Chapter 20 #3
Stephanie smiled knowingly. I’d never been super vocal about my past family relationship—it was hard to bring it up to people who didn’t care about me beyond my success in business.
Every interview focused on my business successes, and I never answered questions about my personal life.
But if I told her… something told me she’d see down to the real me.
“I wouldn’t judge you, you know,” she said softly. “Whatever it is, you’re clearly avoiding telling me about your family.” She shifted nervously, fiddling with the hem of her sweater. “Look around.” She gestured absently. “I know a thing or two about complicated, okay?”
I cleared my throat and glanced at her sweater, which wasn’t all that ugly beyond belonging to a hideous designer in the ‘90s. She made it look much better than it would alone. “Thanks. I know you wouldn’t, I just…”
The assortment of half a dozen ties hanging over the footboard of my bed caught my attention, and I grabbed at the subject change. “Oh, while you’re here, which one matches your dress for tomorrow night?”
Stephanie followed my motioning to the bed, and her eyes widened. “You brought all these ties?” she asked, running a finger lightly over each.
“Well, you weren’t exactly forthcoming with the shade of red, so…”
She held a burgundy tie with white Swiss polka dots to my chest and tilted her head. “This one.”
I swallowed hard and took it from her. Realizing we were standing a little too close in my bedroom, I cleared my throat. “Great. Shall we?” I motioned to the door.
She fished her phone out of her jeans pocket. “Selfie first. This moment needs to live in infamy.”
“You just want to send it to the guys,” I grumbled.
Stephanie laughed. “Tempting, but no. This is for us.” She nestled into my side as my arm draped over her shoulders. With the height difference, she didn’t quite hit my collarbone. Handing me the phone, she added, “Your arms are longer. Wait, move to the left, the lighting’s better.”
That was the photographer in her speaking, I was certain, making me even happier that my express shipped package had arrived this morning and was currently hiding under my bed.
I chuckled and snapped a few shots, being sure to capture our sweaters.
Loving her bright smile and dancing eyes. The way she fit perfectly against me.
She took her phone back and snapped another picture of me with a laugh. “I’m sorry. It’s too terrible.”
“Send them to me at least.” I rolled my eyes as we slipped into the hallway. “Think I have any hope of beating your nana?”
She snorted again. “With that getup, you better.”
“Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?” I asked in mock horror. “Steph, I’m crushed.”
“I think your ego can handle it.”
“Handle losing or your embarrassment?”
Stephanie shook her head, stomping ahead of me. “There’s money if you beat her, Prescott. Don’t let your guard down.”
I smirked, hurrying to catch up and lace our fingers together. “Good thing only one Addams has to love me then, huh?”
I counted her attractive blush as a win.
If I thought Stephanie’s reaction was priceless, her family’s were even more so.
In true Addams form, they were loud about it, especially little Eden, who promptly burst into tears, thanks to the number of elf eyeballs I was wearing.
I’d make it up to her later. My main mission now was crushing Charmain Russo Addams. Wow, that Addams spirit was really rubbing off on me.
Stephanie kept her arm lightly hooked around my bicep as we wandered around the living room taking stock of the competition because we’d be voting on who had the ugliest sweater.
Once we’d seen everyone and filled out our secret ballot, Stephanie led me into the kitchen.
It was humming with activity. Trays and platters of desserts and appetizers littered the counters.
Austin basted two baking dishes loaded with chicken wings—barbeque and honey mustard—before popping them back in the oven.
Zoe adjusted the stack of poinsettia-print napkins and paper plates with preciseness.
Nana twirled her spatula, saying something I didn’t catch, but it spurred three bodies into action.
It was mayhem. And it smelled like heaven.
Hailey materialized beside us and dragged Stephanie after her. “Time for bruschetta. It’s tradition!”
I wandered after them, watching as the two cousins stood hip to hip at the counter and piled the creamy mayo, cheese, tomato, and olive bruschetta filling onto sliced baguettes, laughing freely.
I rubbed my sternum absently as if I could ease away the gnawing sensation their banter created.
How could I miss what I never had? Since losing my family, my closest relationships had been with Ryan and Emmett and their families.
It had been enough, and I was incredibly blessed by them. But now… I wanted more.
As Hailey shuffled the first two trays of bruschetta into the second oven, Stephanie glanced around until she caught my eye, then she smiled. It was a forever kind of smile, a hundred words conveyed in a simple gesture… and something inside me clicked into place.
I’d been reluctant to date for the last ten years, determined to not let another woman break me the way Alexis had.
I’d convinced myself I was happy where I was, content…
and I was. But I could also admit I wished for more.
Despite all my defenses, all my reservations, Stephanie Addams had shown up, and without me even fully realizing it, she’d waltzed into my heart and taken up shop.
I was gonna marry this woman. If only she could be convinced to take a chance on me, too.