Owning Violet (The Fowler Sisters #1)(86)

“You’re right.” He visibly relaxes. “I just … I need to know something first. Before I say anything else.”

“What?”

“Are you still speaking to McKay?” The scowl on Zachary’s attractive face is nothing short of furious.

“No.” I slowly shake my head and press my lips together. I hate denying it. Denying Ryder. I want to talk to him. I need to see him. He promised he would come over tonight, but what if he doesn’t show? What if he falls back into Pilar’s trap and I’m left with Zachary?

I’d deserve it for being deceitful. It doesn’t matter if Zachary’s deceitful, too. A lie for a lie isn’t right, no matter how much I can justify it.

“Good.” His features even out and he’s once more attractive, charming Zachary. “Trade secrets, you know. I don’t want that * finding out any details about my promotion.”

Now I’m really curious. And willing to test the waters. “You know … my father mentioned the position to me.”

“He did? What did he say? Anything about me?”

Such an egomaniac. “Well … yes. But he also said that he believed I would do well in London.”

“You?” He sounds shocked. And even mildly disgusted. “You’re not interested in anything like that.”

“How do you know?” I ask indignantly. I’m about to give him a piece of my mind when the cute waitress appears with our dinners. She sets the plate of chicken Marsala in front of me as I push aside my salad, then settles a plate of lasagna in front of Zachary. He smiles at the waitress as she flirts with him while I watch them both, silently steaming.

I hate this. I want to grab the back of Zachary’s head and smash his face in that steaming-hot lasagna. I want to hear him scream and feel him struggle. I want to call him out on his sexist ways and bullying approach.

But I do none of that. I smile at the waitress even when she glares at me and I push my chicken around on the plate like I haven’t a care in the world, while I watch Zachary shovel giant forkfuls of lasagna into his mouth.

Ugh. He’s repulsive.

“You’ll come visit me soon, right?” he asks after five minutes of long, almost painful silence.

“Oh, yes,” I say, setting my fork down on my plate. I’m giving up. I’m just not hungry. “It’s been years since I’ve been to London.”

“We’ll check out the sights together. And go to Paris.” He smiles, knowing that’s exactly what I want. He’s just trying to please me. Trying to suck me into his web until I’m trapped and back in the same position I was in before.

Stuck and miserable.

My cell buzzes and I check it discreetly, my heart pounding when I see it’s a text from Ryder. I read his words slowly, savoring them, trying to repress the smile that wants to break free.

I miss you.

He confuses me. He’s cold. He’s hot. I can’t figure him out.

I’m with Zachary, I tell him to see if I get a rise out of him.

It works.

Tell that * you need to go home and I’ll meet you at your place.

I can practically hear his growling, sexy voice. A shiver moves through me as I hurriedly peck out my response.

I can’t leave yet. We’re eating dinner.

Fuck dinner.

But I’m hungry.

Come f*ck me instead.

“Who are you texting?”

“Oh.” I glance up, clutching my phone tight, covering the screen. It’s in my lap, so Zachary can’t see anything, but still. “It’s, um, Lily. She wants to meet for breakfast this weekend.”

“Tell her you have plans this weekend with me.” He flashes me a smug smile.

“I can’t ignore my sisters, Zachary. You know how important they are to me,” I reprimand him.

“And I’m not important? I know I need to prove myself to you, Violet. I should consider myself damn lucky you’re giving me this chance, and I do. But I’m leaving in a few days and I’d really like to spend any free time I have with you.” The sincerity glowing in his eyes is hard to ignore, but is it for real? This is such a turnaround from the man who announced he was leaving and that he didn’t have much time for me, what with all his preparations.

My phone buzzes in my palm and I glance down, Ryder’s impatience blatant in his one-worded text.

Well?

Lifting my head, I offer Zachary an apologetic smile as I stand, still clutching the phone. “Do you mind if I call her real quick? I won’t be long.”

“Go.” He waves me away with an irritated glare and I flee, finding a secluded spot near the bathrooms so I can make my call.

“Tell me you’ve left,” Ryder answers, all growly and sexy.

“I haven’t. I snuck away from him to call you,” I say, glancing around to make sure no one is paying attention to me lurking in the dark near the restrooms.

“Tell him an emergency came up and you need to leave.”

“What sort of emergency?”

“I don’t know. That you need to get f*cked and the only one that can do it for you is me?”

“Ryder.” I close my eyes and lean against the wall. “You told me we needed to be discreet.”

“I didn’t think it would bother me so much that you’re with him,” he says, sounding as confused as I feel.