By late afternoon, I’ve checked every place I can think of. My heart sinks lower and lower with every failed stop.
Finally I head back to my room at the hotel.
It’s my fault she’s gone. My fear kept me from listening to her.
Tomorrow, I’ll call my dad. I’ve never asked him to pull strings for me, but I’m not above it. Not when it comes to finding Addison. He must know someone who can search her transactions, find out where she last spent money.
I slip my key card in the slot. When the light flashes green, I push open the door, walking slowly inside with shoulders that feel so heavy I don’t want to stand upright any longer.
“Hi.”
A soft voice reaches into me, its sound a melody.
* * *
I rush forward,the weight suddenly gone from my shoulders.
Addison hurries to me. “Brady, I—”
My lips swallow her words. I’ve been accused of not listening to her; one more time won’t hurt. My fingers thread through the hair at the nape of her neck, my other hand grips her hip possessively. She moans into my mouth, and I swallow that too.
My tongue slips into the seam her lips create, and she parts them quickly. We’re needy, desperate. Our kisses become apologies and our touches feel like promises.
Addison pushes me toward the bed, grabbing at my shirt as we go. We’re a flurry of eager hands, our breathing turning to panting as we attempt to rid one another of clothes.
Addison lies back, her hair fanning out around her as I lean over her. I place a kiss on her heart.
“So sorry,” I murmur against her.
“Me too,” she says, her breath heavy.
Pushing myself up on my forearm, I drag a fingertip across her ribcage, over her hip, and down her thigh. Curling a hand around the back of her knee, I hitch it up and she wraps it around my back.
“I’ve missed you.” My voice is thick with everything I’m feeling.
Addison’s eyes are clear and bright. She stares up at me, her eyes roaming over my face. “So much,” she agrees. Her arms encircle my neck, pulling my face down to hers.
She kisses me deeply, devouring, her lips meshing against mine.
Her chest rises with a sharp intake of breath when I push inside her. A hot rush of air slips through my teeth. Addison feels like a home I don’t ever want to leave.
Burying my face in Addison’s neck, I work to show her how much she means to me, how sorry I am for the past few days.
With my lips, I tell her I love her, with my body I show her how deeply I cherish her.
She is not just a good thing. She is the very best.
29
Addison
“Don’t go,”Brady groans, reaching for me from his spot under the covers.
I laugh, stepping back from the edge of the bed so he can’t reach me. “I need to. I told him I’d be there by now.”
Brady lifts his head from the pillow, grimacing. “I still think I should go with you. He might try to lie and tell you I’m bowing out again.” His lips draw together in a hard line.
I shake my head. We went through this last night, after we came up for air. We’d ordered room service and Brady finally let me tell him everything, and that was when we discovered Warren’s lie. I could be angry with him, but I’m not. I don’t have it in me, not when he’s been through so much, and traveled here to find me.
