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Preston’s firm grip left her feeling very much like a disobedient child being led to her punishment. Annoyed at being manhandled in her own hotel, Violet nonetheless went with JT’s father. A scene would harm her more than him and she was certain he knew that. Preston was a master manipulator. It was how he’d gotten the best of his wife’s younger brother.
Once they were seated in a quiet table near the railing on the bar’s second floor, Preston signaled the waitress. “A bottle of Cristal. We must toast to becoming family.”
Violet’s skin itched where he’d touched her. The thought of being legally connected to this man, no matter how briefly, made her physically ill.
“I don’t drink when I’m working,” Violet protested.
“Nonsense. This is a special occasion.”
“Then shouldn’t we wait to celebrate with JT?”
“My son is running around the country visiting family.” Preston’s smile didn’t reach his hard eyes. “Telling them his good news, I’m assuming.” JT’s father pinned her with merciless scrutiny. “And yet he left you—his brand-new bride—here. Why is that?”
Again Violet feared her face would betray too much. Tiberius had told her over and over that she made a lousy poker player. She couldn’t bluff to save her soul.
“It wasn’t a good time for me to be away from the hotel.”
“No honeymoon for you then? Stone Properties has a wonderful five-star resort in the Cayman Islands. I could call and have a suite made available for you two.”
“Please don’t bother.”
“It’s no bother at all.”
The waitress arrived with their champagne and a pair of flutes. Violet appreciated the momentary distraction. She needed to stop reacting and get ahead of Preston. Why had he come? Nothing he did lacked motivation. If he knew JT was traveling, he’d shown up in Vegas to catch Violet alone. Anxiety flared, but she pushed it down. No matter how vile the man, he was powerless to do more than intimidate her.
Once the champagne was poured, Preston handed her a flute. “To wedded bliss. May your life with my son be as happy as mine was with his mother.”
More a curse than a blessing, Violet thought as she put the flute to her lips and wet them with the champagne. “Thank you.” She set the glass down. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really have some pressing matters to attend to.” But before she could rise, Preston covered her hand with his.
“How long have you and my son been together?”
“A while.”
“You must be good at keeping secrets because your wedding caught everyone by surprise.”
“JT’s very private.” And for once she was glad. “We run rival hotels. He wanted to maintain a low profile until we were sure of our relationship.”
“You certainly managed that. No one had a clue that you and he were dating, much less falling in love.” Preston leaned forward, his eyes intense. “You are in love with my son, aren’t you?”
Violet hesitated before answering. Preston knew something was not on the up and up between her and JT. She saw the challenge in his gaze as if daring her to lie.
“JT is the most amazing man I know. How could I not be?”
That she didn’t answer the question directly wasn’t lost on Preston. His calculated smile was back.
“And I’m sure he feels the same way about you. I’m glad. I would hate for you to have married him for the wrong reasons.”
“Such as?” The instant she spoke, Violet knew she should have insisted she loved JT.
“For his money.”
Violet raised her eyebrow and glanced around her. “Do I look like I need money?”
“From what I understand, all this belongs to Fontaine Resorts and Hotels, not to you.”
“Regardless, I don’t need JT’s money.”
“That’s good.” Preston finished his glass of champagne and stood. “I’m very protective of my son. If I thought someone intended to hurt him, I would take steps to see that didn’t happen.”
She couldn’t believe what Preston was saying. He’d done more to hurt his son than the entire rest of the world combined. “I have no plans to hurt JT. Quite the opposite.”
“Good. So are you planning on giving up your suite here and moving to my son’s ranch?”
Again he’d caught her unprepared. “We haven’t decided yet.”
“Because two people living apart isn’t much of a marriage.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
“And soon, I hope. Because if you’re not living together, someone might assume that your marriage is a fake and that would lead to questions.”
