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But she couldn’t go back, and she couldn’t change things. Sobs began rising from a place deep inside, a sensitive, pure place that had been dormant for far too long. A place that was shouting the most horrendous truth at her.
She had traded her sister for Brian.
BRIAN COULDN’T RESTRAINhis gleeful smile. He stepped out of the elevator like a man who’d just won the lottery. Because he had.
At the end of this long hallway was Addisyn.
He marched purposefully down the hall. Room 308...309...310...Brian rounded a corner. 311...312.
Her room.
His fingers were trembling slightly as he made a fist and knocked on her door. Four knocks, then—
“Hello?” A muffled voice from inside the room.
A grin soared across Brian’s face. It was her voice! He tried to deepen his own, disguise it somehow. It would make an even better surprise for Addisyn. Deep in his mind was the thought he wouldn’t face—that Addisyn might not open the door if she knew who it was.
“Special delivery,” he mumbled.
There was a pause inside the room, then a shuffling sound. “One second.” Addisyn’s voice sounded choked, somehow. Had she been crying?Baby, you’ll have no reason to cry now that I’m here.
There was the sound of a drawer closing, soft footsteps on the carpeted floor, and a sniff. Then the door began to open.
ADDISYN OPENED THEdoor fully expecting to find a hotel employee standing there. At any other time, she might have been a bit more cautious. She might have checked the peephole or demanded further explanation.
But—well, it sounded crazy, but part of her wondered if God had sent someone to help her. Like a supernatural answer to her prayer—already. If you asked Avery, things like that were possible—although Addisyn figured they didn’t happen for her.
But still, what if?
So she pulled the door open with no reservations—and Brian Felding stepped into the room.
Her gasp was the only assurance that her lungs could still work. Like a physical blow, the astonishment pushed her back a couple of steps. The shock seemed to entwine around her throat, threatening to suffocate her. She could feel her face flushing as her knees began to tremble.
Meanwhile, Brian just coolly closed the door behind him and leaned against it with a triumphant leer. He was clearly willing to wait for her to quit disbelieving her senses.
The shock rapidly faded before the wake of an impending rage, a rage that swept every other emotion before it like an out-of-control wildfire. Fear, confusion, regret, uncertainty—all were driven before it like leaves on the wind. Addisyn clenched her fists, empowered by the anger.
“Brian, what thedevilare you doing here?”
“Addisyn.” He opened his arms wide. As though she might just dash into his embrace. Addisyn glowered at him even more fiercely. Yeah, she’d just as soon run into the mouth of a tiger. Seeing no reaction, his brow darkened, and he awkwardly lowered his arms. “I’ve searched the entire United States for you.”
Figured. Addisyn wondered if Brian was this obsessive about everything in his life. Still, she felt the need to point out the obvious. “You’re not in the United States now.”
“True.” Brian chuckled. Probably from nerves, Addisyn guessed. He wasn’t used to meeting any reluctance from her whatsoever. “That’s because I couldn’t find you anywhere. So I broadened my search field.”
“What did you need to see me for?” Addisyn crossed her arms over her chest. Partly to hide the uncontrollable shaking of her hands, partly to send a message to him that she was not open to—anything.
“Aww, Addisyn...” He gave her the polished smile that had once melted her heart. “That’s no way to welcome your man.”
“You are not my man.” There was no need to raise her voice. Addisyn could handle this in a ladylike manner. If not—well, if she screamed, surely somebody would hear. “And I prefer for you to state your reasons for barging in on me and then take your leave.” He started to say something, but she interrupted. “Nicely.”
He stared at her for a moment, apparently sizing up the seriousness of her opposition to him. What he saw must have alarmed him. His brow furrowed, and for just a moment, Addisyn saw what Avery had seen all along. Hardness.
Appearing to change tactics, he slowly ambled to the edge of the bed and sat down, as if he planned to be there a long time. Addisyn swiveled to face him, eyeing him warily. She didn’t trust him for a moment.
“Well,” he began. He seemed to be taking a long time to settle himself. “I have come to you, Addisyn, with the answer to all your dreams.” He paused, then clarified with special emphasis, “YourOlympicdreams.”
Addisyn’s heart lurched within her chest. Then it began thudding with an unnaturally heavy rhythm. She swallowed painfully. Her Olympic dreams? Oh, was it possible that—? She checked herself.Of course not. Don’t trust him.Probably it was just a pick-up line he’d concocted during his flight. She refused to relax her poker face one iota. Whatever he meant, he wouldn’t have the satisfaction of knowing that he now held every ounce of her attention.
