Page 34 of Based on You

I wanted to go wherever she was down for.

"You can go upstairs and clean up," I said, tight, "then come back for some breakfast. We'll leave right after we eat."

She nodded and turned back toward the stairs.

I stared at the mug in my hands. That was where a sensible, professional man kept his eyes.

Her footsteps had barely reached the top landing when Olivia appeared in the kitchen doorway. She stopped dead when she spotted Violet, the same moment Violet paused on the top step.

"Violet?" Olivia's eyebrows shot up, her mouth falling open. "What on earth are you doing here?"

Violet looked down at the oversized men's pajamas, then back up at the teenager, and let out a breathless laugh. "It's a very long story, Olivia."

Olivia crossed the kitchen in a few quick strides and pulled her into a fierce hug, the kind of sudden grab that surprised Violet enough she took a half-step back before her own arms came up to return it. Olivia held on a long moment, then stepped back, beaming.

"Are you staying with us?" she asked, hopeful.

"Just for a day or two. I have a bit of a landlord situation."

"Good." Olivia's chin lifted. "You can stay as long as you want."

Violet gave her a warm smile. "I'll be back down in a few minutes." She turned and headed up the stairs.

Olivia turned to face me. My eyes were still glued to the empty space at the top of the staircase.

"Hey," she said sharply.

I blinked and finally looked at her.

"Why is she sleeping here?"

I summarized the night before. The changed lock. The crying in the office. The drive home. I kept it brief and professional. Olivia listened to the whole thing with her arms crossed and her head tilted, suspicious.

When I finished, she stayed quiet a long moment.

"Is this the start of something?"

"No," I said.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Why not?"

"Olivia." I set my coffee mug down on the marble. "Violet is my executive assistant. She's my friend. A man and a woman can have a platonic friendship that doesn't need to be anything more. People can matter to each other without it meaning what you're suggesting."

Olivia nodded, taking in the lecture. She pulled out the stool across from mine and sat down.

"That's a really great theory, Uncle Simon," she said, dry.

She reached across the island and picked up the extra coffee Marta had left on the counter.

"You should probably explain that exact theory to Violet," she said, taking a slow sip. "And then watch her face when you do."

I frowned and opened my mouth to ask her what the hell she meant by that.

She just picked up her fork, started eating her breakfast, and refused to look at me again.

ELEVEN

VIOLET