Page 142 of Steel

Violet lifted her eyebrows. “Oh, yeah?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“What if I don’t like following any rules?”

“Well, then you’ll need to face the consequences and they’re pretty harsh.”

She looked away briefly while shaking her head. “I’m a tough girl.”

“And I’m a tough guy.” I closed the distance until I was able to gather a whiff of her incredible perfume.

“Then I guess we’ll get along.” She placed her hand on my chest.

“You’re back.”

“I am. Do you mind?”

Shrugging, as she gripped my shirt, my cock pressed against my jeans. “Nah. I think I’ll like having you around. What about your job?”

“I quit. I was offered a half million as vice president. But I thought, not enough.”

“Interesting. Why didn’t you take it?”

“Cause there’s this guy here in town I think I’m falling in love with.”

“Is that so?” I placed my hand on her arm, shuddering as soon as I did.

“Absolutely.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.

“What are you going to do for a job?”

“Well, that same guy suggested I take money from my ex. Now, the way I figured it, if the asshole signed away his parental rights in exchange, I’d never need to worry about him again and some of the money could be used to pay a few bills until I made millions. The rest will be used for Damon and his future.”

“Sounds like a plan. What are you doing? How are you going to make those millions?”

“By writing books. Lots of hot romance books. I have a lot of material given some pretty sexy smokejumpers in town.”

“Is that the only reason?”

She leaned into me, her features softening as the teasing slipped away. “Not even close. I couldn’t stay away. You taught me how to enjoy life again. I couldn’t stop thinking about how happy I was when I was here.”

“Ah, Violet. I missed you.”

“I’m glad to hear it because I don’t want to move again.”

“Unless you move in with me.”

“Mom. Steel. Why don’t you kiss? It’s about time.” Damon’s voice was so serious that we both fought to keep from laughing.

“You know,” I told her. “He’s right. I think we should kiss.” I slipped my arm around her waist.

“You do?”

Jerking her against me, I lowered my head. “Hell, yeah. All. Night. Long.” As I captured her mouth, Will’s face popped into my mind. Why? Because of the picture in the calendar of him standing in front of his Violet.

Because I’d been the one to take the photograph.

And somehow, I had a feeling my brother was looking down from heaven and smiling.

The End