I shifted on my feet, not exactly sure what to say to that. It wasn’t like it surprised me. I knew most guys brought a bouquet of flowers. That just wasn’t me.
“I don’t do flowers.”
Her brows pulled together before she chuckled. “Okay then. No flowers, only plants. Good thing I have a green thumb.”
My gaze traveled over her shoulder, landing on three hanging plants suspended from the ceiling. I nodded and a grunt of approval left my lips. “Ready to go?” I asked a second later.
“Yep.” She moved toward me, pausing as she brushed past and looked up at me. “Thank you.”
I held her gaze and swallowed thickly. The dark makeup that lined her honey-colored eyes and the dark lipstick that made her plump lips stand out shouldn’t have been so appealing. Neither should the see-through black material that covered her arms and most of her chest, showing off the swell of her breasts.
I pulled my gaze away and nodded. The last thing she needed was me making this awkward by staring at her again. She continued past me, and I caught the brief scent of honey and flowers, reminding me again of sunflowers.
I took a deep breath and followed behind her, trying to tamp down my frustration. This was never going to work if I kept noticing every little thing about her. Her amazing scent, the way her skin felt under my touch, or how her smile made her eyes light up. I needed to learn to ignore it all.
Once in the car, I reached out and stopped her from plugging her phone in. “I started you a playlist.”
She stared at me before looking down at my phone plugged into the center console. “You made me a playlist,” she whispered so softly I wasn’t sure I heard her correctly.
I shrugged. I didn’t want her to get the wrong impression, although now I worried it might come off weird. I liked a variety of music, and typically wore earbuds and listened to music whenever I worked out or went for a run. As songs I thought she might like came up on my playlist, I’d started adding them to a new playlist.
“It’s just some songs I thought you’d like. You can plug yours in if you want, though.”
She stared at me with parted lips for a beat and then shook her head, sitting back in her seat. “No. I want to listen to it.”
Silence settled between us, the music filling the space perfectly as I drove the short drive to the Mexican restaurant.
“Not bad,” she said as I parked the car.
I raised a brow at her.
“The playlist,” she clarified. “I recognized a few of the songs, but there were a couple I liked but couldn’t place.”
Turning off the engine, I nodded and climbed out of the car, meeting her at the passenger door just as she closed it behind her. I held the door to the restaurant open and waved for her to go in front of me. We weaved through the crowded place to a long table set up against the back wall.
I tipped my head toward Dylan. Other than Violet, he was the only other person I was actually familiar with. I didn’t even see the birthday girl anywhere. I slightly recognized the brunette Dylan had his arm around and Violet was currently chatting with.
Violet looked up at me. “You know Dylan, but have you met Hattie?”
When I shook my head, she introduced us and then Hattie took over introducing both of us to other people at the table. Igathered that Violet didn’t know a lot of these people either. We sat down and I placed my arm along the back of her chair.
Savannah appeared at the end of the table. Who knew where she’d been for the last ten minutes. “Who wants a shot?” She grabbed one from the tray as the waitress started to make her way around the table, passing them out.
Violet took one, but I shook my head when the waitress asked. I would probably have a beer, maybe two. I’d promised Violet I would be the designated driver so she didn’t have to worry about it, and I wasn’t a big fan of shots anyway.
Multiple conversations were happening around the table as the waitress did another round, taking drink and food orders for those who were ready. I sat quietly as Violet talked nonstop with Hattie, trying my best to tune into her talking and filter out all the other noise.
After the waitress delivered everyone’s drinks, Violet shifted close to me, leaning on my chair, her hand brushing the outside of my thigh. “Sorry, is this too much for you?”
My instinct was to say yes. For so many reasons. Her in my space, with her sweet honey scent. Her hand touching my thigh. The constant chatter all around us. My senses were now on overdrive. But instead of saying anything, I shook my head.
She raised a brow like she didn’t believe me. Time to deflect.
“That’s awesome that you’ve been invited to speak at that scholarship dinner.”
She smiled up at me. “You heard that?”
I fought the urge to narrow my eyes at her. Of course I heard her. She was sitting right next to me, and it wasn’t like she and Hattie were super quiet.
