6. Cheating on the French Ambassador
CHAPTER 6
CHEATING ON THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR
I t had been another aggravating day at work. Addison had her quarterly meeting with her boss’s boss, Megan, to go over her closed cases, open ones, and overall performance. While her winning record was the highlight of the review, Megan seemed unimpressed with her ideas for her current cases. Maybe I’m projecting and she just wasn’t overly positive or telling me how great I am throughout the meeting. When stressed, Addison sometimes catastrophized, and she hoped that was happening that day instead of bigger roadblocks on her partner track. Usually, her job was fun because it challenged her, but today she was just impatient and felt like she wasn’t making fast enough progress.
By the time she left the office, Addison was in an uncomfortable spot. She was crabby but wanted to blow off some steam. She didn’t have the patience to go out in a crowd, but a night at home by herself didn’t feel like it would do the job either.
Addison made her way over to the St. Regis but gave up halfway there. Hanging around with a bunch of lawyers wasn’t going to give her the relief she needed. She considered going to the gym, but that sounded like too much effort. Picking up groceries? Even more effort than the gym.
I could text Lexi, but I don’t really feel like it. We just saw each other last night at Pilates.
It was at that point Addison realized she needed more friends. Her hours at the office hadn’t left much room for that, and it wasn’t going to get easier with age. It’s pretty much Lexi or Prickles. That’s so sad.
Or…Tim. Being with Tim was comfortable. He was the kind of friend who let her just exist. They didn’t need to go out or have a concrete plan. But she had been leaning on him a lot lately. They’d gone from practically no contact to talking daily.
I’m asking too much of him to hang out all the time. He’d probably rather be out with women on dates than hanging around with me as friends. Especially since I’m too restless to be much fun.
Standing around on K Street wasn’t going to help, so Addison headed back to the office parking garage to drive home.
As soon as she got in the car, her phone connected to Bluetooth, and a call came through. She glanced at the display. Tim’s name flashed on the screen.
It’s like I summoned him.
“Hey,” she answered.
“Are you in the middle of something?” Tim asked.
“No, I just got in my car and was about to leave work.”
“Perfect. I’m near your office. I just finished up a showing for a storefront and wanted to see if you were free.”
“Oh,” she said, surprised by her luck.
“But,” he continued quickly, “I get it if you just want to go home and unwind after your day. Or if you’re heading out with someone.”
“Who would I be heading out with?” she asked.
“I don’t know. One of our Nation’s Capital’s hot bachelors? Perhaps a dashing freshman senator?”
“You clearly don’t know me at all.”
“I know you very well. In fact, better than you might think. Let me guess what you’re wearing right now.”
“What?!” Addison exclaimed, shocked.
“Not in a sexy way,” he clarified. “I know you so well I bet I can guess, down to how your hair is styled. Suit jacket, skirt—but not a matching set because you think that’s too ‘matchy-matchy.’ Heels that are way too high for most women, but not for you because you’re superhuman. Probably that giant lawyer bag that holds everything, maybe even an entire hat rack. And…hmm, your hair is down because it’s not humid and you don’t have to deal with it getting wavy.”
Uncanny. She looked around to ensure he wasn’t calling her from somewhere nearby where he could see her.
“Am I right?” he asked. “If I am, I win an evening with you.”
I’d tell you you’re right even if you got it completely wrong, she thought.
“You got it,” she said.
“That means you need to cancel your date so you can hang out with your ol’ pal Tim.”
“Pal,” right. I need to tattoo that somewhere to remind myself.
“I don’t think the French Ambassador’s going to like that,” she joked.
“Screw him. I’m playing with Addie tonight.”
“You’re going to break his heart. Which is unhealthy because he’s in his 60s.”
Tim gasped dramatically.
“He’ll be fine,” she said, giggling.
“No, I gasped because I just realized what we need to do. We’re putting all that niche knowledge to use right now. It’s trivia night at Kingfisher. Meet me outside your parking garage, and we’ll walk over.” He was right of course. Between the two of them they got every question right and ended up being the winning team. Addison would have played just for fun, but the prize—a food voucher for Kingfisher—enticed them to stay after the game.
“Cheers to our big win,” Tim exclaimed, clinking his beer glass with Addison’s martini.
“We make a good team,” she said, smiling. Maybe in more than just trivia.
“I’ve gotten a lot of crap over the years for going to a liberal arts college, but you can’t deny the usefulness of that education when it comes to useless information. You should see me when Jeopardy is on. I know so many things that don’t matter.”
Addison gave him a stern look. “You’ve always talked down about your education. It makes me mad. I don’t understand why you do that.”
“Defense mechanism, I guess. Do you have any idea how people react to not only an English Literature degree, but to a man with one?” Tim said, a hint of sadness creeping into his tone.
“I think well-read men are sexy,” she said coyly. Reel it in, sexpot.
“You’re in the minority, but I’ll take that compliment.”
“Friends don’t let friends talk badly about themselves, especially when it’s not true,” Addison said, leaning in a little.
“Do friends tell other friends they look beautiful tonight?”
I’m going to faint. What should I say?
“Um, yeah. Yeah, they can.”
“Then, Addie, you look really beautiful tonight.”
Addison felt her head spin. Did he really just say that? What do I do now?
Before she could respond, one of Tim’s work friends came over to say hello, and the moment passed. There wasn’t another chance to regain that flirty tone for the rest of the night, which she later realized might’ve been for the best.
Imagine explaining to Jake and Lexi that Tim and I are interested in each other. That would be a nightmare.
For the next few days, Tim went radio silent. It gave Addison time to get her head straight, though she couldn’t stop replaying what he had said about her being beautiful. I’m reading too much into it. He was just being nice. He’d had a few drinks.
Despite her best efforts to push Tim from her mind, Addison was thrilled when she received texts from both Jake and Tim about an impromptu party celebrating Jake and Laura getting back together. Tim hadn’t exactly asked her to be his date, but he made it clear she was expected to be there.
At the party, Addison realized she didn’t know anyone except Jake and Tim. It would’ve been a stretch to say she knew Laura well enough to hang out with her either. Thankfully, Tim stuck by her side that night. After finishing up with Jake and Laura, he made a beeline for Addison.
“I can’t believe you pulled off getting Jake and Laura back together,” Tim said close to her ear, his cheeks flushed from the celebratory shots
He’s a caring, sexy guy. Why is he alone?
“So, Tim, is there a potential Mrs. Dobbs waiting for you after this?” she asked, surprising herself with the question.
Tim’s eyes lit up. “You testing the waters, Addie? Am I doing it for you with these relationship heroics?” he teased.
Well, you’re not not doing it for me. Stop. What is wrong with you, woman?
“Yep, I’m ready to invite you back to my place, big boy,” she said, rolling her eyes. I hate that I’d actually love that.
Tim looked at her with an intensity that made her heart race. His pupils dilated, and he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “The answer would be yes.” With a wink, he walked away to join Jake on the other side of the bar, leaving Addison stunned.