Page 84 of Honeymoon Phase
“But... you still asked me to hang out.” Addison frowns up at me.
I shrug. “I don’t scare easy.”
She bites her lip and looks down, her fingers moving over my pec as she shakes her head back and forth. “All this time, I thought you were one of the good ones, Luke Fletcher.”
“Babe, I’m only human. And in my defense, I’d never seen a woman operate a forklift. I was turned-the-fuck-on.”
She bursts out laughing, the sound something I could diehappy listening to. “So, does this mean you... liked me? All this time, I thought you didn’t see me like that. Just as a friend.”
I stare down at her, pressing my hand over where hers sits on my chest. She has to feel my heart racing right now. She has to know this has always felt deeper than friendship between us. Right?
My smile falls when I reply, “I saw you as someone I wasn’t willing to lose, and with who I was back then, if I would have taken you to bed, I would have definitely lost you.”
The lines between her brows deepen as she gazes up at me. “And who are you now?”
I inhale deeply and brush a piece of hair out of her face, fighting the urge to cup her cheek. “I’m your husband.”
Her eyes glitter in the moonlight and the need I have to tell her that I’m in love with her is so strong, I can feel it on the tip of my tongue.
But I made a promise to myself. It has to be her that makes the first move. And if that means sleeping beside her every night and just sleeping until our wedding night... that’s exactly what I’ll do.
She’s worth being patient for.
I lean forward and brush my lips over her forehead. “Get some sleep, wife.”
She sighs and nuzzles into my chest, tucking herself under my chin like she’s the absolute perfect fit. Because she is... even if she still doesn’t see that yet.
Chapter 27
Fact or Fiction?
This is my poker face.
Addison
“Good morning, daughter,” my dad booms as he comes striding into my office bright and early on Friday.
“Dad?” I stand up from my desk, taking in his tall frame in the doorway. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you I was home,” he replies gruffly, walking over to the coffee maker by the window and pouring himself a cup.
“I know but... I mean... what are you doing here-here?” I ask, pointing to the desk.
He holds the mug up to his mustache and blows on it as steam billows up around his face. “I have a couple meetings today and needed some files.”
My brows crease at that because my dad hasn’t really needed anything from the office in months. Not since he retired. “What meetings? What files? Can I help?”
“Don’t you worry.” He sets his mug down and walks over to the rusty filing cabinet, pulling it open and thumbing through some folders. “I can find what I need.”
I join him at the filing cabinet and when I look at what he’s sifting through, he turns his back on me, hiding what he’s doing. “Dad, I’m running this place now so whatever meetings you’re having that involve lumberyard files should probably involve me.”
He turns his head to look at me, his bushy brows arched. “I’m still the owner, Addie May. I shouldn’t need to remind you of that.”
His tone is chastising, and I feel my throat tighten at the hard set of his jaw. I’ve seen my dad like this a lot throughout the years, but very rarely directed at me. He usually gets this way with mill workers during negotiations. But even if that was what his meetings were, why wouldn’t he just tell me that?
I lick my lips and jut my chin upward. “Since I’m due to inherit this company, I think it’d be a good idea for me to know about what meetings you’re still taking.”
“Like a dog with a fucking bone.” He exhales heavily and slams the cabinet drawer closed before propping his arm on top of it to glower down at me. “If you must know, I’m meeting with the people who wanted to buy the yard.”
