I came down here to take care of the baker’s schedules,” she replied through clenched teeth. “Is something wrong upstairs?”
“Not at all. But I did see you with your head in your hands, so I figured you might have been a little stressed. Did I say or do something to offend you?”
She sighed, feeling her patience being tested in a big way. “No, Ben. Believe it or not, you’re not my only source of stress and anxiety.”
Ben chuckled in response. “Ah, so you
aren’t
always a sweetheart—I was beginning to worry you were too perfect to actually be human.”
“Well, you already brought it out in me once before, so why would you be surprised now?”
“You know, Violet, I’ve really been trying with you these last couple of days. It’s pretty hypocritical of you to ride my ass for projecting onto you when it seems like all you’ve done since we last talked is project on me.”
His words stung. And of course, she lashed out. “What can I say? My attitude reflects the store’s leadership …
sir
.”
“Really, Vi? You’re telling me
this
is you?”
She spun around in her seat, jerking herself into a standing position. “It’s Violet, and don’t think I don’t feel you hovering over me like you’re trying to prove yourself as my lord and master. I don’t care how big you are—I’m not afraid of you, okay?”
“Um, okay.”
“You seem to think that because you’re twelve feet tall, I’m supposed to be concerned about what you think of me. I may not be able to look you in the face, but I … you know what?”
In a move that even she wouldn’t be able to explain later, she grabbed a nearby folding chair and opened it. She then slid it in front of Ben so that it nearly hit his shins and, without a single rational thought, stood on it so that she could stare him in the face.
Ben’s shoulders rose in a silent chuckle as he avoided her gaze. “Well, now I know that you’re
not
all right. Do you realize what you’re doing right now?”
Violet’s brow furrowed, and she looked down, catching on to the magnitude of her foolish display. Her cheeks burned. “Um, maybe I didn’t think this through.”
Ben smiled widely at her. “I appreciate your fiery display here, but you’re forgetting that I
am
taller than you and … ” Without warning, he leaned forward slightly and threw her over his shoulder.
Violet let out a quick, sharp scream; she grabbed on to his shoulders with a grunt and tried to straighten herself, nearly hitting her head on the low ceiling.
“Despite the fact that we’re in a place of business, I have no problems reminding you of that.”
Her eyes widened as she absorbed the fact that she was unceremoniously hanging from his long, lean body. Although, looking downward, she could see the firm bottom she’d admired when they first met nearly two weeks ago.
Ben chuckled, his laugh deep and playful. “Are you calm enough? Or are you going to punch me in the face if I put you down?”
“Put me down, Ben.
Now
.”
He set her down, and Violet gave him a stern look before reaching back and slapping him across the face. He paused, closing his eyes for a moment as he accepted her reaction. He then nodded. “Yeah, I deserved that.”
Violet folded her arms and spoke calmly. “This is obviously not working out. I’ll ask Wynne for a transfer by the end of the week.”
Without another word, she walked past him and threw the office door open. The night manager, Jamie, stood at the threshold, a shocked expression on her face.
“Vi, was that you? I heard a scream.”
“I thought I saw a mouse under my desk. But it was just a hat.”
Violet made her way through the prep area without waiting for the night manager’s reply. Up the stairs to the main floor she headed, past the cupcake counter and onto the sales floor. She was pulling her cell phone out of her pocket as she ignored the floor supervisor calling her name. The phone was to her ear as she pushed past the
“Not at all. But I did see you with your head in your hands, so I figured you might have been a little stressed. Did I say or do something to offend you?”
She sighed, feeling her patience being tested in a big way. “No, Ben. Believe it or not, you’re not my only source of stress and anxiety.”
Ben chuckled in response. “Ah, so you
aren’t
always a sweetheart—I was beginning to worry you were too perfect to actually be human.”
“Well, you already brought it out in me once before, so why would you be surprised now?”
“You know, Violet, I’ve really been trying with you these last couple of days. It’s pretty hypocritical of you to ride my ass for projecting onto you when it seems like all you’ve done since we last talked is project on me.”
His words stung. And of course, she lashed out. “What can I say? My attitude reflects the store’s leadership …
sir
.”
“Really, Vi? You’re telling me
this
is you?”
She spun around in her seat, jerking herself into a standing position. “It’s Violet, and don’t think I don’t feel you hovering over me like you’re trying to prove yourself as my lord and master. I don’t care how big you are—I’m not afraid of you, okay?”
“Um, okay.”
“You seem to think that because you’re twelve feet tall, I’m supposed to be concerned about what you think of me. I may not be able to look you in the face, but I … you know what?”
In a move that even she wouldn’t be able to explain later, she grabbed a nearby folding chair and opened it. She then slid it in front of Ben so that it nearly hit his shins and, without a single rational thought, stood on it so that she could stare him in the face.
Ben’s shoulders rose in a silent chuckle as he avoided her gaze. “Well, now I know that you’re
not
all right. Do you realize what you’re doing right now?”
Violet’s brow furrowed, and she looked down, catching on to the magnitude of her foolish display. Her cheeks burned. “Um, maybe I didn’t think this through.”
Ben smiled widely at her. “I appreciate your fiery display here, but you’re forgetting that I
am
taller than you and … ” Without warning, he leaned forward slightly and threw her over his shoulder.
Violet let out a quick, sharp scream; she grabbed on to his shoulders with a grunt and tried to straighten herself, nearly hitting her head on the low ceiling.
“Despite the fact that we’re in a place of business, I have no problems reminding you of that.”
Her eyes widened as she absorbed the fact that she was unceremoniously hanging from his long, lean body. Although, looking downward, she could see the firm bottom she’d admired when they first met nearly two weeks ago.
Ben chuckled, his laugh deep and playful. “Are you calm enough? Or are you going to punch me in the face if I put you down?”
“Put me down, Ben.
Now
.”
He set her down, and Violet gave him a stern look before reaching back and slapping him across the face. He paused, closing his eyes for a moment as he accepted her reaction. He then nodded. “Yeah, I deserved that.”
Violet folded her arms and spoke calmly. “This is obviously not working out. I’ll ask Wynne for a transfer by the end of the week.”
Without another word, she walked past him and threw the office door open. The night manager, Jamie, stood at the threshold, a shocked expression on her face.
“Vi, was that you? I heard a scream.”
“I thought I saw a mouse under my desk. But it was just a hat.”
Violet made her way through the prep area without waiting for the night manager’s reply. Up the stairs to the main floor she headed, past the cupcake counter and onto the sales floor. She was pulling her cell phone out of her pocket as she ignored the floor supervisor calling her name. The phone was to her ear as she pushed past the
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