17. Hayden
Chapter seventeen
Hayden
I knew the upscale restaurant might make Addie uncomfortable. But Randall O’Brien, Errol’s son-in-law, insisted that we meet altogether at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse.
Even though she grew up in a similar class as I did, I’m not completely unsympathetic to the fact that she’s had to manage to pull away from her family’s riches; all while going to school and supporting herself and a young daughter.
“Oh, boy,” she mumbles after getting out of the back of Lionel’s car.
I place my hand near the small of her back as she adjusts her black suit jacket and matching pants.
“You’re going to do fine.”
Perhaps in order to make herself look more mature or “businesswoman-like,” she’s wearing her glasses again. But I am not complaining at all. I think she looks unbelievably sexy in them.
And she also has her long, dark hair pulled tight against her head and in a low ponytail. This has always been a favorite style on her because it really shows off the beauty of her high cheekbones and other striking facial features.
“I don’t care what he says. I’m ordering a glass of wine. But I mean, how can he be against that? Didn’t Jesus change water into wine?”
I already knew she was nervous, and her mile-per-minute chatter only drives that point home.
“You can absolutely order a glass of wine. Or two, if you want.”
She whimpers as soon as we walk into the front door.
“I wish they were like drinks at McDonald’s, and you could order a super-size.”
I chuckle. “Supersized meals haven’t been a thing since 2004.”
She looks back at me and rolls her ocean-colored eyes. “You know what I meant.”
“I do. Now just try to relax. You’re going to be just fine.”
I’ve already checked in with the host, and he’s about to lead us over to the table when she stops abruptly.
“You mean like the barbecue ended up just fine ?” There’s a cut to her words that aren’t totally unjustified.
In reality, I also hoped to God the pretentious, Bible-thumper would stray away from shaming her, and by strange happenstance, I mean me, tonight.
“If he says anything out of line, just squeeze my hand, and I’ll take care of it. Okay?” We’ve gone over this before, but I want to make sure she’s aware and comfortable with the plan.
“Yeah. Okay, okay.”
“I’m your make-believe husband, and I’ve got your back.”
By the way she looks up at me in appreciation, I can tell that she hasn’t heard those words a lot in her life.
So, I repeat them just for good measure. “I’ve got your back, Flores.”
Then, with an inconspicuous fist bump, we head over to our table.
Randall is already there, and he stands up to greet us.
“Ah, the marvelous Mr. and Mrs. Cohen.”
I shake away how strange, but simultaneously pleasing, it is to hear him say that.
“It’s wonderful to see you again,” Addie comments, holding out her hand and using the other to adjust the cross necklace I gifted her.
Now, I’d be lying through my teeth if I said I hadn’t previously noticed how well it nestled in between the nook of her breasts.
“Hayden?” Randall says, getting my attention.
“Ah, yes. Hello, sir.” I similarly shake his hand before pulling Addie’s chair out for her.
As soon as our server comes up and introduces himself, she wastes no time in ordering wine.
In response, he rattles off a bunch of fancy names, but she just responds, “Red. Dry and red. Please and thank you.”
“Coming right up, ma’am.”
To prove the point that I’m her teammate in all of this, I simply ask for the same. But Randall, on the other hand, just goes for water.
Go figure.
After dropping off our beverages, Addie takes a few sips and becomes more outgoing and bubblier with each one.
“Claire wanted me to send regrets on her behalf,” Randall says. “She isn’t feeling well tonight, so it’s just the three of us.”
“No problem,” Addie answers for both of us.
I curl my lips in and tilt my head in her direction. “Yes. What she said.”
“So, shall we get down to business?” he suggests. “The food is so delectable here; I doubt we’ll want to do much talking after it’s arrived.”
Leaning forward, I ask, “Yes, please. By all means.” Seeing as he was the one who requested this meeting, I’m intrigued by what he’s going to say.
“Mhmm,” Addie says with a nod and after hiccuping.
Although I can tell he’s kind of charmed by her whole show tonight, I don’t want things to turn south. So, I put my arm around her shoulders and whisper, “Hey, maybe try to slow down a bit. Or try eating some of this.” I bring the bread bowl in the middle of the table over to her.
She huffs, but nevertheless, grabs some, rips some pieces off, and crams it into her mouth.
With that, I relax a little and sit back in anticipation of whatever is about to come out of Randall’s mouth.
“Unfortunately, we aren’t able to sign off on the agreement just yet.”
Dammit. I resist letting my body deflate.
“Excuse me,” Addie announces, slurring her words a little despite the carbs in her belly. “I just need to step out and check on . . . something.”
Her eyes dart over in Randall’s direction before she stops herself from saying “Luna” or “my daughter.”
Thankfully, she didn’t say the last one because that could’ve raised red flags on our whole ruse.
“I’ll be right back. Sorry about that.”
We both watch her walk away and when I turn back to him, he comments, “She sure is a beauty, isn’t she?”
“Who—”
“Your wife, I mean.”
Oh. At first, I assumed he was talking about Claire, but that didn’t make much sense given the situation. And although, I wish he somehow was talking about her because those words, and especially when paired with the way in which he licked his lips after he said them, made me feel unreasonably uneasy.
“All good, babe?” I ask when she returns—once again placing my arm in a possessive way around her body.
She grimaces at what I guess is the pet name, my close contact with her, or a combination of both.
But after I raise my eyebrows, she seems to snap back into the farce.
“Right. Of course, babe. ” Then, she shuffles her shoulders back and settles into my side.
“I was unfortunately just explaining to your husband that we won’t be able to move forward with the land agreement. At least not yet. ”
“Oh, that’s right.” Addie looks at me and glowers. But I just rub her upper arm in response.
Then, I clear my throat and shuffle in my seat. “And why is that, exactly?”
He doesn’t give me a clear answer, and he instead seems to just skirt around the issue. I find this incredibly odd because, as I said, he asked to have this dinner.
“So, Addie. Tell me a little bit more about your background.”
Ah, okay. Now I’m starting to understand this sleazeball’s motives. And all while you have a wife at home who is carrying your billionth child.
If I could acquire the land for Ivory Shores from anyone but him, I would pull out of any connection I had right now. Unfortunately, that just simply isn’t the case.
“Well?” he encourages her.
“Okay. Um, I’m from Los Angeles originally, but I’ve lived in Phoenix, Arizona ever since I left for school.”
“You did live—you did live in Phoenix, you mean?”
“Oh, right. Of course. Now, I’m back here.”
That doesn’t only align with our fake backstory, but it’s also just the truth. She does live in Salvador’s mansion now.
“Anyway,” he seems to dismiss all of that, “I absolutely love Phoenix. I’m hoping once all the kids are grown and out of the house, the missus and I will be able to retire somewhere around there.”
“Oh, it’s the perfect place for that because it’s quiet enough in the places you want it to be, but then there are lively parts where you can find just about anything to do at any time.”
“Exactly!”
As they continue to bond over a city that I, quite frankly, find too muggy and desolate to be worth much, I can’t stop touching her.
At first, it was just the arm slumped over her shoulder, but then I even tried to grab her hand a few times. Except she declined my advances and even flinched away.
Fortunately for her, I guess, our steaks arrive, and I require both of my arms to properly cut and eat mine.
“That’s really pink, isn’t it?” I ask after peering over her shoulder and seeing the discerning color all over her plate.
“Well, yeah. I asked for it to be rare.”
Ick. Now, I’m no “hockey puck” man myself, but I prefer my beef to be a little more cooked than that.
But this seems to get Randall’s attention.
“You aren’t used to your wife’s preference?”
“I—” my heart drops a little in my chest. “No, I am. This just looks particularly undercooked, that’s all.”
He immediately starts bobbing and weaving his head in the air. “Let me find our waiter. I’ll ask him to take it back. I’m sure the chef will be happy to her of your helpful critiques.”
“Oh, God. Please, no. Hayden. That’s mortifying,” she pleads.
“No. That won’t be necessary.”
“Thank you.”
For the rest of the night, she allows the smallest of touches from me and even tolerates, at best, my playing with the ends of her hair.
But just before we’re about to say our goodbyes and conclude another puzzling evening spent with Randall, she peels away again.
“Just gotta make sure everything is okay.”
“Alright.”
***
After our dinner, we drive home through her car. Once we arrive, I get out with her, but see Lionel already pulled up.
I approach the black SUV to excuse him for the night.
“Sir? Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I’ll just call an Uber home.”
Reluctantly, he nods and then pulls away.
“What was that for?” Addie asks as she watches him drive down the street.
I feel like a frog is in my throat as I timidly ask, “Well, I was wondering if it’d be okay for me to come in and see Luna?”
“Oh. Um . . .”
Sensing rejection on her end, I try to back myself out of the situation. “Actually, you know what?” Never mind. It was stupid. “I’ll just see you tomorrow at the subsidiary, yeah? We’ve got to brainstorm where the hell we need to go from here with Randall and this stupid agreement.”
My phone is already pulled out of my pocket, and I’m about to get the app up on the screen.
She comes a little closer and blocks it with her dainty hand. “What I was going to say is that she’s probably a sleep by now.”
“Right.” Then, I let out an uncomfortable chuckle. “I always forget how early kids go to sleep.”
“Yeah.”
A moment of silence falls upon us, and I notice she’s rubbing her arms, which must mean she’s cold.
“Can I actually ask you something?” I’ve been dying to know, and I figure I might as well ask now before I depart for the night.
“Okay?”
“Why’d you call the nanny twice tonight?”
“Oh.” She lets out a prolonged sigh. “I was wondering if you were going to catch onto that or not.”
How could I not?
“Listen, I just have a hard time trusting others around my kid. Usually, after school, she just comes to work with me. But since we had this dinner meeting, I had no choice but to leave her with someone else.”
“That makes sense.”
“Fine. If you really want to see her, you can. But you have to promise to be quiet.”
I wasn’t expecting her to say that, but I hold my fingers up. “Scout’s honor.”
With that, we relieve the nanny and head upstairs into Luna’s bedroom. She looks so peaceful as she sleeps, and I can’t help but recognize that she sleeps just like me—on her belly with one arm at her side and the other perched up at an angle.
“Thanks for that,” I say after we come back down to the main foyer. “I, um. I suppose I’ll be going then—”
I turn my back away from her, but she stops me. “Hayden. What exactly is it you want here? With me, and well, with Luna.”
Facing her again, my brow furrows. “What do you mean? I don’t want anything.”
She rolls her eyes but mutters, “Fine, then. Good night.”
I hesitate and glance at the upper level. Is it so bad if I never know? What I do know, however, is that I feel this undeniable urge deep in my bones to get to know the kid better. But I don’t want to admit that to her and make her freak out. So, I just explain my behavior by saying, “I just like the kid.”
I then notice Addie blinking back tears.
“Add—”
Before I can think another thought, she’s up on her toes and kissing me.