So Addie smiled and said, “Let’s explore, drink, dance. Tomorrow museums. Between them, I want to be ravished, Lord Darbyshire. Debauch me.”
Toni swallowed hard. “Well, okay, then. I can do that if that’s what you want.”
“What are friends for, right?” Addie glanced at her from under lowered lashes. “Shall we play a game?”
“You make me nervous with that tone, Adelaine.” Toni took a drink. “What do you have in mind?”
“Dealer’s choice. Show me what you can do with those fangs, or you can take a stroll to the ladies and take my purse with you.” Addie handed her the bag. “There’s a surprise in it.”
Toni took her bag and looked inside. “For me?” She looked up at Addie. “Are you sure I should be the one wearing that?”
The tiny bullet vibe had a remote control that Addie had hoped to hand to Toni, but now? Now Addie wanted the control. Once. Before this was all over. Addie wanted the power. So she pushed. She taunted, “Unless it’s too intimidating for you to give me control…?”
Toni shut the handbag and put it on the empty seat between them. “Any other options on this list of yours?”
“Maybe tomorrow,” Addie said lightly.
“After dinner.” Toni closed her mouth as the server delivered their meal. She looked over the table and pronounced, “Both.”
Once the server left, Toni gave her an odd look. “I can’t concentrate once we start playing games, and right now, I want to talk to you, Addie. Youmatterto me, so I want to know about your week, the filming, where all you want to go this weekend. I was thinking The Presbytère, The Cabildo, and the 1850 House. Dating me requires a lot of museum trips, if you’re willing.”
Addie bit back a sound. She was willing. She was willing to do all the things, touristy and not, with Toni. All she had to do was hope that she could pretend not to be in love with her for two days—and hope Toni was deep enough in denial to not realize she was there, too.
And then I can fall apart over things ending already.Toni had only just admitted they were dating, and it was already the end.I can do this. I can enjoy the weekend and then let her go.
“Can we shop a little, too?” Addie asked as they started their meal.
“There’s a lingerie store I passed earlier,” Toni said lightly.
Addie giggled. “I was thinking about a bookstore.…”
“Fine.” Toni fake-sighed. “Drag me to look at books. Don’t complain when I take hours.”
“Tonight, though? Dancing!” Addie eyed her between bites. “There’s supposed to be a whole bunch of bars with great music on Frenchman? Frenchmen? Something like that.”
“Another scandalous waltz, perhaps?” Toni teased. “Maybe I can practice a bite on the other side of your throat to see how secure these fangs are.”
“I was thinking somewhere a little more southerly,” Addie said without even a quaver in her voice. “Unless that’s too—”
“It’s not too anything,” Toni said. “Not at all.”
Addie smiled at her before continuing her meal.This is enough. It has to be. Enjoy what we have right now, and then let her go.
Toni was a fool. Addie was certain of it, but this would have to be enough because the alternative was losing her tonight. Despite the lies she’d offered, Addie was, in fact, very much in love.And so is Toni, whether or not she admits it.So she’d take her last weekend with her beloved and make it unforgettable. There was no other option. Addie wasn’t going to throw her career away on anyone, and Toni would run away if she realized Addie loved her.
Whatever this could have been, it’s over now.
Sometimes love wasn’t enough. Sometimes clicking perfectly,great sex, laughter, and all the rest were still not enough. They had separate lives on separate coasts, and Toni didn’t want Addie’s love.
Briefly, Addie considered trying to talk, but what was there to say that she hadn’t already said? Toni had once again decidedshemade the rules, and Addie wasn’t interested in putting everything—her career, her self-respect, and her heart—on the line for someone who refused to even try.
Chapter 43Toni
When Toni woke before dawn to leave New Orleans on Monday, she felt like something was still off between them. Addie had been cheerful, fun, and adventurous the last two days. They’d laughed and enjoyed their time, and they’d talked about their dreams for their jobs—and unusual “get to know you” topics from favorite drinks to cities they wanted to visit. On the surface, it was good.
And yet as Addie kissed her goodbye in the pre-dawn hours and said she was staying in bed rather than walk downstairs or even walk to grab coffee before Toni left, Toni was certain that she wasn’t imagining it.
“Did I do something wrong again?” Toni asked.
