Of course, the little idiot persisted.
"Daniel, you have PTSD," she insisted softy, "It's nothing to be ashamed of..."
He took her by the shoulders and shoved her back against the wall so hard the breath whooshed out of her. She gasped and brought her arms up to protect herself, but he shoved them back down and gripped her neck tightly, squeezing until she choked. She grabbed his wrist desperately, trying to loosen his unbreakable hold.
"Say it again, Addison,” he snarled into her face, his voice deadly.
Her lips parted in shock, fear stopping her tongue. Her eyes stared up into his, the golden orbs wide with fright.
"That's what I thought," he whispered. He kissed her hard on the lips, shoving his tongue into her open mouth and plundering the silken recess for long seconds before pushing away from her. “Good-bye, Addison."
He turned and left her standing on the balcony, her breath coming out in sobs of fright and confusion.
Chapter Eighteen
Addison stood in shocked bewilderment, shivers coursing through her chilled body. She desperately hoped that any moment now she would hear the sound of Daniel's footsteps rapidly approaching and feel the slightly painful but bittersweet touch of his hands on her body. She knew better. When Daniel left her alone, he didn't come back. This time was no different. He wanted her to know he didn't get emotionally attached.
Addison tried to swallow her sobs and used the heel of her hand to wipe away some of the damage to her face. She silently cursed Claudia for insisting she wear more make-up than usual. Both women could have guessed that an evening that involved taking Daniel Mercer to an opera house ballroom was going to end in tears. Addison shook her head cynically and impatiently lifted the edge of her skirt to stem the flow of tears.
She hoped the dress was ruined, it would teach Claudia to help Addison in her quest to tame Daniel into some semblance of civilized.
"Addie, is everything okay?" A high-pitched voice interrupted Addison's one-person pity party, causing her to jump.
Addison immediately recognized Erica’s grating voice. She had to remind herself not to get annoyed, as Erica hadn't yet done anything to annoy her, though she knew it was only a matter of seconds. She dropped the layer of skirt she had been using as a handkerchief and straightened. She knew from the sharp intake of breath Erica took that she probably looked awful.
Thanks Daniel, she thought, a few minutes with him out on the balcony and I’ll look like I've been savaged by a wild animal.
"I'm fine, Erica," she said as steadily as she could manage. "I just need to get home. Would you mind helping me find a way past the ballroom without being seen?"
She really hated asking Erica for anything, the other girl was the type to grasp onto small favours as something far more meaningful than they actually were, but Addison did not need to be explaining her current state of disrepair to the several acquaintances she had in there that would demand an explanation. Plus, she really didn't feel like socializing any more tonight. She just wanted to get home. And go check on Daniel, her traitorous brain whispered.
"Of course!" Erica said, a little too excited. She seized Addison's arm and pulled her forward.
Addison swallowed the annoyed exclamation that bubbled up at being led around like a cow by the other woman. She had to remind herself that Erica was an unusually enthusiastic person, if a bit strange, which is what made her such a good assistant to the Maestro. Addison conveniently didn't add the part that Maestro probably would've fired Erica ages ago if she weren't union.
She hesitated when she could hear the murmur of voices getting louder, but true to her word, Erica steered her around the ballroom without meeting any of the people. She led Addison down two flights of stairs and through a set of doors. A rush of cool evening air met Addison's flushed cheeks. She released a sigh and squeezed Erica's hand.
"I can handle things from here," she said. "Thank you so much for helping me leave."
Addison turned away from Erica and stealthily reached into the bodice of her gown to pull out a twenty she had tucked in there earlier in the evening when she'd been getting ready. She didn't like carrying purses when she went out in the evenings, they were too hard to keep track of when she was drinking or dancing. She'd learned from experience to always carry cab money and identification somewhere on her person and leave her purse at home.
She was pulling the bill from between her breasts when Erica grabbed hold of her elbow and pulled her back around. Addison stumbled a little and bumped into the taller woman. Erica steadied her and Addison had a momentary flash of surprise at the other woman's unusual strength. Addison wasn't petite, she should've at least knocked Erica back a few steps.
Addison reached for patience and shook her arm a little, indicating she would prefer not to have assistance. Of course, Erica didn't take the hint. She seemed to lack that basic understanding of personal space.
"I drove my car, it's right around the corner," Erica said, in her high-pitched overly excited voice. "I'll give you a ride home!"
She started pulling Addison down the sidewalk before Addison could refuse the offer. Addison had no choice but to go with her or risk tripping and falling. She was about to open her mouth to tell Erica she would prefer to take a cab, but decided to suck it up and accept the ride. Spending a few awkward minutes with Erica was worth the expediency of getting home quicker and not having to hail a cab without being able to actually see them.
"Thank you," Addison said as graciously as possible.
Moments later, Erica bundled her into a low-riding two-door sedan that revved too loudly for Addison's liking. She thought maybe it needed a tune-up or something and thought longingly of Daniel's truck. A flash of concern swept over her. She knew she should be angry that he abandoned her, but she felt in her heart that he wouldn't have done it if something wasn't really wrong with him. She blamed herself for forcing him into a situation he couldn't control. She thought he would be okay though. He accompanied King all the time and, as far as she knew, never had episodes like this.
Only King didn't throw his equilibrium off the way Addison did. She hoped Daniel didn't hate her for it. He'd warned her against treating him like some kind of boyfriend and, of course, she hadn't listened. She hadn't wanted to believe he was right. Because if he was, what did that make their relationship? Nothing more than great sex?
"Who was that guy you were with?" Erica asked.
Addison was surprised Erica even noticed she'd had a date for the evening. Daniel had spent about two minutes at her side, not even long enough to meet any of Addison's acquaintances.
