Chapter 22

Callum

I never saw this happening to me. Never. If you’d asked me two months ago if I ever thought there’d be a woman who’d have my head so warped that I was thinking about marrying her, I’d probably have kicked your ass and told you to ‘eat shit.’

However, as I gaze at my wife from across the dancefloor, I can’t help but think that the next two years aren’t going to be that bad.

In fact, as far as wives go…I think I’ve got the best one.

Seriously, Violet’s a dream. She makes me laugh, and she’s not afraid of a little hard work. She’s got a great sense of humor, and she knows how to get my heart racing with just one smile.

I think there’s something wrong with me, because I feel myself falling deeper and deeper into something I’ve never felt before.

Is this love?

No, can’t be.

Yet, when Violet smiles at me from across the floor, I feel my pulse quicken. She’s grabbing us both a drink from the bar while I hold onto the only high top table available. There’s a man talking to her, and I find myself frowning as I watch their interaction.

It’s clear Violet feels uncomfortable, and I wish the bartender would hurry up with our drinks.

The man leans in, snaking his arm around her waist.

Fuck the table.

I’m up and moving across the floor with so much speed you’d think I was on fire.

“Problem?” I say, trying to wedge my body between the man and Violet.

“No problem,” he slurs.

“Cal, everything’s okay,” Violet says, placing her hand on my chest.

“From where I was it didn’t look like everything was okay.” I glance at the man’s arm around Violet’s waist. “Mind unhanding my wife ,” I grit out.

The man removes his arm, and stands upright. “I wasn’t looking for trouble,” he says, wavering slightly on his feet. “But damn she’s the hottest bitch in this bar. You can’t hog her.” He pushes me, and I lose it.

“Don’t talk about my wife like that,” I say before landing a punch square across his jaw.

The man stumbles back two steps, the bar catching him before he falls. He leans against it, rubbing a hand over his jaw.

“What the fuck?” he mutters, before swinging. He lands a punch with thin air, and nearly stumbles again.

“Goddammit, Randy,” the bartender shouts. “Chuck, will you get Randy an Uber and send him home,” she calls over her shoulder. She slides two beers across the bar. “Sorry about that. Drink’s on me.”

I reach into my wallet and pull out some cash, though I know it won’t make much difference. “That won’t be necessary,” I mutter, dropping the bills onto the bar with a nod to the bartender. The truth is, if anyone deserves to be arrested, it’s probably me—I did just hit a man. But judging by the looks on everyone’s faces, no one in this bar seems to care. They all saw what happened. They all know Randy had it coming.

And I’d do it again without hesitation. The image of him touching Violet still burns in the back of my mind, and my fist tightens involuntarily.

I slip my arm around Violet, pulling her in closer, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. “I’m sorry,” I say, my voice soft as I glance down at her. The adrenaline is still pumping through my veins, but the feel of her grounds me.

She tilts her head slightly, raising her beer to her lips and taking a slow sip before looking up at me with a teasing smile. “For what?”

“When I saw him touch you, I… sort of lost it,” I admit, my voice lower now. I wasn’t thinking, just reacting. Protecting her felt instinctive, like there was no other option. The memory of how fast I moved, how hard I hit him, still lingers in the back of my mind.

Violet’s smile widens, her baby blues glowing with amusement. “It was sexy how you rushed over here and got all protector vibes on me.” There’s a playful edge to her voice, but the way she’s looking at me—like I’ve surprised her in the best way—makes my chest swell.

“Yeah?” I tug her even closer, our bodies pressing together as I lean my forehead against hers, my breath mingling with hers in the intimate space between us. “Did it turn you on?”

She giggles, the sound light and warm, her fingers brushing against my chest. “It so turned me on,” she says, her voice husky with laughter.

And just like that, I’m the one who’s turned on. The tension between us shifts, from anger to desire, faster than I can process. Her giggle turns into a quiet hum as she presses closer, and I feel the heat rising between us.

My grip on her tightens as I dip my head, lips grazing the curve of her neck. “Good,” I murmur, the word barely audible, but thick with promise. Everything about her—the way she’s looking at me, the way she feels against me—has me wanting more. So much more.

I can still taste the rush of adrenaline from earlier, but now it’s mixed with something else. Something undeniable.

I need to be buried deep inside this woman. I keep trailing kisses along Violet’s neck, completely oblivious to the world around us. The fact that we’re standing in the middle of a dive bar doesn’t even register. I’m too wrapped up in the feel of her, the taste of her skin, the soft sighs she lets out each time my lips find a new spot. My need for her is overwhelming, and for a moment, it’s like nothing else exists.

That is, until I hear a familiar voice from beside me. “Hey, you two,” Paxton says, shattering the spell I was so happily under.

I pull away from Violet reluctantly, feeling the cold absence of her warmth the second I do. My mood shifts instantly when I spot my brother standing there, his arm draped casually over Hartford’s shoulders. Pax and Hart. Of course, they’d show up right when things were getting good.

Violet, on the other hand, doesn’t seem phased at all. “Hey!” she chirps, her voice bright and cheerful. Her easy smile is in place, and she looks genuinely happy to see them, while I, on the other hand, am internally fuming.

I try to play it cool, but I can’t help the frustration gnawing at me. “Hey, what are you two doing here?” I ask, trying not to sound too annoyed, but I know it slips through in my tone. It’s not like I can stop them from being here, it’s a public bar, after all. But seriously, can’t I take my wife anywhere without some family member showing up and interrupting us? I mean, I get it—we’re close—but can’t I get one night alone with Violet?

Hartford beams, practically bouncing on her toes. “We’re meeting Tripp and Millie for some line dancing!” she says, her voice sing-songy and full of excitement, like this is the most exciting plan in the world.

Great. Just great. Now we’ve got half the family descending on the bar like it’s some kind of reunion, when all I wanted was to lose myself in Violet for a few hours. I glance at her again, hoping she’s still in the same headspace as before, but her smile tells me she’s already shifted gears.

“Line dancing sounds fun!” Violet says, her enthusiasm matching Hartford’s, like we weren’t just seconds away from tearing into each other at the bar.

I try to smile, but it’s forced. The idea of line dancing with my family is the last thing I want right now. My mind is still reeling from the feel of Violet’s body pressed against mine, her scent still lingering in the air. I was ready for a whole different kind of dance.

But family’s family. And as much as I want to be annoyed, I can’t exactly tell them to leave. So, I sigh and try to play it off. “Line dancing, huh? That’s what passes for fun around here?”

Paxton grins, slapping me on the back. “You know it. Come on, man, it’ll be a blast.” He looks over at Violet. “You’re coming, right?”

She shoots me a look, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Depends… You think you can keep up?” she teases, clearly amused by the situation.

I groan inwardly, but seeing her so lighthearted about it, I can’t help but give in. “Fine,” I mutter, shaking my head at Pax. “But I’m still pissed you interrupted.”

Violet laughs, leaning into me, and for a second, the tension melts away. Maybe I can live with a little line dancing. For now. But I’m definitely not done with her yet.

Millie and Tripp show up a while later, and before I know it, we’re all out on the dancefloor, shaking shit up like we’ve forgotten about the world outside this bar. The music’s loud, the energy electric, and for once, I’m not thinking about work or responsibilities. I’m just here, surrounded by family, and Violet —who's right beside me, moving to the rhythm in a way that makes it impossible to focus on anything else.

Hartford throws her head back with a laugh and nudges Paxton. “Oh my god, is Callum actually smiling?” Her voice is incredulous, like she’s witnessing some rare phenomenon.

Paxton looks over at me, an eyebrow raised, his grin spreading wider. “Thought I’d never see the day,” he chuckles, his gaze shifting to Violet, who’s dancing right next to me, her hair swinging with every step. “You’re good for him,” he adds, his tone light but sincere.

Violet’s eyes widen, clearly taken by surprise. “I think he’s good for me,” she says, her voice soft but certain, a little smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Hearing her say that does something to me, something I can’t fully explain. I reach over, taking her hand in mine, the warmth of her skin grounding me in this moment. “I’ve never really done this before,” I admit, squeezing her hand gently as I lean in closer.

She gives me a questioning look, her eyes narrowing playfully. “What before? Have fun?” she asks, a teasing lilt to her voice, though there’s an underlying seriousness.

I stop moving, tugging her a little closer so she’s pressed against me. The air between us thickens, and the music fades into the background. “Yeah,” I say, my voice low, almost a confession. “I guess I forgot what it’s like to just… let go.”

Violet gazes up at me, something tender flickering in her expression. “I guess I’ve been neglecting fun for a while too,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the music.

Our faces inch closer, the heat between us undeniable. Her blue eyes lock onto mine, and it’s like time slows. Millie and Hartford are giggling like schoolgirls off to the side, watching us intently, their squeals getting louder the closer Violet and I get to kissing. But I barely register them.

It’s just Violet and me now, in this bubble of something deeper. I can feel her breath on my lips, her hand in mine, and all I want is to close the gap. To taste her again.

But this time, it's different. This time, it feels real… like something I’ve been waiting for my whole life without even realizing it.