Chapter 18 Dean #2
I nodded. “Yeah, I was sick of taking my work truck everywhere.”
Addison laughed. “I sometimes forget how rich you are, Mr. Moneybags.”
I looked over at her. “Okay, smart-ass.”
In twenty short minutes, we arrived at her family’s property.
I led Addison toward the restaurant entrance, my hand resting on her lower back.
She looked up at me with a smile. “This sounds crazy, but I haven’t been able to try my parents’ new restaurant because of how busy I’ve been with getting the farm up and running. ”
“I know, your mom mentioned that to me.” I held open the door and let her walk inside before me.
Before going up to the hostess stand, she stopped and turned to me, my previous comment just registering to her. “When did you talk to my mom?” Ignoring her question, I walked over to the hostess to give her my name, and she immediately led us back to the private room.
I held the door open for Addison to walk into the room.
She took only two steps and stopped dead in her tracks, taking in the room, and man, did Ava do a good job.
The lights were low, with small candles illuminating the space from every corner.
Ava had also placed a beautiful flower arrangement on the table.
Addison whipped around to look up at me.
“Dean, what is all this?” she whispered.
The hostess set the menus down and smiled at me as she made her way out of the room, closing the door behind her.
I took Addison’s hands in mine. “I called your parents for a favor. I wanted you to have a night that was about you and to celebrate your accomplishments. Your mom happened to mention that you haven’t eaten here, so I figured between that and the private room overlooking one of your favorite places, it was perfect.
Also, your sister may have jumped in and made the room what it is,” I said, gesturing toward the candles and flowers.
Addison’s eyes glossed over, and she shook her head with a smile.
“Wow. I’m speechless. This is honestly the sweetest thing that anyone has done for me.
” I puffed up my chest, feeling proud of myself, and then leaned down, placing a quick kiss on her lips before leading her to our table.
Don’t be too impressed with yourself, asshole. You’re still hiding Noah from her.
The food was delicious, the wine was flowing, and the view was incredible. The view being both the vineyard and Addison. After the waiter came by to take our dessert order, I reached for Addison’s hand and brought it up to my mouth, kissing the inside of her palm. “Can I ask you something?”
Addison smiled. “Of course, you can ask me anything.”
“I’ve been told by several people how happy you are now, and that the old Addison is back, and how much they love to see it. What do they mean by that?”
Addison rolled her eyes and chuckled. “This fucking town, I swear.” She noticed I was still waiting for an actual answer, so she sighed and continued, “I guess it’s because before I always had to compromise my passion for horses, my dream of going pro.
I had to tone it down in a way with Noah.
It could never be my priority. He was the priority, and he was only okay with it if it didn’t take away from or affect him. ”
I scoffed. “That’s ridiculous. He should have loved that you had a passion and supported you and your love for horses wholeheartedly. Isn’t that what love is? I understand compromising in a relationship, that’s a given, but not your passion. That’s what makes you, you.”
Addison laughed, but it was laced with sadness. “Yeah, I’m not sure Noah had anything he was passionate about aside from money and status.” Sounds like Noah.
“His loss. My gain.” The waiter made his way back into the room and set a slice of dark chocolate cake in front of us.
We both grabbed a spoon to dig in. I held my spoon up in a cheers, and Addison followed suit.
“Congratulations on Mountain Laurel Farm, baby. You should be so proud of yourself and the success you’ve already had.
” We clinked our spoons together in celebration.
After dinner, we made our way back to my place.
Once we walked in the door, Coal beelined for Addison.
The fucking traitor. Addison sat down on the floor, cooing to him and loving on him.
And now I was jealous of my goddamn dog.
I made my way over to my wine fridge and grabbed a bottle and two wineglasses.
“Hey, let’s go sit outside by the fire. Can you grab the blanket off the couch?
” Addison stood up and grabbed the blanket, following me to the back patio.
I turned on the outdoor string lights, lit the fire pit in front of the couch, and turned on some music through my patio speakers.
I poured us each a glass of wine, and we both settled on the couch, her leaning into my chest with her legs tucked off to the side.
She took a sip of wine and looked up at me. “Thanks for tonight. This was perfect.”
“So, I did a good job on our date?”
“A-plus, Adler.” She laid her head against my chest, and I trailed my fingers up and down her arm, kissing the top of her head.
We sat like that for several minutes, perfectly content in a comfortable quiet, just listening to the music over the speakers and watching the fire. I loved being around her.
I felt the sudden urge to express how I felt about her, that I was falling for her, that I was in love with her.
But it didn’t feel right when I wasn’t being completely honest with her.
I knew I needed to come clean before I told her how I felt, but deep down I also knew I was putting off the truth because I didn’t want this to all come crashing down.
There was a chance that when I told her what I had been keeping from her, she would see me differently.
That she wouldn’t share the same feelings toward me, and that would destroy me.
I knew I was being a coward, but I wasn’t ready to go there yet.
I cleared my throat, breaking the silence. “You make me really happy, Addison,” I decided to say instead. She lifted her head, her emerald gaze locked on mine.
“You make me really happy too,” she said in a whisper.
I lifted her chin up toward me and pressed my mouth to hers.
The kiss started out slow and sweet. I traced her bottom lip with the tip of my tongue as she opened for me.
We took the kiss deeper as she ran her hands through my hair, pulling me closer to her.
I pulled away briefly and looked into her gorgeous eyes. “Stay the night?”
Her green eyes searched mine, and the smile that always stole my breath spread across her pretty lips. “Of course.” In one quick movement, I picked her up off the couch. She wrapped her legs around my waist as I carried her to my bedroom.