Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
AN OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE
Beckett
I grabbed Addison’s bag from the backseat of my car and reached for her hand, leading us toward the parking garage elevator.
“I think I’m growing on Nana already,” I said as I pressed the button.
“Yes, well, the books you brought her definitely went a long way. Even if she didn’t say so.”
The doors opened, and I dropped her hand to place my palm against the small of her back and usher her into the waiting elevator. I tapped the button for floor seven.
I caught part of one of their conversations about books during Thanksgiving dinner and made a mental note of the information. I bought a few of the books they were talking about and gave them to Nana.
I’d also given Grams my grandmother’s banana bread recipe we’d discussed that day. But she was already on Team Beckett, if you will. Nana was still unsure.
“It really was thoughtful,” Addison said, smiling up at me as the elevator began to move. “It meant a lot to me, too. That you listened and that you care enough about their approval to do little things like that.”
Tugging her closer, I tucked her underneath my arm and enjoyed the way she hugged around my midsection and her head rested against my chest. I bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I care so much more than a few books,” I explained. “That’s the least I can do.”
Honest, green eyes met mine, and I leaned forward, dropping a sweet kiss to her lips as the doors opened.
My apartment was one of three units on the floor and right outside the elevator. Unlocking the door, I waved for her to go in first as I flipped on the entryway light.
I closed and locked the door, dropping her bag near the entryway table where I tossed my keys and wallet as well. Addison wandered farther into my apartment, studying my space that looked wildly different from her own.
Most of my apartment was decorated in neutral colors—beige, black, and brown were my favorites because I knew everything matched that way. But I’d spent a lot on a comfortable, plush couch and curtains for the windows that looked out on the patio and city beyond.
There were a few pictures I’d framed throughout the living room, but other than that, I didn’t personalize it much. Not that I didn’t want to, I just didn’t know how to or have the eye for it.
Addison tucked a stray piece of pink hair behind her ear as she roamed into the living room, rounding my low, wood coffee table and eyeing the large TV on the opposite wall.
I continued into the kitchen and flipped on the pendant lights hanging over the island.
It was one big room, and I watched her take everything in.
“It’s exactly what I expected,” she said, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Is that so?”
She nodded and ran her fingers along the back of the couch as she crossed to the kitchen, stopping just on the other side of the island between two barstools. She leaned her elbows on the marble counter, and I got a perfect view of her cleavage in her V-neck sweater.
“Yes, that is so. It’s clean and neat and…a little plain.” She cringed, but I wasn’t offended.
“It is plain, especially compared to your place.”
She slid into one of the barstools and shrugged. “I can help you personalize it a little,” she offered. “Add some color, if you want.”
Retrieving the pasta I’d made the evening before and the herbs I needed for the sauce, I shut the fridge and turned back to her.
“You’ve already added so much color to my life, Bubbles.”
Her eyes widened ever so slightly, and she shot me a tentative smile.
Like she was surprised by my honesty or the thought that she’d made my life better in the short time she’d been in it.
It shouldn’t have been a surprise, though, and maybe I should have been doing a better job letting her know that.
Righting her expression, she cleared her throat and worried her lower lip between her teeth. “So, you…umm…like the color then?”
My smile widened as I pulled open the pantry door and retrieved the other items I needed for dinner. I didn’t respond until I was back on the other side of the island, and I could look her in the eye as I said, “Yeah, I like the color.”
A more confident smile worked its way across her lips, and I liked how pleased she was by my answer.
She straightened in her seat and eyed the ingredients I’d laid out. “What are you making?”
“It’s this pasta my aunt makes. It doesn’t really have a name. Growing up we just called it Aunt Michelle’s pasta.”
“Well, I’m excited,” she said, and on cue, her stomach growled loud enough that it echoed through the kitchen. Her eyes widened as she shrugged. “Excited and starving?”
“It’ll be quick, I promise. Everything’s already cut, all I have to do is sauté it and cook the pasta I made last night.”
“Wait, you made the pasta? Like yourself?” I nodded and set a pot of salted water on the stove to start boiling. “Impressive.”
“Eh, I’d save your compliments until you’ve tasted it.”
“Do you want any help? I could be your sous chef.”
Shaking my head, I tossed some olive oil in a heated pan and dumped the chopped veggies in after. “Nope, I’ve got it. Just keeping me company is more than enough.”
Addison smiled, and I heard her shoes clatter to the floor as she kicked them off. She tucked her legs up into the chair with her and unclipped her hair, running her fingers through the strands.
She looked relaxed and content in my space. Exactly the way I wanted it.
“So, tell me about this big case you’re working on.”
I froze at her comment. I was working on a few very big cases that I’d mentioned to Addison, but the main thing occupying my time I’d kept to myself.
We were now confident that someone was stealing from the firm, but we couldn’t be sure who it was.
We were in the midst of hiring a forensic accountant to look into it, but we were struggling to find someone who had the time with the end of the year quickly approaching.
Addison already had enough on her plate, and I didn’t want to add to it. Especially when I didn’t have a solution yet. Although part of me wanted to talk to her about anything and everything.
“It’s a wrongful termination suit. Our client was wrongfully fired for retaliation. She made a report to HR and was fired two days later. It’s actually a pretty solid case, except it’s a large company with all the money in the world to fight it.”
“That’s insane. The poor woman.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be a fight, but we’ve discounted our legal fees, and I haven’t billed most of my time for it to help keep costs down.”
“That’s really kind of you, Beckett.”
I shot her a smile over my shoulder, ignoring all lingering thoughts about missing money, and stirred the veggies. “I know how hard it can be when a large company is coming after you. I want to help as much as I can.”
“Talk about impressive,” she shot back. Her phone buzzed across the counter in front of her, and she peeked down at it quickly. Her light brown brows furrowed, and she shook her head as she typed.
As she responded to whatever message she’d received, I poured us both a glass of wine. A bottle of red that I thought she would like. I slid the glass across to her as she set her phone back down on the counter. She smiled and took a sip, licking the remnants from her lips.
“What was that?” I asked, motioning to her phone.
She sighed deeply and ran her painted nail around the rim of her glass. I could sense her irritation, and I hated it.
“Apparently, Owen just won’t give up. He’s calling Bri, trying to get in touch with me since I blocked his number. She just texted to tell me.”
I muffled my shock and my own irritation with a sip of wine.
“I just don’t get it,” she continued. “Why he won’t just let me go. Getting the stupid tattoo and calling my friends, I just…”
Chuckling, I shook my head and took another sip, trying to hide my anger.
“What?” she asked.
My eyes raked over her face, and I don’t know how she couldn’t see what I did. How anyone couldn’t see the perfectly amazing, enigmatic woman sitting in front of me. How anyone couldn’t treat her the way she absolutely deserved to be treated.
“Anyone would be stupid to stop fighting for you, but his behavior is disgusting. You’ve said it clear as day that you want him to stop.
I’m not sure why that message isn’t getting through his thick fucking skull.
You shouldn’t even have to say it once for him to know it’s over and to leave you alone. ”
She took a deep breath and was silent for a beat, like she was considering my words. Her eyes bounced between mine, slipping over my face like she was searching for dishonesty.
Not finding any, she blinked. “I wish he understood that, but I don’t really want to talk about my ex anymore. Especially when he’s nothing compared to you.”
I couldn’t help my smile. I knew Owen wasn’t great, so it wasn’t like I had steep competition or anything. But I wanted to be good for Addison. I wanted to make her happy.
So, I changed the subject.
“How’d Nana’s doctor’s appointment go? Did you hear anything else from the insurance company yet?
” I knew it likely wasn’t the topic she wanted to discuss, but it had been top of my mind.
It bothered Addison that the nurse was only visiting three times a week.
Not because she had to step up even more—she never complained about it—but because she was struggling to keep up. It was a lot for one person to handle.
Nana seemed okay, though. She was moving around a little better in the few weeks I’d seen her.
Addison’s eyes dropped to her hands, and I saw the anxiety tighten across her shoulders.
“The appointment went well, but we likely won’t hear anything from the insurance company for another week or two, at which time the nurse will only be coming two days a week.”
Her sigh was loaded, and I couldn’t tell if it was a good time to bring up my solution. All I wanted to do was make her life easier, better. Just as she’d done for me.
“And I’m guessing you’ve looked into what it would cost to pay for the nurse out-of-pocket for a few extra days?”
Her eyes bounced to mine. “Yeah, but it’s not manageable. At least not right now. But I’m holding out for the lottery.” She raised her crossed fingers and choked out a dry laugh.
I heard Andrew’s voice in my head, mocking me and calling me “Mr. Fix-it,” but I couldn’t help it. If I could do something, why wouldn’t I?
“What if money wasn’t an object?”
“What?”
Her question was clipped, and I dumped the pasta in the boiling water, stirring it once and leaning back against the counter next to the stove where I could keep an eye on the food and see Addison. Her eyes were narrowed incredulously, like she was wary of my response.
“What if I…helped out?” I wasn’t rich by any means, but I was well-off enough that I could pay for the nurse. Maybe pay for a few nurses. I also had money saved, and the firm was doing well. Even with the fucking missing money.
She immediately shook her head. “I would never ask you to do that.”
“I know. That’s why I’m offering instead.”
“Beckett, you can’t,” she argued.
“I can, and I want to.”
She stayed quiet for several long seconds, but I stood firm with my arms crossed over my chest.
“I can handle it myself,” she said.
Inclining my head, I went back to tending to the pasta. “I know you can. You’ve proven that, and I would never question it.” I walked the pot to the sink across from the island and dumped the pasta into the strainer.
Addison didn’t respond until I crossed back to the stovetop and started putting together the sauce in the same pan as the vegetables.
“You can’t be serious,” she whispered. “That’s not a small amount of money, Beckett.”
Leaving the sauce to simmer, I wiped my hands on the dish towel and dropped it on the counter. Addison tracked me as I rounded the counter and stopped beside her. Grabbing the seat beneath her, I swiveled it until she was facing me.
I gripped her hip with one hand and collared the other loosely around the base of her throat, tilting her chin up with my thumb. When I knew I had her full attention, only then did I continue.
“I’m very, very serious, baby girl. I understand how much money it is, and yet, I’m still offering. You don’t have to answer me right now, just promise me you’ll think about it.”
I felt her swallow against my hand, but she eventually nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
I hummed in approval and muttered, “Good girl,” against her lips just before I kissed her softly. God, I wanted to deepen it, but dinner was ready, and I knew she was starving.