d meant to pray silently, but she couldn’t stop the words from reaching her lips in a whisper. She half expected Nate to drop his arm once he realized what she was doing, but he only pulled her in closer.
After a few minutes, Ethan and the other firefighter lifted the stretcher with Mrs. D’Angelo. Her eyes were open now, and she had an oxygen mask over her face.
“Is she going to be okay?” Violet’s voice shook. How would she live with herself if a fire that had started in her workshop took the dear old lady’s life?
“We’ll know more once we get her to the hospital, but I think so. I really should lecture you two about how you’re supposed to get out and leave the saving others to us, but if she’d been in there much longer . . .” He grimaced. “What about you two? Did you inhale any smoke?”
Not Until You (Hope Springs Book 3) Page 18