Page 51 of Playing with Trouble

“You’re not.”I shrugged, keeping my tone light even though something about the vulnerability in her eyes made my chest tighten.“Unless you want to make my sister happy and do that charity walkathon with her.”

She’d gotten Christopher’s boss to sponsor the event, but with everything that had happened since that day, Violet hadn’t yet committed to the actual walkathon.I’d managed to strong-arm a few of my coworkers into doing it, too, which would undoubtedly surprise and delight Violet.It was for charity, after all.

Violet shot me a look of amusement.“Your sister, who thinks we’redating,” she pointed out, but she was smiling and holding the clothes up against herself, her eyes bright and happy.

“Yeah,” I said with a grin.“We already faked it once for my nephew’s party.I figure one more event won’t kill us.Right?”

She laughed, shaking her head, but there was color in her cheeks now, a softness I hadn’t seen in days.“You really think bribing me with new clothes is going to get me to do a marathon?”

“Not a marathon,” I corrected her.“Just a walk, so nothing strenuous.And besides, I already know you’ll look damn good in workout gear.”I winked at her.

Her eyebrow arched, a bit of sass flashing in her eyes.“I think I already know how in shape I am, Perish.But if you need another demonstration, I’m sure we can arrange something.”

I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face, seeing that glimpse of my feisty girl.“As a matter of fact…”

She rolled her eyes but her smile didn’t fade.For the first time since the break-in, she seemed like herself again.Playful, energetic, and confident, the way she was meant to be.

And I was going to do my damnedest to make sure that no one took that away from her again.

CHAPTER20

Violet

Ford was impossible.And the worst part?I was starting to like that about him.

Every time I thought I had him figured out—calm, capable, protective in that annoyingly competent way of his—he’d blindside me.Like casually replacing half my wardrobe and ordering me new art prints for my walls.Or grinning at me like walking in a charity event together was some kind of date.

And damn it, a part of me wanted it to be.

The past few days had been a strange mix of chaos and quiet.I’d gone from watching my life get torn apart to waking up in a place that smelled like coffee and Ford’s enticing cologne.He’d welcomed me into his home without hesitation.Protected me.Made me feel more safe and secure than I’d ever felt in my life, and he never pushed for more than I was ready to give.

He’d replaced my things and found ways to make me laugh again.He treated my occasional prickly attitude like it was something to be charmed by instead of fixed.He was thoughtful in ways that sneaked past every defense I had left and that scared me almost more than whoever trashed my house because I’d promised myself I’d never depend on anyone for anything.

Somehow, Ford had become the exception to the rule.I was in way over my head, and I worried it might already be too late to get out.

The morning of the walkathon, I woke up terrified.Not of the event itself, but of leaving the safety of Ford’s condo since I’d taken the last few days off work and kept myself holed up inside his place.I was oddly afraid of stepping into a crowd where anyone could be watching me, following me.

We had to get up before dawn, and even though I wanted to call Andrea for advice since she’d been in a similar stalking situation, I didn’t.I didn’t want to worry her.I just wanted…to not be afraid anymore.

“You can back out if you’re not feeling up to it,” Ford said as we got dressed, his voice calm and steady, clearly sensing my reserve.“Laney will understand.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head and refusing to let fear run my life.“I promised I’d be there.”

A teasing grin curved his lips as he tried to make light of the situation.“Really, it’s okay, not all of us have the stamina…”

“Ha, ha.”I rolled my eyes, tugging on my yoga pants, but the joke didn’t loosen the knot in my chest.I appreciated him giving me the out, but somewhere along the way, it had just become easier—and it felt right—to tell Ford the truth about what I was feeling.

I met his gaze and exhaled a deep breath.“Honestly, I’m scared to go out in this big crowd.I know it’s silly but I feel like whoever is doing these things is getting more brazen.What if this person’s next move is worse?What if they try to grab me and kidnap me?”I shuddered at the thought.

Ford finished pulling on his clothes and walked over to me, his hands landing gently on my shoulders.“Violet, nobody is going to grab you today.Not on my watch.I’ll be right there, at all times, keeping an eye on you.I promise.”

Something inside me unclenched at his words.I believed him.All this time I had told myself not to trust a man’s promises, and now here I was, trusting Ford’s.

I was so screwed.

We ate a light breakfast and headed out.When we arrived at the starting area, the early morning air buzzed with music and chatter.Laney was already waving us over, bright and enthusiastic as always, surrounded by a few others I recognized as some of Ford’s coworkers from the security firm.

A group of built men—all tall, broad-shouldered, obnoxiously handsome andshirtless—walking for Laney’s charity?Yeah, they were going to be the star attraction.