The Billionaire's Beautiful Mistake (Bold Alaskan Men Book 1) (8 page)

Violet had just stepped out of her shower when she heard her cell phone ringing.  Rushing over to it, she lifted it up and smiled, her whole body relaxing when she realized who was on the other end.  “Hello?” she answered, even though her caller ID had shown her Creek’s phone number.

“Good morning, beautiful,” his deep voice said.

The relief that flowed through Violet at that moment overwhelmed her.  “Good morning,” she replied, biting her lower lip as she wondered where he was. 

“What are you doing?”

She looked down at her towel, and her still dripping wet limbs.  “I’m uh…making breakfast.”

His laughter was deep and husky.  “Liar.” 

Violet sighed, and struggled to keep the towel hugging her breasts.  “Is that any way to speak to a woman that you…” she couldn’t finish that sentence. 

“Made love to over and over again last night?” he finished for her, laughing again, and she could picture him in the bar, his feet propped up on the table and leaning back on the two legs of one of the wooden chairs. 

“Well, yes,” she said, and laughed self-consciously. 

“Tell me what you were really doing,” he challenged her. 

She looked down again, and noticed that there was a puddle forming on the carpet where she was standing.  “I just got out of the shower,” she finally admitted after a brief hesitation. 

He made a deep sound that made her think of what he’d looked like last night as he’d stared down at her breasts.  “Do you have one of those pink towels wrapped around you?”

Her fingers curled the towel into her fist as heat surged through her.  “Yes,” she whispered. “How did you know that I had pink towels?”

He laughed again.  “First, I’ve gotten to know you over the last six days, and I honestly couldn’t imagine you owning towels in any other color.  You’re a very girly woman, Violet Jenkins.  And secondly, I was in your bathroom last night.  I saw the towels.  Among other things.”

She gasped, her mind frantically trying to picture the contents of her bathroom.  “What else did you see?” she demanded, her fingers clenching around the phone.  Tampons?  Oh goodness, she sincerely hoped that he hadn’t noticed those!  The unopened box of condoms?  She’d bought those the other day in anticipation of last night.  Thankfully, he’d brought his own so she hadn’t had to admit that she’d been hoping that he would make love with her, had planned on it! 

“My, that sounds interesting, Violet.  Are you worried about what I might find in your bathroom?”

She could tell that he was smiling as he teased her, and her shoulders relaxed.  “I’m terrified,” she came right back.  “Of course there are things in a woman’s bathroom that she wouldn’t want a man to see.”

“What kinds of things are in yours?  Naughty things?  Perhaps some bathroom toys?”

Violet was stumped for perhaps a few seconds until his words made sense to her.  And then she gasped.  “No!  There’s nothing like that in my bathroom!” she told him emphatically, horrified by the idea. 

He laughed again, making her stomach quiver with expectation.  “Where are your toys then?  In the bedside table?  Or maybe the closet?”

She rolled her eyes, knowing that he was only trying to shock her now.  “Creek, I don’t own anything like that.  You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

“Like any hungry wolf,” he came back quickly.  “So what are you wearing?   Is it the pink towel?”

Violet looked down again before she whispered. “Yes.”

There was a long pause.  “And are you all pink and warm from the shower?”

Violet shivered with the cold, morning air.  “Not since I’ve started talking to you.”

He laughed.  “So you’re cold.  Are your nipples hard and ready for me because of the cold?”

“Creek!” she squeaked, horrified by what he was asking her. 

“Answer me,” he commanded, his voice rougher now. 

“No!”

“No, they aren’t hard and aching for my lips?  Or no, you’re not going to answer me?”

She shifted slightly, felt her face heat up and sighed with exasperation.  “No, I’m not going to answer you,” she replied, wishing she didn’t sound like such a prude.

“Ah, then your nipples are hard and ready for my kiss.  Nice,” he purred, and made a sound that sent shivers throughout her whole body.

“Creek,” she whispered, wishing that he were here with her.

“I know, I shouldn’t have left so early.  Tomorrow I’ll sleep in.”

She held her breath.  “Are you coming back tonight?” she asked, her whole body tense and hopeful.

“Do you want me to?”

“Yes!” she gushed.  As soon as the word was out of her lips, she wished she’d held back, made some sort of sophisticated sound.  But the truth was, she missed him!  He’d been gone for maybe a couple of hours and she wanted to feel his strong arms around her, to feel his lips against her, everywhere! 

“Good.  I’ll be there early.  Wear something sexy,” he instructed, and clicked off the phone. 

Violet couldn’t stop the silly grin that lit her face as she danced back into the bathroom to dry off.  Another night with Creek!  Gone were all of her insecurities and she felt as if the world was blooming again.  Of course, looking out the window, she realized it was raining.  But better than snow!  There was a silver lining to everything!

She worked in her shop for the rest of the day, cleaning and organizing, helping the guys in the back room to get all of the newest orders ready for shipment.  It was one of those days where it was nice to just stay inside and contemplate…heaven. 

Heaven would be in Creek’s arms. 

“What has you looking so excited?” George said when he arrived at the shop, three hours after when she’d scheduled his shift to start.  He was staggering around and his eyes were bloodshot, almost as if…

Violet leaned towards him and sniffed.  “George, get out!” she ordered as soon as she smelled the beer on his breath. 

“Huh?’ he asked and stumbled over to the stool behind the counter.  “I’ve gotta work today.  And I want to hear about your date last night.  How’d it go?” he asked.  He slumped onto the stool and, within moments, his eyes closed. 

Violet watched him, horrified and disgusted.  When the bell rang, announcing customers, she pasted a smile on her face and pretended that nothing was wrong.  But as soon as the customers were gone, both with packages filled with items for presents, she walked over to George and shook him. 

“Huh?  What?” he almost shouted, his hands flailing out as if he were trying to knock off a fly or a gnat. 

“Get out, George!” she hissed, standing in front of him with her hands fisted on her hips. 

“Why?” and he rubbed his shirtsleeve over his flannel shirt. 

“Because you’re filthy and drunk, not to mention, I don’t allow sleeping on the job.  You’ll have to sober up somewhere else,” she told him firmly. 

She grabbed his arm, and almost lifted him off of the stool, escorting him to the door. 

“But it’s raining out there.”

Violet didn’t care.  “Not my problem, George.  I pay you enough to grab a cheap raincoat.  Go get one.”

George brightened up with that comment.  “Yeah.  Money!  Hey!” he looked down at her and laughed.  The sound wasn’t very pleasant.  “Did you have a good time last night?  Was the man everything you wanted?”

Violet was even more disgusted, and couldn’t understand what her mother had seen in this man.  “George, go home.  Sleep it off and shower before you show up again.”

Closing the door, she wiped her hands, but that wasn’t enough this time.  Whatever George had gotten into last night, he must have rolled around in it.  She walked to the small bathroom off to one side of the store and scrubbed her hands until she felt clean again. 

What was it about George?  Why did he spend all of his money on alcohol? 

She supposed she should be more concerned.  He was sort of family, she thought.  But then more customers came into the shop, and she banished the man from her mind.  At least for now.  She’d wonder about George’s alcoholism another time.  Perhaps he’d had a hard childhood, or maybe he had some mental issues that he needed help with as an adult. 

Right now, she needed to focus on work and not on the man who didn’t seem to want her help. 

And there was no way she could help him when he was inebriated anyway. 

So for the rest of the afternoon, she worked both in the front of the store and in the back, stocking shelves, and almost dancing her way through the afternoon. 

“What has you so excited?” Kevin asked, when the last customer was gone for the night and he bolted the door closed. 

“I have a date!” she said with a grin. 

Kevin smiled right back at her, crossing his arms over his chest.  “Same guy that had you so excited that you couldn’t come into the store yesterday?” he asked.

Violet gave him a secret grin.  “Maybe,” she said and twirled around.  The effect would have been better if she’d been in some really sassy dress and the skirt flared around her legs.  Jeans and rubber boots just didn’t have the same impact.  “Maybe not.”

Kevin chuckled.  “Same guy.”  The others had already left for the day, having cleaned up before their shift ended.  “So what’s his name?”

Violet grabbed a mop, wiping up the mud that had tracked in during the day from the rain.  “His name is Creek and he’s the bartender over in Winthrop.”

Kevin stopped sweeping and looked over at Violet.  “Creek Jones?   At The Rotten Apple?” he asked.

Violet looked up and smiled.  “Yeah, do you know him?”

Kevin laughed.  “Of course.  Everyone knows Creek Jones.  He’s a legend.”

Violet had no idea why Creek would be considered a legend, but Kevin’s approval just made her feel better.  “Yeah, he’s a good guy,” she said as she continued to mop the floor.

“So what are you guys doing tonight?”

Violet laughed.  “Well, I’m not cooking him a roast or apple pie!  That was a disaster last night!”

“What are you making for him tonight?” he asked, and looked over at her.  “Don’t make lasagna,” he warned her. 

Violet looked up.  “You don’t like my lasagna?”

Kevin cringed, but shook his head.  “Sorry, Violet.  But your lasagna…” and he shook his head again.  “Something else.”

Nothing could get her down today, so she didn’t take offense at his words.  “Okay, so what should I make for dinner?”

“Brownies,” he said, still looking down and getting underneath the countertop.  “You make awesome brownies.”

She stopped mopping, and savored the glow of Kevin’s praise.  “What else?”

Kevin swept up the debris to the dustbin and stored the broom in the closet.  “How about that chicken casserole?  The one with the spicy sauce?”

“Yeah,” Violet said, nodding her head as she considered the idea.  “Spicy chicken.  That one is easy enough to make.”

Kevin smirked as he grabbed his rain jacket and changed into his rain boots.  “Good luck tonight, and I want details tomorrow!”

That night, when her doorbell rang, Violet wasn’t the nervous mess that she’d become the night before, but it was pretty close. 

At least the dinner wasn’t burned, she thought as she rushed over to the door.  Reaching out, she realized that her hands were still covered with oven mitts and she yanked them off as she swung the door open. 

“Creek!” she sighed happily when she saw his huge body standing in her doorway. 

His eyes immediately moved up and down her body before he smiled and leaned against the doorframe.  “I hope you weren’t expecting anyone else,” he said as he looked down at her. 

“No!” she gasped.  “Not at all!” 

She stood there smiling at him, her happiness consuming her.  And then she realized that he was still standing in the rain.  “Come in!” she gushed.  “I’m sorry!  I was just…”

He stepped into the room and took off his rain gear, hanging it on the hook by the door.  “Thanks,” he said, and took her into his arms.  “You look like a spring flower,” and he bent his head to kiss her. 

When he lifted his head to look down at her, he felt himself bracing for her to demand another check.  When she only smiled up at him, he relaxed slightly.  “I don’t have money tonight,” he told her, waiting to see her reaction.

Violet immediately thought of the pizza from the night before.  “Oh! No!  I cooked tonight!” she said and looked behind her at the oven, checking to make sure smoke wasn’t billowing out of it tonight. 

“You cooked?” he asked, looking warily into the kitchen. 

Violet laughed at his expression.  “Don’t worry.  This time, I didn’t leave, so nothing burned.”  She glanced over at the oven again, and turned away from him.  “I don’t think.” 

She walked to the kitchen and looked into the oven. 

Creek stood frozen in place while he looked down at her perfect, round, delectable bottom.  Once again, he wondered if she was doing that on purpose, trying to entice him.  And once again, he knew that the move was completely unnecessary.  He had been enthralled and titillated from the moment she’d laughed on the phone this morning.  His body had been primed all day, and just the sight of her smiling face made his body harden with need and anticipation.