Page 92 of Noel Secrets
Price didn’t like Addie thinking Miles Coleville was a ‘hunk’, though he could admit the man was a hero. Miles rescuing and protecting the well-known actress Eva Chevron had been a huge story a year ago.
“Yes, ma’am. But don’t go thinking my brother is more heroic than me.” Easton gave her a pointed look. “If I didn’t have HIPAA violations and such, I could tell you stories of my heroism that would make you cheer and cry.”
“HIPAA violations?” Addie started laughing at that, and Price joined her. The cowboy was hilarious.
“Now then.” He winked. “My gorgeous wife was still sleeping when I left at seven a.m. to come get you all. I’m past due for somesweetmorning kisses.” He saluted and strutted to the front door, pausing to say, “The code is 0909. You’re welcome to change it if you like. Just let us know what you changed it to before you leave us.” He pushed through the door, letting a blast of cold air in, and then he was gone.
The resulting silence was deafening. Especially as Price could hear the words,I’m due for some sweet morning kisses. How would that be? Sweet, tantalizing morning kisses with Addie.
She didn’t look his way. Walking away from him, she headed for the stairs without a word.
Price dodged in front of her.
She stopped in her tracks, staring up at him. “I forgot how fast you move.”
Price was going to show her exactly how fast he could move. Her beautiful blue eyes were soft and inviting. He leaned down closer as she arched up. She’d forgiven him? He would spend the rest of his days proving that he was the man to trust and love her.
Smack.
The sting to his cheek took half a second to register. Usually Price was fast, but he was all out of sorts with Addie.
She clutched the palm of her hand with her other hand and glared at him. “Don’ttry to kiss me.”
Price’s eyebrows rose. He studied her. Maybe he should’ve let her have some space, but he was her protector. For now. He’d heard nothing from Aiden or Nick about a replacement. It might not be easy so close to Christmas, but Aiden had a plethora of men and a few women working for him. They’d find someone. The thought was heavy. Price would like to be with his family for Christmas, but he wanted to be with Addie more.
“Forgive me,” he said softly, meaning for much more than him going for a kiss. “I need to clear the area.”
She glared at him and nodded.
He preceded her up the stairs, his heart and his steps heavy. He strode into the bedroom and bath on the right. It was spacious, with large windows looking out at the landscape of trees and snow with a towering mountain to the east. There was a huge master bathroom with a walk-in shower, jetted tub, a long counter with two sinks and a plethora of beauty products, and a closet full of clothes.
Addie followed him into the master bedroom and stood just outside the bathroom door.
“It’s clean,” he said, nodding to her, his cheek stinging. If only he could remedy this situation.
Addie studied him as he exited the bathroom. He made the mistake of getting too close to her. Her pulse raced in her neck. It was strangely intimate to be inside this master bedroom with her.
“I’ll put my stuff in one of the other rooms while you get settled in,” he continued. “Then we need to talk.”
There was too much to talk about, too much forgiveness needed. He wanted to start down a path of healing andrebuilding trust with Addie but didn’t know if she was on board. The slap to his face should’ve been his indicator that she didn’t want to talk, but he was a man and a leader and he faced things head on.
“I’m going to take a bath and a nap,” she said decisively, looking his direction but not meeting his gaze. “I’m not ready to talk. Will you check in with Aiden and see if another bodyguard is on their way to take your place?”
Price held in a grunt of pain as he nodded. He turned and strode out of the master, shutting the door behind him. She didn’t want to talk; she wanted him to be replaced. There was clearly no hope of reconciliation with Addie on the horizon.
The stinging slaps kept coming. He deserved them, but they still hurt.
The rest of Monday didn’t get much better for Price. He chose the bedroom with the firmest mattress and unpacked while he listened to Addie’s bathwater run. He had to force his thoughts from straying to her in that large bathtub. He was tempted to stretch out on the bed but didn’t want to let down his guard or miss out on any chance of interaction with Addie before he lost this assignment.
Addie must’ve fallen asleep as she stayed in her room through lunchtime. He made himself a couple turkey and ham sandwiches on homemade bread and found veggies and chips and salsa to go with it. He sampled several of the homemade cookies on the counter for dessert—chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and sugar. Millie was an incredible baker.
He busied himself throughout the morning and early afternoon looking over all the information Detective Thayne andOllie had sent to him on Addie’s case, from the questioning of each of her former boyfriends to the blown-up images from his camera’s angles of last night’s bombing. The instigator looked to be a male, about six feet, two-fifty, a bodybuilder type look. He was wearing black clothing and a hat, but some of the angles picked up facial features. Ollie was running it through his facial recognition software and the police were as well. Hopefully somebody would find a match.
He knew the police had questioned the ex-boyfriend awaiting trial, but Price asked them to please have someone comb through his emails and if he was sending or receiving physical letters to read them. Unfortunately, there wouldn’t be a record of past physical letters.
Aiden and Nick had not found someone to come take over for him, to his great relief. They asked if he would check with Addie to see if she’d be all right not making a change, at least not until after Christmas. Their operatives who weren’t already on a job had made plans for Christmas with family or friends. Price didn’t know how he’d bring that up, or if she’d ever leave her room. He paced the late afternoon away, starting to go more than a little stir crazy.
The sun was setting, but that only meant five-thirty p.m. in the wintertime in Montana, and she was still in her room. Would she come down for dinner? She’d said they’d take all their meals at the main house, but maybe she would just stay in her room all day and all night.
