Page 113 of The Havenport Collection

“It felt fucking great!” I shouted a little too loud. Some people looked over at us, and I felt my face turning red. This is why I never had more than two glasses of wine.

I leaned in and lowered my voice. “Yes. He always gave me a bad feeling, like he never had our best interests at heart. And he’s such a creep, the way he looked at me and kept hitting on me.”

“I’m proud of you, sis. I never thought you would ever fire anyone.”

I tossed my hair. “Hey, I’m a boss bitch now. And yes, it was terrifying, and it took me months longer than it should have, but I did it and that’s what’s important.”

“I never trusted him. Dad did, and that’s great and all, but he’s shady and has some weird connections. I’ve heard rumors about some of his business dealings, and I am glad he’s completely out of our family business now.”

After dinner, Rose and I walked down the pier toward the downtown area, arm in arm. Being back home this last year had given me the opportunity to grow closer to her, and it felt good to have some sister time. “It’s early, and I don’t want to go home yet. Let’s go to the Whale!”

I groaned. “No. Not the Tipsy Whale.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s Thursday, and everyone goes there. We will have to see people we know.”

“Excuse me? I’m the socially awkward introvert in this family, not you, missy. Just one drink.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine.”

The Tipsy Whale was packed. I still wasn’t used to how nice it had become. I was accustomed to the dive I remembered, not this upmarket cocktail bar. It still had the old sign and the Havenport feel but was much nicer. It was disorienting.

Rose and I made our way to the bar, and out of the corner of my eye I saw a hand waving wildly at us.

I looked up and saw Nora Rossi sitting at a booth with her brother Christian.

Like most people in Havenport, I knew them.

Christian had been in my class in high school, and I got my hair cut at his husband’s salon.

But we weren’t exactly friends. I had gotten to know Nora a bit since coming home.

She was always at Yael’s Krav Maga classes, and she was the president of the Havenport Chamber of Commerce and served on the town’s Finance Committee.

She also owned a gorgeous store in town where I had picked up some much-needed new clothes.

She was boisterous and generous and a lot of fun.

She gestured to us to have a seat. “Christian will get you drinks,” she said, waving a hand at her brother.

Christian begrudgingly got up from where he was snuggling with his husband, Dante. “Violet, Rose, lovely to see you as always. What can I get you ladies from the bar?”

After Christian departed with our drink orders, Nora shifted in her seat to make room for us. “How are you?” she asked brightly. “Have you had a good summer on the farm?”

“We have. Our farm shares are up this year, and the business at the store has been great. It’s a lot of work, but I’m finally getting the hang of it.”

She squeezed my arm. “I’m sure you’re doing great.”

The drinks flowed freely, and I ended up having a blast. Nora was hilarious, and Dante and Christian were so adorable together.

Rose really hit it off with Dante and Christian.

I’m sure they would start double dating with her and Yael soon.

In my slightly drunken state, it made me wistful.

I wished there was a special someone in my life.

But I couldn’t take any chances with my kids. They had to be my first priority.

My gaze wandered around the bar, and my eyes landed on a familiar set of broad shoulders. Callum was standing at the bar with his brother Declan. As usual, he looked amazing. I involuntarily shivered at the sight of him.

“You okay?” Rose asked. She looked around to where she saw him and smirked.

“Is it true he vandalized your lawn?” Dante asked, picking up on Rose’s curiosity. “Everyone has been talking about it at the salon all week.”

“I heard he came to the farm and hit one of your pigs with his car,” Nora said, lowering her voice.

I laughed. The Havenport rumor mill was incorrigible. “Not quite. He threw up on my lawn, and I drove him to the clinic. And then he stopped by to apologize and hit an apple tree. And also our rooster.” I shrugged, draining my drink. These were delicious, but I should have stuck to wine.

I turned around and looked at him again. He was just so deliciously handsome. He wore a crisp blue shirt rolled up to the elbows, and his skin was a golden tan. I craned my neck and was rewarded with the sight of his very firm, very round ass in his perfectly fitting jeans.

Dante waved his hands in front of my face. “Go talk to him.”

I acted shocked. “I can’t do that.”

Nora shook her head at me. “Girl, you took him to the clinic after he barfed on your bushes. Go say hi.”

“I don’t want to,” I said petulantly, wishing I had another cocktail.

“Why not?” Dante asked.

My sister, a complete lightweight, leaned over tipsily and shouted, “Because he broke her heart in high school.”

Christian and Dante exchanged looks, and I wanted to throttle Rose.

“He didn’t break my heart, okay?”

“Okay, woah. Pump the brakes,” Dante shouted. “Rewind and give me the full story.”

I cursed Rose for dragging me in here, but I trusted Dante with my hair, so there was already a level of intimacy between us. I suppose it couldn't hurt to rehash my high school humiliation. Besides, I was totally over it, or at least I thought I was.

“Callum and I dated for a few months. The summer of my sophomore year we got together. I was head over heels for him. He asked me to be his date for the homecoming dance that fall, and I was so excited. The night of the dance, he never showed up. I sat there in my fancy dress and high heels and makeup and waited. I called him, and his mother said he couldn’t talk.

He just stood me up. I was so humiliated.

The next week at school I found him and asked him what happened.

He just said we had to break up. That was it.

Four months of dating and that was it.” I banged the table a little too hard, and some people started staring at me.

This was almost twenty years ago, but I was still angry about it, apparently.

“Four months is like four years in high school time,” Nora said sagely.

“Right?” I replied. “But I’m totally over it. I am a mom now, and I was married. Hell, I’ll be forty before I know it. I truly don’t give a shit about Callum Quinn.” I took a big sip of my drink and ignored the smirks aimed in my direction.

“Maybe he’s trying to make amends?” Christian asked.

“Yes,” Rose shouted—she was definitely tipsy. “She made him muck the pigpen last week. And he did it. In his fancy Italian shoes.”

“Oooh. Then he is definitely feeling guilty. Exploit it, honey.”

“Yes!” Nora piped in. “Cal is a good guy, and the way he keeps looking over here indicates he is definitely interested in mucking your stalls.”

Rose slapped her on the back. “Weird analogy, but good try.”

“Okay, okay,” I said. I grabbed Rose’s drink and downed the rest for courage before making my way over to the bar. I was feeling confident and badass. I was a new goddamn woman. I was making new friends, and I fired someone this week. The Boss Bitch is in the house tonight.

It took a few minutes to cross the room.

The place was packed, and even in my wedges, everyone was still taller than me.

As I made my way through the crowd I spotted Callum, standing at the end of the bar talking to a stunning blonde woman.

My stomach fell. Of course, that was his type.

What if he was on a date? I shouldn’t interrupt.

I was starting to figure out how to make my way back to my table when I heard his deep voice.

“Violet? Do you need a drink?” Shit.

I pasted a fake smile on my face. “I was just coming over to say hello, actually.”

His smile was bright, like he was genuinely happy to see me.

“I don’t want to interrupt,” I said, gesturing to the woman, who was even taller and more gorgeous up close.

He laughed. “Violet, this is Astrid.” He gestured to her. In addition to being an Amazonian model, she also possessed that kind of effortless cool I would never be able to pull off in a million years.

Her eyes widened. “This is the famous Violet?” She looked at Callum. She held out a hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Her grip could have broken my arm, but my dad did teach me to respect a firm handshake. Then I saw a large arm snake around her waist, pulling her close.

Declan Quinn, Callum’s younger brother, handed her a glass and kissed her temple.

“Astrid is Declan’s girlfriend,” Callum explained as they made eyes at each other.

That made sense. I had heard Declan was dating someone.

She was perfect for him. They were both so intimidating and intense. I bet they had fantastic sex.

Declan nodded at me, never taking his eyes off Astrid. They were in a lust bubble, and I felt a little jealous. I wasn’t the only one. I caught Callum looking at them with curiosity as well.

“I haven’t seen you here before.”

“My sister dragged me. I was sitting back there,”—I gestured to the booths in the back— “with Nora and Christian.”

Callum smirked at me. “Do you need help with more farm chores? Warn a guy next time so I don’t have to sacrifice more Italian leather to the pigs.”

I laughed. “No. You did great.” My mind flashed back to how hot he looked in his undershirt, tossing hay bales. I shook it off. I needed to stay focused.

“So it’s true?” Declan asked. “You really made Fabio shovel pig shit?”

“Oh, yes. I have photos.” I held up my phone a little drunkenly and started to scroll through the pics I had taken of Callum on the farm.

Declan took my phone, and he and Astrid studied the photos. He was laughing so hard he had to wipe the tears out of his eyes. “This is priceless. Can you send these to me? I am going to make a Christmas card this year.”

Astrid was laughing too. “You must be pretty special. Cal doesn’t get dirty for just anyone.” Her comment sent my drunken mind spinning. I bet I could get Cal a little dirty, actually…

Since he came to the farm last week, I could not get him out of my head. He was just so unexpected. I had misjudged him. I let my high school hurts and my general bitterness toward men get in the way of getting to know a cool person.

He wasn’t some perfect cardboard cut-out.

He was a real person, with flaws and quirks and really sexy hands.

Every time I closed my eyes I saw those hands.

They were so…capable looking. Long, graceful fingers and wide strong palms. I wanted those hands on my body.

In my hair, on my breasts, everywhere. And it was a distraction I could not afford right now.

Don’t get me wrong—sometimes a distraction was a good thing. Especially a tall, dark, and handsome distraction. But right now I had to be entirely focused on the farm and my kids.

I was drawn to him, and that should be reason enough to stay away. I was ignoring my instincts now. Ignoring all my fun, silly, and wild impulses. I was focused, I was centered, and I was not going to stare at him lustily in this bar.

Declan and Astrid went back into their love bubble, and I was left awkwardly standing with Callum. “Why do they call you Fabio?” I asked, trying to get my stupid brain to behave.

He ran his fingers through his hair, looking embarrassed.

“When I was in college I did a bit of modeling. You know, to help pay for school.” Of course Callum was a model.

Every time I saw him he looked like he belonged on a sailboat in a cologne or fancy watch ad.

“And although I only did it for five minutes, they will not let it go.”

I nodded, unsure what to say to this.

“My brothers have never let me live it down. Hence, they call me Fabio.”

“I think you are much better looking than Fabio.” Shit. I wasn’t supposed to say that out loud. Stupid drunk brain.

He chuckled good-naturedly and took a long drag from his beer bottle, never taking his eyes off me. “I’m glad we’re friends now. You keep me on my toes.”

I shrugged. “I know, I know. I’m weird and a little bit crazy. Trust me, I’ve heard it all before.”

He grabbed my arm, and the firmness of his grip made my knees weak. “No. Not at all. You are hilarious and warm and unique. I think you’re great.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, not sure how to respond. That wasn’t entirely true. I wanted to climb him like a tree, but somehow that didn’t seem like a wise choice.

“Actually,” he said, removing his hand from my arm, to my dismay. “I was hoping to properly apologize. I am so truly sorry. Is Mr. Pickles really okay?”

“He’s going to be fine. He just needs to recover for a bit.”

“And the tree?”

“Shockingly okay. Lost some apples but appears to still be going strong.”

“Would it be okay if I apologized to the boys?” He looked genuinely concerned, so my alcohol and lust-impaired brain decided to do something dumb.

“Why don’t you come over for dinner tomorrow?” No. No. Abort mission. I can’t have him over for dinner. My kids are barely civilized, and my house is a disaster.

“I’d love that,” he replied before I could figure out a way to rescind the invitation. Why couldn’t he just make a polite excuse? Who would want to come hang out with the sad single mom and her cute but devious spawn? Apparently Callum freaking Quinn.

“Great.” I hoped he didn’t hear the terror in my voice. I needed to get home, get sober, and get cleaning. “I should get back to my sister.” I gestured to where Rose was laughing at something Dante had said.

“I’m glad you stopped by,” he said, eyes crinkling and dimples popping. And I was glad too. So glad I decided to throw my arms around him in an enthusiastic hug.

In my heels, I only came up to his armpits, so it was a bit awkward but felt nice.

He was strong and smelled really good. At first he didn’t hug me back, but then he leaned in and wrapped his arms around me.

It felt good—too good—and I knew I had to get myself out of this pronto.

I stepped back, a bit unsteady on my heels.

Callum grabbed me by the elbow to steady me.

I looked away from his intense blue eyes and was met by the gawking faces of Declan and Astrid.

Apparently they had come up for air and witnessed the holy mother of awkwardness that had just occurred.

Oh God, why did I hug him? He doesn't seem like a hugger. I just escalated an awkward situation to total and complete weirdness. Well done, Violet.

Declan’s eyes looked like they were bulging out of his skull. Callum immediately looked at his feet.

I needed to make a hasty exit before this got any more embarrassing.

I nodded at Declan and Astrid. “Nice to meet you.” I turned around and prayed for the throng of bodies to part, so I could make my way back to the booth and crawl under the table to hide for the next few years.