Page 29 of Naughty & Nice

The striking blonde places her furled hands on her hips in indignation. It might be believable if she wasn’t wearing that gleaming smile.

I can’t help but smile as Mick strides around the kitchen island, swoops her into his arms, and places a kiss on her nose before burying his face in her neck.

“All right. Keep it together until you get back to the White Oak Inn. I still don’t know why you didn’t stay here.”

“Someone can’t keep it G-rated.” Michael laughs as he bites into Ava’s neck and a bright red hue quickly shrouds her face. Is he talking about him or her? “Just looking out for you, man,” he adds.

“Got it.” I chuckle, more than a little shocked by this bit of intel. I can’t help but recall one very vocal Addison here recently and understand completely.

As if reading my mind, Ava asks, “Why don’t you call Addison? I’d love to meet her. There’s a ton of lasagna here. We won’t stay late so that you can spend the rest of the evening together.”

“Yeah. That’s why you’d be leaving early.” I laugh. “Maybe I will call her.” Sure it’s early in our relationship. But I feel good about this girl. I’m excited to have Ava and Mick meet her. Heading toward my cell phone, I stop in my tracks as something catches my eye. I’d left my laptop browser open to catch updates on the Richmond Federated 400 series.

A race feed is visible in a small window in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. But my eyes are drawn to a familiar face down below. Narrowing my eyes, I take in Ashley and her celebrity boyfriend as they pose for the camera. I feel steam rise as I see that asshole Martin has his left arm draped around my two-timing ex-girlfriend while his right is wrapped around my current one.

“You going to call her, Trev?” Michael asks.

I turn, stunned, unsure I’ve processed what I’ve seen. “What?”

“If you don’t call her soon, dinner will be cold.” He chuckles.

“No.”

“No?” Ava and Mick ask in unison.

“Not tonight. I think she might be busy.”

CHAPTER23

Addy

“Addy,can you grab the cinnamon rolls out of the oven?” Alden asks, phone receiver covered with his hand, unable to escape the long-winded local requesting an order for her bridge club.

“I’ve got it,” I yell back. My stomach growls as I slide the toasty delights from the industrial oven.These smell divine.“Have you got-”

“Whoah.” Alden chuckles as he almost collides with me as he carries the ready-made icing to slather on the warm rolls.

“Didn’t expect you to escape that call so fast.” I laugh, my stomach rumbling loud enough for him to hear.

“You still haven’t eaten anything?”

“I don’t think I’ve fully recovered from the weekend. I was too tired to get anything before the bakery opened.”

“We’re all caught up here. Walk down to Larch Street and grab something. It’s pretty out today.”

“Thanks. You want anything?”

“Nah. Cece got up super early and made me breakfast.” Alden grins like a man who knows he’s hit the jackpot.I’d get up early to fix breakfast for Trevor, I muse. I wasn’t sure what time his company left last night, so I hadn’t called. But I miss him. A lot.

A smile invades my face, and I catch Alden grinning in my direction.

“Happy looks good on you.” He winks.

As I stroll down Larch Street, I take a deep breath of clean mountain air. Itisa gorgeous day. Larch is the main thoroughfare in downtown Sycamore. There’s a small café to grab a sandwich or a hot plate just down the road and a barbeque restaurant at the corner, just opposite fire station twelve. It’s then I notice the boys, all wearing their signature outfits of dark navy cargo pants and blue short-sleeve shirts with the bright yellow station twelve insignia on the back.

“Hey, Addy. How are you?” Jason asks.

“I’m great. Enjoying a stroll. You guys leave any food in the café?”

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