Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

VIOLET

A fter that flirtation with Ryder Calloway, I couldn't stop sneaking glances at him where he stood with Daphne. I wondered if they were talking about me, and why Ryder thought it was necessary to bring up what happened in second grade.

What other boy played along with a girl who wanted him to be her boyfriend in elementary school. It went beyond a simple crush because we acted it out.

I felt good when I was with him, holding his hand. There was something special about Ryder Calloway. I was drawn to him.

Unfortunately, our antics landed us in the principal's office, but it was so worth it. I loved having a boyfriend even if I was too young to understand what it really meant.

And now Ryder was back. Rumor had it that he and his wife were separated, and I didn't need to get involved with someone who was going through a divorce. He had a history with his wife, one that he could return to at any time.

And I had an ice-cream shop to make profitable. I took my inheritance from my grandmother to come home to Maryland and open this shop. The rest of my family didn't think I'd make it. That it was a waste of time and money. That I was better off in Florida working some administrative office job.

I didn't want to work for anyone else. I loved the freedom that being the boss gave me, and I wanted to make it work. To prove to my parents that I could do it.

Dating would be a distraction. I needed to steer clear of Ryder Calloway. The fact that he was separated was a red flag, even though his daughter added an interesting element.

He was obviously worried about her dating. I'd seen the way his jaw had clenched and his eyes went hard when I teased him. Even now, his gaze was on the playground, watching his daughter interact with Izzy while he talked to Daphne.

He was protective of his daughter. I wasn't sure why that was such a turn-on, but it was. The problem was, I tended to fall hard for guys before I saw any potential issues. With Ryder, I knew why he was home: to collect himself after a divorce.

Anyone who dated him would be a rebound at best. Thrown aside when his ex realized how badly she'd screwed up by letting him go. It was only a matter of time because Ryder Calloway was the full package. A sexy single dad who worked in federal law enforcement. The fact that he probably couldn't talk about his job made him that much more attractive.

It gave him this dark allure. There was something that drew me to Ryder even in second grade, but now I was an adult. I knew he wouldn't be good for me, and for once, I wasn't going to be impulsive.

I wouldn't fall for him, no matter how many times he came into my shop to buy ice cream with his adorable daughter. I'd resist him.

When the line slowed, Morgan leaned closer to ask, "Is that Daphne's brother?"

I nodded. "The one and only, Ryder Calloway."

"He's hot," Morgan said matter-of-factly.

"He's recently divorced with a kid," I pointed out.

Morgan's forehead wrinkled. "Are you trying to talk yourself down or me?"

I blew out a breath. "You know I always go for the wrong guys."

She raised a brow. "That's what you say."

"Ryder would be one more bad decision. He has rebound all over him." I gestured in his general direction, indicating his entire body.

Morgan frowned as she watched him standing under the monkey bars, hovering near his niece as she tried to swing from one rung to the next. "Are they written on his bulging biceps or that fine ass?" Morgan pretended to squint. "Because I'm not seeing it."

"You're impossible." Izzy's legs flailed, and Ryder didn't hesitate to grab them. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she fell against him. "He's going through things, and a relationship is the last thing on his mind."

"Do you have to have a relationship with every guy you date?" Morgan sighed as she cleaned the scooper in the water. "Maybe that's your problem. You forget to let go and have fun."

"I'm not made for a one-night stand." I bristled at the thought. I was a relationship girl through and through. Not that it ever worked out for me. I fell hard, and the guy started to grumble about needing space and time out with his friends.

Morgan laughed. "I'm not talking about a one-night stand. I was referring to a friend-with-benefits situation."

"We're not friends. We dated in second grade. I introduced myself to him on the first day of school, and as soon as he said his name was Ryder, I asked him to be my boyfriend. He smiled, and I was a goner." I hadn't shared this with anyone, a little embarrassed that I was so forward at a young age.

"You must be a sucker for a nice smile, because he wouldn't have had those muscles in elementary school."

I pursed my lips. "He works in law enforcement. He probably has to keep in shape."

"He's hot, protective, and strong." Morgan blew out a breath. "I have to say, Violet, I'm not seeing the downside. You can get lost in his arms for a little while. He's not your forever guy; he's your fun for now guy."

Unease settled in my gut. "Yeah, I wouldn't even know how to go about something like that."

She bumped shoulders with me. "Just like you do when you were kids. You go along with it, and if you're not having fun, you break it off. No one gets hurt."

"I'm not sure I'm built for something purely physical." Not with the way I developed feelings so easily.

But as I watched Ryder set Izzy on her feet, then follow her to the swings where he pushed his niece and Faith next to each other, my heart squeezed. Would he be up for that? He seemed interested when he was standing in front of me talking about our history. But did that mean he wanted me as an adult?

I'd been told I was too much too many times to just jump into something like this. I had to go slow, be cautious, essentially be everything I wasn't. I was impulsive when it came to relationships. I did what felt good. And the thought of Ryder Calloway backing me into a corner, bracing a hand above my head, and lowering that delicious mouth to mine had all of my girl parts standing at attention.

"Here we go," Morgan said as a trio of little girls ran up to the cart.

I was here to promote my business, to be seen in a tourist town where there was an ice cream shop or two on every block. I wasn't supposed to be thinking about sexy times with Ryder Calloway. He might have been my pretend husband in another lifetime, but in this one, he was a divorcé and a single dad.

B y the end of the festival, my feet ached, and my face hurt from smiling. I loved meeting new people and promoting my ice cream, but it was hot, and I was exhausted. It got so busy after my conversation with Morgan; I lost track of Ryder, and they never returned for a second scoop of ice cream. Not that I thought he would.

Would he show up at the store? Sweet Scoops was easy enough to find if he'd noticed the name on the ice cream cart. Or he'd go home and realize that he was in no position to be flirting with anyone, much less me. I was a mess when it came to guys.

It didn't stop me from hoping for something better, for a man and family of my own. But I felt jaded at this point. Each guy seemed worse than the last. My most recent relationship revolved around what Beau wanted, which was usually a home-cooked meal, then a night playing video games with his online friends.

When I got sick and tired of being ignored, he told me that I wanted too much attention. I was needy and desperate. I'd heard it before, so it shouldn't hurt, but it did.

So no matter how much my body was humming with desire for Ryder, I had to be practical. I couldn't be his rebound. He was just flexing his flirting muscles after his recent divorce. I wasn't special.

Tonight, I was visiting my grandfather. When my grandmother died, and I found out she'd left money to me specifically to open my dream shop, I didn't think twice about moving back to Maryland to do it and be close to my grandfather. Florida never felt like home.

I picked up Grandpa's favorite pizza from a local shop and drove to his house on the outskirts of town. I wanted him to be able to live in his house for as long as possible. He enjoyed puttering around his garden, and he would wilt in a nursing home. My shop had to be successful so I could pay for any in-home nursing care he'd need as he aged. For now, he was mobile and as sharp as ever.

I pulled into his driveway, next to his Buick SUV. There was a carport, but he never used it, preferring to store his gardening tools there.

I got out, grabbed the still-hot box of pizza, and headed inside. "Grandpa?"

"On the lanai," he said.

I walked through his tidy home, past the framed photos of our family, and opened the slider in the kitchen. The lanai was a little covered patio off the back of the house. It was my grandparent's favorite place to spend time.

Grandpa rubbed his hands together. "I've been looking forward to this all day."

I set the box on the small two-person table and kissed his wrinkled cheek. "Were you looking forward to seeing me, or is it the pizza?"

"Both, lovely girl. Both." He'd already set out two plates.

I grinned at him as I opened the box. I let the steam escape before handing him a slice and then placing one on my plate.

I sat across from him, closing my eyes as I took a large bite. "So good."

"How was the festival?" Grandpa asked.

I grimaced. "Long. Hot."

"You get a lot of customers?" Grandpa took a large bite of his slice.

"Absolutely, but whether they noticed my store's name or just wanted ice cream, I don't know." I wasn't sure if these events were worth my time or not. It was a struggle to keep the ice cream cold enough on hot days.

"You're doing great. I'm so proud of you," Grandpa said easily, and my heart contracted.

"You always believed in me. Grandma too."

Grandpa's expression was wistful. "I miss her every day. I wish she were here to see your beautiful store."

"I wouldn't have it if it wasn't for her."

"She wanted to give you the money earlier, but she always worried we'd need it for care."

I covered his hand with mine. "I'll take care of you. You don't need to worry."

Grandpa's lips set into a stubborn line. "I plan on living to one hundred years old, staying in my home, mowing the grass, and tending the gardens."

My lips twitched at his declaration. "I have no doubt you'll make that happen."

We ate in silence for a few seconds.

I drank some of the lemonade in the glass he'd set out before I arrived. "Did you walk today?"

"Four miles," Grandpa said proudly.

"You walk that every day?" I asked, curious about how my grandfather maintained his zeal for life and stayed positive after the love of his life died.

"I walk more but never less."

"What motivates you to keep going?" I lowered my pizza so I could focus on his answer.

"If I want to keep doing what I'm doing, I have to walk."

"I love that."

He grabbed a second slice of pizza. "Don't work so hard that you forget to take care of yourself."

"I take care of myself," I said, even as I wondered what I'd actually eaten for dinner last night and why I'd stayed up so late when I knew I had a long day today.

Grandpa raised a brow. "Do you?"

I sighed. "All my focus is on the business right now. You know how it is when you're starting out. Plus, the location is great, but the rent is high even for such a small space."

"I don't want you to work too hard. That's not why your grandmother gave you the money."

I frowned. "I thought she wanted me to live my dreams of opening a shop."

"She wanted you to be happy. She thought if you opened a store, you'd find everything you were looking for."

"I'm not looking for anything." I wanted the business to be a success, and in the past, I wanted to find love. But that didn't seem like a good proposition anymore.

"You shouldn't be spending all your spare time with me."

"You're my favorite person in the whole world." I hated moving away from my grandparents when I was a kid. They were the only ones who understood me, who gave me space to fly. My parents tried to get me to fit into a box, and it never worked.

No matter how many times I tried to please them, it wasn't possible. I wasn't my smart, strait-laced older sister, Danielle. She excelled at everything: school, sports, and volunteer work. She even got her LPN license in high school when she wanted to be a radiologist.

We finished our pizza, and I cleaned up, placing the leftovers in the fridge, cataloging what he might need from the store over the next few days. He could shop for himself, but I always brought him a few of his favorite things. I liked taking care of him. When I returned to the lanai, I sat on the long couch facing the yard. "Have you been getting out lately?"

Grandpa nodded, his fingers drumming on the table. "I'm volunteering with the local gardening club."

"What does that entail?"

"They set up gardens for families who need a little cheering up. They can always use a few extra hands."

I wondered if Ryder would qualify for that as a recent divorcé. It would be nice and hopefully lift his and his daughter's mood. But I was sure the gardening club was meant for people who were sick and couldn't physically tend their garden.

"What do you plant for them?"

"It sounds like flowers, shrubs, and plants that are hardy, and easy to care for. They'll even start vegetable gardens for those that are interested."

"What an amazing thing to do."

"I thought I was doing okay at home, going for my daily walks and seeing my favorite granddaughter?—"

I grinned.

"But I enjoy getting out too. I like the people and brightening other people's days."

"Let me know if you need extra hands. I'd love to help out."

He inclined his head. "You don't exactly have a green thumb."

I sighed. "Not for your lack of trying."

"You make up for it with your sunny attitude."

"I loved spending time with you and Grandma."

Grandpa nodded. "You're my pride and joy."

"I never get tired of you saying that." It was a balm to my soul and made my heart clench at all the time I'd missed with him and Grandma.

"It seemed like your parents focused more on Danielle. It was like they couldn't see how special you are. Your soul is so pure."

"How do you know that?" I asked, genuinely needing to know. I'd grown up away from him and surrounded by parents who placed an importance on grades and accolades. Something I rarely received. Instead, it was calls from the school that I couldn't sit still or stop talking.

"When your mother called, she was always going on and on about Danielle's accomplishments, her straight A's, her volunteer work. But each child is unique. You can only see their true self if you let them grow into it. You don't try to mold them into who you want them to be. And you are the purest expression of self I've ever seen. You've resisted your parents' desires for you."

"I didn't want to go to work in an office."

"I'm proud of you. Your grandmother was too."

"I miss her so much." Tears stung my eyes, and I felt guilty that I stayed in Florida after I graduated. Why hadn't I moved to Maryland sooner so I could have more time with my grandparents?

"She'd be happy you're living your life on your own terms."

Was I? Lately, I'd been more cautious, slower to take risks. It was solely because it never worked out for me. But if I was going to be true to myself, didn't that mean following my desires?

An image of Ryder Calloway popped into my head, the one where he was holding his niece. His biceps were popping, but there was something about a man holding a little girl that had sweat beading on my forehead and my heart fluttering.

"Follow your heart. It will never steer you wrong."

I shook my head, not quite believing him. "Are you sure about that? I haven't had the best track record when it comes to men."

"Hmmm."

"What does that mean?" It was a sad day when you took relationship advice from your grandfather, but I was feeling desperate.

"I think you have a big heart, which means that you love easily. Sometimes people take advantage of that."

I frowned. "Shouldn't I be more wary then?"

Grandpa got up and patted my knee. "You should do what you feel is right. Now, come on. I need a short walk to work off this food."

I stood and followed him outside. I never could say no to my grandfather, and if he wanted an evening stroll, I was happy to oblige.