Page 28 of Mariposa (Queens Command #1)

VIOLET

T he doorbell chimes over “Winter Wonderland by Doris Day.” We all turn toward the door midway through decorating the Christmas tree.

We only have a few ornaments left, and the tree skirt still needs to be placed underneath.

Something Adam and his mother can do. It’s been two hours of pretending Adam and I are still together.

“You two lovebirds stay put.” Penny grins, ruffling Adam’s ear.

Adam is overdoing his acting skills by stealing hugs and kisses on my cheek. Every time he does that, I force a smile.

The doorbell rings again.

“I’ll get that!” Adam’s mother bolts up from the floor and onto her two feet.

“So…” Adam starts as he hands me another ornament.

“When will you tell your mother that we broke up?” My glare latches onto his reddened, glossy eyes.

“When I want to.”

Wait a second.

“Are you high?” I glower.

Adam’s eyes grow wide, but then he nods unbothered.

I shake my head as I learn something new about my ex.

“Tell your mother.”

“No,” he snorts.

“Adam. We’re done. You ended our relationship, remember? You can’t be with someone in the military?” I recite his own words back to him. I hook the silver ball on a branch and watch his face contort in the reflection.

“No, I can’t, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want you.” He twirls my hair with his fingers. I smack them away.

“Adam, you don’t get to come back into my life whenever you feel like it,” I hiss low, trying hard not to attract his mother’s attention.

He opens his mouth, and his chin points like he’s ready to shout at me.

“Oh, I shouldn’t stay, Penny.”

My heart does that weird thing again and dashes hard until I feel it pulse at the base of my neck. It’s ping-ponging in my rib cage.

That voice .

That familiar, deep, addictive voice.

Adam and I freeze as our gazes lift toward the front door. Adam tenses up and narrows his eyes at his father. O’Connell stands there with his helmet in his gloved hands, looking at Penny as she bats her lashes at him. He rides a motorcycle?

I quickly whip my head towards the Christmas tree and try to stay calm and collected when all I see is the night we shared on the beach underneath the bridge.

The memory of the dark night flashes through my mind like a slideshow.

He fucked me with his tongue into nirvanic oblivion and then withdrew before I could implode.

His existence is imprinted into every corner of my soul.

“Come on. It’s the holidays. Maybe we can catch up and talk about the good times?” A stab to the heart strikes me when I continue to hear Penny flirt. From the corner of my vision, I watch her touch Kade’s shoulder flirtatiously.

I have no right to feel the slightest fire that sparks between each shallow breath I take.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Adam presses as he stalks towards his parents.

“Son.” That deep voice rings through my ears and melts my insides. “How are you?” he greets him cheerfully despite his son’s cold behavior.

“Adam. Please be respectful,” Penny scolds him as she tightens her grip on the door.

Don’t look. Don’t fucking look their way.

“Merry Christmas Eve. I stopped by because I wanted to give you a gift. I’m leaving again soon and?—”

A box drops to the floor, and an awkward, long pause of silence follows.

I turn their way, and my world shifts to slow motion.

O’Connell is staring at me like he’s seeing a ghost for the first time.

He freezes, his eyes widening and his mouth dropping.

Penny and Adam blink at him while he keeps his tensed eyes on me.

They follow his gaze to find me awkwardly biting my lip.

Adam bends down and grabs the box, eyeing it like he’s annoyed.

I haven’t seen Kade in over a week. Of course, he would be here; why didn’t that cross my mind?

“Oh, that’s Violet. Adam’s girlfriend. They’ve been together since they were teenagers.” Penny waves me over. “I don’t think I ever introduced you two. I doubt Adam has,” she giggles innocently.

“Come say hi. This is Kade, Adam’s father.

” Her bright pink lips grow wide. Kade smirks like he’s picturing me naked, but I can’t help but notice there’s regret in the way he moves.

He finally turns back to Penny and runs a hand through his beard while he scoffs.

He grins and tilts his head towards the ceiling like he’s trying to control his thoughts.

Hell—so am I.

I gather courage and find the strength to move. I reach the entryway in seconds. Adam continues to glare at his dad and reaches for my hand like I’m still his girlfriend, as if to present me to him. I want to slap him away, but I control my seething.

“Hi.” I look up at a tall Kade. He’s still fucking handsome and intimidating as ever.

He deadpans so well. He grips my hand with his calloused, rough palm. I watch our hands move up and down, connecting, and lightning strikes through my chest.

“Hi, Violet.”

Oh, gosh. It’s weird hearing him say my first name again.

As soon as my name falls off his lips, I stop shaking his hand and step back like he’s a stranger. I’m afraid my stunned expression will slip into a yearning one.

“She’s in the Army. She’s in Special Forces like you!” Penny steps in front of me like she wants Kade’s spotlight on her again. I try to go back to the Christmas tree, but Adam throws his hand over my shoulder, forcing me to witness the family reunion. I look away uncomfortably.

“Oh…cool. What a small world.” Sarcasm paints his tone. Heat creeps into my cheeks, and I dare to look at the demon that’s plagued my dreams. Penny reaches over on her tiptoes and ruffles her hand through his black, wavy hair.

“Your hair is longer…” she teases. He returns the smile, and the way his lips curve makes me want to run away. Those lips, that beard, that damn tongue. It should be illegal how fast he makes me melt.

“Yeah, I’ve let it grow out. Anyhow, I was just stopping by. I wanted to give my son a gift. Kirk wants to hang out tonight. I didn’t mean to interrupt tonight, so I’ll get going.”

I take this as my opportunity to leave as well.

“Same. I need to get going. I have a long day tomorrow.” I gently pull Adam’s arm off my shoulder. He goes rigid, with a warning scowl, but I ignore it.

I’m lying. I have nothing to do tomorrow, but still…

“Nonsense!” She uses her hand to cut in front of me, forcing me to stop walking. “In the spirit of the holidays, let’s try to have one night of family…” She looks at a disturbed Adam and a stone-cold Kade.

“Everyone, stay. Invite Kirk over. It’d be nice to catch up with him.

I haven’t seen him in years! I have a barbecue pit in the back.

Can you kickstart with steaks in the fridge?

Adam and I will run to the corner store and get some beer for you and Kirk.

I know you like whiskey,” she croons and pokes his chest.

Kade sighs like he’s contemplating.

“I don’t know,” he mumbles uncomfortably. “This isn’t like you. Who are you and what have you done with Penny?” he questions curiously with a tilt of his head. Still, he’s as serious as ever.

“It’s my girlfriend’s birthday, so steaks and beer actually sound like a good time.

Right, Violet?” He’s trying to figure out a way to spend more time with me.

Adam’s grip on my arm tightens. His fingers and nails dig into my skin to the point where pain strikes back.

I try to wiggle out, but he doesn’t let up.

Adam’s brown eyes darken—meanwhile, Penny continues to blush and giggle at a nonchalant Kade.

His eyes blaze with an emotion I can’t decipher while he catches Adam’s hold around my arm.

I flinch and nod, conceding.

“Right, Dad?” his tone darkens like he’s daring his father to say no. Knowing Kade and his motivation to fix the damaged relationship with his son, his guilt won’t allow him to say no.

“Sure. Just warning you now, Kirk likes to stay up late, but I’ll give him a call.” Kade concedes. He reaches into his pocket, taking out his cell and cigarettes.