Violet And Her Alien Matchmaker Read Online Free Page A

a moment later, he heard a door slam. Violet motioned for Tiraz to follow her inside and she closed the door behind him. He looked around, taking in the worn couch and scarred coffee table. There was a small formica topped table with two metal chairs near the tiny kitchen. A door to his left opened to a bathroom, and from what he could see there was only one other door. The one Simon had slammed shut.
    “You can have a seat,” she said, waving a hand toward the sofa. “I just need to check on Simon.”
    Tiraz watched as she slipped inside the room with the closed door and he had a sinking suspicion that was the only bedroom. While Violet was out of the room, he took a moment to look at his surroundings again. There was a small dresser against one wall with a tiny television on top of it with an even older looking DVD player hooked up to it. A laundry basket on the floor held a blanket and pillow. It hit him like a punch to the gut. Violet didn’t share the bedroom with Simon. She slept on the couch.
    What the hell had this little family been through? No matter what it took, he was going to make sure he changed their lives for the better. They deserved some happiness, and Violet deserved a soft bed to sleep in. He’d have to contact Zarin sooner than he thought. Not that he minded the little family staying with him, but Simon needed someplace permanent. A kid didn’t need their lives to be up in the air like this.
    Violet returned a moment later with a sullen Simon trailing her. The little boy rubbed the toe of his shoe against the worn out carpet and fidgeted in front of Tiraz.
    “I’m sorry for running off and slamming the door,” he muttered. “It was rude of me.”
    Tiraz reached out and took Simon’s hand. “Sometimes, you just have to let off a little steam, and if slamming a door is the worst thing you’ve done, then I think we’re okay.”
    A small smile ghosted the child’s lips and he gave a nod.
    “You need to take a bath soon and get ready for bed. You have school in the
    morning,” Violet said.
    “But I’m hungry,” the little boy whined.
    He saw the hesitance in Violet’s eyes and knew she was trying to ration the food.
    Now that he saw where they lived, he understood a little better. She was doing the best she could, but she needed help. The apartment was clean, or as clean as she could probably get it, and she clearly loved her son above all else. But sometimes it was okay to admit that you couldn’t handle everything on your own, and Violet had reached that point.
    “I have a better idea,” Tiraz said. “I was going to have some boxes delivered here tomorrow so your mom could pack while you’re in school, but what if the two of you pack a bag and stay with me tonight? I can still bring your mom here tomorrow to pack.”
    Simon’s eyes lit up. “And we can get something to eat on the way to your place?”
    “I’ll go through whatever drive-thru you want.” Tiraz glanced at Violet to see what she thought of his idea. There were tears gathered in her eyes and he watched as she pulled herself together.
    “Go pick out an outfit for school tomorrow and some pajamas. You’ll still need a bath tonight,” Violet said. “I’ll get the bag out of the closet.”
    Simon whooped and hurried off, leaving Violet behind. When she looked at
    Tiraz, he had to lock his knees in place. The gratitude, longing, and pain he saw in her eyes was enough to make him come undone. He’d never felt anything for a woman before, but he felt a piece of the wall surrounding his heart crumble a little. Reaching for her, he pulled Violet into his arms and held her for as long as she allowed. When she pulled away, she went up on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his jaw before hurrying away.
    Tiraz reached up and touched the spot, feeling the tingle all the way to his toes.
    No one had ever given him such a chaste kiss before, and yet it packed more of a punch than any of the kisses his easy conquests had given him.