Rivers end boxset volume.., p.88
River's End Boxset Volume 3, page 88
Her first snowball smacked Gage on the bare cheek and he was stunned. Utterly and completely shocked that Violet threw it. She laughed and turned to run but Gage didn’t wait long before hurling one at her.
Sliding on the snow and unable to get her footing, she wasn’t as fast as she usually was. She barely reached the trees when two hands grabbed her around the waist. Gage had a hard time hanging onto her under all the cottony layers she wore, but he finally found something to grasp.
She was suddenly in the air, with her legs out from under her and being plowed into the ground with Gage on top of her, holding her down. Grinning wildly with a gleam in his eye, it wasn’t sexual at all, more like “gotcha!”.
Turned out Gage was more than competitive as he triumphed and she lost. He used his knees to hold down her lower half, laughing maniacally as he shoved the handful of snow into her face and ground it in with his hand.
Violet squealed like one of the girls. She even ate the snow when it filled her mouth and nostrils and eyelids. Sliding down the rim of her collar and onto her neck, it instantly chilled her whole body.
“I give up. You win!” She laughed but it was muffled by all the snow pack in her mouth.
Gage finally relented, sitting back and using his glove to wipe the snow off her neck, chin and face. “You should have known better than to even try.”
“Oh, Gage Sullivan, I will always try. Even if I can’t win, I’ll always freaking try.”
He gave her searching look, then nodded at her as if he were satisfied. “Competitive?”
“All my life. You only win with practice and muscle strength. Speed? I could have ditched you if I could have only run in the snow. You’d have never caught me.”
He leaned over her, placing his face right above hers. The sparks in his gaze went from joy over winning to a deep staring and he looked serious. His nose touched her cold nose as his lips landed on hers. “When I first met you, I doubted you ever tried. Not even to win for fun. But now? You do. So you might think on that. You say you were always competing? I think that’s the part of you that’s been missing for awhile.” He leaned back on his haunches, giving her a little wink before he rose to his feet.
Violet lay there a moment longer, staring at the tops of the pine trees, their needles a stark emerald green against the pristine white snow, which silhouetted them. The sky, an intensely bright blue, played peek-a-boo through the tree tops.
She closed her eyes. It was so pretty here. The cold air was so crisp and refreshing. The girls’ voices blended, rising high and low as they laughed. Then they yelled. Then they squealed. Lord. They did that a lot. There were more shrieks and lots of laughter.
Life. Violet felt very alive in this frozen, white world. The gleeful sounds of joy and fun included her; she was right there. She liked being competitive again. She liked winning. She used to be the most competitive of her sisters. She loved to make bets in poker or other card games. She loved to race horses and she usually won. Pouting sometimes when she didn’t, which was not her most attractive quality. But how she missed this. The urge to win, outsmart, outperform and be the best.
To be… Violet freaking Rydell.
Since Preston died, she stopped caring about competing. It seemed stupid and unimportant. But it wasn’t. It was a huge part of her personality. And feeling that wonderful urge again made her heart swell with joy.
She had renewed hope.
She rose and wiped away the snow on her clothes. Some melted on her skin and even inside her bra, making her shiver. She opened her coat and rubbed the wet spots dry before bundling herself back up.
Right back in the thick of it, Violet was racing, sliding, and spinning before trudging back up the hill to do it all over again. And again. So many times, she lost count. Then they had races, organized by Andy. She was bossy and liked to be the leader. Violet loved that. So they had races and winners and contests right up until the end. She and Gage were the last ones standing.
“No fair. His weight takes him farther.”
“Yes, but you have a faster sled.” Gage argued.
They discussed it for a good five minutes before Andy made the decision. “Violet gets a ten-foot head start. That’ll even it up. End of discussion.”
They glared at her and then at each other in tandem. Violet muttered, “Stupid rule.”
“Unfair and unnecessary handicap,” Gage muttered back.
Violet stuck her tongue out at him. He showed her his middle finger. Andy finally snapped. “Enough. You two are worse than any teenagers I ever met. Now get ready, set, go.”
Down they went.
And damn if Violet didn’t win. Barely, by a hair, but she won. She jumped off her sled, rising excitedly to her feet, and began exclaiming, “I beat your ass. So hard!” Then she realized what she said and smacked a gloved hand to her mouth. Her eyes got huge as the girls came running toward her, but Gage was laughing so hard at her that he seemed pleased by the smackdown she gave him. He ignored her choice of words about it.
The girls circled Violet, all but dancing and singing how amazing girls were in general. Girls rule, and all that, and Violet felt like one of them. She was laughing and carrying on and so freaking happy. In that moment. In the snow. The cold air was exhilarating. With Gage. And Andy. And her friends.
Violet laughed and yelled and talked smack and best of all, she felt alive again.
And it didn’t hurt. It just felt amazing.
When they were all too exhausted to climb up the hill again, they piled into the cab of the truck. The sun was setting, and they took off their gloves, hats and boots. Violet tucked her feet under the seat and set her frigid hands in front of the car heater. Everyone groaned for more heat. Gage rolled his eyes. “You guys are such a bunch of girls.”
Violet and the girls responded with an earful of arguments that detailed how stupid and sexist that was…
He lost.
Halfway home, Andy said. “I need tampons.”
Startled by her comment, Violet glanced back, but Andy was staring out the window. Gage didn’t answer. A minute later, he pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store. He glanced at the back seat. Andy had already taken off her coat and shoes. He parked the truck and casually asked, “Anyone need anything else?”
Violet shook her head no. Andy’s friends each asked for some candy bars, but Andy overruled and told Gage to get them a brownie from the bakery that they all could share.
Violet flipped around as soon as the truck door shut.
“He buys your tampons? Without a single word of protest or a grumble?”
Andy lifted her head, raising her eyebrows in mild surprise. “Well, sure. What’s the big deal?”
“Most guys I know, including my own father, wouldn’t say the word, let alone, touch the things. How does he know what type to buy?”
“Because he buys them every month. Always has. Duh. Sometimes I ask him to try a new brand. But I always let him know first.”
She kept her father apprised of her preferred brand of tampons? He always bought them for her?
Violet faced forward and her thoughts were spinning.
If that weren’t a reason to adore the guy, well, hell what could be?
Andy leaned forward, resting her hands on the console and peeking at Violet. “He’s really awesome. I know he’s my dad, but he was always like that.”
“Yeah, my mom makes him an example for my dad when she wants him to do more crap around the house or be a better father. My dad doesn’t do any of the things Andy’s does,” Andy’s girlfriend chimed in.
“Well, most fathers don’t,” Violet replied. She was raised around a lot of men.
But Gage was a manly man. And now he was in the store, buying his daughter’s preferred tampons simply because her boots weren’t on. He never even questioned it. Not a groan or harsh word. He just went inside and bought them.
Gage was walking across the parking lot, a brown bag in his hands and Violet’s freaking heart felt strange. She saw the hat on his head, the brown bag and the casual way he carried it before everything seemed to go all warm and gooey and squishy inside her. He was so damn hot. And very kind. He got into the truck, setting the bag between them and smiled when he noticed her gawking at him. Turning back to Andy, he said, “They don’t carry your favorite brand here. So I got the off brand. Sorry.”
“That’s all right.”
Sorry? Violet stared at him. A lot. He looked over only to find her open-mouthed as she watched him. He gave her a little smile before facing forward and shifting his truck into gear. The heaters were blaring while he was in the store because he wanted everyone to be warm… What chance did she have with this man?
When they got back to Gage’s house, he parked the truck in the garage, and the girls jumped out, with Andy taking the bag. He and Violet were still in the truck when Violet turned and her hand grazed his. She glanced at him.
“You okay?” Gage asked. “You got quiet all of a sudden after I went to the store.”
“You… bought her tampons.”
His raised eyebrow showed Violet what a small deal it was to him. “Who? Andy? She needed them. She started yesterday and the first few days are hell on her—”
“Yes… I know that,” Violet interrupted. “I get it. I always use the off brands. Would you buy mine? I mean, if I needed them?”
“Crap. Do you? I asked you before I went in the store.”
“No, I don’t need them right now. Not today. But you’d buy them for me? If I needed them?”
His eyebrows scrunched up again, and she knew he was thinking, what the hell? But he humored her. “Sure. If you let me know. Of course, I would. I’m sorry; what’s happening here?”
She stared at him and a soft smile formed on her lips. Leaning over the truck console, her lips found his and she kissed him hard and long. He responded in kind but after she removed her lips, she looked at him with big eyes when he asked, “Do tampons turn you on or something?”
“No. Knowing you would buy them without freaking out. And even say the word tampon without cringing or softening your voice. You’re fully aware of when your daughter gets her periods, without flinching and even when I, the woman you slept with asks—”
“No cringing or flinching. Does that make me special?”
She smirked as she looped her arms around his neck. “Very special. Yes. You are… yes. In general. All the time. In the way you treat others. And Andy.” She kissed his mouth again and added softly, “And me.”
He pulled his head back, and let his gaze drink her up, starting with her forehead and scanning her entire face. “Violet?”
“Your daughter is right when she said what an awesome man you are.”
“Really? She said that?”
“Yes. She did. I agreed.”
“Are you okay?”
Violet gulped and closed her eyes, resting her forehead on his. He wondered about this sudden emotional but strange response from her right now, sitting there in the cab of his truck, parked in the garage. But it was a breakthrough for Violet. Her heart was lighter and surer and free. She no longer doubted him. Or why she was there with him.
There was no other place she wanted to be except right there. Finally.
She gently kissed his lips and leaned back and said, “I’m fine. I’m really, really okay, Gage. With you. And with Andy. And everything that’s happening to me right now.”
His back straightened. “We’re talking about something besides tampons here, aren’t we?”
Her soft laugh seemed to release years and years of grief. “Yes. Yes… We are. I’m talking about everything. About us dating and being together. About making a commitment and thinking about a future… and imagining that it all could work.”
“You and me? Like, for real?”
“Do you think I could stay?”
“Always.”
“I meant overnight, Gage.”
“Yes. Yes!” he said with a long sigh of audible relief. “I never thought you’d ask. Or that you’d want to.”
“I do… more than anything else in my life.” Then she suddenly eased away from him, leaning back to her side of the truck. “But what about Andy and her friends? I mean…”
“She said she was all for it. She insisted that you stay. To her, it’s perfectly normal. So… come inside?”
Violet nodded, grabbing the door handle. Gage waited at the front of the truck, holding his hand out to her. When she slipped her hand into his, it felt as snug as a key sliding into a lock. Perfect. Right. Home.
They shared a long, searching smile until he blinked. “Someday, you’ll have to explain why buying tampons is so meaningful for you.”
Of course, that made her giggle before he tugged her inside his house.
The garage entrance opened into a large, airy mudroom. The washing machine and dryer were on one side, and hooks holding countless coats covered the other. All the shoes were lined up neatly and pairs of boots stood at attention, waiting to be worn. A large sink and counter allowed for any projects. The girls’ snow gear was hastily discarded everywhere. Gage had no remark about it but released Violet’s hand before he grabbed a jacket from the floor to hang up onto the hook. That way, it could dry. He did the same routine with all the snow pants and coats. Then he tossed the gloves and hats in the dryer and turned it on. Violet slipped hers off and hung them up. Wearing long johns and leggings, a turtleneck, a bulky sweater and warm wool socks, she seemed anything but sexy. She liked to be wrapped in her most comfortable-fitting clothes.
Gage glanced at her as if she was a goddess. Even as she simply stood there in his laundry room.
Yeah, Violet tucked that look away too. She added it to his list of attributes: buying tampons, hanging out with his kid, being kind, teasing her, getting grumpy when Andy tricked her into coming there, caring and understanding why she did, gourmet cooking, smiles and the patience he always showed with his daughter. His daughter who told Violet only an hour earlier that he was an awesome man.
And he was.
His gentle smile prodded her forward. The laundry room opened into the kitchen and the great room. The girls were in the kitchen, collecting food. Hot water sputtered in a coffee pot and cups with hot chocolate were waiting for it to brew.
“Want some hot chocolate?” Andy asked as she entered the kitchen behind her dad.
“I would love some,” Violet replied with a smile.
The friends chatted as they carried bags of chips and pretzels, loudly disappearing down the hallway as Andy finished pouring the hot chocolate. All five cups. She dropped little marshmallows in each cup.
“Marshmallows are a favorite around here?” Violet inquired with a smile.
Andy grinned as she replied, “Totally.”
“We’re getting ready to watch the new horror movie. So if you hear any screaming, don’t bother to come running.” She gave Violet a cheeky smile.
Violet had a dirty thought that swiftly passed through her brain: if they heard any screaming from Gage’s room, don’t bother to come running either.
Her eyes met Gage’s gaze, and the heat flickered like flames in his eyes. Instantly, both of them burst into huge grins; of course, they were thinking the exact same thing.
Gage’s mouth turned into a flat line. Then he looked at Violet but she wasn’t sure what it was about. He acted like a man headed for the gallows.
Then Gage said gently, “Hey, Andy?”
“Yeah, Dad?” She was busily stirring the hot chocolate.
Gage visibly swallowed. “Um… Violet was… that is, I wondered if…”
Andy lifted her head when her dad’s loss of words and stuttering caught her attention. She looked at her dad and then at Violet before a huge grin split her face. “Yes, Dad. It’s fine with me if she spends the night here. Well, goodnight, then. I have to prepare for our sugar coma.” She winked and gave them each another cheeky smile.
Gage all but wilted against the counter with Violet right beside him.
“Did she just give you permission for…”
He rubbed a hand to his forehead. “This’ll get me the blue ribbon for Worst Father of the Year.”
Violet put a hand on his forearm. “Really? Why should it? Asking your teenage daughter for the first time ever, from what she told me, if a woman can spend the night at her house? Because you didn’t want to upset her? Or blindside her? Or shock her? No, Gage. It makes you…”
She could not find words to describe him. Or why she was there. Why she failed to resist him despite her most intense efforts. Despite her grief for someone else. He prevailed with his kindness, caring, warmth, tenderness, toughness, humor—(good God, his humor!)—strength, hotness, stability, love for his family and most especially, his love for his teenage daughter. He broke down all of her defenses and helped her heal some of her wounds.
His gaze was sharply studying her face. “It makes me what?”
“Awesome. The care and concern and warmth you show by parenting her. The way you love her. Everything you do magnifies…”
She shook her head, getting choked up. Overwhelmed, she turned away. But wonderful, caring, sensitive Gage came up behind her, slipping his arms around her, crossing his hands over her stomach. He gently brought her back against him. His breath was warm on the shell of her ear. “Magnifies what? Your fears? Your worries? Your grief?”
Her head shook vigorously in denial. “No. It magnifies the reasons I fell in love with you. And no matter how hard I fight it, it’s undeniable. There is no way for me not to love you.”
His entire body strained and straightened. Her words seemed to physically assault him like buckshot. His arms tightened before he flipped her around. His gaze scoured her face from her forehead down to her chin and back up. His eyes finally rested on hers. Searching. Reading. Trying to understand.
“Do you mean…?”
She gave a hopeless, little shrug with a small smile and her eyes shone with the feelings she kept trying to smother and ignore. Love. New love. Scary love. She felt timid and unsure but she was ready to love all the same.
