Addie’s eyes double in size, her cheeks reddening faster than I can arch an amused brow.
“No. Um, I mean... yes. Walnut latte if you have it, please,” she stutters, then swivels my way as soon as the flight attendant moves away. “Baby?”
“We’re dating, remember?”
She opens and closes her mouth several times, struggling to find the right words. “I just... okay. You’re right. I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”
“You can’t act so shocked in front of your family,baby.”
“Right,” she nods. “We’re dating. We have pet names for each other.”
“No.” I firmly shake my head. “I have pet names for you, but that’s the extent of it. You won’t like what follows if you try a pet name on me.”
“Not eventeddy bear?” she teases with a cheeky grin.
“Especially not teddy bear.”
After Addie triple-checks we have our meet-cute story down to a T, I keep her talking about animals. The childhood stories of her saving injured birds and crying whenever her father went fishing keep her distracted until halfway to Miami when the in-flight meal is served.
Spending time with Addie is surprisingly effortless. She’s open, genuine, and her family fortune—the extent of which I’m yet to discover—hasn’t rubbed off on her in a bad way. She’s as down to earth as Vee or Thalia. It’s nice.
My hand gets another torture session when we land, but it’s not as bad as during take-off.
Maybe because Addie knows we’re getting closer to the ground, or maybe because she’s too busy listening to me talk about my nephews and nieces to truly give in to the panic.
NINE
Addie
I STOP COLTas he rises to his feet, outstretching my arm to block his way when we’re about to disembark.
My anxiety hits sky high now that we’re minutes from starting the pretend play.
“The moment we step out of the arrivals hall, we’ll be constantly watched.”
“Got it.”
“No, you don’t,” I hiss, the words coming out sharper than intended. “I mean it, Colt. There are security cameras all over the yacht. The only place we’ll have privacy is our suite, though I expect my family to knock at all hours.” My hand freezes around his wrist as a daunting thought settles in. “God, what if my mother’s installed hidden cameras in our suite?”
“You think she’d risk seeing her daughter in the act? I very much doubt that, Addie.”
“I’mnotpaying you for this week with sex, you muppet!”
He cocks an amused brow, silently reminding me how I teased him last night. My cheeks grow so hot I’m moments from catching on fire. I should’ve slept naked or made a dash to the car for some pj’s. There was no reason to knock on his door, but I was courageous, tipsy and horny, and I wanted to see his reaction so... sue me for flirting.
I knew nothing would happen. He made it very clear how he feels about touching drunk women. It’s one of the things I find so damn attractive about him.
He’s every bit my type. Broad shoulders, tattoos, and deep brown eyes. He’s commanding but attentive and makes me feel safe, and there’s that confident, broody bad-boy aura around him, too...
“We established I’m not taking any form of payment for this week,” Colt says. “Your mother doesn’t know we’re not really dating, Addie, and couples have sex. You think she’d want to see you doingthat? My performance would traumatize her for life, I assure you.”
I shake the stiffness off my limbs, pretending I didn’t hear the last sentence. It’s raising too many questions.
“You’re right. She’d have a heart attack if a sex tape got leaked. She wouldn’t dare take the risk.”
“Exactly. Now get up, I need a drink.”
“Make it two.”
