looking. She didn’t even want to, but every time she heard his whiskey-smooth voice she felt compelled to glance his way.
“Still checking him out?” Mia asked with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
Addison felt heat creep into her cheeks. “I was . . . um checking out the desserts.”
“I think indulging in something decadent and delicious is just what you need, Addison. I suggest you go for it.”
Jump from the frying pan into the fire? “Tempting, I’ll admit, but, no, thank you.” She told herself not to look Reid’s way again and gave Mia her full attention.
After paying the bill they lingered over coffee, taking notes and brainstorming until Mia looked at her watch. “Wow, it’s getting late. I’d better call Maggie and arrange a showing. Are you ready to head over and take a look?”
“Sure,” Addison said. The more they’d chatted, the more the idea started taking root in her brain. She would discuss the venture with her mother but Addison was starting to really get excited. “I can’t wait to see it.”
Just as they both stood up, Mia’s phone rang. “Oh, it’s my boss,” Mia said. “I’ll have to take this.”
“No problem. We can go in my car. I’ll head out and open the windows or maybe put the top down.”
“Oh, that sounds fun! It’s such a nice day.” Mia nodded. “I won’t be long.”
Addison hitched her purse over her shoulder and started toward the exit. She glanced out the front window to admire the quaint view, and when she turned toward the door she ran smack into someone so hard that the lid popped off of his to-go cup, splashing tea down the front of his white T-shirt. It was Reid. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” Addison immediately felt heat in her cheeks. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.” She quickly grabbed some paper napkins from a table and handed them to him even though touching his chest held some serious appeal. “Sorry,” she repeated with a wince.
“Totally my fault,” Reid said as he looked down and dabbed at the brown splotches. Addison could see the outline of his pectoral muscles through the white cotton and wished she were doing the job for him. She inhaled sharply and caught the spicy masculine scent of his aftershave. “I was reading a text message, or I would have seen you coming.” When he looked up and smiled at her, Addison noticed a cute dimple in his cheek. Up close she could see that his eyes were a very dark blue and for an embarrassing moment she simply stared at him, feeling warm and sort of befuddled. Living in LA, Addison was no stranger to handsome men, but she’d never had this sort of reaction to a perfect stranger. He held up the phone to show her the message. “Apparently picking up cupcakes is something I needed to be reminded of three times.”
When she noticed the message was from a woman Addison felt her stomach drop. Silly . . . why should she care if he had a girlfriend?
“After you.” Reid gestured toward the door, deftly tossing the wet napkins in the trash can a few feet away.
“Thank you.” When he held the door open for her Addison felt another unexpected little thrill at passing so close to him. When they were outside she knew she should keep walking to her car, but for some reason she lingered, searching for something else to say.
“I remember the cupcakes, Sara,” Reid grumbled, reminding Addison that the message had been from a woman.
“Sorry again.” Suddenly feeling foolish, Addison started walking toward the parking lot.
Reid looked up, and to Addison’s surprise he fell in step beside her. “Make that four times my sister has reminded me.” He held up four fingers and sighed. “She runs an educational program for kids on our farm, and someone is having a birthday.” He chuckled. “And I am probably boring you to death with information you don’t want to know.”
“The first two times. Now it’s just redundant,” he grumbled good-naturedly as they walked toward the parking lot. “So, are you in town for a visit?”
“I thought I was, but my cousin Mia wants me to open a bridal boutique and plan weddings. Oddly enough, I’m actually considering it.”
“Are you kidding me? You might be the answer to my prayers.”
“Oh . . .” Addison said, and another stab of disappointment came from out of nowhere. “So, you’re getting married?” Addison asked with false brightness as she dug inside her purse in search of her car keys. She suddenly wished Mia would hurry up, before she made a complete fool of herself. What in the world was she doing giving personal information to a stranger? What was up with getting flustered over a guy she didn’t even know— especially since she had sworn off guys, anyway?
And where in the world were her keys?
5
Unanswered Prayers
“UM . . .” REID BEGAN, BUT JUDGING BY THE SUDDEN frown on her pretty face he was quickly wearing out his welcome. Instead of introducing himself, Reid decided he should probably take a hike before she pulled mace out of the big purse she was frantically digging around in. Odd, but Reid usually avoided small talk and now he remembered why. After glancing back toward Wine and Diner, she stopped in back of a sweet red Mustang convertible with California plates. Taking in the details, he now noticed her designer bag and that she’d slipped a pair of Gucci sunglasses over her big brown eyes. And although she was casually dressed in jeans and a lightweight lavender sweater, her watch looked expensive and she wore a diamond tennis bracelet that glittered in the sunshine.
She glanced up and flipped her shiny black hair over her shoulder. She was really pretty, and Reid found himself wondering about her family heritage.
“So, when is the wedding?”
“Your wedding.” She pushed her sunglasses up higher on her nose and waited for his answer. “Isn’t that why I’m the answer to your prayers?” She tilted her head slightly and the breeze played with her hair, making it caress her face.
Reid looked at her while trying to form an answer, but all he could think about was that the answer to his prayers would be to reach over and brush the hair from her face . . . pull her into his arms and kiss her.
Kiss her? What in the hell was coming over him? Maybe he was spending too much time in the sun.
Luckily a honking horn startled him back into thinking somewhat straight, but he took another step backward so that she was out of reach, just to play it safe. “No, I’m not getting married.” Reid shook his head as if the very idea was ludicrous. “I value my independence way too much,” he added, but then realized he was once again giving her more information than she probably wanted to know. He cleared his throat and tried to sound businesslike. “No, my sister has this wild idea to turn one of our old barns into a reception hall and host weddings on our farm, beginning with her own.” Reid shoved his fingers through his hair and shook his head. “It would mean sinking a lot of her savings into the venture and I’m not sure it’s a sound idea. I’d be interested in hiring a consultant, hopefully to dissuade her from going through with it.” When she remained silent he stuck out his hand. “By the way, I’m Reid Greenfield.”
She took his hand and gave him a firm handshake. “Addison Monroe. It’s nice to meet you, Reid.”
Reid smiled, enjoying the feel of her small hand in his and hearing his name on her lips. There was something familiar about her, something that tugged at the back of his brain but he couldn’t put his finger on it. “So, am I going to be your first customer?”
