Away Game: Suwannee Grove

By Kate Davison

A hasty decision. A broken heart. A chance for a new beginning.

 

Violet James has had it with being seen as a source of pity and deemed poor Violet by her over-protective neighbors. The last straw comes at the annual Memorial Day BBQ, when her life-long crush introduces her to his hot AF girlfriend as his little sister. Disheartened and tired of putting her life on hold for a man who will never love her as more than a friend, she leaves home and settles in the town of Suwannee Grove, Florida, determined to make a fresh start.

 

Farris Dalton's life is riddled with bad luck. His ex-girlfriend got pregnant with another man's baby while they were together, the office manager at the family business cleaned him and his father out, and his beloved mother has only been gone for six months. The emotional trauma has left him scarred and battered. However, he knows he and his father can turn the business aspect around with a little luck and the right person in the job.

 

When Violet answers an employment ad for an office manager, she sees it as an opportunity to work for a company that needs her specials talents. The fact she and Farris throw sparks off one another complicates matters. She's been there, done that with falling for her boss. However, Farris is easy to talk to and she has a feeling she knows him—that she wants to get to know him much better.

 

As their feelings begin to grow, unresolved issues from both their pasts threaten to pull them apart, along with new ones that might be too much for their fragile, new relationship to survive.

 

Warning – book contains past infidelity, shades of domestic violence, and embarrassing situations.   

• Language: English
• Publisher: MK Mancos
• Release date: Feb 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215705445

Book preview

1

Tonight, Dustin Ford would be hers.

Violet James stood at the edge of the outdoor party. Couples flooded the gazebo, eager to slow dance to the strains of a local country cover band. The night was warm and sweet. Humidity hung as thick as syrup on the air. She wasn’t going to let the fact she was about to begin sweating distract her from her mission.

She adjusted the neck of her dress, pleased with the effects of the push-up bra she bought special for the occasion. If the damn thing pushed her cleavage up any higher, she’d suffocate before she ever found Dustin in the crowd. Not to mention it was about as comfortable as doing competitive gymnastics in a back brace.

Earnshaw Park was overflowing with those celebrating the big annual Memorial Day Festival. In Serenade Creek, Georgia it was one of the biggest events of the year. The fact Violet had chosen tonight to finally tell Dustin how she felt after years of wallowing in the throes of unrequited love also made it one of the most important nights of her life. Nervous as hell and about to throw up from stress and fear of rejection, she moved by the picnic tables set up with enough food to feed a third world nation. She gave the food the side-eye and kept going.

No eating for her until after she laid it all out in the open. Forget the fact Miss Rita’s potato salad screamed Violet’s name down the length of the table.

Truth of the matter, power on Earth would ever make her recommend falling in love with someone in secret, not even to the heartiest individual. It had eaten up years of her life. Not that she’d wasted those years. She’d had plenty of boyfriends in high school and college, but none of them quite measured up to Dustin.

No more. Tonight, she told the genuine article how she felt.

The man had one shot. If he blew it, she was more than prepared to leave town and start her life over. Kind of drastic for someone who had never lived away from her hometown except for the occasional vacation—which didn’t happen all that often. However, there came a point in everyone’s life when one had to shit or get off the pot—as her Granny Beauregard used to say.

Besides, she’d gotten really tired of being known as poor Violet by her neighbors. Public rejection would only cement that idea in their collective minds.

Violet smoothed shaking hands down her dress.

Gee, Vi. You look all grown up. Bud Townshead pushed his ball cap back on his head. His eyes boggled as he did a slow stroll up her body.

She was twenty-five years old for Christ’s sake, not seventeen. When was the rest of the town going to realize she had grown up right in front of their eyes. To them, she’d always be the girl who lost both parents six months apart when she was thirteen.

Unlike Bud, most of them didn’t see her as an adult capable of taking care of herself. Of making decisions on her own. Of being in control of her own destiny.

Another reason if Dustin didn’t come through, she was all for leaving.

She loved her neighbors with her entire heart, but damn, she’d quit being poor little Violet about the same time she earned a college degree. Sometimes she wondered if the entire town had blinders on where she was concerned. Just because she’d lost her parents at a young age and her granny a few years later, leaving her with no family to call her own, they had all decided she was to be pitied. She wasn’t. Far from it. Instead, she’d moved in with her friend, Loulla and her husband John, until she’d been old enough to live on her own. The state had only been involved as far as looking over her Granny’s will to see that Loulla and John had been selected as her guardians.

And then there had been Dustin. Her Granny had made him promise to look out for her. He’d done his job perfectly—so much so that he’d always saw her as a responsibility instead of a person. A fault that could also be laid at her own feet for allowing it to go on for so long. Not anymore. She wasn’t the delicate flower the town envisioned her.

If anything, she’d always been stronger than they gave her credit. A steel inner core and a large dose of Beauregard blood had served her well through more trials than any person her age should have known.

The only place she was vulnerable was her heart. Dustin was her weakness.

He hadn’t looked at her at all, except maybe to give her an order like a bossy older brother or tweak her hair like she was his little sister. Hell, they were close as could be and then some. He’d been her best friend and her shoulder to cry on. Her confidant and mentor.

How could he not know how she felt?

She shot Bud an annoyed glance for his grown up remark. Have you seen Dustin?

Sure. He’s over by the drinks. Bud jerked his baseball cap clad head in the direction of the picnic tables on the other side of the gazebo. You want to dance?

Naked hope filled his eyes that took her back a step. He was a good man, an honest one with a good heart, but he wasn’t the one for her. Um. Maybe later. I need to find Dustin.

He shrugged and spun his ball cap around again. Okay.

Violet hurried through the crowd, spotting her quarry as she cleared the gazebo. Anticipation stuck like bone in her throat. Colors seemed brighter all of a sudden. Her skin was hypersensitive. Even the feeble breeze that blew across her arms and shoulders tingled.

Dustin had his back to the gazebo. His broad shoulders looked even more so for the fact he wore a light-colored shirt instead of his uniform. His deep auburn hair shone like blood under the paper lanterns hanging from the trees.

Violet sneaked up behind him, observing as he poured two drinks. I hope one of those are for me.

At the sound of her voice, he turned. A smile split his angular face. Dark eyes sparkled like black gems in the low light. Hey, Vi. I wondered if you were going to show up after work.

The fact she had been forced to work at the police department on a holiday when he was yucking it up had been a thorn in her side, but she’d agreed to the shift change because he’d asked her so sweetly.

One backbone to go, please.

Come on. Dustin nodded to the other side of the dance floor. I want you to meet someone.

Me? Oh, this was intriguing. She allowed him to take her hand—he carried both the cups in one of his large mitts—and pulled her through the milling revelers with the other. Her heart beat up into her throat. The spike heels she’d worn sank into the red clay and St. Augustine grass.

Dear Jesus, he was holding her hand.

She had the overwhelming urge to pull her hand away and wipe her sweating palm across her dress. Heat filled her face in such a rush that she imagined everyone thought she’d gotten sunburned.

He threaded them through the crowd until they came to a small area sandwiched between the dance floor and beer kegs. A knot of people stood directly in front of them. One of them was a tall woman in a pair of shorts that looked more like an afterthought than actual clothing. Unfortunately, she had the mile-long legs to pull it off to great effect.

Lauren?

The woman turned around. Her exotic beauty by rights should have graced magazine covers. She pursed her lips and gave Violet a confused frown before her gaze snapped to Dustin. Yes, baby?

Baby? Violet’s heart stuttered then dipped. The nausea roiled.

I want you to meet my best friend, Violet James. Violet, Lauren Aurturo.

Violet held out her hand for Lauren to shake. The action automatic, the product of being raised by her Granny who had insisted on polite manners when confronted with something that might be considered devastating. Southern ladies did not withhold introductions, even when they heard the crash of freight trains in their heads. Nice to meet you.

Wow. Lauren’s dark gaze made a blatant inspection of Violet’s body, stopping on the rather impressive cleavage courtesy of the push-up bra of terror. "You aren’t at all what I expected. He told me he was going to introduce me to his little sister tonight."

Dustin’s laugh was throaty and embarrassed. Well, she is.

Excuse me? Violet lowered her hand and turned to Dustin.

Clearly, she hadn’t heard correctly. The music and cicadas warred with the pounding of blood in her ears and made it hard to hear.

The way he described you, I thought you were, at the most, a tween. Lauren’s voice held more than a note of dismay.

Dustin’s face turned scarlet. I never said she was that young. I said she was just a kid.

A kid? Violet mouthed the words and exchanged a stupefied glance with Lauren.

Violet’s mind began to splinter, her hopes deflated. Is that how you see me? A kid?

Well, yeah. You’ve always been my kid sister. The confusion in his eyes suggested he’d never thought of her as anything other than a child.

Jesus in a jumpsuit!

She stood there in uncomfortable silence as the band slowed the tempo of the music and shifted into a ballad.

Dustin set the cups on the table then took Lauren by the hand. Come on and dance with me, sweetheart. I promise I’ll make up for the misunderstanding.

Lauren gave him a practiced pout, followed by a coy smile then allowed him to pull her onto the floor where they came together in a kiss that left Violet alone in her devastation.

The thick Georgia air suddenly became too hard to breathe through. Her lungs as hard to move as wet sponges. Each beat of her heart fractured it deeper.

No, this isn’t happening. I’m not standing here watching him making out on the dance floor with some woman I didn’t even know existed.

The fact Dustin had discussed Violet with his girlfriend, but not the other way around, hurt in ways she never thought possible.

Son of a bitch.

Violet’s heart fell down somewhere around the straps of her over-priced sandals. At the moment, it was extremely important to make it look as if all was right with the world. That she had been expecting to meet Lauren tonight.

She took in a deep breath and held her head up. If anyone watched, they wouldn’t see her cry or see any evidence that her world had turned upside down.

Bud sidled up to her, gazing out at the couples on the dance floor swaying to the music. Is now a good time?

Now was a horrible time, but she really wanted to get close to Dustin and his date and see if she could hear any of their conversation.

She put her arm through Bud’s. He smiled down at her, transforming his entire face. He really was rather cute in a harmless down-home way. They walked out onto the floor and he swung her up into his arms.

For a lanky guy, he had a surprising amount of muscle hidden under his shirt. And a rather good singing voice, if his attempt to serenade her was any indication.

Bud twirled her in a circle, giving her a direct line of sight with Dustin and Lauren. From this distance she couldn’t read their lips, and besides, it seemed they kissed after every complete sentence.

Bud turned in the direction her attention had fled. His singing trailed off. When he looked at her again, his eyes showed infinite compassion tinged with a bit of sadness.

You can do better, Vi.

What was she supposed to say to that? Defend a guy who had always looked to her as nothing more than a sister? An item on a to-do list?

I think I’m starting to realize it’s a no-go where Dustin is concerned.

Bud blew out a breath and looked away before meeting her gaze again. They’ve been seeing each other for a while now. I think it might be serious.

Why didn’t she know this? News generally traveled fast in Serenade Creek. Hell, it didn’t have far to go to get around town.

I hadn’t heard.

Bud’s hands tightened on her for a second. No one had the heart to tell you.

Well, wasn’t that just perfect? Here she was pinning her hopes on a guy who the entire town helped keep his love life a secret. Great. Just smashing.

If it makes you feel better, I know a thing or two about falling for someone who never bothered to look at you twice.

Yeah? How did you get over it? Reluctant hope filled her voice, and she turned her gaze to his—to find his eyes filled with love.

Aw, hell.

I’ll let you know when I do. The implication of his words hit her hard.

Good Christ. She never meant to hurt anyone, least of all someone as sweet and gentle as Bud.

The song ended and a splattering of applause filtered through the park.

Bud still had a hold of her.

She took a step back. Thank you for the dance.

Feeling lower than the stuff used to fertilize the local peanut farms, Violet turned with only a small wave of her hand. She started off over the uneven ground. Tears blurred her eyes.

For years, she and Dustin had lived and worked side-by-side. He might be years older than her, but he’d always been there for her. He’d been the most important fixture in her life, and she’d allowed herself to fall in love with him without provocation. He’d been her home and her steadying force.

Deep in her heart she had always known this would be the outcome. Had felt him falling further from her grasp. She’d refused to believe it.

Now, she hadn’t a choice.

The end of the park opened up into a promenade of local shops and businesses. She hurried across the street and up the side stairs to the apartment above the hardware store.

After her grandmother died, she’d sold the house and tucked the money away in the bank, hoping that one day she and Dustin might use it for a down payment on their own home.

Stupid!

Why had she spent her life living for a future that wasn’t even hers? At any point during their friendship he could have expressed deeper feelings for her if he’d been so inclined. He hadn’t.

Dreams were not meant to be lived in the daylight. They were something to wake up from and face reality. This was hers.

She’d always known it.

She’d been too hopeful to wish otherwise.

No more.

She let herself into the kitchen door and found paper, pen, and an envelope. There were some things she really needed to get off her chest and meant to do so before she left town. After pouring her heart out and forcing back tears so they wouldn’t land on the page, she packed her suitcases and stuck them in the trunk of her car. Put her computer into the case and took a few books from the shelves along with her eReader.

Thank God she’d always been frugal. The inheritance her parents left for her was tucked away in the same account as the benefits from the sale of her Granny’s house. The only expense she’d allowed herself was a college education and her used car. Anything else she’d needed she paid for with her salary from the police department and her part time job in the office at Grants Funeral Home. Leaving town so abruptly wasn’t exactly a strategic career move, but it was better to start a new life in a new town than try to remain in Serenade Creek and run the risk of never moving forward.

Carefully, she folded the letter and placed it in an envelope. Dustin deserved an explanation. And while she was old enough to care for herself, he’d been as close as any family she’d ever known, and he’d worry. For all the years he’d watched out for her, she at least owed him that much.

A thought struck her as she sealed the flap. No wonder Dustin had asked her to work today. He’d had a day-long date and needed to know that the office was taken care of while he was off duty.

Shame heated her face. She touched a hand to her cheeks. The sooner she pulled up stakes, the better she’d feel.

On her way out of town, she stopped by the police department. Loulla was on duty at the desk.

Why aren’t you at the party, darlin? Loulla came around the edge of the desk. Have you been crying? As soon as the words were out, Loulla’s eyes rounded. Oh, no. Tonight was the night, wasn’t it?

Violet nodded. Her throat closed.

I should have warned you. I knew he was bringing Lauren to the party, but I didn’t have the heart to tell you. She put a doughy arm around Violet’s shoulder. The comforting scent of rosewater filled her nose. The scent would forever remind her of love and comfort.

I’ve heard that excuse already tonight. Violet gathered herself and held out the envelope for Loulla. Can you give this to Dustin when he comes in tomorrow?

Of course, I can. Loulla met Violet’s gaze with a question in her eyes. Giving her a chance to change her mind.

She hugged Loulla as the tears pressed through her closed lids.

I suppose it’s no use trying to talk you out of this. Maybe waiting until morning when the light of day might make things seem not quite so bad? Loulla hedged.

If I don’t do this now, I’ll allow you, Dustin, or hell, even Bud to talk me out of it. I need to grow up, and I can’t do that in Serenade Creek. She pulled back to arms’ length and took a quick look around the police station as memories assailed her. "Everyone here refuses to let me be anyone other than poor Violet. I need to go someplace where I can be simply Violet."

Loulla had the good sense to look away, having been guilty of that charge a few times herself.

Do you know where you’re going? Loulla squeezed Violet’s upper arms.

I haven’t given it much thought. I’m just going to hit the interstate and go. Violet had a vague notion, but she hadn’t made any definitive plans, like for instance looked for a job or a place to live. This was going to be an adventure of a lifetime. I’ll be back to pack up my apartment when I get settled. I’m already paid up through the end of June, so Marty shouldn’t complain too loudly about me ditching.

I’ll ask once more: are you sure you don’t want to take a day or two to think about this? It’s such a big step. Loulla shook her head. "I am going to worry about you."

Guilt was a pinch under the ribs. I have no doubt you will. It’s what you do. But if I think about it, I’ll never do it. I’ll sit at that desk day after day and wish for things that aren’t going to happen.

You don’t know that, Loulla protested. He might open his eyes and realize he’s lost the best thing that’s ever happened to him."

Loulla was sweet, but they both knew if Dustin had ever thought of Violet as anything other than his friend and responsibility, he’d have let her know by now.

Violet shook her head. Tears came. It’s not going to happen, and I’m tired of waiting. I’ve put my life on hold long enough, loving someone who didn’t love me back. Now I want to find someone who will take me as I am.

Her thoughts briefly flashed to Bud and the irony of her situation and it made her feel like a complete shit.

Loulla hugged her again. I’m going to miss you, honey.

You’ll see me in a few weeks. I’ll be all right.

There’s so many weirdos out there these days. Maniacs dismembering people for doing nothing more than stopping at a gas station at the wrong time. Loulla patted her chest and her eyes rounded with fear. I don’t know what I’d do if something like that happened to you.

You’ve been watching too many crime scene shows, Loulla. Nothing like that had ever happened in Serenade Creek. I’ll text you when I get to a hotel to stop for the night. Will that make you feel better?

Yes.

Violet smiled and said her final goodbye.

Once in the car, she pulled her seatbelt around her, put the car in gear and headed for the highway.

A green highway sign loomed in the distance. North or South? Now was the time to decide. The exit for the south came up on the right. She took the turn and followed the ramp around as it delivered her onto the southbound lane. Five miles down, a sign came up giving the distances to the destinations along the way.

Suwannee Grove 100 miles.

If she wanted to get lost in a town that was enjoying a booming growth spurt, she’d find none better than the suburban sprawl of Suwannee Grove, Florida.

She pushed a little harder on the gas and drove into the night.

Farris Dalton swallowed the last of his beer and set the bottle on the bar. He’d been standing there talking to his teammates ever since the end of the double-header when they’d come in Cory’s Watering Hole for a celebratory drink.

He had yet to take off his uniform and was starting to offend himself. His best friend, Jae Stark, was surrounded by a circle of beauties as usual. Farris didn’t even bother to say goodnight.

What was good about it?

His ex-girlfriend had given birth to another man’s baby a few months ago. Thus, the reason she was an ex and not current.

He took off his ball cap and ran a hand through his hair. It had been six months since Julia had announced she’d been screwing around on him and had gotten pregnant as a result. He should have thanked her for at least that much honesty. She could have told him the baby was his and he would have married her. As it stood, she had told him the truth and then had the audacity to ask him to marry her anyway.

As if.

He was a good man, but he wasn’t about to clean up someone else’s mess. Let the sperm donor come forward and take responsibility for his kid.

The last Farris heard, Julia was still single, and the father had walked.

Farris’ truck was parked across the street at the municipal ballpark. A full moon hung low in the sky. It was the kind of moon that made him want to pile blankets into the bed of the truck, grab a cooler, find a hot chick and go out into the country somewhere and make their own cheap entertainment. Problem was he hadn’t found a woman worth doing that with since Julia left.

Not that she’d ever wanted to get lost in the country with him. No, she’d always nagged him to take her to Jacksonville, Orlando, or up to Savannah.

Maybe if he had she wouldn’t have strayed.

Too late to call that back now.

He started the truck and pulled away, heading out to the edge of town to the fixer upper he’d bought. As he came around the south end of the park, his fuel light came on. Damn, he’d forgotten to get gas again.

Hopefully, he’d have enough to get to the gas station out near his house. He didn’t want to double back and go to the one on the other side of the park. It was on the wrong side of the street. Not that there was much traffic at midnight on Memorial Day. Most people had to get up and go to work the next day.

He turned on the local country station and tapped the steering wheel to the Rascal Flatts tune playing. The road curved out to the right and then down a hill, out to the edge of town. The icon light shaped in a little gas pump continued to glow, nagging him. Man, it would really suck if he ran out of gas and had to call Jae to come and get him.

Not that Jae would hear his phone over the noise of the bar.

The illuminated canopy of Gus’ Gas & Go glowed in the distance. Gus was notoriously more expensive than the other stations around, but people who were out this far from town without gas or necessities were not in a position to complain.

He pulled in and eased up to the pumps, determined to only get the minimum amount to get him home tonight and to work in