5. Addison
Addison
# When bumping into a semi-naked ex who trampled on your heart, never ever look at his man meat
I check my watch and feel a wave of panic. “Dammit. Dammit. Dammit!” I’d hoped to be on the road by three so that I could get to the cabin by eight and then have ample time to freshen up and put on my best game face before I have to see Chase in the flesh. And now it’s almost four already.
“Damn flowers,” I grumble, stuffing the last of the table decorations into the trunk of Angelina—my stunningly beautiful, bright-yellow Volkswagen.
Of course, it’s not the flowers’ fault that I’m late, that’s entirely due to my indecision over what to pack for this four-day adventure into hell I’m about to embark on.
I really should stop referring to my brother and practically-already-my-sister’s wedding that way, but I can’t help it.
The thought of seeing Chase in person makes me want to simultaneously vomit and explode into a fit of rage.
And I’m not totally sure which one of those events is most likely to happen.
Actually, it would probably be the former knowing me.
Space in my little car is limited, so therefore what I packed had to be limited too.
And while I know I should have opted for the comfortable and sturdy boots, and only one pair of heels for the wedding, of course I opted for four pairs of truly stunning heels and no boots, other than the ones on my feet.
Because heels make me feel confident and sexy, and I’m going to need all the help I can get in that department.
When the final box of flowers is in the car, I wedge the trunk shut and then squeeze my suitcase onto the passenger seat, nestling between more flowers.
And then I roll back my shoulders and give myself a much-needed pep talk.
This trip is going to be awesome. I’ll get to spend time with my parents, whom I adore, see my two favorite people in the entire world get married and catch up with some cousins I haven’t seen for years.
Plus, I’ll get plenty of time to myself to do all the things I barely get time to do, like read and meditate—the latter being something I’ve never done in my entire life, but which Emma keeps telling me would be good for me.
I even downloaded myself an app to give me some pointers.
Yes, this week is going to be perfect!
I’ve only been driving for a few miles when I get a call from Brax.
I answer it, but I can barely hear him.
“Brax, is everything okay?”
“Ad…bin…ter…kay.” Broken pieces of words are all that come through.
“Brax, I can’t hear you. I think your cell signal there is awful,” I tell him, because my dashboard says I have full signal.
He goes on talking, but the sounds make no sense. He’s all jumbled up now, like a robot speaking an alien language.
“I’ll be there by ten,” I shout, as though that might miraculously help him to understand me.
The line goes dead and the car is filled with Mariah Carey’s angelic voice once more.
I sing along and can’t help but recall those times I sang this song into my hairbrush, imagining how one Christmas I would get exactly what, or who, I wanted—Chase Hunter!
Just goes to show you should be careful what you wish for, huh?
Thankfully, the drive to Vermont has been straightforward and stress free so far.
And I should arrive with enough time to brush my hair and my teeth, and then change into something that doesn’t make me look like a florist. Not that there’s anything at all wrong with looking like a florist—I am one after all—but jeans, a flannel shirt covered in lily pollen and sheepskin boots aren’t exactly the look I’m going for this week.
I follow the directions to Lakefisher Lodge, which to my relief is very well signposted.
I chose this one because it was the lake cabin farthest from the main hotel where the wedding is being held, my reasoning being I wanted to be as far away from my past as possible.
It was only when I looked at the pictures online that I realized why this particular lodge was so far out of the way.
Jasper was thrilled to discover what the second bedroom was used for, even though I assured him we’d be getting zero use out of it.
I snort a little laugh at the look on Emma’s face when I showed her.
“Wow! People in Vermont sure like to get their freak on,” she’d said.
I reminded her that people everywhere liked to get their freak on and what better place to do it than a secluded cabin in the woods.
I actually feel a little sad for the place that it will be getting zero action of any kind this week.
I did bring my vibrator though, and a new set of nipple clamps I’d hoped to try with Jasper but will no doubt be happier testing out alone.
But still I’m sure Lakefisher Lodge is used to far kinkier and more exciting action than anything I’m going to do this week.
I’m surprised to find the lights on when I pull up to the cabin. But what a nice touch. It makes the place look warm and welcoming, and I suppose also ensures that any guests don’t trip over or bump into anything if they’re arriving in the dark.
I grab my suitcase from the front seat and then fire off a text to Eva, telling her I’ve arrived and I’ll meet them in the bar after a quick shower and change.
There’s a path that leads directly from Lakesfisher Lodge to the main hotel and I have a flashlight, so I have no qualms about finding the place.
I get a little red warning error telling me my message didn’t send.
Damn phone signal. I hold my cell up in the air, like that might help, but of course it doesn’t. It will be fine. She’s expecting me around ten and around ten is when I’ll be there.
I enter the code on the email I was sent and retrieve the key from the little locked box before letting myself in. Immediately, something feels wrong.
Why the hell does this place smell like cologne? Why is there steam coming from one of the bedrooms?
I shriek when the silhouette of a man appears in the bedroom doorway, grabbing my suitcase and holding it in front of me like a shield, like it would do me any good at all, but still, a girl’s gotta use whatever she has to hand.
“Addie?” That voice is so achingly familiar, and also so very rage inducing.
I drop my suitcase with a thunk. “Chase? What the hell are you doing here?”
He holds up his hands in surrender as he steps out of the room and into the light. Damn asshole is wearing only a towel, slung low on his waist. Low enough to see the V that disappears beneath it…My gaze drifts lower.
No, Addie! We do not admire Chase Hunter’s physique, no matter how pleasing to the eye it might be, and we definitely do not look at his man meat. Never.
“I can explain,” he says, walking toward me.
I snarl. If I had my heels on, I’d brandish one like a weapon and tell him to get the hell out. “I’m pretty sure there is no logical explanation in this entire world that would explain you being here, half naked, in my cabin.”
“Brax was worried about you and he asked me to stay.”
Ah! I guess there is one explanation. “And you agreed to, why?”
“Because he was worried you were brokenhearted over some douche-canoe and he didn’t want you spending four nights in this secluded cabin on your own. And to be frank, I don’t really like the idea much myself. There’s not even any decent cell signal here. And the Wi-Fi is shocking.”
I snort. “Don’t pretend you did any of this out of the kindness of your heart, Chase. Leaving aside the fact you don’t possess one, you did this because Brax gave you an impossible choice. And you didn’t want my brother to find out what a giant ass-face you truly are.”
He sucks in a breath, hands on his hips as he glares at me. “Like I said, he was worried about you. And your broken heart, apparently.”
“I do not have a broken heart,” I snap. “Far from it. You, though, almost had a broken face. You could have given me some prior warning that you’d be here. I almost had a heart attack. What if I’d been carrying a gun?”
“You hate guns.”
“Still, if I didn’t and I had been packing heat, I could have shot you right in the ass or something.”
I’m sure his lips twitch like he wants to smile, but he doesn’t. “Brax tried to tell you earlier but like I said the cell signal here is awful.”
“So, you just invaded my cabin without even asking? How did you even get in here?” I dangle the cabin key on my finger.
“Eva’s mom explained the new situation to the hotel desk and they gave me an extra key.”
“And then you decided to wander around half naked to jump out and surprise me? And I see you already chose a bedroom. So, you just walked in here and took over my cabin that I paid for with no thought for anyone but yourself?”
He rolls his eyes. “I didn’t choose any room, Addie. I just took a fucking shower in the first bathroom I found. You can have whatever room you like. I really don’t give a shit.”
Clearly, he didn’t look around when he got here. I fold my arms over my chest and look him dead in the eye. “You’re sure about that?”
He nods. “Yeah.”
Oh, well, at least this next part is going to be so much fun. It might even be worth the horror of having to share a cabin with him for the next four nights. My shock at finding him here is quickly being replaced by sheer delight. It’s probably very wicked of me, but still…he deserves it.
I suppress a snicker. “Shall I show you where you’ll be sleeping, Chase?”
He frowns now, confused and wary. “If you insist.”
“Oh, I insist. Shall we?” I indicate he should follow me along the hallway, ignoring how much I like the scent of his cologne when I get within a few feet of him.
Does he have to smell so good? Can he not have one thing that helps me be repulsed by him—aside from the fact he’s a heartless asswipe, obviously?
But unfortunately, my hormones don’t appear to react to that quite as sensitively as they do to his inappropriately intoxicating scent.
I can no longer keep the grin from my face when we get to the cabin’s second bedroom and I push open the door—revealing a state-of-the-art sex dungeon, complete with blacked-out windows, blood-red painted walls, an entire wall of floggers, whips and handcuffs and the pièce de résistance—a swing hanging from the center of the ceiling.
“What the actual fuck?” Chase’s shocked gasp makes me giggle, and I press a hand over my mouth to stifle it.
He steps into the room, spinning around with his mouth hanging open. “What the fuck is this place, Addie?”
“I believe the brochure describes it as an ‘Aladdin’s cave of sexual pleasure that will satisfy all your needs.’” I lean against the door jamb. “Surely, you’ve seen a sex dungeon before, no?”
His eyes land on mine, his face a delightful picture of confusion and horror. “What. The. Fuck?” he says again.
“Your vocabulary has seriously diminished since you moved to LA, Chase. You said that already.”
He ignores the barb. “Why the hell did you book a cabin with a sex dungeon?”
I could tell him that the sex dungeon was inconsequential and the location was its only selling point, but he doesn’t need to know that. Instead, I steel myself and roll back my shoulders. “Why do you think?”
He winces, like he’s disgusted by the idea of me having sex or using any of the equipment in here.
Of course he is, because I’m his best friend’s annoying kid sister.
The one he threw a bone to. Why would any guy want to do anything like that with me, huh?
That painful memory claws its way to the surface and I push it away.
This should be about enjoying the look on Chase’s face as he realizes he’ll have to sleep on a sex swing.
“I mean, it looks kind of comfy. Like a hammock?” I offer.
He runs a finger over one of the leather straps and wrinkles his nose. “I wonder how many people have fucked on this thing?”
Ugh. I don’t want to think about that actually.
His eyes lock on mine and they narrow a little, enough so I notice. “If you’re going to fuck on a sex swing, Addie, you should really consider getting one of your own.”
What now? My knees tremble. “What makes you think I don’t have one? Couldn’t exactly pack it up with all the flowers and bring it, could I?”
His jaw tics. “I guess you won’t be needing either this one or your own this week now.”
Asswipe! Obviously, he knows I just got dumped. I wish he also knew that I’m not even a little sad about it, and I don’t need his pity. “I guess not.”
He glances at the swing again. “Looks like I’ll be sleeping on the sofa then.”
I snort. “Looks like. I’ll think about you when I’m lying in my three hundred thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and curled up beneath the goose-down duvet.”
He arches a brow. “Oh, I have no doubt you’ll be thinking about me, Firefly.”
Firefly? How dare he use that cute little pet name for me after everything he did, but hang on, what?
Why is he being so cocky…Dammit! “I didn’t mean…
” I screw my eyes closed. I want to face-palm myself, but I take a breath and work to regain my composure.
When I open my eyes again, he’s staring at me with a wicked grin on his face.
“My only thoughts about you, Chase Hunter, are…very not nice.” Wow! Way to go, Addie! Burn!
He laughs darkly. “Hmm, I expect they’re real naughty.”
What! Holy firecrackers I need to get away from him. He turns my usually sharp brain into a blunt instrument. Maybe it’s the abs. Or the cocksure smile. Or the outline of his…
“You wish, asshole!” is the snappiest retort I can think of, that along with turning on my heel and removing myself from his orbit.
I will survive these next four days.
I will not fall for Chase’s easy charm.
I will not stare into those bright blue eyes and remember how good of a kisser he is.
I will not make another Chase-Hunter-sized mistake.