Page 33 of Peach Blossom Hollow

He was a nice guy. Definitely willing to help her. The last thing he needed was to have her swooning over him and making things awkward.

“Do you still believe in love after all you’ve been through?” His eyes were kind, his long lashes glorious. A man like him, moments like this…they made Violet believe the world was a good place, where women like her found lasting love.

She took her time, weighing the question as well as her response. She knew it was overly optimistic and possibly naive for her to still believe in love, and to relish that inkling of hope that flared up from time to time. Finding lasting love was still such a long shot. But if she could overcome her obstacles and get to where her life clicked into place, she felt she could have the things she wanted, such as family and a deep happiness.

“I believe in change,” she said.

“That wasn’t the question.”

“But that’s the answer.”

“How so?”

“To believe in love, I have to believe in change. I have to believe that I can become someone who deserves it.”

The muscles around his mouth tightened. “Youdodeserve love. No changes required.”

“I will always be me,” she said carefully. “But I can improve upon the parts that prevent me from having what I want.”

He massaged his right knee as though it ached, his thumb digging into muscle.

“It’s not that different from what you’re trying to do,” she pointed out.

He inhaled slowly, and the hard lines of his jaw, the tightness of his shoulders began to relax. “Fine. Fair point.”

He met her eyes, but she couldn’t sort out what he was thinking.

“So you believe?” he asked.

“Yes.”

But what about him? He’d said he didn’t fall in love. As if it was something he could prevent with sheer willpower.

“Leo?” She hesitated, summoning her nerve. “Doyoubelieve in love?”

“It looks like we’re here,” Leo said, sliding forward in his seat, oddly relieved that the timing of their arrival prevented him from having to answer Violet’s question. He wanted to believe in love. It felt like something he should want to believe in and have.

But so far love hadn’t even thought of sneaking up in his rearview mirror, let alone sit on him with its two-ton weight. Why should he be so bold as to think it might happen to him? He didn’t knowhowto fall in love.

He hopped out of the limo before the driver could come around, and reached inside for Violet’s hand. She didn’t budge for a few beats, and he thought she was going to refuse to leave her seat until he provided an answer.

“Well?Doyou?” she asked pointedly, as though she understood just how deeply her question was stirring him up.

He tapped the face of his watch and shifted. “It’s game night. We’ve got to keep moving.”

“You’re afraid of love!” she exclaimed with wonder, scooting out of the car, ignoring his offered hand. She was shorter than him by more than half a foot, but at the moment she somehow seemed taller.

“I’m not afraid.”

“So you believe?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then what are you saying?”

He shifted onto his heels, unable to find words to describe that slightly desperate feeling of loss whenever he thought of his colleagues and their marriages.

“Okay.” She placed her palms together, like she was going to pray. “Do you love your family?”

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