Page 48 of Loving Violet
“Aha, so you read smut. Are we talking very dirty smut? Like fifty shades of grey,” I ask as I wiggle my eyebrows.
“Yes and no. Some are, but some are dark romance, others are small town flings, and sometimes I get in the mood for a good romantasy. But it’s only because they all have amazing men as the main characters.”
“So you fall in love with all these fictional men. Damn, I guess I will need to up my game. I can’t be beaten by a fake man created by a woman. Better yet, name a book and I will read it. I’ll do my research.”
She laughs, a melodic sound that makes my heart skip a beat. “Really? You’d read a romance novel just to see what I like?”
“No, I will read a romance book so I can show you that I’m better than any book boyfriend. Consider it a challenge.”
“Okay, deal. I’ll pick one for you,” she says, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Fair warning, you might find yourself competing with some pretty perfect fictional guys.”
Seriously, there are fictional book boyfriends out there that women fall hopelessly in love with? Please, I got this.
“I’m up for it,” I reply with a grin. “Besides, they’re just words on a page. I’m the real deal and right in front of you, baby.”
We both laugh. From there, our conversation flows easily. I can see she’s starting to feel more comfortable, and that’s exactly what I want.
“So, any other hobbies?” I ask.
“Well, I also love cooking,” she says, taking a sip of her wine. “And I enjoy painting. It’s another way to express myself.”
“Painting? That’s awesome. What kind of things do you paint?”
“A little bit of everything. Landscapes, abstract pieces, sometimes portraits. It depends on my mood. I’m not very good, but it helps me relax.”
“I’d love to see your work sometime,” I say sincerely.
“Maybe I’ll show you,” she replies, a hint of shyness in her voice.
“Do you need a model for your next painting session?” I ask with a smirk.
“Are you offering to be my model?” Violet flirts back.
If she only knew that I would do anything to make her smile. I am game to pose for her. I could even pose naked. That would be fun.
“Sure. How would you like me to pose for you?” I ask her. I am very intrigue to know her answer.
“I don’t know, I will have to think about it.” The way she say those words with a hint of mischievousness makes me believe that her mind went straight to the gutter, and I love it.
We continue talking, sharing stories and laughing. The more I learn about Violet, the more I’m drawn to her.
“You know,” I say, looking into her eyes, “I’m really glad you came tonight.”
“Me too,” she says softly. “This has been wonderful.”
I lean in slightly, testing the waters. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course,” she replies, her eyes never leaving mine.
“This is the first time that I have this kind of feeling. You’re special, Violet. I can’t wait to see where this goes.”
She blushes, a beautiful pink spreading across her cheeks. She looks at me with a puzzled expression. “You have never been in love?”
I take a deep breath and answer, “No. I never thought that I would be able to fall in love.”
“Why?” Violet asks
“Because in all my thirty-five years, I have never felt a connection with a woman. Yes, I’ve had a good time and I’ve had my fair share of hookups, but it never lasted more than a day.”
