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Eleven
Addison went to bed that night exhausted from...well, everything. Joe’s gathering had taken a toll on her, alongside some extra unwanted attention after she’d been outed as the love of his life.
Bran was right in suggesting she didn’t have to explain Joe’s one-sided love for her to the Harts, though. They didn’t ask about it in front of Bran, anyway, so there was no reason to bring it up.
It was healing to reacquaint herself with Elsa and Randy. She’d worried over the years that they’d hated her for leaving Hart Media and growing apart from Joe, but it turned out they didn’t feel that way at all.
Once the Harts had interrupted her and Bran, Addi grabbed onto the distraction like a lifeline. Eventually they’d left the ballroom to retire to their individual rooms, and Bran hadn’t brought up what Addi and he had talked about before.
Not that it mattered. His claim of “I’m not your boss this weekend. Just a guy who’d like to have a few more close encounters with you” kept her up, tossing and turning for quite a few hours.
Brunch the next morning was held in the second-floor lobby and since the inn was mostly filled with Joe’s friends and family, it was impossible not to bump into someone she knew. So, she put on a happy face, poured herself a ginormous cup of coffee and went out to mingle.
Bran hadn’t rapped on their connected doors this morning to wake her, but he’d beat her down here. He was in line for breakfast, chatting with a pretty redhead.
Addison watched them together—the way the woman tucked her hair behind her ear and batted her lashes. She was petite, wearing a pale green dress and sandals. Charm oozed naturally from Bran so Addi wasn’t surprised to hear the other woman laugh, warm and inviting. All-too-familiar jealousy propped its hands on its hips with indignation.
She’d had enough of that emotion to last two lifetimes.
“There she is,” he said when he noticed her standing off to the side. “Addi, darling. Come over here.”
Addi, darling. Swoon.
He opened an arm and tucked her against him. She inhaled his clean, soapy scent. In the office, she’d hadn’t had the privilege of being this close to notice.
He rubbed his palm on her bare arm. “I wanted to let you sleep.” The suggestive lilt paired with a kiss to her forehead sold the assumption they’d spent the night in the same bed.
The redhead introduced herself. “I’m Rebecca.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“He’s told me so much about you. You two make a cute couple. Bran is very charming.” To her testament, Rebecca didn’t say that with an ounce of animosity. “Later we should hang out. Bran and my husband have a lot in common.”
Ahh, she was married. That explained why she didn’t mind hearing Bran was attached. Fake attached, but still.
“Allen’s a tech guy, too. And I, like you,” she said to Addi, “run the show at the office. We should have a drink tonight. Al has so many great stories about Joe.”
“I’d like that.”
Rebecca bid them adieu and took her full plate to a table occupied by her husband.
“Did you think I was flirting with her?” Bran asked.
“What? No!”
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t call her on the lie. “Want some eggs?”
“Yes. Please.”
Holding his plate and hers, he dished out a portion of eggs for each of them.
“You don’t have to take care of me, you know.”
“So you keep saying. Potatoes?”
“Please.”
“I like a girl who likes her carbs.” He dished out a spoonful each onto their plates. “You take care of me a lot, Ad. Remember, I’m not your boss this weekend. I’m your date.”
