Worth the Wait

by Lori Foster

  Violet clasped his wrist and pulled his hand away. “Maybe not confused. That’s not the right word. But like you said, he has to have questions.”

  Nodding, Hogan said, “Since it’s just the two of us now, I don’t like making decisions without him. Not big decisions like this. At least not without talking to him about it.”

  Dropping her head back against the brick, Violet groaned. “The truth is you didn’t make the decision. I did, and I’m really sorry.”

  “It’s done. I’m not going to regret it too much. In the future, though, you might try holding that temper under wraps.”

  “Temper?” She laughed at herself. “We both know it was jealousy. Mostly, anyway.” In her defense, she said, “She did insult my diner, too.”

  Hogan went quiet, staring at her thoughtfully, even a little warily.

  God, now she was scaring him off. Trying to backtrack, she teased, “I can’t have her getting what I haven’t even gotten yet.” She figured Hogan could handle sexual jealousy. It was just the emotional stuff that worried him.

  So she’d hide all emotion. Somehow.

  “Trust me, she won’t get anything like that from me.” He looked up at the sliver of a moon. “I have to see her tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  In an enormous understatement, he said, “It’s going to be awkward.”

  Hating to think about it, Violet growled, “It’s grossly unfair of her to put you in this position.” Conveniently exonerating herself for her part, she added, “She’s such a...witch.”

  His mouth twitched. “Nice edit. Too bad you didn’t show more discretion earlier.”

  Shoving aside the pesky guilt, she glared at him. “Seriously, Hogan, are you really regretting it so much? She was awful. You couldn’t possibly have liked working with her.”

  “When it comes to responsibility, liking something has little to do with it.” Again he took her hand. “Come on. Let’s lock up so I can get home. If I stand here talking any longer, Colt will already be in bed when I get there.”

  “You really think so?”

  “No.” He led her back into the diner so they could set the alarms. “Actually, I’m positive he’ll be waiting up.”

  * * *

  The whole gang was waiting on Jason’s porch when Hogan pulled into the drive. Diesel was the only one who rushed to greet him. He stroked the dog as he headed across the lawn for his brother’s house.

  Jason gave him a long look. “Get everything worked out?”

  “For the most part, yeah.”

  Honor stood and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tight. It always amazed Hogan how different it felt to hug a woman who was now a relative. Honor was very pretty, maybe even sexy in an understated, cute way, but he could have been hugging an actual sister. Instead of the deep heat and stirring of his blood that happened when he held Violet, this felt like a sweet, comforting warmth.

  He hugged her off her feet, then kissed the top of her head. Diesel still stood beside him, tongue lolling out, tail swatting the air. Jason watched him. Colt looked worried. And Honor didn’t want to let him go.

  Hogan barely stifled a laugh. “I really am fine, you know. I’m not going to curl up in a ball or anything.”

  “We know.” As Diesel headed over to Colt and Jason tried—but failed—to look reassured, Honor patted his cheek. “You’re an incredibly strong man and I’m so proud of you and I’m glad you’re my brother-in-law.”

  “All that?” he teased.

  She nodded. “Plus, even though you probably didn’t need the hug, it made me feel better.”

  “Why are you feeling bad?” He ruffled her honey-blond hair. “I’m the one who got fired.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Will you be mad if I tell you I’m a little bit glad?”

  Had everyone wanted to see him employed full-time with the diner? It seemed so. “I could never be mad at you, hon.”

  Next he turned to his son. Diesel was practically in Colt’s lap, his head and both front paws stretched out over his long legs, luxuriating in the way Colt scratched his scruff. “What about you?”

  His son looked up with a grin. “I keep picturing Violet yelling at that woman. Man, she was fired up.”

  “A redhead’s temper,” Jason said, then dodged his wife’s hands when she tried to smack him. He finally caught her, pulled her close and gave her a firm kiss and a smile. “Violet’s usually calm about everything. She handles customers like a grade school teacher with an unruly class. Instead of attacking, she firmly reasons things out.”

  “Like that drunk guy,” Colt said. “She never lost her temper with him.”

  Honor, who obviously knew all about that now, said, “That’s the Violet I know. Very easygoing. Always smiling at everyone. But today. Whew. She did look ready to attack.”

  Someday, Hogan thought, he’d look back and laugh about it. But he wasn’t there yet. Every time he thought of the god-awful scene, he wanted to growl in embarrassment.

  Would he ever have real privacy? He sure as hell hadn’t had it in Columbus. Now he didn’t have it Clearbrook, either. Dodging the uncomfortable knowledge, he said to Colt, “You ready to head home?”

  “Yeah.” As Colt started to stand, Diesel lumbered to his feet, wagged his tail at Colt and Hogan, then headed for Jason’s front door.

  Hogan shook his head. “Staying here tonight, Diesel?”

  For an answer, the dog ignored Hogan and continued to stare at the door, waiting for it to open.

  Honor laughed and went to let him in. “He does like to play fair, visiting us occasionally to let us know he loves us, too.”

  “I don’t think he’s made up his mind yet where he lives.” Hogan knew Jason and Honor didn’t mind. The dog had started out as hers, but then had bonded to Colt. Occasionally, he just crashed wherever he was nearest.

  Jason gave Colt a one-arm man hug, clapped Hogan on the shoulder and said, “Let me know if you need anything.”

  “Thanks.” Not that long ago, he’d lived with his brother while getting back on his feet. He didn’t want to ever do that again. Jason had been terrific about it, but he was a grown man, damn it. He would make it on his own.

  Honor hugged each of them again, lingering over Colt, who always seemed to enjoy her attention. Then she and Jason went inside together, a happy couple completely devoted to each other.

  There’d been a time when Hogan thought he had the same. Hell, back then, Jason had razzed him about having the perfect life with a loving and dedicated wife, a smart, responsible son, a big house and prestigious job.

  Amazing how quickly life could change.

  As they crossed the dark yard, Hogan looked up at his son, who, at six foot three, stood above him. “Did you grow another inch?”

  Colt grinned. “Nah. Maybe you’re shrinking?”

  “I’m not that old.” At thirty-five, he still had his physical strength and stamina—but he shouldn’t have been starting over. Again.

  They stepped into the house, and while Hogan closed and locked the door, Colt beat him to the punch, asking, “You and Violet worked it out, huh?”

  “Sure.” Somewhat. He wasn’t entirely confident on how things would go, but the last thing he wanted was for Colt to have to worry.

  “You let her off the hook, right?” Colt censured him with a frown. “You didn’t make her feel bad for losing her cool, did you?”

  He had, but not excessively. Honestly, he still wasn’t sure how he felt about it. Humiliated, yes. Irate, definitely.

  Marginally, insanely grateful? Could be.

  After all the damage his wife had done, deep down it had felt good to have a woman care enough to defend him.

  Hogan twisted his mouth. “She said she was jealous.”

  “Th
at was pretty obvious.” Grinning ear to ear, Colt said, “She likes you. Everyone knows it.”

  And that, Hogan thought, was a problem, too. He had no intention of ever marrying again. So where did that leave his relationship with Violet? Business and casual sex? Somehow he couldn’t see her being content with that.

  He looked at his son. “Do you like her?” What the hell kind of question was that?

  “Yeah, I do.” Colt sprawled on the sofa. He was so long limbed, he overflowed everywhere. “She’s different from Honor, you know? I mean, she’s not always hugging me and stuff. She talks to me more like I’m an adult.” He gave it quick thought and amended, “Like an equal. And when I talk to her, she listens.”

  Concerned, Hogan sat on the edge of the chair. “I don’t listen?”

  “You do, sure.” Colt seemed amused by his worry. “But you listen because you have to.”

  “No, I listen because I love you.”

  For a second there, Colt flushed. “Right, I know that, but it’s different with Violet. She’s not a relative. She treats me the same as she does Jerry or Kristy.”

  “She respects you.”

  “I think so, and I like it.”

  So Violet won Colt over by treating him like an equal and showing him respect? Knowing his son was at the tipping point to being a man, a really good man, he understood that. Respect, of course, was a very important thing.

  “Plus,” Colt said, “I’m comfortable with her.”

  “Me, too.” Hogan’s thoughts jumped ahead. “There’s something about her—” Another thing he hadn’t meant to say.

  Picking up a throw pillow, Colt tossed it into the air a few times. Then he crammed the pillow onto the couch and spoke quietly. “I know you’re worried, Dad. There’s been a lot of stuff happening and I wasn’t crazy about moving at first. But I really like it here, now.”

  “We’re not going anywhere.”

  “I know.” Colt stared at the pillow. “And I know you want me to be happy.”

  Chest tight, Hogan nodded. “More than anything.” His son needed to know that. Secure, but happy.

  With a slow breath, Colt looked up and met his gaze, man-to-man. “I want you to be happy, too, Dad. You deserve it. When you’re working with Violet, you seem to be happier than I’ve seen you for a really long time, so I’m good with it. Better than good. Everything else, we can work that stuff out, right?”

  Emotion gripped Hogan’s throat, but this was important, so he got it together. “Right.” While they had this uncommon heart-to-heart, he added, “We have each other. We have our health. Those are the most important things.” He tightened his mouth. “But I want college for you, too, Colt, and a decent house—”

  “Are you kidding? I love this house.” Grinning again, Colt added, “And I really like living next door to Uncle Jason and Honor. With college, well, I have an idea.”

  Worry gnawed on Hogan, but he tried to hide it. “You’re still going.” Not a question.

  “Definitely.” A solid statement.

  Relief loosened his muscles and Hogan even managed to smile. “Want to share?”

  “Not yet. It’s complicated school stuff and I’ll tell you about it later.”

  Hogan didn’t like the sound of that. “Colt, somehow I’m going to make it work. I want you to understand that. I’ll find a way—”

  “I know. Now roll that back to the mushy stuff. Let’s focus on that right now. We’re both here and healthy and that’s good, right? Like you said, that’s the important stuff.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Just don’t hurt Violet’s feelings, okay? I have a feeling she needs to focus on the important stuff, too.”

  Thinking about her background, the loss of her parents and her uncle Bibb, Hogan nodded. “You may have a point.” Which, of course, only added more complications.

  * * *

  Their first full official week together went amazingly well and they accomplished so much, Violet was left in awe. Having a partner of sorts, well, she was still very unsure about that, but it had gotten things moving, and now that the upstairs was cleared, she started to see the potential.

  Hogan had moved the important stuff, the trunks, a few memorabilia signs and possibly some collectors’ items, into Jason’s garage until they had time to go through it. Anything that could be refurbished to use in the room once it was finished was also in the garage.

  Everything else had been donated.

  Unfortunately, from Monday to Friday they’d been so busy working, she hadn’t been able to coerce Hogan into more than a few stolen kisses.

  The man slowly drove her insane.

  Also, she didn’t want to be like that woman who’d pressured him to the point of harassment. She wanted him, wanted him to know that she wanted him, but she didn’t want him forced to dodge her.

  “So what do you think?”

  Lost in thought, Violet had no idea what Hogan had asked her. “Hmm?”

  With a bucket of drywall mud beside him and a joint knife in his hand, Hogan laughed at her. “You do tend to go off into your own little world.”

  Because that’s the only place where she was getting any. She sighed. “You look great messy—do you know that?” He had a dollop of mud in his hair, a smudge of dirt on his jaw, and he looked as much in his element as he did while grilling.

  Confidence on a man was so damn sexy.

  Hogan shook his head. “You’re demented.” Nodding toward the paint samples, he repeated, “Have you settled on a color?”

  Every day, a few hours at a time before or after their shifts at the diner, they’d worked upstairs, first clearing the space, then while she’d washed the cobwebs off the windows, he’d patched the walls.

  “You’re only giving me five choices.”

  “Because,” he argued for the tenth time, “those are the most appropriate colors.”

  To him, anyway. To “Mr. In-Charge.” She wrinkled her nose. “They’re all...blah.” She looked around again, thinking how big and open the space seemed now that it wasn’t packed to the ceiling with junk. “You know what would be great?”

  “Given the umbrella you chose for me, I’m half afraid to ask.”

  No, he was afraid because he really wanted to take over. It was in Hogan’s nature, that of an alpha, to make all the decisions. He tried to resist those inclinations, or at least conceal them. After all, he had given her five choices. Five choices of bland colors to paint the upstairs of her diner.

  It was only that persistent guilt that kept her from rolling her eyes.

  Well, guilt and his enthusiasm for the job. He’d tackled the cleanup work without a single complaint, and he was now full-time. She’d won at least half the battle, so she tried to be gracious.

  He watched her, waiting, patient as she’d again gone off into her own little world. She put up her chin and said, “I want to paint it yellow.”

  “Yellow?”

  “Not some drab, faded yellow, but a nice bright yellow—like the school colors. That way, when one of the sports teams is playing, we could hang up banners and stuff and it’d look great for spirit day, right?”

  Hogan stared at her, and slowly he smiled. “Actually, that’s a great idea.”

  Did he really have to look so surprised? Straight-faced, she muttered, “Thank you. I manage one every now and then.”

  “Given the success of the place, and the fact that you hired me, I’d say you’ve had a lot of great ideas.”

  She bit back her smile. Now that he agreed, she couldn’t wait to tell him the rest of her ideas. “At first I thought about green for the curtains and stuff, you know, really going all out. But then I remembered myself in school. I wasn’t all that into school things, so I don’t want to overwhelm the place, just make it accommodatin
g to our plans, whatever our plans might be.”

  “Brilliant.”

  The compliment warmed her. After her uncle Bibb had passed away, honest feedback on her hard work had been tough to come by. Customers were always nice, but it wasn’t the same thing, not by a long shot. “So how about something more neutral, but also sturdy and easy to clean? Like rattan blinds. Well, fake rattan, not the real thing. Fake is cheaper and probably more durable. They’ll look nice with the floor, once it’s polished up.”

  Slowly, keeping his gaze on her, Hogan set aside the mud knife and cleaned his hands on a rag.

  When he started in her direction, Violet’s heart jumped into her throat. “What are you doing?”

  “What I’ve been wanting to do for a while now.”

  Optimistic, she asked, “Sex?”

  That stalled him, even made him shake his head and laugh. “I was thinking about a kiss, and an agreement on how good things are going since we’re compromising.”

  She did most of the compromising—well, not really. It was just that he thought of things before she could, and she agreed with him, so there was no reason to insist they did anything a different way.

  It just burned her butt a little that he didn’t give her a chance to be the director.

  Stopping in front of her, his gaze searching hers, Hogan murmured, “But your idea has merit, too.”

  She repeated, “My idea of...sex?” Her hopefulness made him cocky.

  And damn him, that cockiness made him hotter.

  “Sure. Why not?” He pulled her in close, his big hands open low on her back, and bent to nuzzle her neck. “You realize that all we have up here is the hard floor?”

  Urgent now that she got his agreement, Violet tunneled her fingers into his hair and kept him close. “I don’t care.” It’d take ten minutes to get to her house, and since he was on board now, she didn’t want to take a chance on him changing his mind by giving him too much time to think about it.

  He leaned back, his expression tender. “You’re great for my ego.”

  “I doubt your ego needed much help. But what did you expect? After what we’ve already done, the past week has to count as the longest bout of foreplay in the history of mankind.”