Owning Violet (The Fowler Sisters #1)(28)

“How?” She tilts her head, her ponytail slipping over her shoulder. It rubs against the fabric of her dress, all that shiny, silky hair beckoning me, making my fingers itch to touch it.

“Instead of always being the one who gets used, I think you should do the using.” I have no idea where I’m going with this, but from the way her interest perks up, I keep going. “So maybe you should go ahead and use me.”

Her mouth drops open for the briefest moment before she snaps her lips shut. “What do you mean, I should use you? How? And why would you want to be used?”

Everything’s clicking into place, piece by piece. I feel like I’m on some sort of high, the type I usually only get at work, when I’m putting together a presentation and I know I f*cking nailed it. It’s the same sort of high I used to get when I was young and living on the streets, scheming to find my next meal, my next hit, my next f*ck.

“Your ex hates my guts. And I’m not a fan of him either.” Deciding the hell with it, I reach out and take her hand, interlacing her fingers with mine so our palms are pressed close together. I swear I can feel her heart beating through her fingers and I match my breathing to the increasing rhythm, wanting to both calm and excite her. “If he knew the two of us had become involved, it would drive him crazy.” And maybe distract him enough that he would fail miserably in his new temporary position.

She blinks at me, looking a little interested but a little lost, too. The attraction is there between us. I know she must feel it. But is that enough to get her to make such a daring move? “I think you’re attracted to me,” I whisper, letting my gaze drop to her lips. She darts her tongue out, wetting all that slick red flesh, and I want to groan. Want to lean in and kiss her f*cking senseless, but I control myself. “And I am definitely interested in you.”

“You are?” She shakes her head, a little sigh escaping her. “Please. This is crazy.” Her fingers tighten on mine the slightest bit. “I hardly know you. You’re involved with someone else. I broke up with Zachary only last night when a few days ago, I thought he was going to ask me to marry him. I wanted to marry him.”

I push through the anger that clouds my brain. What a waste it would have been, Violet marrying Zachary. He would have made her life miserable. “I know. I agree with you—it’s totally f*cking crazy.” Her eyes widen at my word choice. There’s the slightest thrill in shocking her. I feel like everyone tiptoes around her, but why, I’m not sure. She’s always had this fragile air around her. I’m starting to think she’s not the one who’s behind that, though. “Let’s see where tonight takes us.”

“T-tonight?” Her voice trembles and she’s breathing shallowly—I can see the rapid rise and fall of her breasts.

“We’ll treat it as part business, part pleasure.” Clutching her hand tight, I lean in and press my lips to her forehead, letting them linger before I slowly pull away from her. “It’ll be … interesting. Don’t you think?”

Those luminous dark eyes stare at me like I have two heads. I’ve totally turned her world upside down. Only fair, because she’s done the same to me. She’s all I’ve thought about for days.

“I think it’s a huge risk,” she says softly. “I’ve heard the rumors about you.”

I frown and release my grip on her hand, settling back in my seat. I swear disappointment flashes across her face, but I can’t be too sure. “What sort of rumors?” Jesus, this is the longest car ride of my life. And where she’s taking this conversation isn’t making me all that comfortable.

She shrugs. “That you and Pilar have engaged in some kinky sex games. That you can’t let her go no matter how hard you try. That you’ll have sex with anyone in a skirt and walk away from them afterward without a care. Zachary says you’re the most despicable human being on this planet.”

All of it true. Every last bit. And her skirt in particular is arousing me at the moment. “Love how much he insults me when we’re actually very similar,” I murmur, puzzling over her words and how I’m going to defend myself.

“I told him none of it mattered,” she continues, surprising me. “That I didn’t care about your personal life. We’re involved professionally but that’s it. And if something happens between us it’s none of his concern. I refuse to let him control my emotions and make me feel bad that I gave up my doormat ways and kicked him out of my life.”

Violet’s backbone is making an appearance again. “You did the right thing, ending it with him.”

She smiles faintly. “You’d say that no matter what. I think your words were … hmmm … that you hate him?”

“You’re right. I do hate him. I also hate what he’s done to you.” I’m going to hate what I plan on doing to her, too.

“What I’m really trying to say is I don’t know if I want to take the risk and … ‘use’ you.” She lifts her eyebrows, almost as if she’s daring me to argue with her. “I think you might be a bad idea.”

“I am a terrible idea.” This is the last warning she’ll get. I’m being one hundred percent honest with her here. I’m the worst idea out there, especially for Violet. My plans for her won’t end pretty. But if it gets me what I want, then I’m going to take the chance. She’ll recover.