Page 6 of The Billionaire Dating Dad (The Holidates #18)

Violet

Wheelcaster

V iolet’s fingers hovered over the delete button on the Holidates App. She’d already sent one message days after their date and won’t be leaving another. It was clear from the unread symbol below her text that he either hadn’t used the App or didn’t read her text.

She cringed. A second message was against her better judgment but they’d had such a great time together that she couldn’t believe he’d ghosted her.

Damn. Being ghosted sucked. It was as if someone took a pin to her balloon filled with lust, excitement, and adrenaline, blowing her with frigid air.

She rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling.

Did she expect a different outcome from a date she found on an app?

He’d served his purpose, fulfilled his end of the bargain and now it was time to move on.

Knowing what she should do didn’t make forgetting him any easier, especially when his parting words still quivered in her stomach.

“One kiss for missing a dear friend’s engagement and lying for you…

” He’d said, in a bold tone that held as much promise as his light caresses along her lower lip.

She’d never longed to be seduced more than when he’d taken her mouth under his in a breathtaking kiss. “We’re not even close to being even.”

After he’d dropped her home, Violet remembered waiting to hear from Dimitri. Hoping each ding from her phone was a message from him until she’d forced herself to temper her expectations. It still stung, but Violet wasn’t the type to pine over a man, no matter how fine he was.

Taking a deep breath, she deleted her profile and then the App from her phone. There, she’d finally mustered the courage. Even if she wanted to reach him again, deleting the App meant there was no way to.

“You’re wearing that face again,” Juelle said from the doorway.

She really needed to remember to keep her door closed unless she wanted her roommate all over her business. “What face?” She grimaced.

“The one where you’re questioning what you did wrong or what you said.”

“You got all that from my facial expression?”

“Child, please, you never learned to keep your thoughts hidden.” Juelle chuckled. “Not to mention, you’re staring at your phone as if you’ve lost your best friend. But we know that isn’t true.”

Violet closed her eyes. If she remained silent and counted to five, maybe her best friend would leave her alone. For once, she’d like to lick her wounds without an audience.

“Unclench your eyebrows!”

“I’m not—” Violet groaned, willing her face to relax.

“If you keep that up you’ll need a facelift at forty.”

“Don’t you have anything better to do other than mind my business?”

“But child, your business is what’s hot. Unless you want to talk about the little devil I’m house —er pet sitting.”

“Please, no!” Violet laughed.

“I got the same early childhood degree as you. Why these folks think my time is best spent watching a dog, I will never know.”

“For that amount of money, I’ll trade you.” When she glanced at her phone again, Juelle snatched it from her hand.

“It’s not him.” Violet sighed in frustration. “I deleted the App.”

“You what?” Juelle gaped.

“I’m finally taking your advice.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Aren’t you happy?”

“Hell no, I’m not happy.” The bed dipped. “I hate seeing you this way.”

Violet stared at her friend. When did she become caught in a circle of her own emotions?

“Move over.” Juelle lay beside her. “Any man that doesn’t return your text doesn’t deserve you. I don’t care how fine he is.”

She sighed. “You’re the best.”

“Or how sweet you said his kisses were when he was all over you,” Juelle said, batting her lashes.

Violet laughed. “You are not helping!”

“Is that what I’m supposed to be doing?”

“You’re impossible.”

“You know what will be impossible? Being here without you for six months.”

Violet bit her lip. Her employer wanted her in Japan with them while Mr. Townson worked overseas.

She had second thoughts. Reservations she hadn’t shared with Juelle.

But they bothered her enough that she’d delayed giving Mrs. Townson an answer.

Mr. Townson was a clever man. He never made advances when his wife was present or did anything more than follow her around the room with his eyes when they happened to share brief moments without his wife.

No, his bolder advances were always in public, when his guests were engrossed in something his daughter had done.

Perhaps she was overthinking the man's lingering touches on her back.

Violet prayed that was true. Because what nanny wouldn’t embrace the opportunity to travel?

She exhaled, yet the nagging unease in her stomach didn’t diminish. She couldn’t imagine being in a foreign country and away from friends if he tried it again.

“You’re having second thoughts?” Juelle shot her a piercing stare that only a person who practically raised four younger siblings could pull off.

“Am I being an idiot?” She rolled onto her side to face Juelle. “Giving up the best-paying job I’ve gotten in three years?”

“Following your gut is never wrong.”

On the other hand, leaving might be exactly what she needed to forget Dimitri .