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“I was right to fear that JT wouldn’t react well to Tiberius’s suspicions about Preston,” Violet said, as they wound their way past a hundred slot machines to a dessert bar on the second floor. “And I couldn’t blame him for being upset with me.”
“You did nothing wrong,” Scarlett reminded her.
“I feel as if I did. He was upset because you and Harper knew what was in the file and was worried you’d tell someone. He didn’t believe me when I told him you wouldn’t. I wish he trusted me.”
“I’m sure he does. Remember you’d just brought him shocking information about his father. No matter how strained their relationship or how badly he wants his dad to step down as CEO, Preston is still JT’s father.”
“Is it crazy that I’m afraid the progress we’ve made in our relationship has been dealt a deadly blow today?”
“Not crazy at all. But I do think you’re worrying for nothing.” Scarlett looped her arm through Violet’s and pulled her before a glass display case loaded with absolutely scrumptious-looking treats. “We’ll take one of those chocolate shells filled with white chocolate mousse and a hazelnut gelato-filled cream puff with Kahlua chocolate sauce,” Scarlett said to the counter person. Catching Violet staring at her in astonishment, Scarlett grinned. “What? Heartache calls for fancy desserts.”
Violet carried the tray of desserts to a table by the window that overlooked the extensive, beautifully landscaped grounds at the back of the hotel. Scarlett arrived seconds later with cups of espresso.
“I don’t know why I was so caught off guard by JT’s reaction.” Violet dug into the white chocolate mousse. “Barely two weeks ago we were little more than casual acquaintances and today I told him his father might be a criminal.”
“Do you really think you two have ever been casual?” Scarlett asked. “You may not have been friends, but there was a strong pull between you. I saw it that night in Baccarat.”
“I’ve been attracted to him since the first time I saw him.”
“I’ll bet he felt the same way. Wouldn’t surprise me if Tiberius warned him off.”
“I’m sure the issue never came up.”
“So how did you two leave things?”
“JT is deciding if we should contact Charity Rimes.”
“What do you think he’ll do?”
Violet shook her head. “I think he’ll want to do the right thing, but loyalty is really important to him and no matter how complicated their relationship is, JT will feel as if he’s betraying his father.” She finished the mousse-filled chocolate cup and began on the half of the cream puff Scarlett pushed onto her plate. “You know, I think he was almost as upset that I’m the one delivering this news about his father as he was by the thought that his dad might be a criminal.”
“It makes sense,” Scarlett said. “He’s not a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. Watching you two last night, it was obvious you have pried the oyster out of his shell. He trusts you, but behaviors rooted in childhood trauma are difficult to overcome and the more vulnerable he feels, the more he will overreact if he something scares him.” Scarlett’s lips curved. “And baby, the way you make him feel terrifies him.”
“I don’t want him to be afraid.” Doing the right thing shouldn’t cause this much anxiety and hurt. “I want him to be happy.”
“I know, and he’ll get there.”
But what if he never did? JT hadn’t yet learned to make lemonade out of lemons and wasn’t ready to rely on her for his wellbeing. The stockholders’ meeting was less than a month away. If he refused to let her in, she was convinced he would demand the divorce they’d agreed to in the beginning. And that would be bad. He needed her. She reminded him to laugh and appreciated his romantic soul. And she needed him. He made love to her with a ferocity she’d never known before. In JT’s arms, she wasn’t a team player. She was a star.
Buoyed by Scarlett’s assurances and a great deal of sugar, Violet went about her day with a lighter heart. It wasn’t like her to worry about what hadn’t happened yet. Obviously JT was rubbing off on her. If only she were having the same effect on him.
At five her cell phone rang. To her delight, JT was calling. She answered, hoping to keep her emotional state from showing up in her voice. “Hello, husband.”
“Hello, wife. I’m calling to apologize.”
Lightheaded, Violet leaned against a nearby pillar and squeezed her eyes shut. “No need.”
