Addy And The Smart Guy (Big Girl Panties #3)

by Carter Ashby

  "Ms. Hart, we just have a few questions for you," Dr. Markham began.

  Addy was simply sick of the shit. "Could I just make a statement? I'm pretty sure it'll answer all your questions. Then you all can do whatever it is you do to decide whether I've earned my thesis or not."

  This earned her a tight smile from Dean Richter and a glare from Markham. "Go ahead," Dr. Markham said.

  "Until three weeks ago, I never once behaved inappropriately in any manner with Dr. McDaniel. But I've been attracted to him since I've known him, and the two of us went away together over spring break. We've had several encounters since then."

  "By encounters you mean…?"

  "Good old-fashioned fucking, Dr. Markham," Addy said.

  Grey dropped his head back and groaned.

  "Ms. Hart, if you'll kindly police your language."

  "You asked," Addy said. "May I continue?"

  Dr. Markham grudgingly nodded her head.

  "My thesis is meticulously documented. I've cited all my sources, including several articles by Dr. McDaniel. I've sought counsel from him as he was my advisor, but I've never throughout the course of writing my thesis, behaved unethically. He's never shown me favoritism. I've never sought favoritism. He's never used his position of authority to coerce me. I've never used my body to get good grades from him. That's all I have to say."

  "So you claim that these 'encounters' have all been mutually consensual?"

  "Enthusiastically so."

  Grey shot her a look, but she could see he was trying not to smile.

  Dr. Markham sighed heavily, clearly annoyed with Addy. "Of course we'll have to scrutinize your thesis more heavily."

  "Of course," Addy replied.

  "Dr. McDaniel," Dean Richter said, "Is there anything you want to say?"

  "Yes. I want it known that I made the first advance. I invited her away with me over spring break. Had I not done that, she likely wouldn't be in this position."

  Addy rolled her eyes, frustrated that he was taking that blame when she'd asked him not to.

  "I also want to apologize for lying to you yesterday," Grey said to Dean Richter. "I hadn't talked to Addison, yet, to see how she wanted to handle it, and to tell you the truth, I was completely caught off guard by Caroline's behavior."

  Addy snorted. "She came to my apartment and beat me up. You were surprised she was stalking you?"

  Grey shot her a 'not now' look.

  "Of course I accept your apology, Greyson," Dean Richter said, "Though my trust will be much harder to earn back. I must confess to feeling quite disappointed."

  "I know, Erika. I regret the lie, I really do."

  "You don't regret the affair?"

  Grey glanced at Addy, offered her a sad smile, and then replied, "Just the timing of it. I could have waited six more weeks and taken her away for the whole summer."

  Addy blushed and bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling.

  "Listen, you all know Addison," Grey continued, "She's not being irresponsible. She's not being rebellious or immature. She simply followed her heart like we all do from time to time. We should have waited until she graduated, but we didn't, and now I'm asking you to please trust what you know about her. She's got far too much pride and integrity to cheat. She's worked extremely hard and done an amazing job."

  "We'll determine that for ourselves," Dr. Markham said in her craggy voice.

  There were a few more questions before Addy was dismissed. Grey stayed behind to talk with Dean Richter, so Addy headed back to his office. As she meandered her way across campus, she wondered what she'd expected of the whole thing. She must have prepared herself to get expelled or whatever happened to people who slept with their thesis advisors.

  Instead, her review was going to go forward, her thesis judged on its own merit. The only exception being if they found any evidence of plagiarism or academic dishonesty within the document itself, which they wouldn't.

  Addy inhaled the warm, spring air. Trees were budding with white flowers and pale, green leaves. The sun was warm and there was that familiar buzz of excitement that always came at the end of the school year. She never was for sure whether the excitement came from spring or from graduation. Either way, it was nice to be surrounded by the energy when she, herself, felt so low.

  As she walked into the political science building and began climbing the stairs to the offices, a pair of students walked by her. One of them called her a slut as she passed by. Addy froze only a second before continuing up the stairs. She should have expected it, but it still stung. When she topped the stairs, she saw Ben leaning outside the door to Grey's office.

  Addy's heart sank. Even though Ben was smiling, she still felt awful. She'd ignored two of his calls, and now he was finding out all this stuff about her through Gwen's vicious gossip.

  Never one to back down in fear, Addy strolled up to him. "Hello," she said tentatively.

  "Hey, Addy. You look good today. Maybe even…glowing?"

  She blushed and smiled down at her feet. "Not glowing."

  Ben tipped her chin up. "No? So you're not…?"

  "Knocked up? No."

  Ben nodded. "Any plans to be?"

  "Definitely not."

  He laughed, obviously the most good-natured man on the planet. "Well, listen. I came here because I don't like letting things hang or fizzle or whatever. I can take a hint. You haven't called me, haven't answered my calls. I just want to get it straight from you. You aren't going to be hanging out with me anytime soon, are you?"

  She gazed up at him. "I'm an idiot."

  "Nah, you're just in love. It happens."

  A laugh escaped. "So you believe in love?"

  "Of course I do. Who doesn't believe in love? Although I'll say, you're the first girl I've met I thought I might actually like to fall in love with, just from the little I know about you."

  "What about marriage? Do you believe in happy marriages?"

  "Well, sure. My parents are in one. I think I can make it happen for myself someday."

  "And kids? You want kids someday?"

  "A half dozen or so, yeah."

  Addy groaned and fell back against the wall. "I'm an idiot."

  Ben chuckled and turned toward her, brushing his knuckles gently along her cheekbone. "I'm not going to wait on you or anything. But if you ever find yourself free and interested, give me a call, okay? I guarantee you if I'm still free, I'll definitely be interested."

  "You won't be free for long, Ben. Not too many idiots like me willing to pass up such an amazing deal."

  He smiled, kissed her on the cheek, and walked away, passing by a scowling Grey as he headed toward the stairs. Grey turned his scowl to Addy. "Is that revenge for Caroline?"

  She just about spat in his face over that. "You think I'm that vindictive? Fuck you, Grey."

  This startled the scowl off his face. He rolled his shoulders back and stood taller. "You're right. That was unfair of me."

  Addy didn't bother agreeing with him. She led the way into his office. "So do you still have a job?" she asked.

  "No," he answered, "but only because I'm resigning. Like I said, honey. With or without you, I'm going."

  She did her best not to let the pain in her heart show on her face.

  "It's just, I need an answer, Addy. By the end of the week."

  She frowned. "That soon? Why?"

  "Because if you aren't coming with me, then I'm going to take the three month training job Troy offered me. But if you're coming, then I'll volunteer, with you, for two years. And I need to get him an answer on the training job by Friday."

  "Okay," she said. "I'll let you know."

  She had her back to him, straightening some papers on her desk.

  "So you're still considering it?" he asked. "Even after…"

  She let him trail off. Let him wait for her answer. "If you still want me to consider it."

  "More than anything, Addy. I want this with you more than anything. I love…"


  She smiled to herself. He just couldn't seem to keep that word from slipping out.

  Grey cleared his throat. "I mean, I care for you, very much." He came up behind her and gripped her shoulders. "More than I've ever cared for anyone. And…and if it's going to take a ring and a vow to get you to come with me, then I'll give it to you."

  "I think you know good and well that's not the kind of marriage proposal I want."

  His forehead dropped to the top of her head. "Yeah, I know."

  She turned in his arms and embraced him. "I've got a lunch date with your mom."

  He jumped back, nearly shoving her into her desk. "What?"

  She grinned. "I called her because I remembered she said she'd tell me why you are the way you are. I thought she might give me some insights into your character to help me decide."

  His smile was hesitant. "Are you fucking serious?"

  "Yes. Why?"

  "You're seriously doing background research on me…with my mother?"

  "Yes. Is that a problem?"

  He threw up his hands and went round his desk to fall into his chair. "No. Not a problem. Of course, if you really want to know why I am the way I am, you should have lunch with my father. I'd dress conservatively, though, if I were you; you look about his type. Which isn't saying much since his only requirements are young and female, so…" He finished with a shrug and glared at the all like a pouting child.

  Addy could only stand there and gape at him. This was the most personal life detail he'd ever given her. This was the most vulnerable he'd ever looked. There was anger, there. Anger and bitterness and resentment. "Wow. You really keep that all hidden."

  His head snapped round to look at her. "What?"

  "Your feelings about your dad."

  He narrowed his eyes. "I'm not defined by my feelings about my dad."

  "That's not what you just said. You said if I really wanted to know about you, I should meet your father—"

  "I know what I just said. My point is, I'm neither of my parents. I'm not my complacent, sardonic mother. And I'm not my heartless, womanizing father. So really, you're wasting your time."

  "Heartless and womanizing. Wow. This should be an interesting lunch. Should I ask your mother about her womanizing husband?"

  "Go ahead. Last time I asked her about it, she said she didn't give a shit. I'm just saying, it's not going to help you make a decision. Either you want to go with me or you don't."

  Addy studied him feeling like she'd just ripped open a window to his soul. He was wrong. This lunch was going to provide her with more answers than she'd imagined possible.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  There was a little sandwich shop and café near the river. When Addison arrived, Mrs. McDaniel was already sitting at a table, dressed nicely in blue slacks and a pale blue blouse.

  Addy went to the counter, placed her order, and joined Grey's mother. "I'm so happy to be meeting with you, Addison."

  "Likewise. I told Grey about our lunch plans, and he had quite the reaction."

  "Really?" Gloria said, leaning in. "Do tell?"

  After Addy described Grey's behavior, she said, "I was surprised. But then I thought about all his talk about not believing in love and marriage and all that. I'd always assumed this was an intellectual choice. Now I'm wondering if it isn't the result of an emotional wound."

  Gloria smiled sadly and leaned back. A young man brought their sandwiches and drinks. When he was gone, Gloria said, "Probably more than one wound. He was a surprise, you know? We'd been told we couldn't have children, so we'd never bothered with protection. Then he came along. We weren't prepared. I'm afraid we weren't very good parents. More distant than we should have been. Unwilling or unable to provide the closeness and comfort that a young boy needs.

  "Still, he loved and respected us well into his young adulthood. He was seventeen when everything changed. He was on a date in the city with his girlfriend. I remember how excited he was, taking her to dinner and dancing and the theater…a real grown-up date. When he came home a few hours later, he was different.

  "It took him three months to confess to me what happened. He'd been out with his girl at the same restaurant where my husband was dining with some young piece of ass. Greyson said he followed them to a hotel and saw them go in together. He was devastated. He'd held the secret for as long as he could, not sure whether it was right to tell me. But when he discovered that it wasn't just a one-time thing, he decided to tell me."

  "Good Lord, that would be horrible. I'm so sorry for him and you both."

  "Well, don't be sorry for me. I'm the other half of his problem. I already knew about Donald's mistresses. He'd been having them for years, and he has them still. At any given moment he could be nailing some stupid, twenty-something bimbo. It was something I accepted early in our marriage. He's still loving and kind to me, still provides for me. I'm still the primary beneficiary in his trust…and that's the root of it all. I married for security and comfort. I do love Donald, in my own way. But it isn't the same as the way you love Grey."

  Addy swallowed. "You told him all this? Back then when he came to you?"

  Gloria nodded. "Yes. I thought he took it rather well. He's always such a cheerful young man. But then I noticed how shallow his relationships always seem to be. I'd never heard him outright claim to not believe in love until after he went away with you for the week. I assume he's falling in love and doing his best to deny it."

  Addy smiled down at her hands. "Yes, I suppose that's what's happening."

  Gloria sighed. "Well, I'm afraid that's all there is to it. Truthfully, I never regretted marrying Donald until I saw what it had done to Greyson. Now, as much as I'd like to tell him to give love a chance, I feel like I've lost all credibility."

  "You've certainly created a challenging situation for me," Addy muttered as she nibbled at her sandwich.

  "What will you do?"

  "I don't know." She sighed, feeling a little sadder than she had before lunch. This mountain was looking harder to climb all the time.

  "Can't you just be with him? On his terms? He's so happy with you, Addison. And I mean, he has been since he's known you. I remember when his attitude changed. He'd been so depressed after the leg injury and being stuck here with us for a year while he recovered. And he did seem to enjoy teaching, but then one day I was having lunch with him and he just seemed brighter. I noticed he kept talking about this eager new student who showed so much promise. That was you, wasn't it? You've been making him happy all this time. I hope you won't stop."

  Addy just stared at her, letting all her own sadness show. "That's what he wants. How can you all put that on my shoulders?"

  Gloria only shook her head.

  "I need to at least know he'll fight for me. This morning, he was just three words away from ending this. I just don't see how I can go away with him without at least a promise to try, you know?"

  "I know, dear. It's just, I really think he'll come around."

  "You do? Do you know how stubborn your son is? How set in his beliefs? I wish I had your confidence, but I just don't."

  Gloria didn't argue anymore. They finished their lunch, and Addy thought the conversation was over until they stepped out the door.

  "Wait," Gloria said.

  Addy turned to face her.

  "Come to dinner tonight," she said.

  "Why?"

  "So you can meet his father. So he can feel what it's like to have you with his family. So we can have an opportunity to prove to him that he's wrong about love. I don't know why, Addison, I just know I'm not ready to give up on him. And you shouldn't be either."

  Addy smiled, encouraged by her spirit. "Okay. Dinner. Where and what time?"

  They exchanged email addresses so Gloria could email her directions to Grey's childhood home. They agreed to let it be a surprise to Grey, then they hugged and went their separate ways.

  At seven o'clock, Addy pulled down the long, driveway and felt her jaw drop. She thou
ght she'd grown up in a mansion, this one was at least twice the size of her parent's home. More like three times. There was a circle at the end of the driveway with a fountain at the center. Addy parked behind Grey's car.

  She'd avoided him the rest of the day and was half worried Gloria wouldn't be able to get him here for dinner. But it looked like she'd succeeded after all.

  Addy stepped out of her car, clutching her purse in one hand with a light sweater draped over her other arm. She had on a yellow sundress she'd picked out based on Grey's interest in the dress she'd worn to the clinic. She'd also left her hair down for the same reason.

  Holding her breath, she walked up the rock portico to the massive double doors and rang the bell. It was Grey who answered. He smiled immediately. "Addison," he said, clearly surprised. Then just like that, his smile vanished, he turned around, and shouted, "Mom, what the fuck?"

  Addy just shrugged and followed him in, closing the door behind her and following Grey to a sitting room where Gloria was reading a book and sipping a glass of wine by the fireplace.

  "A quiet, family dinner?" Grey asked. He turned on Addy. "What are you doing here?"

  "Your mom invited me."

  He turned back to his mom. "I don't bring girlfriends home for dinner. That's my policy."

  Gloria turned wide, amused eyes to Addy.

  Grey turned back to Addy. "Come on. I'll take you out."

  "Greyson, you're not embarrassed to be seen with me, are you?" Gloria asked.

  "Maybe he's embarrassed to be seen with me," Addy chimed in.

  "I'm not embarrassed to be seen with either of you, I—"

  "Greyson!" said a cheerful, booming voice.

  Addy saw Grey's face go stony. She turned and watched Donald McDaniel enter the room. He stood about an inch shorter than Grey, had a head of thick, dark hair, probably dyed since there wasn't even a hint of gray in it. "You've finally brought a woman home for dinner," Donald said, taking Addy's hand and kissing it.

  Addy turned and arched a brow at Grey.