Owning Violet (The Fowler Sisters #1)(90)

Fuck no. Irritated, yes. “If you’d told me what you were up to all along, I might’ve done things differently.”

But then I might not have gone after Violet so hotly. I can’t regret that.

“Everything is falling into place perfectly. Don’t second-guess your choices. And don’t question mine.” She beams at me. “I’ll get what I want and you’ll get what you want. Trust me.”

I don’t trust her. And I’m worried that she won’t get what she wants.

Not sure if I will, either.

Minutes after I return to my office Violet is striding in, her expression fierce. Sexy. She stops in the middle of my office, her hands on her hips, her head tilted to the side. She looks like she wants to tear me apart. “Why the hell were you in Pilar’s office?”

I lean back in my chair, startled. Irritated. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me you got into an argument with Pilar?”

“When was I supposed to tell you that?”

“Oh, come on.” I sit forward, resting my forearms on the edge of my desk. “You have no problem emailing me that you want me at any given time of the day.”

Her cheeks redden and her stance wilts a bit. “Keep your voice down,” she practically hisses.

I smile. “You started it.” Arguing with her is going to lead to sex. I can feel it.

Then again, everything Violet and I seem to do leads to sex.

With a huff, she turns and goes to the door and for the briefest, scariest moment, I think she’s going to walk out and never look back. Ever again.

But she doesn’t. She goes to the door and shuts it, then carefully turns the lock before she faces me once more.

“She came into my office this morning after she spied on my conversation with my sister.” Violet lifts her chin. “Then she tried to imply that I can’t handle the responsibilities I’ve been given.”

Nervy bitch. “What did you tell her?”

She shrugs. “I didn’t really say anything except that I have it handled, and I asked her to leave my office. I wasn’t going to lower myself to her level and sling insults. My father raised me right.”

Huh. Not going to touch that one, considering Pilar is possibly messing around with Violet’s “raise her right” father.

“Why were you in her office?” she asks when I don’t say anything.

I don’t want to talk about Pilar. “Come here,” I say softly.

“No.” She stands her ground. “Tell me, Ryder.”

“Are you defying me?” I ask, irritated that she won’t do what I say. That I always feel the need to command her and possess her like some sort of warrior set out to conquer.

“Yes. I am.” She stares me down but she doesn’t scare me. And I don’t think I scare her, either. She knows how much I want her. Is she aware of how much I need her? “Tell me what you two talked about.”

“It was nothing, Violet,” I finally confess with a gentle sigh. “I tried to ask her a few questions about your father, but she dodged them all.”

“Really.” She sounds skeptical and I can’t blame her.

“Really,” I answer firmly. “Now come. Here.”

Reluctantly she approaches me, her teeth sunk into her lower lip. As she draws closer, I can smell her and I inhale discreetly, a surge of lust bolting through me. Fuck, I want her. Always.

“Sit down.” I turn my chair toward her and pat my thigh in invitation. She tentatively settles her ass on my leg, keeping her head bent. I lean in and smell her neck, nuzzling the soft, sensitive skin behind her ear. “Feeling a little defiant today, aren’t you?”

She keeps her head bent but doesn’t move away from me. Not that she can, with my arm wrapped firmly around her waist. “I don’t like you spending time with Pilar.”

“I don’t like it when you chat up your ex right in front of me,” I return.

“I didn’t know you were in the conference room,” she says in her defense, but her voice is weak.

Leaning in, I place my mouth at her ear and whisper, “Liar.”

She doesn’t look at me, doesn’t deny what I said, either. Proving she knew I was in that conference room the entire time she was talking to that *.

“You’re a bad girl, Violet. Lying to me. Trying to make me jealous.” I touch her hair, skim my finger over the shell of her ear. Her breathing shallows and finally she lifts her head, her gaze meeting mine.

“Are you?”

I frown. “Am I what?”

“Jealous?”

I scowl. She’s trying to drive me crazy and it’s working. “Do you want me to be?”

“I don’t know what I want from you.” She shrugs.

“Ah, but I think you do. And for your information, I was.” I kiss her neck, let my lips linger on her soft skin. Emotions swirl within me at having her so close. “Extremely jealous.”

“Then let’s give up this stupid charade and be done with it,” she suggests hopefully.

Sweeter words were never spoken. “Sounds good to me.” I rest my hand on her knee and give it a gentle squeeze. “Nice stockings.”

“You like them?” She sounds hopeful, and I wonder if she wore them just for me.