“So, what’s your story, Reid?” she asked softly.
Reid glanced away, looking at the old barn, the trees, the beauty that he’d missed while living away for so many years. Addison had been so open with him about her past. He wanted to do the same, but it was hard to put into words, especially since he’d kept his feelings hidden from his family for such a long time. The gentle touch of her hand on his forearm had him looking into her eyes.
He sighed. “When the economy tanked and my clients lost so much money I took it hard personally, when deep down I knew it was something out of my control, my hands. I did the best I could and worked overtime trying to find ways for them to recoup the losses. I withdrew, kept to myself. Rarely dated. I wasn’t about to take another risk with my money, my clients, or my life. When the drought just about took my parents’ farm I was so frustrated with them for holding on to this land when the writing was on the wall. To make matters worse, Braden quit school, Sara quit her job, and Jeff headed off to Nashville. I thought they’d all gone bat-shit crazy.”
“But if you love something enough you do whatever it takes to hold on to it,” Addison said, and then her gaze fell to her shoes. “Some things are worth fighting for.”
“Yeah,” Reid said, but he knew she wasn’t thinking about the farm and it suddenly pissed him off that two jerks had taken away her confidence. And here he was basically offering to be her no-strings-attached booty call. She deserved better. Yeah, dinner at his cabin would be a bad idea.
Finally she looked back up at him. “I am pretty hungry and I just bet your mom is an amazing cook.”
Damn. “Yeah, she is.”
“Good. Then I’m accepting your offer,” Addison said, and looked at him long enough to let him know she wasn’t just talking about dinner.
“Addison . . . look—”
“No, wait. Let me stop you. This physical attraction we’ve got going on is mutual.” She came closer and tapped his chest. “So
No . . . this was not where he wanted this to go! “I don’t really think—”
“Reid, you admitted that you overthink, so squash it. And, yeah, I’m a pleaser, but this way I don’t have to worry about pleasing anyone but myself.” After patting her chest she took a step back and stuck out her hand. “Deal?”
Reid looked at her small hand and was about to decline, but the vulnerable set to her mouth and those dark, expressive eyes sucked him in. He told himself that it was because he didn’t want another guy to hurt her and that he could somehow protect her from that. But the fact that Reid wanted to drag Addison into his arms and hug her hit him like a sucker punch to the gut. He turned into a big ball of sappy mush whenever he was around her. He needed to be careful or he’d be the one to fall in love.
Reid grasped her small hand and squeezed, feeling better when she smiled. He wouldn’t let her know about his growing feelings for her, complicating her life when she needed to get it straightened out. Addison wasn’t the cheating Hollywood socialite he had accused her of being. Her only fault that he could see was being too sweet and way too trusting of the wrong people. This way he could protect her from any other ass who even thought of doing her wrong or spreading ugly rumors.
“Oh, I’m getting a text message,” she said, and reached inside her pocket. “It’s Mia. She’s got the evening free and wants to help me in the shop.” She looked up. “I have so much to do. I should go,” she said softly.
Reid nodded, disappointed but somewhat relieved. Addison needed to sleep on this proposal she’d come up with to make sure it was what she truly wanted. He understood where she was coming from. The attraction between them couldn’t be denied, but she didn’t want to give Reid the power to hurt her. Still, this had the potential to blow up in his face. What in the hell had he been thinking?
15
Sweet Dreams Are Made of This
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” MIA PUT HER WINEGLASS DOWN on the coffee table and shook her head at Addison. “Seriously, Reid Greenfield is going to be your . . .
“It’s pretty simple.” Addison leaned back on the sofa that she’d bought at a consignment shop a few days ago. Her apartment was filling up with secondhand furniture and rustic antiques and she loved it. “I’m like his practice person for getting back into dating and he’s my rebound guy to help me get over Garret. It’s brilliant, don’t you think?”
“No, it’s a really poorly thought-out plan. Someone will get hurt, Addison. And you’ve been hurt enough. What happened to your no-men vow? I like that a whole lot better than this silly scenario.”
Addison shrugged. “This is going to be way more fun.” She raised her hands skyward. “No worries!”
“Yeah, until you fall for him. Then what happens to your little plan?”
“No way. I won’t fall for him.” Addison made a cutoff motion toward her neck. “Not gonna happen, no way, no how.”
“Right, and your over-the-top denial translates into ‘You’re already into him and trying to convince yourself otherwise.’”
“No . . .”
“I don’t get it. I thought you two were butting heads. Why would you hang out with a guy you don’t even get along with?”
Addison picked up a slice of the pizza they’d ordered after adding the finishing touches to an ad they were putting in the local paper. “To keep me out of trouble.” She plucked a piece of pepperoni from her slice and popped it into her mouth.
“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Not only that, but I think you’ve got it all wrong. This is going to get you into trouble, not keep you out of it. And for the record, I think it’s wrong for you to treat Reid as if he’s your secret stash of ice cream. A guilty pleasure.”
“Maybe . . .”
“Oh . . . shifty eyes. What aren’t you telling me?”
After swallowing another slice of pepperoni Addison sighed. “Do you promise not to breathe a word of what I’m going to confess?”
“Cross my heart.”
Addison delayed her confession by taking a healthy bite of her pizza crust.
“You still eat your pizza the same way you did when we were kids,” Mia said with a chuckle.
Nodding, Addison took her time chewing and then washed it down with a swallow of wine.
“Addie! You’re killing me.”
Addison closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath. “I’m afraid that I might be, well, boring.”
“Boring? I don’t know one person who would find you boring.”
Addison opened her eyes. “Don’t laugh.”
“I won’t.”
“Well,” she said in a hushed tone, “especially in bed.”
Mia laughed.
“Mia!”
“I’m sorry.” Mia took a sip of wine and set her glass back down. “But that’s just absurd.”
“Maybe that’s why guys bail on me. Because I’m not . . . you know. Good.”
“So you’re going to use Reid as an experiment? See if you rock his world?”
“Oh, it sounds so crass saying it out loud. Yeah, kinda. But look. We’re not in love or have any agenda so I’ll be able to judge from . . . you know, his reaction.”
“You’re joking, right? Please say yes.”
Addison winced.
“My God, you’re serious?”
