Chapter 19
NINETEEN
Ridge
Addison
I can’t believe we stayed at the beach until midnight. I hope you know I had the best time. In fact, I haven’t had a moment like that—one as special as you made it—in a long time.
Me
That means we need to do it again.
Next week, same time, same place?
Addison
YES.
But will your mom be okay with watching Daisy again? I feel bad …
Me
My mom begs me every day to give my nanny a day off so she can watch my daughter until I get home from work. She asks for her every weekend, and Rhett does too. Don’t feel bad. She has the best time at Grandma’s house and her uncle’s place. She’d probably rather be there than home because neither of them ever tells her no.
Besides, Daddy needs some time for himself …
Addison
DADDY!
OMG, I’m dying.
Me
LOL. Jana is back in town next week, so she’ll have Daisy when we go to the beach. Grandma or Uncle Rhett won’t even be needed.
Addison
Does that mean Jana will be coming to the parent-teacher conference?
Me
Yes, she rearranged her schedule so she could make it.
Addison
Does she know? About us, I mean.
I’m only asking because I need to prepare myself for what I could possibly be walking into.
Me
I didn’t think I should tell her until things between us turned more serious. I’m just trying to respect your timeframe and speed. I don’t want you to take any of that the wrong way, Addison. I should have called you and explained this over the phone instead of texting it.
Addison
It wasn’t a trap, Ridge, don’t worry. ;) I get it, and I fully support your decision.
Me
You sure? I’m not trying to hide it—or hide you. Trust me, that’s not the case at all. But given that you’re Daisy’s teacher, I want to tread a little lightly with Jana. I just don’t know how she’s going to react.
Addison
I know how this works, remember? I’ve seen a lot of it, minus the me-involved part—that’s definitely new. Jana is going to want to protect Daisy at all costs. She’s Mama Bear—at least, that’s the case in most situations. Let’s go super slow and gentle with her.
I’m just throwing this out there, but if we have to wait until the end of the school year to tell her, I’m okay with that. I swear. I don’t want Jana to be an obstacle or for her to have to worry about anything at all. We have enough obstacles as it is, ya know? But I also don’t want to lie to her. She deserves the truth.
Man, this is wicked hard.
Me
I wish you were in front of me right now.
Addison
Why?
Me
So I could tell you how amazing you are and then fucking devour you.
Addison
3
Me
We’re not waiting until the end of the school year. I’ll figure out the Jana part when the time is right.
Addison
If the right time doesn’t come until summer break, I’m just saying I understand.
Me
I love that about you.
Addison
Do you know what I love about you?
Me
Tell me.
Addison
I’ve been thinking about this since the beach. Because you shared a bottle of rosé with me there, and that wasn’t the first time you’d done that.
Me
That’s what you love about me? That I’ll drink your wine?
Addison
That it’s not the kind of wine you’d probably choose and it’s not even close to your fave drink. But you sacrifice to make me happy, and that’s beyond sweet of you. So, yes, I love that. It’s an extremely sexy trait.
Me
Keep going …
Addison
I also love the picnic you made for us. The blanket, the food. It was perfect. You didn’t just bring me there. You thought it all out, you planned. You made it special.
Me
When time is limited, every second counts.
Addison
Not everyone understands that. I LOVE that you do.
Me
For some reason, I’m looking at the beach a little differently this morning.
Addison
Are you standing on the back patio of the hotel?
Me
Yes.
Addison
Look to your right, about fifteen feet, halfway between the lounge chairs and the water.
Me
All right, I’m standing here now. Tell me why this spot is so special.
Addison
We stopped there on the way back to the blanket, and you kissed me. I’d never been kissed like that before.
Me
Addison … for real?
Addison
It’s true. You’ve kissed me a ton of times, obviously, but never like that.
Me
What made it so different?
Addison
The way you held me, the way you positioned my lips. The only air I was taking in was yours. You were all I could feel. On me. In me. My body was on fire, Ridge.
Me
Do I have to wait until next week to do it again?
Addison
I mean, I get thirty minutes for lunch every day. That’s about the only free time I have until the weekend—where you know I’m working at the club both nights.
Me
What time is your lunch?
Addison
11:45
Me
I’ll be there.
Addison
You’re kidding?
Me
Do you really think I’d kid about something like that?
Addison
Ha! No …
Me
I’ll text you when I arrive.
Addison
You’d really come all the way here from Malibu just for a kiss?
Me
I’d go anywhere to be able to kiss you.
Me
I’m here.
Addison
Head around to the back of the building to the teachers’ parking lot. We have less of a chance of being seen there. I’ll be waiting outside.
“Hi,” Addison said as she climbed into my front seat. Her skin was already flushed, her teeth taking hold of her bottom lip and not letting it go.
Strands of her auburn hair hung close to the sides of her face, several of the curls threatening the corners of her eyes and lips. Her neckline was open, a gold necklace hanging in the center with an A charm. A jean jacket covered her arms, and the rest of her body was hidden beneath a dress that didn’t hug her curves, but didn’t mask them either.
“You look so fucking gorgeous right now.” My eyes took their time rising to hers.
“Well, I’m kinda speechless over what you have on.”
“Work attire. That’s all it is.”
“If I worked with you and I got to look at that all day”—she shook her head, her teeth back on her lip—“I’d get nothing done.”
I chuckled. “You like the red?” I fingered the bottom of my tie.
“It’s your color. More so than the navy, which I originally thought was the best color on you and nothing could look better. Until I saw this.” She nodded toward my chest. “Red it is—and it’s hot as fuck.”
“When I put it on this morning, it reminded me of your hair.” I reached toward a chunk of her strands hanging over her shoulder and gently ran my fingers through them. “I guess I was missing you.”
She turned her face, giving an angle that was more of her profile. “What were you thinking about?”
“How I wished I had woken up next to you. Taken a shower with you. I wanted you in my closet, so I could watch you get dressed.” I clasped the back of her neck, her hair falling over the sleeve of my suit jacket. “I wanted to bring you your first cup of coffee and see you take a sip.”
“Your words are like porn.”
I laughed. “I’m verbally romantic, huh?”
“But here’s what I’ve learned about you: You’re not just talking to hear yourself speak. You mean every one of those words.”
I nodded. “I do.” I smiled. “And you thought you knew more about my daughter than me.”
“I’m getting more. Piece by piece.”
“I need you to tell me something …”
She took a deep breath. “Okay.”
“When I do this”—I leaned in until only about an inch separated us and aligned our mouths—“what does it mean to you.”
“The closeness … I’m assuming it’s because you want to smell me.”
I slid my hand to her cheek, holding her steady. “I did that the second you got into my car.”
“You want to feel me.”
“Go deeper, Addison.”
“Taste me.”
“And when I do this”—I ran my thumb across both lips—“what am I doing it for?”
“You’re memorizing me.”
“I know the feel of you. Try again.”
“You’re prepping me.”
I huffed. “I’m prepping me . Touching you is as powerful as foreplay.”
She let out a small moan. “Every second you make me wait is torture.”
“I know.”
“Ridge …” She was gazing from my right eye to my left. “Kiss me. Please.”
I tilted her face back, pressing my thumb against the side of her mouth, inventorying every crevice of her lips, the soft skin that was coated with a layer of gloss, the whiteness of her teeth hinting from behind.
“You have no idea what you do to me,” I told her.
Her hand went to the back of mine. “If you think you’re the only one feeling this … you’re wrong.”
I kissed the side of her face that I wasn’t gripping, the edge of her ear, the middle of her cheek, the corner of her mouth, and when I centered myself in front of her, I didn’t slam our lips together.
Even though the hunger was tearing through me.
Even though my hard-on was fucking raging.
I carefully locked us together, breathing her in as my tongue slipped through her parted lips, and when my lungs were filled with her, I exhaled.
I didn’t pull away.
I didn’t release her face to caress other parts of her body.
I did what I’d promised.
I gave her a kiss she’d never forget.
Addison
WOW. Wow …
Ridge, I can still feel you. On my lips. On every inch of my body. What did your lips do to me?
Me
They just kissed you.
Addison
But that wasn’t just a kiss. That was … I don’t even know what that was.
Me
Should I warn you?
Addison
About what?
Me
That if you fall in love with me, it’ll only get better.
Addison
I don’t know how it can get better than that …
Me
Good morning …
Addison
Hi! I slept like the dead last night.
Me
I’m jealous. No one got any sleep over here last night. Heads up, Little Miss is extra spicy today.
Addison
I turned her attitude right around, and she’s all smiles now. Are you doing all right?
Me
Now that I’m talking to you … yes.
Addison
I dreamed about your lips.
Me
Where were they?
Addison
Everywhere.
Me
You’d better have been screaming when they left your body.
Addison
More word porn. Are you trying to kill me?
Me
I enjoy getting you wet. I can’t help it.
Me
You’re at the club tonight, aren’t you?
Addison
Yep.
Me
I had all intentions of going. Rhett was going to take Daisy, but I just found out that she’d invited the neighbor’s daughter over for a slumber party. My kid, the fucking neighborhood party planner.
I’ll be painting nails tonight … in case you need a visual.
Addison
I’m melting. Seriously.
Addison
You can come visit tomorrow night.
Me
We’re headed to the hockey game to meet with some clients. One of them is on the team, and after the game, I’m positive they’re going to want to go out.
Addison
I’m obsessed with your life. That sounds so fun!
Me
It would be better if I could come see you.
Addison
We have our beach date. That I’m literally counting down the seconds for.
Me
Will you text me when you get home tonight?
Addison
Is this a DADDY thing?
Me
LOL. No, it’s a Ridge thing. I want to make sure my girl gets home safely because I’m not there to drive you.
Addison
Melting. Again.
Addison
Home. 3
Me
Was it a good night?
Addison
I missed you …
Me
Think about me in your dreams.
Addison
xo