“Look at my track record.” Addison raised her palms upward. “Aiden turned to another woman. I sure didn’t satisfy him, now, did I? And Garret? I mean, I thought it was pretty good but apparently I was wrong. He left me for a television show.”
Mia scooted around to face her. “You’re forgetting the L word.”
Addison gasped. “You think I’m a
“No, Addison. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
“Lust?”
“I guess I have to spell it out for you.” Mia shoved Addison’s knee. “L-o-v-e, you dolt.”
“Oh, come on. You don’t have to be in love to have great sex.”
“True, but amazing, mind-blowing sex is with someone you love. Like I said, don’t you think it’s wrong to use Reid like that, anyway?”
“No, it would just be sort of a by-product of our . . . arrangement. He’s dipping his toe back into the dating pool and I’m keeping away from getting engaged. He’ll be like . . . like my romance bodyguard.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” Mia reached for her wine. “I’m not buying into this, Addie. Not one little bit, but I can tell that you’re dead set on doing this. Like that time when we were kids and you said you could slide down the banister of that monster staircase without falling off. “You were wrong and got a broken arm to show for it.”
“No chance of broken bones here.”
“No, just a broken heart.” Mia sighed. “And you can’t put a cast on a broken heart.”
“I’m not going to get emotionally invested. Reid might be going back to Lexington, for all I know. He’s just here to help his family get back on track financially. I know all of this going in. I won’t be blindsided like in the past.”
“I just think you’re asking for trouble.”
“Well, the other perk is that if I’m seen with Reid, it will help squelch the ugly rumor that I’m having an affair with Rick Ruleman.”
Mia dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “True, but I still don’t like it. If you ask me you’re coming up with some pretty elaborate plans when all you really want to do is spend time with Reid,” Mia pointed out.
“I just need to keep my guard up and this seemed like an easy way to do it.”
Mia looked at her for a long moment and then reached over and squeezed her hand. “All right, I’ve had my say in the matter. I’ll drop it and hope for the best. But you know I’m always here for you.”
“I know. Thank you, Mia.”
“So, are your parents coming into town for the grand opening?”
Addison shook her head. “No, I just talked to Mom about it yesterday and as much as she wants to come she thinks it could hit the gossip sites and bring attention to me and where I’m living.”
Mia patted Addison’s knee. “Oh, that just sucks, but I think they’re right. Well, the Cougars will be out of town next weekend so I’ll be able to help out.”
“You don’t want to visit Cam?”
“He’s playing too far away to drive, but I hope to get to Nashville to see him play next weekend.”
“It’s got to be hard to be apart so much. My dad has to do the same thing with my mom’s schedule.”
Mia nodded. “It is, but making it to the major leagues is Cam’s dream. I could have quit my job and traveled with him but he knows how much I like it and didn’t even ask.” Her eyes filled with tears. “That doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck sometimes.” She swiped at her tears with her paper napkin. “Oh, Addison, it’s good to have you here. And I just know that From This Moment is going to be a huge success. Take it from me: Life picks up when you feel good about your accomplishments. After that, the rest just falls into place.”
Addison nodded because she knew Mia was right. “I’m nervous, for sure, but already feeling some of that positive emotion you’re talking about.”
“Addie, you deserve to be happy. And I’ll tell you one thing: If I ever see Garret or Rick Ruleman I’ll give them a piece of my mind. And I can get pretty darned feisty when I want to.” She lifted both fists and glared.
Addison laughed. “I know! But I don’t think we have to worry about either of them showing up here.” She grinned. “And if they do I have my romance bodyguard.”
Mia laughed with her. “Well, I will say this. Reid sure is hot. I don’t really think he’d have to work too hard to get back into the dating game, especially in a small town where eligible bachelors are golden. We have the hottie baseball players but they come and go. A local boy is a prime target.”
Addison nodded. “Yeah, well, I think Reid just wants to play it cool for a while,” she said breezily, but the thought of Reid with another woman slid to the pit of her stomach and mixed with her pizza. “Flex his flirting muscles, you know?”
“No, I think the two of you are playing with fire, but I promised to shut up about it so I will. But listen, if you need someone to talk to about Reid or anything, I’m here for you. We were like sisters when we were kids and I feel like that all over again. Ah, and speaking of . . . I want you to be my maid of honor.”
Addison put her hand to her mouth. “Oh, Mia, I’d be thrilled!”
Mia smiled and then leaned in for a hug. “I’m so happy you said yes! Well, I’d better get going. I’ve got an early Monday morning meeting with Noah Falcon.”
Addison nodded and stood up. “Yeah, I’d better get some sleep too. I have a shipment of wedding dresses coming in tomorrow. You need to try some of them on.”
“Oh, that will be fun! I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Addison walked Mia to the door. “Thanks for everything you’ve done for me. Get home safe.”
Mia hugged her again. “I will.”
Addison wrapped up the remaining slices of the pizza and then decided she’d drink the rest of her wine while taking a bubble bath. She lit a few fat vanilla-scented candles and turned on some soft music while the deep garden tub filled with water. While she missed her parents, her flat had already started to feel like home. And as she soaked in the fragrant bubbles, Addison relaxed to the point of almost dozing.
She mentally ticked off things she needed to get done tomorrow and for the grand opening, but then her thoughts drifted to Reid. What would it be like to make love to him? She closed her eyes and imagined having him sharing the big tub with her . . . washing her back, massaging her neck and then caressing her breasts with his big work-roughened hands. He’d look so masculine with bubbles clinging to his bare chest. . . . God, it would feel amazing to slide her wet soapy body against his.
Addison swallowed hard. What if she called him? Invited him over? Did she have the nerve?
“No,” Addison grumbled out loud. Unless . . . she could come up with a really good reason for Reid to come over. Addison racked her brain but everything she came up with sounded flimsy, and so she sighed and gave up on the whole idea.
But later, when she slid beneath the cool sheets and fluffy comforter, Reid drifted back into her thoughts and stubbornly stayed there.
Addison sighed and closed her eyes. She imagined Reid’s hands caressing her body, his mouth tasting her skin. Maybe she’d get lucky, if only in her dreams. . . .
16
Little Boy Blue and the Man on the Moon
RICK TOOK THE FORK IN THE TRAIL LEADING UP A HILL, pushing his body even harder than the day before. After nearly two weeks of living in the cabin he felt physically and mentally better, stronger and fresher than he had in too many years to count. Inhaling the river-scented air, he ran down the well-worn path through the woods, most likely used by kids riding four-wheelers and dirt bikes. With summer just around the corner, he would soon get up earlier to avoid the heat. Breathing hard, he paused to take his shirt off and mop the sweat from his brow and then slowed to a jog for his cool-down.
With his two weeks nearly up Rick reminded himself to head up into town to extend the lease for the rest of the summer months. Although his initial reason to come to Cricket Creek had been to apologize to Addison, living in the log cabin was bringing him a sense of peace that he hadn’t felt in a long time. He had first option but he didn’t want to risk losing the cabin to someone else. He’d even considered buying the place but wasn’t quite sure,
