Violet Dreams

Chapter 8

We were quiet for a while until we walked up to the park. I knew this park existed, but I had never been to it since I generally shied away from nature.

I actually would've run away if it weren't for the fact that there were other people here. Some families were still on walks and I could see a fitness group cornered in a section of the park. Streetlights illuminated most of the area and it appeared safe.

I probably won't be following him too far though.

"Why did we walk all the way out here?" I asked as I followed him to a bench. Even though the walk was only about ten minutes, I was freezing. We sat a foot apart, but I wanted to scoot closer just to warm up.

"I think we both were feeling pressure in there."

I shrugged and rubbed my arms to try and warm them. Carter must have noticed and offered me his suit jacket.

Hesitantly, I took it and put it on. His spicy cologne enveloped me and I wanted to sigh in happiness. Then I wanted to promptly slap myself for that thought. Why am I like this around him? I thought back to my last "serious" boyfriend in college and he never had this effect on me. We were like rabbits all the time but his smell did nothing like what Carter's had been doing as of late.

The undercurrent to his cologne has been bothering me for the past week and now I could really smell it. It smelled fresh and almost seemed spicy in itself, but a different type of spice. The memory of it was on the tip of my brain, but kept slipping away. I want to curse myself for not shifting enough and letting my senses go so far downhill.

"Violet, I like you." I had been wrapped up in getting warm again, but when he said this I almost fell off the bench.

"What?" I asked blankly, my eyes opening wide to stare at him.

Carter just looked to his right, away from me.

"I'm not good at feelings, but I want to date you - get to know you." His words came in a rush at the end and his hand came up to run through his hair again. In the light I could see his face turn red, but it might've been from the cold air.

"Carter – Mr. Wright – Carter...I don't know." It was my turn to rush my words and run my hand through my hair.

"This is sudden." I breathed out, leaning back again the bench. "Why? You don't even know me." I looked at him through the corner of my eye. He was still sitting up straight and not trying to make eye contact.

"Violet." I turned to face him and he mimicked my movements. His eyes were now fully focused on me. Even in the rather dim light, I could see the beautiful grey color and his thick, dark eyelashes surrounding them. His attractiveness could take my breath away if I let it.

"When I hired you I didn't believe I'd ever want you." His voice seemed to lower and it felt like they were caressing my skin as he continued. "But I watched you," he licked his lower lip and I followed the movement, "as you won case after case for us. I saw you last week." I tilted my head in question. "Let's just say it made me realize what I've been missing."

I could see him lean in and I pinched my thigh to prevent myself from meeting him. Instead I licked my own lips, entranced by his gaze that followed my tongue.

He continued to stare at my mouth as he spoke. "I wanted to get to know you, but you're so focused on work you could never tell that I was trying. I made up this dinner to try and ask you out on a date, but it seemed like that also backfired." His hand reached up and grazed my cheek. I leaned into it.