She forced a smile, throwing her bag in the passenger seat and gripped the door.
“She a dancer?” He lifted his chin to the back of the building.
“Ava? No, she’s the manager.”
He furrowed his brows. “Since when?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged, not knowing her exact start date. “She’s been here since I started.”
Ace gave a curt nod and started up his bike. This was the most he’d talked to her one on one. He was definitely a man of few words.
With seemingly, a specific type for long-haired, green-eyed, beautiful managers.
Interesting.
****
After the five-hour ride home, he was still fuming about the incident from earlier. After all the bullshit they’d dealt with in the last month, they’d come to an agreement, which entailed Cross keeping track of her. It may have seemed over the top, but Cross was in protective mode when it came to Addison.
Being far away without any contact meant he had to have back up to go looking for her. Ace was the only brother available.I’m gonna catch shit for this. Cross would take it. Accept it as long as it meant Addison was safe.
He pulled into her driveway, passing her car and parking under the carport. Their new house had a two-car garage, a luxury he was looking forward to having, especially with Knox’s bike. It was currently being kept at the clubhouse. Cue had made room in the garage for it while he continued to work on it. Occasionally, Addison would join him. Cross wasn’t sure of the extent of her helping, but Cue didn’t seem to mind the company.
The house was quiet, and at this hour, he didn’t expect her to be up. She’d gotten in just before three, and it was a little after nine in the morning. He walked into the living room, stopped to use the bathroom, and then ventured into their bedroom. It was small and impersonal. That would change once they moved into their house. Cross got undressed and slipped under the covers. He didn’t want to wake her, but he always wanted her close. He wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Hey,” she whispered, tucking her back against his chest and covering his hand with hers. “What time is it?” Her voice was groggy and still half asleep.
“Close to nine.” He nuzzled his face in her hair. Her shampoo always smelled like a sweet fruit.
She shifted as if to get up, but he tightened his hold.
A soft chuckle echoed. “Babe, unlike you, I’ve been sleeping all night.”
“You’re staying.” Cross tightened his hold.
“Why would you want that when you could have the bed all to yourself?”
“’Cause I want you here.” For a man who’d always valued his privacy and solitude, he found himself wanting to share everything with her. Including his bed.
She settled against him, strumming her fingers over his hand. It was soothing. Addison had a way of settling him, and for a brief second he almost forgot about the incident. Until she brought it up.
“You didn’t have to send Ace to check on me.”
“Yeah, I did.” Cross felt himself drifting.
“I’m a grown woman, who up until last month, took care of myself.”
“Yeah, but now you’remywoman.”
Her body shook against him, and he smirked.
“Are you always going to be this protective?” Her fingers lightly caressed over his skin up to his arm.
“Yeah.”
“Leave it to me to fall in love with a man who’s overprotective.” She chuckled, and he opened his eyes. Cross wasn’t sure she even realized she’d said it. If she did, she wasn’t trying to cover it up.
Cross couldn’t remember the last time he’d been in love with a woman, if ever. He’d had girlfriends when he was younger, and he’d heard those words. But he’d never returned them. He’d never felt it, and for a long time, he wasn’t sure he was even capable of it.
