Page 47 of Loving Violet
Violet’s face lights up. “I love it! The reading nook is a brilliant idea. Adrian and I love reading together.”
“Great! Then if you approve, I’ll send the plans over to Noah and Esteban so they can start construction as soon as possible.”
“You’re amazing, Austin. Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure, really. And speaking of Adrian, he mentioned wanting a puppy when we were at the river?”
“Yes,” she says, smiling. “He’s been asking for a puppy for a while now. We’re planning to go to the animal shelter this weekend to see if we can find the perfect dog for him.”
“That’s wonderful. A puppy will be a great addition to your family. And if you want, I can add in a doggy playhouse in the backyard.”
“Oh wow, thanks Austin. And I think so too. Adrian’s been so excited about it.”
When we finish eating, Violet offers to help me clean up, but I shake my head. “Nope. You’re my guest. Sit back and relax.”
“You sure?” she asks, looking a bit unsure.
“Positive. Just make yourself comfortable.”
I quickly clear the island and clean the dishes, then join Violet on the sofa. She’s looking around, taking in the details of my home.
“You designed this place yourself, didn’t you?” she asks.
“I did,” I say, proud of my work. “It’s my dream home. I wanted it to be open and inviting, a place where I could feel comfortable, you know, happy in my space.”
“You did a fantastic job. It’s beautiful. When did you decide that you wanted to be an architect?”
“My parents told me that since I was a little kid, I was always drawing. I guess that with time I started to draw houses, then bigger buildings. I liked to play with Legos and create these amazingly intricate structures. So when it was time to decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, it was easy. I wanted to create.”
“That’s awesome. Did you stay local when you went to college?”
“No, actually. I wanted to explore the world. I was born and raised here, so I wanted to see more. I went to college in Chicago to study architectural design. Right after I graduated, I enlisted in the Army as an NCO.”
“Really? How long were you in the Army?” Violet asks.I think she’s impressed.
“I served for four years and got out. I didn’t want to make it a career so I came back home. I completed my architecture internship down in Raleigh, and then I opened my own firm.”
“That’s incredible,” she says, her admiration clear. “You’ve accomplished so much.”
“Thank you. It’s been quite a journey,” I reply, feeling a pleasant glow from her praise. “And what about you, Violet? What did you want to be when you were a kid?”
She laughs softly. “I wanted to be a vet. I’ve always loved animals, but as I got older, I realized it wasn’t the right path for me. I ended up choosing marketing, and I enjoy it a lot.”
“Well, you’re great at it. The social media campaign you did for Josy’s coffee shop is amazing.”
“Thanks! It’s been fun working on that. I love helping Josy’s business grow.”
“So, tell something I don’t know yet?”
She thinks for a moment. “Well, I love to read like I said earlier. It’s something I picked up as a hobby a few years ago, and it’s become a great way for me to relax.”
“That’s amazing. What kind of books do you like to read?”
“I only read romance books,” she says, giggling—I love her playfulness.
“Why do you giggle? Now I’d love to see some of the books you’ve read,” I say with a wink.
“Because I can’t picture you reading smut.”
