Chapter 14
Nash’s gaze cut to Addison and then back to the road. She’d been quiet at lunch and downright distant on the ride back.
“Hey, about the kiss.”
She waved him off. “I get it. It did the trick. Jillian didn’t bug you the rest of the game.”
He hadn’t been thinking about Jillian when he kissed Addison. That move had been pure instinct. The excitement of the game, the way her eyes lit up. He couldn’t help himself. Distancing Jillian had been an added bonus.
If it hadn’t been the kiss, then… what? Home? He always checked on his parents after Davey’s games. He hadn’t thought anything of taking Addison with him. Cade came all the time.
But Cade wasn’t a woman. A woman he was attracted to. He bit back the frustration. Stupid. Stupid. He knew better than to take a woman home. But with Addison, it felt… right.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stopped. My parents can be a bit much.”
“No. They were lovely. Really. I’m just tired.”
Bullshit. No doubt Mom got personal. She had a tendency to be in everyone’s business, especially his.
Her phone rang. She frowned and declined it for the second time today.
“Is everything alright?”
“Yes. It’s a junk call.” From the look on her face, he’d guess it was much more than a spam call. Addison was a master at controlling her facial features, but in the last week, he’d noticed cracks in her perfectly crafted mask.
They rode in silence for the next several miles. Addison kept checking her phone even though it hadn’t rung. “Are you waiting for a call?”
“No.” She turned it face down beside her on the seat.
Max snored on her lap. The poor little guy was worn out. Then again, he had the perfect napping spot. Nash wouldn’t mind curling up with his head on Addison’s lap.
Finally, after a long silence, she said, “Thank you for inviting me along.”
“I didn’t. Davey did.” Smart kid. He’d have to give him a raise in his allowance.
Addison grinned but remained quiet. She glanced at her phone one more time.
“Okay. What’s going on?”
Her sigh filled the cab. “It’s nothing. A random caller. Blocked number.”
“How many have you received today?” Nash could feel his jaw muscles contracting.
She shrugged. “Two. Three. I don’t know. I blocked them.”
“Random? Not the spammers?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“Who’s pissed at you? An ex-boyfriend or a date gone wrong?” Nash bet the list of broken hearts in her wake was longer than his leg.
“My last relationship didn’t end well. He wants to get back together, but…”
“What?”
“I’m not interested. I may have ruined his favorite tie and suit in a very public way.” A grin crept to her lips. “Anyway. He isn’t the type to crank call me.”
Maybe not, but Nash didn’t like the worry lines popping out on her forehead. He’d only seen Addison this stressed once before, when Cade and Laney were missing.
Nash dropped the subject for now as he took the exit to Gray Duck Grove.
When he pulled into her driveway, Max woke up. His little bottom wiggled in the seat. “I better let him do his business before I head home.”
They both got out of the truck. Addison set the puppy on the ground, and he was on a mission, sniffing every blade of grass before picking the perfect spot.
“Thank you. It was fun.” She handed him the leash and stepped back, fishing out her keys. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”
“Wait.” Nash moved closer, feeling the heat emanating from her body. He waited until she looked up at him. Her dark lenses obscured her eyes. Another inch and he could taste those lush lips.
She swallowed, and his eyes tracked the movement. He touched her wrist. Her pulse fluttered beneath his fingers.
“Nash.” She leaned in.
“Addison.” Sliding a hand down, he slipped the keys from her hand and pulled back.
“Hey?”
“You can’t think I’m letting you go in without checking your place first.” He handed back Max’s leash and then crossed to her door. He pulled up short.
“No. You don’t need to. It’s—” She bumped into his back. “What is it?”
“Did you have a broken pane?” The window next to the door was cracked, a small hole in the center.
“No. How did that happen? A kamikaze bird?” She searched the surrounding area, no doubt looking for feathers.
“Get in the truck. Take Max. I’ll be right back.” Nash didn’t go in. He cased the outside of her house first. No footprints or other broken glass. When he got back to the door, he held his breath and inserted the key.
Inside, a rock lay on the floor a few feet from the door. Shards of glass littered the carpet.
“Fuck.” Addison didn’t want to admit it, but she had a stalker. He did a quick survey of her house. Empty. He was snapping a few pictures of the damage when she came up behind him.
“Is this it?”
He turned to find Addison in the doorway, Max in her arms. Her face looked pale for being in the sun all day.
“Don’t let him in here until I clean up the glass.”
“You take the dog. I can clean up. It’s my house.” She shoved the pup at him. As if her head were on a swivel, she scanned corner to corner as she moved to the closet for a broom and dustpan.
Nash hooked Max’s leash to the handrail outside, then took the dustpan from her. “You should call the police.”
Silence filled the room. It didn’t bode well.
Nash stopped her with a touch on her arm. One look was all it took to convey he’d do it if she didn’t.
Her green eyes pooled as they met his. An audible exhale escaped her lips. “I will.”
He pulled her into his arms. Stroking her hair, he whispered in her ear, “Pack a bag. You’re staying at my house tonight.”
She nodded against his chest. A faint chuckle slipped out. “You’ll use anything to get me into your bed.”
“You know it.” He pulled back, locking his gaze with hers. “But tonight, you can stay in Davey’s room. Now go. I’ll vacuum.”
For a second, he thought she’d changed her mind and was going to refuse, but then she nodded and slipped past him.
Nash wanted her in his bed, alright. He wanted her safe, and what better place than in his arms?
Today, they had made great strides in their budding friendship.
Yes, that kiss stirred something inside.
Even she couldn’t deny it. He’d seen the look in her eyes.
He’d felt the same spark when their lips met.
Not that it mattered. Tonight was not the time.
Addison would sleep across the hall. Even if it killed him.
A loud hiss snarled from the back seat. Addison glanced back.
Lu was currently shooting daggers at her through his cat carrier.
Second doubts whirled in her mind as Nash accelerated away from her house.
A patrol officer had come to take her statement.
He said it was likely some teenagers, but he’d look into it.
She could have stayed home, but something in Nash’s voice had her packing up her cat. She wouldn’t lie. With all the calls, her car, and now the window… she was a little apprehensive.
Max shook against her chest.
“It’s okay. Lu’s just jealous because I’m petting someone besides him.” She stroked his soft, black fur.
“I thought the benefit of owning a cat was that you could leave them a bowl of water and some food and they’d be fine overnight?” Nash took the corner a little fast, triggering another hiss from the backseat. “Sorry, Lu.”
“Sure, if everything was normal, but not after the broken window. He’s freaked out. Poor baby.” She cooed at her cat.
Nash looked in the rearview mirror. “How can you tell?”
“Hey now. He might be ornery… and a little finicky, but he has feelings. Besides, he didn’t meow for his dinner the moment I walked in the door.”
Nash glanced at Lu again. “Yeah. He’s not that bad. He likes me.”
“That’s an anomaly I still haven’t figured out.” She glanced back at her cat. “He barely tolerates Laney and Marti. And he’s known them his whole life. Heck, Laney brings him treats all the time. I think she’s trying to buy his affection.”
“Is it working?”
“A little. She can pet him for a full minute now.” Addison rubbed the spot behind Max’s ear, and the puppy melted into her lap. “If you have a room to let him loose in, that would be best. I don’t think he’s ready to meet Max.”
“Don’t you mean Max might not be ready to meet Lu? I think your cat could kick my dog’s butt any day of the week. Even if he weren’t a puppy.” Nash turned onto his street.
Addison gazed out the window. In her junior year, she and Laney babysat at the house on the corner.
She shuddered at the memory. Babysitting wasn’t for her, but the house…
She always dreamed of living in a house like that someday.
Addison loved her home, but her detached townhouse was a new build and lacked the charm of the houses in this part of town.
“Home, sweet home.” Nash clicked the garage door opener as he turned in. She was here the other night, but it was dark. Today, she could take a closer look at the modest two-story with perfect diagonal mower tracks. Was that a picket fence in the back?
Addison stared at Nash. Who was this man?
Inside the house, Nash took Max from Addison’s arms. “I’m going to take him out to do his business. Why don’t you let Lu out in the laundry room? I’ll get his litter box out of the truck when I’m done.”
“Sounds good.” Addison glanced around, peeking into rooms. She opened the door beside the kitchen and found a cute little mudroom with a washer and dryer. “Bingo.”
She closed the door and set Lu’s carrier on the floor next to the hamper. “Okay, buddy. I’m going to let you out. Be good.”
Lu’s eyes glowed through the dark interior of the crate. His best behavior barely passed for acceptable, let alone when being a house guest. She glanced toward the door. “Do you think we should go home?”
He blinked and lowered his head.
“Don’t mess with me today, Lu.” Addison exhaled and flipped the latch. The laundry room door opened. Lu bolted from the carrier.
“How’s he settling in? Whoa—” Nash sidestepped as the black fur missile flew right between his legs.
“Lu! Get back here!” Addison jumped up. “Well, shit. He could be anywhere now.”
Barking came from the other room. A strangled meow followed.
Addison pushed past Nash and sprinted toward the sound of confrontation.
At the entrance to the living room, she slammed on the brakes.
Nash skidded to a stop behind her. “You don’t see that every day.”
“What the hell did you do to my cat?” She blinked at the sight before her.
Lu sat on the couch, pawing at Max’s head.
Neither of the animals seemed in distress.
“First, he actually let you pet him. Now, he is playing with your dog. Do you have some sort of cat-wrangling powers? Is it piped through your vents?”
Nash leaned against the doorframe and shoved his hands into his front pockets. “I was at your house the first time I met Lu.”
“Whatever.” She shook her head as she watched Max bounce at Lu. The prince of darkness himself batted back at him playfully. Not even one claw slipped out. Amazing.
“I’ll go get your things.” Nash straightened.
Addison almost missed the soft brush of his lips on her hair before he left the room. Almost. The whole situation was surreal, and it all started with a rock through her window.
No. If she were honest, it started a long time ago. Months. But when he kissed her in the shop the other night, that lit the spark to… whatever this was. A friendship?
Ha! Not even in her stubborn mind could she believe what she and Nash had was just friendship. Once his lips touched hers, her body demanded more.
She couldn’t say if he was the one, but… She glanced around the room. It had a bit of a bachelor vibe, but it was miles from a frat house.
In the last two days, her image of Nash as a charming player had shattered. But something in her looked at the gorgeous man currently lugging in her cat’s litter box and still questioned if he was a one-woman man. Her man, to be specific.