by Violet Duke
She snuggled some more under her covers. “Caine?” she murmured muzzily.
“Yeah, baby?” When she sounded like that, it was hard to keep his replies platonic.
“I’ve missed this. Missed you.”
Ah, hell. “Same here, sweets.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“I’ll do my best to answer.”
“Do you have any idea what’s going on in the movie?”
He grinned. “Not even a little bit.”
She smiled back, looking nearly drunk. “Mmm, me neither…”
“We could rewind it back to the—”
The sound of her deep breathing coming through the speakers stopped him.
She was asleep.
Blinking back a slow smile, he shoved a couch pillow under his head, suddenly feeling like a nap himself. It was only midnight, a full three hours before he normally passed out from exhaustion for his standard hour or two of sleep. But he was feeling damned relaxed right now.
Maybe he’d try to just close his eyes for a second—
The next thing he knew, it was after one in the morning.
…And his two annoying brothers were tilting their heads and chorusing, ‘awww’ quietly from the hallway.
He ignored them and rolled over on the sofa to check on Addison. She was still in a deep sleep on the video screen. He muted his phone and pointed at his master bedroom. “Just drop the equipment off. I’ll look over everything tomorrow.”
Twin looks of shock gaped back at him. “You mean you’re not going to make us give you a full descriptive rundown of every single thing we brought until the butt crack of dawn?”
Shit, he wasn’t that bad was he? “I figured you two were beat after traveling all day. But if you’d rather take care of it now—”
“Oh, we’re totally leaving. No takebacks,” called out Gabe as he hustled across the apartment to drop off the boxes he’d lugged in.
“You were sleeping,” commented Max, no longer teasing at all.
“Yeah.”
“That’s new.”
“It’s Addison. She makes me…I don’t know, calm, maybe? Relaxed?”
“I think the word you’re looking for is happy, big brother.” He smiled. “And it looks good on you.”
After his brothers left, Caine laid back on the sofa and thought about what Max had said. At this time of night, he was usually wired. And they were right, he’d probably be going through that box of equipment with a fine tooth comb right about now.
But all it took was one glance at Addison’s closed eyes and pillow-mussed hair clouding around her for his limbs to start relaxing, his eyes to begin feeling heavier.
He was out again like a light shortly after.
Thanks to his internal clock, he woke up a little over an hour later, well before dawn, but feeling more rested than he had in years. Normally, he’d be up already to go for a run or work out. But the sight of Addison still asleep on the screen beside him kept him from getting up. He wasn’t tired, but he was comfortable.
Content.
The thing is, since he never lounged on the sofa at this time of day—or ever—he had no clue what to do with this time. All he knew was that he didn’t want to leave Addison’s side.
So he turned the TV on and restarted the movie that neither of them had watched last night.
Later, at about six in the morning, he turned to see Addison slow-blink awake.
Her eyes widened in confusion at first, then surprise…and finally wonder. “I slept.” Her expression looked even more astonished when she peered into the phone and saw what he was doing. “I slept, and you lounged around on your couch past dawn watching a movie.” A teasing smile hit her lips. “Guess miracles do exist.”
He chuckled. “How about we try it again tonight and see if it’s only a onetime miracle?”
The slow, sweet smile that reached all the way up to her expressive eyes had him instantly flipping over onto his stomach—carefully—to tamp down his reaction to her smiling at him from bed first thing in the morning.
“Okay,” she agreed, pleased. “Same time tonight?”
Yeah…they were pretty awful at this ‘just friends’ arrangement.
Chapter Eleven
Addison was still smiling about their impromptu video chat movie night come Monday.
“Oh my god,” chuckled Kylie, breaking into her thoughts as she came in to sync her phone to the office desktop to upload new garden photos. “You totally have googly eyes right now.”
Addison felt her whole face flush. “I do not.”
“Do too. That’s your Caine look. It comes with dancing hearts all around your head.” Kylie proceeded to then float over to the closest chair and position herself like a yoga deity in classic nosy-gabbing-girl pose—elbows on knees, chin perched atop folded hands. “I gave you the whole weekend to process. Time is officially up. Date details, please.”
“It wasn’t a date,” Addison replied automatically. But then pursed her lips, decidedly opposed to the taste of that technical truth.
Kylie gave her a quiet look. “Caine’s holding back because of the psycho douche canoe isn’t he?”
“Kylie! Language.”
“Are you kidding? That was G-rated in comparison to what I call the snot waffle jackhole in my head.”
Addison didn’t doubt it. Where David was concerned, her normally calm little sister could go pretty postal. Snot waffle jackhole? That one was actually really good.
“It’s just so not fair that you guys can’t spend more time together.” Kylie chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully. “What if I make myself scarce this weekend? That way you two can have the place all to yourselves to ha—”
Addison shot her a horrified look.
“Hang out! I was going to say hang out!” Kylie jumped out of her chair, looking just a tiny bit seasick. “I know you and I are close and all, but trust me, we’re not going to be those sisters who share sex stories.”
Oh, thank God.
Their silent agreement sealed, stamped, and approved, Kylie dropped back into her seat…and then leaned over to clarify, “Of course, we can still totally talk about kissing and gush over that super intense way he looks at you and stuff.”
Addison really did have the best little sister in the world.
Ten minutes later, while Kylie was mooning over a few memorable alpha-romantic Caine recaps, a knock sounded on her office door. “Addison, you have a visitor—”
“Oh my goodness, look how beautiful you two have become!”
Addison stilled.
Just as a new look of distress washed over Kylie’s expression. A real one, this time.
“Like I said, you have visitor,” repeated her front receptionist, adding in a whisper for Addison’s ears only, “A kinda pushy one, if you ask me.”
Yes, Lara Milan had always been pushy when it came to things she wanted…but generally apathetic over things she didn’t care as much for.
Like her children.
“Mom,” said Addison, which earned a sharp flinch from Kylie. “What’re you doing here?”
While Addison went over to the woman who had abandoned her and her siblings over nine years ago, Kylie stayed rooted to her chair, either unable or unwilling to stand. Maybe both.
As much as Addison wanted to rush Kylie out of the room, get her the hell away from the biggest ghost from their past, she couldn’t. She had to let Kylie react and respond the way she was going to.
It took a minute, but eventually, Kylie did react. And respond. In a big way. With her chin up, and shoulders back, she walked right past their mother and left the office without a word.
You go, girl.
Addison’s mental applause halted when she saw the older woman’s smile falter, however. It was unnerving. Still one of the most beautiful women in any room, their mother looked lightyears better than the last time they’d seen her because above all else, she looked…sober.
Which was probably why
Addison was seeing the woman exhibit something akin to emotion over Kylie’s pointed exit.
Blinking and brushing her hands down over her skirt as if to gather her composure, she turned to face Addison. “I guess I’ll just have to catch up with Kylie another time. Oh, but look at you. You’re so grown up now!”
Funny how that happens with kids and age…
Addison did her best to keep her feelings in check, her voice modulated. “You didn’t answer me. What are you doing here, mother?”
“You’ve ignored my letters and emails. I was sure you’d hang up on me if I called. So I thought it best just to stop by.”
The woman gave her more credit than she probably deserved. Honestly, Addison wasn’t sure she’d have been able to hang up if she’d heard her voice.
“This place is just amazing, Addison. I am so proud of all you’ve accomplished.”
Interesting. Now that she was finally hearing the words she’d longed to hear for over half her life, Addison discovered they had no effect on her.
In a nutshell, she didn’t give a flying fig what the woman thought of her. So instead of acknowledging the too-little-too-late compliment, she went with a brisk and detached: “That still doesn’t explain the reason for your visit.”
The man she’d disliked almost from the minute she’d met him walked in to join his wife then. “If you’d bothered to read the emails we sent you, you wouldn’t have to ask,” he said tersely, giving her his token look of disapproval.
Always working his mark. That was Sonny. He used to do this exact thing before, too, calling on his years of experience conning folks to manipulate Addison into feeling like everything was always her fault.
Yeah…not going to work anymore, asshole.
“I’m going to be generous and wait exactly ten more seconds for you to answer my question before I contact my very big security guards to escort you off my property.”
God, that had felt good.
Sonny’s mouth twisted into an ugly grimace for a split second before he swiftly schooled his expression with a smile. “Okay, business-only, it is. That’s probably for the best because this doesn’t involve you at all.”
“And yet here you are in my office still not answering my question.” She picked up the phone on her desk to begin dialing.
“Kylie and Tanner have an inheritance,” blurted out Lara.
Yes, the woman was officially Lara now. Not mother and certainly not ‘mom’ anymore.
With every passing minute, Addison continued to gain strength. “An inheritance from whom?’
“Their father.” Sonny looked down his nose at her. “So like I said, this doesn’t concern you at all.”
While Addison had never cared that Kylie and Tanner were her half-siblings, she had cared that she never knew who her father was…because Lara hadn’t known which of the many random guys she’d been having drunken hook-ups with had knocked her up.
Of course Sonny would shoot that well-aimed dagger at her chest.
“Okay then.” Addison pointed to the door. “You can leave the probate lawyer’s info at the reception desk and see yourself out. I have work to do.”
“But…” Lara shot a panicked look at her husband. “We need you to talk to the kids for us. Tanner hasn’t returned our calls or emails either. And clearly, Kylie…”
“Is your golden ticket,” interrupted Alec as he strode into the office, a look of disgust marring his normally charming-cowboy features.
He gave Addison’s face a quick once-over. “You okay, babe?”
She smiled, both grateful for the assist, and even more emboldened knowing that the answer to that question was a resounding yes even without his assistance.
“I’m fine. Lara and Sonny were just here telling me why I ‘needed’ to talk to Kylie and Tanner about this mysterious inheritance.”
A person would’ve had to be deaf not to hear those air quotes.
Another ugly scowl crossed Sonny’s face.
But, this time, it wasn’t directed her way. Sonny turned an angry glare at Alec. “You. I knew you’d lied to us.”
For the first time since the pair arrived, Addison felt her composure take a hit.
“Alec, do you know him?”
The guilty expression on Alec’s face was a clear answer.
“Of course he knows us,” Sonny spat out. “We paid him to find you around seven years ago, but he came back to us and spun a lie about not being able to find you.”
“You didn’t pay me; I returned your money.”
“After lying your sorry ass off about finding them! ”
“Oh, that’s rich.” Alec was pissed. More furious than she’d ever seen him. “So tell me, Sonny,” he sneered, contempt coating his every word, “what exactly did you tell Kylie and Tanner’s dad when you broke the news that you had no clue where his children were? The truth?” He snorted. “No. You lied. You made up a story about the kids running away from home so he wouldn’t throw your asses in jail for child neglect.”
He shot them both another caustic look. “That’s right, I know all about it. The P.I. you’ve had tailing Addison here in Phoenix the past few months has been just a fountain of information.”
Addison went from shell-shocked to floored. “Someone’s been tailing me for months? And you didn’t tell me?”
Alec pulled her away from the couple and explained quietly, “He only found you a few days before the police fundraiser. Before that, he, like the other few P.I.’s Sonny’s hired in the past, was chasing down all the dead-end trails I’ve created over the years to keep you hidden. But we didn’t know for sure that it was your mom and Sonny who had hired him until yesterday.”
“We. As in…?”
“Me and Caine.”
She nodded, digesting that. “So why didn’t you tell me about any of this?”
“Because we thought he might’ve been hired by David. So instead of confronting him right away, we’ve been tailing him for the past week and—”
Addison put her hand on his arm. “That part I get. I meant before, Alec. Sonny said he hired you seven years ago. Was that before or after you offered to help me at the shelter?”
“Before,” Alec admitted solemnly. “The reason why I was in Tucson to begin with was because I’d tracked you there after you went on the run.”
“So you and Hale teaching self-defense workshops and advising women at the shelter, that was all part of some…cover story?”
“No. We genuinely wanted to help. You’re what led us there, yes, but we stayed to help those women. Well, initially.” Alec gave her a crooked smile and a shrug, “I also stayed because I thought you were one of the most incredible women I’d ever met...and I knew I’d never be able to live with myself if something happened to you. Something I could’ve helped prevent.”
A few feet away, an impatient Sonny snorted and rolled his eyes. “Sure, you’re a regular Prince Charming. You’ve been lying to her the entire time you’ve known her.”
Alec pivoted swiftly and got right up in Sonny’s face. “Again, that’s real rich considering why you’re here today.”
Addison narrowed her eyes at Lara. “Okay, what is going on? The whole truth. Why exactly did you come here today?”
“They’re here to con you.”
“Actually,” cut in Sonny with a glare, “we have an offer that could help you.”
Alrighty then, so definitely a con.
Lara finally spoke up. “The thing is, Kylie and Tanner’s dad started looking for them a while ago, after he came into some money from some rich granddad who his father had had a big falling out with. That’s when we hired Alec. But when Alec came back and said he couldn’t find you, I sort of…lied to their father and told him they didn’t want to see him. At least not at the time. I told him they were holding a grudge since he’d left them when they were little and that I’d contact him if they changed their minds. He backed off after that. But then he died late last year, and these lawyers of his told us
there’s a maximum time period for his heirs to claim their inheritance. And the deadline is coming up real quick.”
Addison was lost. “What’s the big deal? The kids just need to go meet with these lawyer folks, right? You don’t need me to talk to them about that.”
Alec filled in the blanks for her. “They need you to convince the kids to go along with the lie she told their dad. So she doesn’t get her ass thrown in jail for child neglect.”
Lara actually had the grace to look ashamed. “You all will go along with that story, right? For me?”
“What on earth makes you think we owe you anything? You abandoned us. Treated us like we were worthless our entire lives.”
“Like I said,” chimed in Sonny. “We’re here to come to an agreement to help you as well. The way I see it, after the kids get their inheritance, some media journalist somewhere is going to be interested in them, seeing as how the guy’s granddaddy was somebody in this town. As Kylie’s legal guardian, Lara could request that all the info be sealed or whatever it is lawyers do to keep it all under wraps. And we could also be sure to decline any interviews.” He gave her a smug grin. “Figured, for someone who’s been hiding for as long as you have, you might appreciate us for going that extra mile.”
Alec grabbed him by the collar. “You son of a bitch.”
“No! Alec, don’t.” She knew Sonny wouldn’t hesitate to file an assault charge.
“Addison, they obviously know about David. And this sack of shit is willing to put you and the kids in danger just to get their cut. You know that’s what this is all about. Since Kylie’s a minor, Lara will be named the executor of her inheritance. This is all about money.”
“Yeah, that sounds about right.” Addison had no illusions about the situation. “But you know as well as I do that for a pay cut like that, Sonny would carry out the threat he just laid out without even blinking.”
She turned to Lara. “Your husband is threatening to lead a crazed stalker straight to my doorstep. One that wants to rape me, torture me, maybe even kill me.” She didn’t let the tears in Lara’s eyes fool her. Sympathy, guilt, shame—that wasn’t the same thing as a mother’s love. “You did us wrong then. Just like you’re doing us wrong now. For what it’s worth, I really do hope that your portion of Kylie’s money will help you live with yourself.”
