Page 14 of Loving Violet
I nod, trying to hide my relief and excitement.
So, she is here, and the whole town is buzzing about her. “That’s good to hear. It’s always nice to see new faces around here.”
As the line moves forward, I finally spot my attacker emerging from the back, a determined look on her face as she balances a tray of pastries. She’s dressed in a simple but flattering uniform that accentuates her curves, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. She is even more beautiful than yesterday. How is that even possible?
Her uniform clings just enough to highlight her figure, and the loose strands of hair that have escaped her ponytail frame her face perfectly. The morning light streaming through the windows casts a soft glow right where she is standing, making her look almost ethereal. As she moves with grace and purpose, I can’t help but be captivated by her presence. Her eyes, even more mesmerizing today, seem to catch the light just right, giving them an even richer, more inviting hue.
I’m losing my mind. I sound like a poet describing how stunning this woman is.
When our eyes meet, there's a split second of recognition before she quickly looks away, focusing back on what she's doing. Yesterday’s encounter flashes through my mind, and I can't help but smile, thinking how lucky I am to see her again.
As the line inches forward, I catch myself stealing glances at her. The way she effortlessly arranges the pastry display is impressive, but there’s more to it. She’s got this quiet strength and determination that I can’t stop admiring. She’s not just beautiful, she’s stunning.
“Ah, there she is,” Mrs. Mirtha says, nudging me with her elbow. “Isn’t she just lovely?”
“Yeah, she is,” I admit, unable to tear my gaze away from her. When it’s finally my turn at the counter, I step forward, my heart pounding in my chest. Josy greets me with a knowing smile. “Morning, Austin. The usual?”
“Yeah, and an egg, ham, and cheese sandwich, please,” I say, trying to keep my tone casual.
Josy chuckles. “I thought you might say that. Violet! Can you bring out an egg, ham, and cheese sandwich?”
Violet. My Violet.
Violet looks up, her eyes widening slightly as she sees me standing there. She hesitates for a moment before making her way over, wiping her hands on her apron.
“Hi,” she says, her voice a bit shaky. “I’m sorry about yesterday.”
“No need to apologize again,” I reply with a smile. “I just wanted to say hi and see how your second day was going.”
“It’s better,” she admits, a small smile playing on her lips. “I haven’t spilled coffee on anyone yet.”
“Progress,” I tease, and she laughs, the sound like music to my ears.
“Violet, this is Austin. He’s a regular here, and we also went to school together,” Josy says, introducing us formally.
“It’s nice to meet you, Austin,” Violet says, extending her hand.
“Nice to meet you too, Violet,” I say, shaking her hand and feeling that same electric spark from yesterday. Her hand is smooth and I feel tingles at the contact. “I hope the rest of your day goes smoothly.”
“Thanks,” she says, her cheeks turning a delightful shade of pink. She turns and goes back to grab my order. While I wait, I follow her with my gaze, mesmerized by everything she does. Violet is gorgeous and from what I am gathering, this attraction is one sided. But I don’t care, I keep looking at her while she works, paying attention to every little detail. She returns a few minutes later with my coffee and sandwich.
“Here you go. Enjoy.”
“Thanks,” I reply.
“Oh, can you please let me know how much the dry cleaning for your shirt costs?” she asks, her voice laced with genuine concern.
I shake my head. “I told you, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
“Are you sure?” she asks, her eyes searching mine for reassurance.
“Yes, but if it will make you feel better, slip me a free chocolate croissant next time,” I say with a smile and a wink before I take my coffee and find a seat. As I sit down, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. I don’t know what’s going to happen with this attraction, but I’m determined to get to know Violet.
Maybe, my mom was right, and I’ve found my dream girl when I least expected it. Or perhaps I’m just smitten for the first time in my life.
Sitting at my usual table, I watch Violet interact with other customers. Her genuine smile and warm demeanor light up the room. She moves with a grace that is both captivating and endearing, and I find myself more and more drawn to her. I feel like a stalker watching her every move.
I take a sip of my coffee, savoring the rich flavor. Josy always makes the best coffee, but today it tastes even better.
