by Emily Bruce
Violet found her handbag and reapplied her makeup. Mr Jameson was going to think she was a total psycho, she looked horrendous. After applying as much makeup as she could, Violet let out a sniffle and blew her nose. This was as good as it was going to get. She still had half a day of work to get through. Violet let out a sigh as she trudged up the path to the realty office. She could do this, she could go in there and not burst into tears. Violet took a fortifying breath as she grabbed the vibrant orange door and went in. There was silence in the office and Violet let out a sigh of relief, at least Mr J wasn’t watching the cookie toss video.
Violet rounded her desk and slumped into her seat. Clearly, Hollywood movies lied. Hot movie stars didn’t come running after you when you caught them in a compromising position with your nemesis.
Just put it out of your mind!
It was hard, though. All Violet could see was the man of her dreams getting pawed by Eden. He even looked like he was enjoying it. Maybe Sophie was right, he was just an ass-hat. He’d already moved on with Eden.
Violet wiggled her mouse around violently, trying to get her computer to wake up.
The doorbell dinged, and Violet was almost too scared to look and see who was coming through the door. Was it Betty, to give her an update? Was it Eden, coming to gloat? Violet looked up and let out a gasp.
“Vi,” Blake’s sexy voice vibrated around the tiny office. Violet gulped, she couldn’t look away, his eyes were doing that thing where they bored into hers and she froze.
“What?” she managed to say in a shaky voice that came out as a croak.
“I’m so sorry,” Blake said as he advanced on her at the desk, his eyes never leaving hers.
“I’m so sorry for everything. It’s all my fault, I put you in that position. I never meant to do that to you. I’m sorry for what they made me say in the statement, it wasn’t true. I should have contacted you earlier, but I didn’t know what to say because I’ve violated you in so many ways. I was stupid to even think I could have a normal date. I’m so sorry, it was all my fault. I should have listened to Mom and called you as soon as I found out. I can’t even begin to imagine how you must be feeling right now.”
Violet looked at Blake, his face ashen and distraught.
“But, why would you blame yourself? It was all my fault! I ruined your career! I understand if you never want to see me again,” Violet whispered.
Blake frowned and shook his head.
“Violet, what are you talking about?”
“You had to quit acting because of me. You had to hire PR people. Blake, I’ve ruined your life!”
“Vi, is this how you’ve been feeling? This is in no way your fault, at all. I want to quit. I had already quit acting. I'm moving home to Encounter Bay forever, that’s why I bought the Cape Cod place.”
Violet felt the tears slip down her cheeks.
“What about Eden?” It killed her to ask that question, but she needed to know.
“Vi… it’s… I… Violet, I’ve…”
“Jesus Christ, just spit it out, boy!” Mr Jameson boomed, making both Blake and Violet jump. This was all too much for Violet to handle, she needed to get out of here. She jumped to her feet and hurried around her desk. “I have to go,” Violet announced as she pushed in between Blake and Mr Jameson.
Blake made a lunge for her and tried to grab her arm, but Violet managed to dart out of his way. Violet felt the fresh salty breeze hit her hot face as she pushed out the door, turned left, and started sprinting down the street. She hurdled a sign she didn’t read and kept running. She needed to get away from Blake, she needed time to think about what he had just said to her.
“Vi!” Blake yelled from behind her. Violet didn’t turn to look, she just kept running. The tears now streaming down her cheeks were blurring her vision. The construction workers yelled as she stumbled over a piece of wood. She was able to take only two more steps before she looked down and saw that she was now ankle-deep in thick, cold, wet cement. She tried to move her feet, but her heels were stuck. She was stuck. The construction workers were still yelling at her and Violet searched around frantically through her tears, trying to figure out how to get out of this mess.
This is not happening!!
“Violet. Stop. Listen to me.” She could hear the anguish in Blake’s voice. She turned as she saw him step over the sign and skirt the cement formwork to stand as close to her as he could without ending up in the cement. Now the construction workers stopped yelling and a crowd was beginning to gather. Violet wiped her eyes with her sleeve, smearing mascara across her face.
She looked up at Blake, who was the only thing she could see in her field of vision. He opened his mouth to talk, but Violet held up her hand for him to stop. “Blake, please, I’m not good for you… or your image.” Blake furrowed his brow.
“What?”
“I’m a mess, I threw up on a stripper! Right in the crotch! I’m currently stuck in concrete! You need someone who won’t make you have to hire a PR team on a ridiculous retainer. I’m not fit for the spotlight. You need a thin, pretty woman on your arm, someone who won’t embarrass you. Eden is right, I am a loser.” Violet looked at the most handsome man in the world. She definitely was not good enough for him. Blake shook his head and a huge grin appeared on his face.
“You threw up on a stripper?” Blake asked as he began to laugh.
Violet crossed her arms. How dare he laugh at her! She opened her mouth to say something, but it died on her lips as she watched the hottest man she had ever seen take two steps into the wet cement, get on one knee, and pull a ring box out of his pocket.
“Violet, I don’t give a shit about any of that crap. I came back here for you. I want you. I love you. Will you marry me?”
Everyone around them cheered, including the construction workers. Violet looked down at the man of her dreams on one knee kneeling in the wet cement, staring at her with such intensity. More tears began to fall.
Betty’s voice rang out from the crowd. “Shut up! She hasn’t said yes yet!”
The crowd grew quiet and Violet took a deep breath. “Are you sure? Because I can’t guarantee I won’t do something embarrassing in the future.”
“I’m counting on it, now Violence, answer the damned question!”
Violet started to simultaneously sob and laugh.
“Yes, Blake, I will marry you,” she managed to whisper.
A huge smile appeared on his handsome face, his left dimple making an appearance.
“What did you say, Violet?” Betty yelled.
“Yes, she said yes!” Blake yelled back and everyone began to cheer as Violet wiped her tears.
Blake opened the ring box to reveal a huge diamond ring. Violet put out a shaking right hand as Blake attempted to slide the ring onto her finger, but the ring slipped from his hand straight into the thick wet cement.
“Fuck!” Blake said as he tried to pick it up.
“Violence, maybe your condition is contagious!” he added with a grin as he picked up the now cement-soaked solitaire diamond ring and put it back in its box and into his pocket.
A smile spread across Violet’s face.
Blake got up out of the wet cement and hoisted Violet over his shoulder, fireman style. Everyone was still cheering and clapping as Blake made his way through the crowd of people with an upside-down Violet on his shoulder. Violet only found herself upright again when Blake deposited her on the front passenger seat of his SUV. “Blake! I’m covered in concrete. It's going to ruin your new car!”
Blake shrugged. “We’re only going as far as your house, and I can afford a new one.” He winked at her as he put the seat belt around her and ran around to the driver’s side.
***
Violet woke up cold and alone. She rolled over and sighed. She had had the weirdest dream, Blake Wilson had proposed to her and she had said yes! She looked down at the huge rock on her right hand and smiled. It had cleaned up pretty good after being submerged in cement. Th
e smell of sizzling bacon wafted into her room. She got up and wandered out to her kitchen. Blake was wearing nothing but a tight pair of black boxers as he moved around Violet's kitchen, plating the bacon and eggs.
“Good morning, Vi,” Blake called out without turning around. Violet pouted. She wanted to ogle his front, though the back was pretty good too.
“Come sit down, I’ve made breakfast.”
Violet floated over to her little table, experiencing happiness overload.
Blake turned on the tap on and rinsed the pan. “What’s wrong with your sink?” he asked. Violet frowned. “Nothing.”
“Just let me have a quick look under here at the pipes, it seems to drain really slow.”
Violet watched in horror as Blake crouched down on his knees and opened the sink cupboard door. Violet dashed across the tiny space. “Don’t worry about it, let’s just have breakfast!” she shouted.
“What’s this?” Blake asked, pulling out her pink bag of shame. “Why do you have DVDs under your sink?” Violet lunged over Blake’s shoulder and tried to grab the bag. He gripped the bag as Violet tried to fight him for it. “Give it to me now!!” She yelled. Blake stood up, causing Violet to nearly fall over.
She had to get that bag back!!
“Violence, have I just found your porn stash?” Blake asked as he darted into her living room. Violet ran after him and tried to fight him.
Holy Shit!!
“Give it back! It’s none of your business!” Violet shrieked, hitting a laughing Blake as he held it out of her reach.
Blake batted off her attempts easily and darted back into the kitchen. He had a devilish grin on his face as he opened the bag. Violet slumped onto the sofa in defeat, oh god she guessed this was really happening right now. She leaned over and put her already reddening face into the cushions and braced herself.
Blake began to roar with laughter
“It is your porn collection!!”
The End.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emily Bruce is from Melbourne, Australia. She enjoys writing, laughing, and Tim Tams. When she is not writing romance, she is dreaming of moving to the beach or hanging out with her husband. You can find her at rock concerts, in her garden with her rose bushes, or answering random stranger's questions on public transport. She has a golden retriever slash money pit whom she loves more then words, even if he did break her leg and finger and cost her over $12,000 in vet bills.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Hey, if you’re reading this, then you are my new favourite human! Thank-you for taking the chance on a new author and downloading my book, I sincerely hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please leave a review and tell your friends. If you want to follow me on social media and keep updated with my new releases, please follow the links.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmBruceRomance
Instagram: Emily Bruce (@emilybruceromance) • instagram photos and videos
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyBruceRomance/
And if you want to chit-chat, please feel free to Email me at [email protected]
I would like to thank Peter at petertheproofreader.com.au for helping me with my book.
I would like to thank Carrie at cheekycovers.com, I’m so in love with my cover!!
Emily Bruce.
Doctor Winter
Coming Soon