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Vi grabbed her bag and followed Cory out the door.

It wasn’t long until they were out of the city and the buildings gave way to green pastures.

“Oh, I like this song,” Vi said, reaching to turn the volume up on the radio. “Cupid” by Fifty Fifty began to echo around the truck. Vi saw Cory glance over at her while she sang and did a little car dance.

“You amaze me,” Cory said.

“Why? Because I can dance, even in the car? Can you dance?”

“I can dance a little.”

“Can you do the salsa?” Vi watched as a confident smile grew on Cory’s face.

“I can, but your dancing isn’t what amazes me,” Cory said.

“What then?”

“The Violet I first knew was this serious, all-business woman and now you’re car dancing and singing to the radio. It’s like you’ve let down your guard and hopefully you now know you can trust me.”

Vi smiled and gazed at Cory. She had her thick blond hair pulled into a ponytail and Vi imagined kissing her jaw up to just below her ear. Yeah, her lips would fit perfectly there.

“I do trust you, Cory. What I can’t figure out is why you tried so hard to get me to talk to you.”

Cory scoffed. “Why? Oh, Violet. I knew the serious part of you, but I could see the carefree…”

“Fun? Is that the word you’re searching for?”

“Nope. You’re fun when you’re serious. I told you before. I want it all.”

Vi held her hand out and waited while Cory intertwined their fingers. She kissed the back of Cory’s hand. “Be careful what you ask for,” she said with a smile. Vi could feel Cory’s eyes on hers. “I feel like I can let my feelings out and let them run free. I just hope they don’t bulldoze you down and when you get up you run away.”

“Let’s make a deal.”

“I’ve made a trade with you and now you want to make a deal?”

“Yes. First, no talking about work today.”

“Agreed,” Vi stated happily.

“Second, don’t hold back. You’ve had to wrestle with emotions for me since we first met, but you don’t have to now.”

Vi smiled. “What about you?”

“Oh God! I’m so happy you finally gave me a chance!”

Vi giggled. “But did you want a chance because of your store or…”

“I knew we couldn’t be enemies. My heart wouldn’t have it. I just didn’t know how to get you to give us a chance. I tried over and over.”

Vi smiled and shook her head. “You had your shoes that day, didn’t you?”

Cory’s head snapped around and when her eyes met Vi’s she knew. “I knew it!”

“Oh shit, Vi! Please don’t be mad!”

“Oh, so now I’m Vi!” She could feel Cory squeezing her hand as if she’d try to pull away. Vi started to laugh and then Cory joined her.

Vi sucked in a breath as their laughter began to subside. “I knew it, but I couldn’t say no. I figured if you’d go that far I had to give you my shoes.”