“Simon, do you mind if I talk to my father alone?”
He looked at my dad, who nodded, and Simon left the room.
Tucking my dress under my legs, I took a seat in front of him.
He folded his hands and looked at me. That was a little odd. Maybe he had been expecting this. “What can I help you with?”
“I wanted to talk to you about the golf course.”
My father grinned. “Are you excited for it? It will bring a lot of business to our little town.”
“Yes, it will. And I am looking forward to seeing it finished and up and running. But, Dad, I’m wondering why you expanded the plans.”
“Pretty clever of me, huh? I wanted to find a way to keep the place going in the winter and on raining days. What better way than an indoor swimming pool, a gym, a couple of racquetball courts, and a restaurant? You get the idea.”
“Yes, it’s all wonderful.”
My father had to know why I was here. He was never this talkative or this smiley. He was saying all these positive things to get me to sound like the bad guy when I brought up the trailer park.
It was no surprise that my father was a good businessman. He was very cunning.
“Dad, while all these things will be great for our community, what about the people who are going to lose their homes? You know many of them can’t afford much.” That was why they lived where they lived. “I’m worried they will have nowhere else to go.”
“Addison, dear, as I understand it, they’ve been given sixty days to move. I think Brandon’s company is being more than generous.”
I clenched my jaw. He was blaming the company when this was his idea in the first place.
“Don’t you think it’s a little unfair? This golf course is supposed to help these people, and you’re making it a challenge for them to keep living here.”
My father met my eyes. “Addison, life is not fair. You should know that by now.” He lifted his shoulders. “It’s a necessary evil. It’s for a good cause.”
“You could help find them a new place to live. You own that land.”
He held up a finger. “Correction: owned. I traded the land for shares in the new country club.”
I felt like we were going around in circles. “You could buy new land. You could build a new park. You have the funds.”
My father looked as if he were actually considering my words, but then he said, “No.”
Just no. Nothing else.
I jumped up from my seat. “You’re doing this because of Maddox, aren’t you?”
“Whatever are you talking about? Maddox?”
I narrowed my eyes. He was trying to play dumb. I could see the corners of his mouth twitch.
I pointed a finger at him. “You know the golf course was my idea to begin with. You changed the plans, so Maddox’s mom would lose her home. You hoped he would blame me.”
My father looked up at me and leaned back in his seat. “I don’t have a clue as to what you’re talking about.”
Liar.
“Besides, even if that was my plan, it didn’t work, did it? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be fucking the Wolfe boy in the back of his vehicle in some field in the country.”
I sucked in my breath. I had never heard my father swear before, and he’d just used it to discuss what Maddox and I had done in private. What should have been a private moment.
“Are you following me?”
He spread his arms. “You know I don’t leave the house much. I’ve been getting out more, but following you? Come on, Addison.”
I hated it when he made me feel like a foolish child. “Excuse me. I meant, you’re having me followed.”
My father stood and pounded his fists on his desk. “I will do whatever I need to in order to make sure things are done right.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Not right, Dad. The way you want them.”
“You’re goddamn right. And, if it means getting you away from Maddox Wolfe, then I’ll do whatever I need to get him out of your life.”
I shivered at my father’s threat. I’d had no idea what lengths he would go to in order to keep us apart.
I dropped my arms and stood. I planted my hands on the desk, getting in his face. “News flash: I’m not eighteen anymore. I’m thirty. You can’t order me around.”
His eyes flared. “I control your money.”
I shrugged as if I didn’t care, but it did worry me. “Go ahead and try. My trust fund is set up for my protection. You can try to get the board to stop disbursement, but not liking my boyfriend isn’t going to sway them in your favor. I’m a respected member of this community, and I haven’t done anything reckless or broken any laws.”
“Daughter dear, you don’t know how much power I wield.”
Yes, unfortunately, I did.
I stepped back. “You do what you need to do. And I’ll do what I need to do. You can’t control me anymore.” I clenched my fists. “I refuse to be controlled by you, and if I’m going to lose my money, so be it.” I lowered my voice. “I’d rather be broke and free than rich and a prisoner.”
I turned and walked toward the door.
“Addison, you’re going to regret choosing that boy over your family.”
I laughed and looked over my shoulder. “Family is a very generous word for what we are. Tell the cooks to put one less plate out at dinner. I’ll be back when Maddox is welcome to sit next to me.”
I quietly shut the office and ran into Simon on the way out of the house.
“You’re making a big mistake, Addison.”
I looked Simon up and down. “What’s it to you?”
“Your father wants you to inherit his company.”
“Yes, well, I don’t want it.” I pushed Simon out of the way. “Tell him he can give it all to you.”
“He won’t do that,” Simon called after me.
I turned at the door. “You weren’t in his office just now. I bet he’ll do it.” I pushed on the heavy wood and walked out of there.
The sun and the fresh air brought me a little peace. I didn’t realize how trapped I’d felt until I walked out of my childhood home just now. Maybe telling my father to shove his money up his ass was more freeing than I’d thought.
As I drove back to my apartment, I did worry how I’d make ends meet if the board went along with my father’s request. But I could save that worry for another day.
When I got home, rather than going to my apartment, I went next door. I needed to talk to Maddox. I knocked once and pushed open the door.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Maddox yelled.
“You’re going the wrong way,” Serena yelled back. “Follow me.”
Smiling, I closed the door behind me and walked into the room.
Maddox looked up from the video game he and Serena were playing and hit pause. “What’s going on, babe? I thought you were having dinner.”
I plopped down on the couch next to Serena. “My dad and I got into it. I left.”
“Uncle Maddox and I were going to order pizza. You can eat with us.”
I smiled at her. “Thanks. I’d love that.” I looked over at the kitchen counter. It was filled with guns and knives. “What’s that?” I asked, slightly alarmed.
“Oh,” Serena said, all excited. “Uncle Maddox showed me all his weapons. He’s got some badass stuff.” She set her controller down and hopped up from her seat. She grabbed a gun and pointed it at the wall.
I felt my eyes widen as I pushed myself back into the couch.
Maddox laughed. “Don’t worry. It’s not loaded.”
“Uncle Maddox said he’s going to take me shooting. I can’t wait.”
I looked at Maddox.
He shrugged. “It’ll be good for her to learn to protect herself.”
I guess.
Guns had always scared me.
Serena put the gun down and picked up another weapon that looked like a knife, and Maddox crooked a finger at me.
&nb
sp; I scooted closer to him, and he put his arm around me.
“You okay?”
I sighed. “Actually, yeah. I think it’s good. My father threatened to cut off my finances, but I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
He brushed his lips over mine. “I’m glad.”
I looked over at Serena, who now had a gun and a knife in her hands. “Are you sure she’s okay to look at that stuff?”
Maddox looked over. “Yeah, she’s fine.” He turned back to me and put his mouth next to my ear. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll show you my special weapon later tonight.”
I laughed and snuggled into him. No matter what had happened with my father, I’d made the right decision.
Thirty-Six
Maddox
After a particularly spectacular fucking session, Addison dragged me out of bed to attend Brook Days. I’d been back in town for a month now, and I’d spent every night in Addison’s bed, or her in mine, for over the last two weeks.
“Why are you so happy?” I asked her as I held her hand and walked down the street.
Brook Days took place at the Brook Creek Middle and High School. Our town was too small to have two separate schools.
Every year that I could remember, the lawn was set up with the chili cook-off, horseshoes, and other games. There were a couple of concession stands selling lunch and snacks. The football field would be used for flag football later, the only event I wanted to participate in, and the baseball field would be used for baseball. The school was opened up for basketball and volleyball to be played inside.
“I like Brook Days,” Addison said. “Creek Days is all about partying, but Brook Days is more about family and teamwork, which means less work for me. No bailing someone out of jail for cooking chili.”
We made it to the school and went around back to where everything was set up. It looked like the same layout that I remembered from twelve years ago. People greeted Addison. Some of these people even said hi to me, too. They were slowly opening their minds to me being back.
“Hey, you two.”
I turned to see Brandon approaching us. I supposed you could say I was slowly opening my mind to him. It was obvious that Brandon had no romantic interest in Addison, and she didn’t have any in him, yet it bothered me how close they were. I thought I didn’t like how he’d been in her life while I was gone. It pissed me off that he had been around when I wasn’t.
“Hey, Brandon,” Addison said with a smile.
“Hey,” I said, putting my arm around her and yanking her back to my front. I laced my fingers together to keep her close.
“Are you guys participating in anything today?” Brandon asked.
Addison shook her head. “Just eating a bunch of chili.”
“I’m going to play football. You?” I asked.
Please say yes.
It would be very satisfying to be able to tackle him a couple of times as I pretended to forget it was flag football.
Brandon shook his head. “I didn’t play any sports in high school. Except golf,” he said with a laugh.
Pussy.
Brandon frowned. “Addison, you didn’t say your dad was judging the chili contest.”
Both Addison and I spun around to see that her father was indeed sitting at the judges’ table.
Addison’s mouth dropped open. “I had no idea.”
That’s what happens when you no longer speak to your father.
She’d told me a little bit of her conversation with her father the last time she had been over there, but I didn’t think she’d told me everything. All I knew was that it hadn’t gone well, and she hadn’t gone back since.
“Do you want to go and talk to him?” I asked.
I was pissed that this guy was the reason my mother was going to lose her home. Addison and I hadn’t come up with any new solutions. But I felt bad that she was estranged from her only parent.
She stepped closer to me. “No, not right now.”
That’s right, baby. I’ll protect you.
“That’s okay, babe. You don’t need to talk to him if you’re not ready.”
She didn’t say anything, just continued to watch her father. “Sometimes, I wish he could be different.”
I put my arm around her and kissed her forehead. “I understand that completely.” I’d often wished my mom hadn’t drunk when I was growing up. “Come on, let’s go find something else to do.”
As I turned her to go in the opposite direction, I saw the guy I’d seen hanging around her the night of the street dance. “Who is that again?”
Addison looked over and curled her lip. “That’s Simon. He’s my father’s protégé, shadow, and personal ass-kisser.”
“I take it, you don’t like him.”
“He’s smarmy. He actually thinks that I might date him just because my father wants me to.” She shivered and made a disgusted face. “I’d rather stick my hand in boiling water.”
“Tell me how you really feel,” I joked, but at the same time, I took inventory of the man. I didn’t like that he hit on Addison, especially when she didn’t want his advances. “He’s never come to your apartment or anything, has he?”
She looked up at me. “No. He’s never even come to my office before. Why? Should I be worried?”
I rubbed her arm and smiled at her. “No.” I nodded my head to the left. “Let’s go over there.”
“Okay.”
“Maddox, Maddox, Maddox,” a voice shouted from behind me.
I turned around to see Ben.
I held up my hand for a high five. “Hey, buddy. How’s it going?”
“Hey, Claire,” Addison said beside me. “How are you?”
I nodded to her, and she smiled at both of us.
“I’m good. Thank you for the recommendations. Things are going well so far.”
I looked at Addison, and she smiled. I didn’t ask, but I sure hoped the two of them were talking about the custody case.
I felt a tugging on my arm and looked down.
“Are you going to have ice cream? Mom said she was going to buy me ice cream,” Ben said.
“What? No fair.” I got down on one knee and blocked my mouth but talked loud enough for her to here. “I asked Addison if I could have some ice cream, but she told me I was too naughty.”
“Maddox,” Addison scolded me.
I peeked up at her to see her face turning bright red.
Ben tilted his head. “What did you do?”
“She says I’m a bed hog and that I take all the covers.” I rolled my eyes for emphasis.
Ben shook his head and pointed to himself. “My mom says the same thing about me.”
I threw my hands in the air. “And yet you still get ice cream. Your mom is nicer than Addison. You’re one lucky guy.”
Ben shook his head in disappointment as he looked at Addison.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “I bet your mom deserves a big thank-you for being so nice.”
Ben turned around. “Thanks, Mom.”
She smiled. “You’re welcome.” She held out her hand. “Shall we go?”
“Yeah.” Ben held out his fist for me, and I bumped it. “Good luck, dude.”
“Thanks. I might need it.”
Ben took his mom’s hand, and he skipped off with her.
I stood, and Addison backhanded me in the gut.
“Way to go. Now, the kid thinks I’m a big meanie.”
I laughed. “You are a big meanie. ‘Maddox, harder. Right there, Maddox. Don’t stop.’” I mimicked her higher voice. “You’re always bossing me around.”
“You’re such an asshole.” She might have insulted me, but she was laughing, too.
“Who’s ready to play some football?” a voice yelled in the crowd.
I clapped my hands together. “Come on, let’s go over there.”
Addison followed me over to the football field where people were crowding around to play. The person in charge had everyone line
up and count off by ones and twos.
“All right,” the leader said, “it’s shirts versus skins. Ones are shirts. Twos are skins.”
“That’s me,” I said and pulled my tee over my head. I handed it to Addison and turned toward the field to stretch.
Addison gasped and pushed my shirt into my chest. “You need to put this back on. Right now.” Her eyes were huge.
I looked around for danger but didn’t see anything. “Why?”
Her face was pinking up again. “Your back is covered in scratch marks. It’s obvious I put them there.”
I threw my head back and laughed.
“Maddox, this isn’t funny.”
“It kind of is.” I laughed again. “Maybe, if you weren’t so feisty in bed, I wouldn’t be all scratched up.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn’t make me come so much.”
I shook my head. “Never, babe. I’m always going to make you come.”
A whistle blew.
“Gotta go.” I slapped her on the ass. “Don’t forget to cheer for me.”
Thirty-Seven
Addison
I watched Maddox run off to play football and put my hands to my cheeks. They felt like they were on fire.
I couldn’t believe that Maddox was walking around with his shirt off. His back had new and old marks on it from my fingernails.
I held my hands out in front of me and spread my fingers. Maybe it was time to get a manicure. And I’d tell the technician to make sure she cut my nails as short as they could go.
I dropped my arms. Or maybe I should just be more aware of where my hands were when we were having sex.
Yeah, right. That wasn’t going to happen.
That man got me so twisted up inside. The only things I knew when we did it was where my vagina and my mouth were. Someone could cut off my foot, and I wouldn’t notice as long as Maddox Wolfe was inside me.
“He kind of makes you crazy, huh?”
I jumped and turned to see Kelly coming to stand beside me.
“Uh…yeah, he does. But in a good way.”
I’d talked to Kelly before. She was the mother of my single employee, but it felt different. Now, I was talking to her as the sister of the guy I was sleeping with. Thankfully, we both were facing the game, which made it easier for me to talk to her.
Take Me in the Night Page 14
