Chapter 9 #2
The next week at work, Addison played a game of dodge and duck every time Nash was in view. She’d done a fairly good job of avoiding him until Friday.
“We will see you next Tuesday at ten,” she said into the phone.
The door between the shop and the office opened. Attention on her monitor, she didn’t need to look up to know it was him. Her thighs quivered. They didn’t do that for anyone else.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nash glance into Eric’s empty office before shifting his focus back to her. He waited until she had ended the call. “Hey, do you know when Eric will be back?”
“He’s out for the rest of the day. Something about a ‘53 Buick.”
“Okay. I’ll check with Cade.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
“Yes? Can I help you with something?” Cade had slipped into the manager role whenever Eric was out of the office. So why was Nash staring at her?
“How was your date?”
“Fine.” Liar. It was anything but fine, but she wouldn’t tell him that.
“Really. You should tell your face.” He circled a finger in her direction.
Shit. His sexy smirk appeared. No man should look that good when he was being an ass.
“Are you going out with him again this weekend?”
“I have a date tonight.”
“With him?”
“No.” She spoke through gritted teeth.
That damn smile spread. Now his dimples were on full display.
“What about you? Taking some sultry redhead out tonight? Maybe a cool blonde?” Casually, she picked up her water bottle and took a sip, hoping it covered her heated cheeks.
“Nope. Staying in with a brunette. And it’s a he, not a she.”
Water dribbled from her lips. “Sorry. I didn’t realize.”
Laughter filled the small room. “My puppy. Max.”
“Oh. I didn’t know you had a dog.” Stupid. Of course. For a moment, Addison thought she’d lost her touch. Her body had never been wrong before, and her female parts lit with excitement every time Nash was near.
“I got him the same day Cade got Daisy. They’re littermates.”
What did she say to that? The guy had a puppy. That was… sexy as hell. She toyed with the edge of her shirt.
Her personal phone rang. Saved by the bell. “Excuse me.”
She picked it up and scowled at the screen. Mark. What the hell did he want? She’d made her answer to his proposition perfectly clear. Heat crept up her neck. She didn’t need to look at him to know Nash was watching her.
Nope. She tapped the delete button. She was not having a conversation with her ex in front of the one man who turned her legs to jelly.
He pushed off the wall. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She straightened.
“Something’s not right. I can tell by the creases on your forehead.”
“I don’t have creases.” She smoothed the space between her eyebrows.
He was right, but creases were an understatement.
They were more like cliffs. Damn Mark. He’d called her twice this week, and she’d let it go to voicemail both times, hoping he’d get the hint.
Looked like it was time to block his number before she needed Botox.
A shadow loomed over her. Nash leaned down well into her personal space. “Who’s putting that look on your face? Do I need to take care of him?”
A lump formed in her throat. Did Nash Steele just offer to take someone out for her? Wait. He couldn’t have meant that. Could he? Everything about Nash at that moment screamed he’d do more than have a talk with her old boss, and damn if it wasn’t the sexiest thing she’d seen.
She bit back the urge to pull him closer. Instead, she leaned back, cleared her throat, and shook her head. “It’s my old boss. I don’t want to talk to him.”
He scanned her face. Trapped in his gaze, she inhaled. A wave of dizziness washed over her. It could be the smell of grease and brake cleaner, but she’d bet it was just him. If he didn’t move back soon, she’d grab a fistful of his shirt and yank him the rest of the way and taste those sexy lips.
The door opened, and Nash straightened.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. Did you order more of these oil filters? This is the last one.” Leon waved the box in the air.
“Let me get that number.” It had been so busy this week that she hadn’t done the inventory. Between all the admin tasks and her receptionist duties, she was still getting a handle on her job. She’d come in this weekend and do it.
“Just wanted to let you know. It’s quitting time. I’ll see you Monday.” Leon handed her the box and gave her a brief salute.
She waved goodbye, and Leon disappeared through the shop door.
Nash stepped back, his hand on the doorknob. “If you need anything—”
“I won’t.” She straightened some papers on her desk. Not avoiding, just busy. Yeah, that was it.
“Have fun on your date.” His words were followed by the click of the shop door.
Addison slumped back in her chair. Man, that was close. She’d been a fraction of a second away from kissing Nash Steele.
He has a puppy. That one fact chipped away at her reserve. So what? It didn’t mean he’d be a good bet for her. She once dated a guy who had a dog just to pick up women.
Something had her doubting that was Nash. The guy didn’t need a dog to attract a woman. Hell, they fell at his feet.
She pulled out her mirror and refreshed her lip color. He might not need the dog, but she knew his type.
But did she? The more she was around Nash, the more she questioned herself, and that scared her. She snapped the compact shut. Because the one thing Addison Benedict had learned young was never to doubt herself. Confidence was the one thing that tipped the scales in pageants and in life.
She shut down her computer and grabbed her purse. She had a little time before her date. Peeking through the shop door, she frowned. Nash was standing under a car. Her mouth watered at the flex of his arms.
She had to get out of here. Luckily, she knew where to go to clear her head.
Julie was cashing out her client when Addison walked in. “Hey, baby. Good timing. My next client won’t be here for fifteen minutes.”
“Sounds good.” She grabbed the broom and cleaned up her mother’s station while she waited. The salon was quiet this evening. Only her mom was here.
“Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll grab us a couple of pops from the back.” She was only gone a minute before she sat in the chair next to Addison. “How’s work going?”
“Pretty good. I’m learning the services and parts.
That’s the biggest change for me. Eric is great.
He stays out of my way, but is quick to answer my questions.
The system they’re currently using is the same as I used at my old job.
And I grew up scheduling clients, so that wasn’t an issue.
” Sitting in front of the large mirror, Addison noticed the hint of dark circles under her eyes.
Julie leaned in and rested a hand on Addison’s knee. “Baby. Don’t push yourself too hard. I know how you get. Go. Go. Go.”
“Mom, work’s fine.” She picked up a brush from the station and started running it through her hair. She wasn’t about to worry her mom about Mark’s persistent calls.
“If it’s not work, then what is it? Your complexion is pale. And don’t say it’s not. I saw you last week.” Julie stepped up behind Addison. Their eyes met in the mirror. Julie took the brush from her daughter’s hand and continued brushing.
Addison closed her eyes. Each stroke of the brush soothed her frazzled nerves. Mark was only part of the problem. Seeing Nash every day gnawed at her composure.
“How was your date last weekend?”
Addison cringed.
“That bad?”
“Doubly bad. I had two dates with two different guys.” She gave her the condensed version.
Julie shrugged. “You have to kiss a few frogs to find your prince.”
“Mom, I’ve kissed enough frogs to fill Lake Superior.”
Her mom raised an eyebrow.
Crap. Remember who you’re talking to. “I just want a nice guy who wants to raise a family and grow old together.”
“You’ll find him. I found mine. It took some patience.
” Mitch and Mom were soulmates, no doubt.
But if she had to wait as long as her mother to find the perfect man, she’d be too old to have children.
Sure, plenty of women raised babies on their own.
Her mother did, but Addison didn’t want to go that route, not if she could help it.
She cleared her throat. “I have a date tonight with Frank Davis.”
Her mom stopped brushing. Her forehead crinkled. “Janis’s boy?”
“Yes. He’s Marti’s cousin. Do you know him?”
She slowly set the brush down. “Somewhat. He’s a nice man, but…”
Oh crap. Addison knew that look. “What? Don’t tell me he’s into taxidermy too?”
“No. Not that I’m aware of. It’s just that I never would have put the two of you together. I picture you with someone like that mechanic you work with. Cade’s friend.”
“Mom, I’m trying to change my type. If that means I need to date average-looking guys to find the one, then I will.”
“I’m not talking about looks. But since you brought it up, remember, you’ll be attracted to the right guy. So, listen to your heart. It will tell you who it wants, loud and clear.”
“Mom,” Addison said, her tone reminiscent of her teenage years.
“You’re a smart, accomplished woman. I know it will all work out.” She hugged her from behind.
The front bell over the door rang. “I’ll call you this weekend.”
“Have a wonderful time tonight.” Her mother’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Addison looped her arms around her and whispered, “It will be fine. I know what I’m doing.”
On a final squeeze, she left the salon.
Her mom meant well, but Addison had listened to her heart—over and over again. That was why she knew Nash was not the man for her, even though every time he was near, her body lit up like the sky on the Fourth of July.
Nope. She needed a nice, stable guy. With any luck, Frank Davis was that guy.