Violet's Valentine: A Clean Friends to Lovers Romance (Love in Holiday Junction Book 1)

by Tami Franklin

She caught his look and raised a brow. “What?”

  He shrugged. “Nice sweater.”

  Vi plucked at a sleeve self-consciously. “What's wrong with my sweater?”

  “Nothing,” he replied, his lips quirking. “I just said it was nice.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “But you never say anything's nice unless you mean it's decidedly not nice.”

  And really, he'd been being honest about the sweater, but it was so much fun to mess with her. And comfortable. They fell into it so easily and it seemed to put her at ease.

  “You're so paranoid, Chalmers,” he said, shaking his head in mock pity. “It's a shame, really.”

  “It's only paranoia if they're not really out to get you,” she pointed out.

  He leaned in, waggling his eyebrows. “You think I'm out to get you?”

  Vi stilled and she looked at him, her cheeks growing pink and her lips parted slightly. Suddenly, the noise around them softened to a muted hum, and his heart thudded heavily in his chest.

  “I—” she said, but it was breathy, like she didn't even mean to say it and it burst out on an exhale. She licked her lips and Kade swallowed, suddenly warm all over.

  “Vi—” His gaze locked with hers, her blue eyes shimmering . . . drawing him in . . . pulling him closer.

  “Hey guys!” At the familiar voice, Violet startled, the moment broken. Liam appeared next to her and Kade blinked as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

  The kiss broke and Liam smiled down at her. “Hi. You look pretty.”

  Vi smiled up at him, and Kade's stomach dropped to somewhere in the vicinity of his feet. “Thanks.” She shot a sideways glare at Kade. “At least some people think so.”

  He recovered quickly, after years of experience. “I said the sweater was nice!” he exclaimed, throwing up his hands. “I didn't ask what puppet you skinned to get it. Give me some credit!”

  Vi made an outraged sound and smacked his arm, as Kade cackled, curling over to protect himself as she tried to hit him again.

  Liam watched them with an inscrutable look on his face, then cleared his throat and turned away.

  They finally made their way over to Lou, who, despite the frenzy of activity around her, seemed calm as a cucumber.

  “Oh good, you're here,” she said, flipping through her notebook. “Just in time to put up the lanterns and lights.” She picked up a box and handed it to Liam, then placed another in Kade's arms. “Ladders are over there—” She pointed to the far corner. “And you have to use the temporary hooks because we can't put any nails in the drywall.”

  Kade opened his box to find rolls of white twinkle lights. He immediately checked out Liam's box—the guy was holding up a paper lantern, with a disgusted look on his face. Without a word, he offered his box to Liam and took the other one. Then they retreated to the corner with the ladders.

  They worked pretty well together, all things considered. Liam and Kade climbed the ladders and Vi directed things from the floor. It only took an hour or so to get the twinkle lights put up, the strands crisscrossed over the ceiling and dipping down at the corners where they'd eventually be covered by sheer, white fabric. Then they started in on the paper lanterns. This took a little longer because each one had to be opened up, then a tiny LED bulb attached and turned on—since they didn't want to have to go back and turn them all on later.

  “A little to the left!” Vi called up to Kade. He was hanging one of the lanterns from a wide beam with fishing line and a little thumbtack—okay'd by Lou since it was in the beam and not the ceiling.

  He moved it over. “Here?”

  Vi titled her head, considering. “No, a little more.”

  He complied. “Okay?”

  “No, back to the right.”

  Kade's eyes narrowed, but Vi gazed up at him innocently. He shifted the lantern over.

  “No, I was wrong. More to the left.” This time, her lips quirked, and the game was up. He stuck the thumbtack into the beam and climbed down the ladder.

  “You realize I've been climbing up and down that ladder all afternoon,” he said when he approached her. “You could have a little consideration.”

  “It's good for you,” she retorted, handing him a bottle of water. “You could use a little exercise.”

  He gaped at her. “Are you calling me fat?”

  She studied him, up and down, and he had to fight not to fidget. “No, not fat, per se,” she said. “Maybe a little . . . puffy?” She poked him in the stomach.

  “Puffy?” Kade repeated in outrage. “I'll give you puffy.” And with that, he dropped his water bottle and pulled her into a headlock.

  “Kade, no!” she squealed, laughing.

  “Say it!” He rubbed his knuckles over her head.

  Suddenly, Vi shifted on her feet, grabbed his wrist, wrenched it around, and before he knew what was happening, he was flat on his back on the floor, the breath knocked out of him. Vi held his hand by the thumb, his arm slightly twisted. It didn't hurt, but he knew if he moved, it would.

  She grinned down at him. “Took a little self-defense while I was away,” she said.

  “I can see that,” he replied.

  She tipped her head. “Say it,” she said. And the challenge was weighted . . . there was something behind her words that Kade couldn't quite put a name to.

  “Guys, is everything okay?” Liam was standing over them, and Vi immediately released Kade, brushing her hands off on her jeans.

  “Fine,” she said. “Just teaching the King here a few manners.”

  Kade rolled over on his knees, catching his breath before he stood up. “I hereby concede the crown,” he said with a little bow. “Hail to the Queen.”

  Vi smiled brightly, tipping her head.

  “It's looking great, isn't it?” Lou asked, scribbling in her notebook as she approached them. “I think we're just about done, except for the caterers tomorrow. And you'll both be here for the D.J.?” she asked Kade and Vi.

  “For the hundredth time, we'll be here, Mom,” Vi said, rolling her eyes. “It's all going to be amazing and perfect and wonderful. You made sure of it.”

  Lou let out a breath, her shoulders relaxing a bit. “Thanks. I just want everything to go well.”

  “It will.”

  Lou's gaze shifted to the ballroom entrance. “Oh, what's he doing here?” she muttered, and the group turned to see Joshua Kendricks entering with his entourage—his secretary, Melanie, Boomer Benedict, and Alice Camden, from the Journal bringing up the rear.

  The mayor took in the activity, his piercing glance scrutinizing everything from the lanterns overhead to the floral centerpieces. He walked the perimeter of the room, flanked by Melanie and Boomer, instructing the former to take notes, and the latter to quit breathing down his neck.

  The group finally came to a stop near Kade and the others, and the mayor took one last sweeping perusal of the room, his mouth pinched.

  “I'm not certain it says Valentine's Day,” he said.

  Everyone gaped—even Boomer Benedict's mouth dropped open in surprise. In addition to the lights and lanterns, three-dimensional paper hearts hung from the ceiling in a variety of sizes. The white tablecloths were topped with squares of sparkling, red fabric, and even the floral centerpieces of red and white roses had little sparkling hearts peeking out from between the blooms.

  It didn't only say, Valentine's Day. It shouted it at the top of its lungs.

  Lou, to her credit, only asked calmly, though through gritted teeth, “What would you suggest?”

  The mayor frowned, the creases around his mouth deepening as he considered the question. “We need more cupids,” he said with a firm nod.

  “More cupids,” Lou repeated flatly.

  “Definitely.” He turned to Boomer. “Go get the costume.”

  “Ah, Boss,” Boomer said, his shoulders slumped. “You said I wouldn't need it.”

  “I said you wouldn't need it if the decorations were up to par,” Joshua corrected, loo
king down his pointed nose at him. “They are not, so you will.”

  Boomer let out a frustrated groan and left the room.

  “Costume?” Lou did not look happy. “What costume?”

  Joshua smiled. “You'll see.” He adjusted his cuffs, and Kade idly noticed how the lantern light reflected off his pomaded, white head.

  “Hey,” Liam nudged Kade's arm. “You got a second?”

  “Uh, sure, I guess,” he replied, glancing at Vi. She looked curiously between the two of them, and Liam gave her a peck on the cheek.

  “Just need Kade's help with something,” he said. “We'll be right back.”

  “Okay,” Vi replied slowly, like she didn't quite believe him, but didn't know how to challenge it. She was quickly diverted by Lou and Joshua's heated conversation debating the value of pink hearts versus red, and Kade walked with Liam out to the lobby.

  “What's up?” Kade asked.

  Liam took in a deep breath and rubbed the back of his neck as he looked out the window toward the parking lot.

  “Look,” he said. “This isn't easy to—” He broke off, pressing his lips together, then looked Kade straight in the eye. “I need to ask you a favor.”

  Kade was surprised but didn't let it show. “What is it?”

  Liam hesitated, like he was trying to figure out how to say what he wanted to say. Finally, he squared his shoulders. “We both love Vi, right?” And the way he asked it, it was like he knew.

  It took all Kade had not to squirm under his scrutiny. “Right,” he said.

  “And we both want her to be happy?”

  “Of course,” he said. “Liam, where are you going with this?”

  Liam ran his hands through his hair, his gaze going to the ceiling for a moment before he dropped his hands. “I still love Vi,” he said. “I don’t think I ever stopped. I love her and I want to give her everything. I want to—to marry her one day. Have a family. And I think we could be really good together. I think I could make her happy.”

  Kade's mouth felt like ash, his heart thudding in his ears. “That’s . . .” He swallowed. “That's great.”

  “But I can't do that, if you're in the way,” Liam said.

  Kade froze, stunned. “What?”

  Liam threw up his hands and paced away a few steps and back again. “I know you're old friends. I get that, and I'm not asking you to give that up—”

  “That's good, because there's absolutely no way I would,” Kade snapped, anger stiffening his spine, sharpening his tongue. “I'd never abandon her.”

  “And I'm not asking you to,” Liam said, holding up his hands in a placating gesture.

  “Then what exactly are you asking?”

  Liam faced him, and his face was pleading, his eyes soft. “All I'm asking for is a chance,” he said. “A chance to make her see how good we could be again. But when you're always there, teasing her, laughing with her, it makes it tough, you know? Sometimes I feel like an outsider.”

  And Kade got that. He and Vi did have their own little world sometimes, their own language, almost.

  “All I'm asking is for you to step back a little,” Liam said, and Kade could tell how much it took for him to ask. “Just give us a chance. Can you do that? For Vi?”

  Kade sighed. That was the ticket, wasn't it? He'd do just about anything for Vi. He took a long look at Liam, considering. Vi did really care about him, Kade knew that. And he was a good guy . . . had a good job. A real stand-up member of society.

  But most of all, as Kade looked at him, he could see how much Liam cared about Vi.

  So, even though it drove an arrow straight through his heart, he forced a smile. “Sure,” he said. “Anything for Vi.”

  Liam nodded, letting out a relieved breath. “Thanks. I—” He shook his head. “Thanks, man.” He held out his hand and Kade shook it.

  “No problem. I only want her to be happy.”

  Liam would do that, wouldn't he? He'd make Vi happy. Kade had a flash of Liam and Vi's wedding . . . children running through the lawn next door.

  He thought he might be sick.

  Instead, he patted Liam on the back. “Now, let's get back to work before Lou sends out a search party.”

  They walked back into the ballroom and Liam immediately went over to stand next to Vi, sliding an arm over her shoulders as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. She smiled up at him then turned to Kade with a curious look, but he only offered her a small smile in return.

  “Oh, you've got to be kidding me!” Lou exclaimed, and everyone turned to see Boomer Benedict walking back into the ballroom dressed in a cupid's costume, complete with a fabric diaper, wings, and a little bow and arrow. Wiry, black hair covered his thick chest and trailed over his shoulders. Even his back had a furry coat, and he wore white socks with black oxford loafers.

  It was a vision.

  “Boomer, I told you to get waxed!” Joshua exclaimed, as the room broke out into titters. He turned to Lou. “I have three others that will be here tomorrow night, and they will all be smooth as a baby's bottom!” He raised his voice at the end, directing his words toward Boomer.

  “Can you believe that?” Vi asked, and Kade was surprised to find her standing right next to him. His eyes immediately sought out Liam, who was still over by the table, watching them closely.

  Vi smiled at him, obviously waiting for a smart-aleck comment of some kind, but instead, he just said, “Yeah.” He stepped back, waving toward the door. “I've got to run. Forgot I have a lesson. I'll see you later.”

  Vi looked disappointed, but she nodded. “Okay, see you.”

  Kade turned and strode out of the ballroom, his stomach in knots.

  Something was up with Kade.

  Violet waited at the lodge Saturday afternoon, staring out the windows at the swaying grass and mountain range. She and Kade were supposed to meet with David, the D.J. and make sure he had everything he needed for the evening, but Kade was late.

  Lou was across the room, talking to the caterers as they set up serving trays and platters. Vi had planned to drive over with Kade, but he was nowhere to be found, so she'd caught a ride with her mom instead.

  It was weird.

  She walked along the wall of windows, the mountains in the distance hidden by a bank of clouds. It was supposed to be clear and cold that night, and Vi hoped the weather forecasters were right. Of course, Kade always said—

  Kade. Right.

  With a thud, her thoughts returned to him. He'd seemed off after his mysterious talk with Liam. Liam had only said he needed Kade's advice for her Valentine's present, so she hadn't pushed him. But she really didn't think that was it. Kade was distant when he returned . . . and he couldn't get out of the ballroom fast enough.

  Away from her.

  The thought came from nowhere, and it made her stomach flutter a little, a whirl of panicked butterflies.

  Then he was gone all day today, his car missing from the driveway, the windows curtained shut. Almost—

  Almost like he was avoiding her.

  Which didn't make sense at all, of course.

  Thinking of Kade made her think of that moment the day before. He'd been teasing her, like he often did, but something was different. He'd said something about getting her, and she'd taken it entirely wrong.

  For a moment—just a moment—she thought he might kiss her.

  Which didn't make sense either.

  Vi crossed her arms, hugging her stomach. Her mind was a whirlwind lately, thoughts of Kade taking weird tangents and strange turns. There were times like yesterday that she thought maybe things were changing between her and Kade, growing into something more.

  Then he'd disappear, like today, and she was pretty sure she was imagining things.

  Vi sighed and turned away from the window, only to see Kade walking in with the D.J. and carrying a large speaker. He spotted her and nodded.

  “We thought you'd set up over here,” he told David, directing him to the far wall, next to the dance f
loor, where they’d set up a large platform. Vi walked over to join them.

  “Hello,” she said, but David didn't pay her any attention. Instead, he studied the wall, then pulled out a tape measure and ran it along the platform, measuring the length and width—and, inexplicably, the distance from the center to one corner. He got down on his hands and knees to inspect the power outlets, then stood up.

  “Very well,” he said with a nod. “This will do.”

  Vi's lips twitched and she shot a glance at Kade, but he didn't seem to notice and only smiled at David. “Great. We'll help you bring everything in.”

  They loaded in David's equipment, carefully setting it on the platform. David began to walk slowly around the area, humming loudly with his head thrown back.

  “Can we help you set up?” Vi asked.

  The humming cut off and David looked at her in surprise. “What? Oh . . . no, thank you. I need to study the acoustics in the room to create the proper placement, and it's best if I do it myself.” He started to hum again, walking in a circle, and Vi stepped back until she was standing next to Kade.

  “Should we go?” she whispered to him.

  “I have no idea,” Kade replied, watching David in awe. He was making loud clicking sounds, pausing in between as if listening for an echo.

  “How important can the acoustics be? He's not the Philharmonic,” he said.

  “Well, he obviously takes his job very seriously,” she replied. “I think it's admirable.”

  “You would,” he said, side-eyeing her.

  “And what's that supposed to mean?” She was fighting a smile. This was right. This was the Kade she knew.

  He opened his mouth to respond, but then snapped it shut, looking away. “Nothing. Hey, if you've got this, I have some things to do. Can I go?”

  Vi blinked at him in surprise. “What?”

  Kade backed away from her a step. “I have some other things to do, so if we're done, do you mind if I head out?”

  “Uh, no, I guess not,” Vi replied, unsure why it left her feeling kind of empty. Sad. “I guess I'll see you tonight?”

  “Yeah, sure,” Kade said, before turning to leave.

  And what. In the world. Was that?

  She watched Kade walk away, shoulders stiff and hands jammed in his pockets. He was definitely acting weird, and Vi was done with it. She followed after him and called out his name, but he either didn't hear her, or was ignoring her, because he kept going out the front doors. She quickened her steps until she was running. When she came up behind him and grabbed him by the arm, he spun around, surprised.