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Authors: Zoey Derrick
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tears spill over. The next thing I know I’m wrapped up in the warmth of his arms. “Jesus, I’m so sorry. I should have, I could have…”
“Addison, stop. Please don’t cry. It’s not a big deal.”
“He was your brother, Kyle. How on earth can you say that?”
“Because it was an accident, and accidents happen. I’ve moved on with my life.”
“Did you know who I was when I showed up this morning?”
I feel him shake his head in a silent no. “It wasn’t until after I saw you face to face and your bright green eyes that I knew who you were. Mom still has a picture of you and Dan on the fireplace.” He takes a deep breath and I don’t know how to respond to him. The idea that his mom still has our pictures on display is unsettling. “Look, this really isn’t the time or place to talk about this, but I promise you, we will talk about it. Soon.”
I nod into his shirt, praying like hell my make-up isn’t bleeding all over onto his white shirt. When I pull back I notice that it’s not and I’m thankful. I look up into his eyes, “Promise?”
“Absolutely,” he tells me with a sweet yet sympathetic smile. “But I need a promise in return.”
“Anything,” I blurt before I can think twice about it.
“I hoped you’d say that.” He gives me a devilish smile. “Promise me that you will keep me and Dan separate in your mind.”
I smile. “That I can do, but I still need that talk.”
“You got it, I promise, but I have to have the separation because I am not him.”
“I know that. It’s just…” I brush away a stray tear from my cheek, “I…” I can’t finish my thought. I see fear in his eyes, like he’s afraid that his relationship to my ex-fiancé is going to have an impact on whatever may be developing between us. I can feel it, deep down, I’m drawn to him and I can’t understand why. I pray it’s not because of Dan.
“I promise, okay, I don’t break promises easily and now that you know, it will be a little easier for me to talk to you about it, but I need some time, okay?” I nod. “Okay, take a deep breath.” I do. “Now let’s go rock.” He grabs my hand and pulls me back into the arena.
We’re not inside but a couple of minutes when I duck around the wall to see the VIP area and sure enough, mingling together are Cami, Tristan, Jess and Sam. I look around for Rusty and he of course is right on my heels. “I’m going out there.”
“I wouldn’t if I were you.”
I turn to him and say, “Well, my boss, along with her husband and my two best friends are out there, try and stop me. Oh and call for Leroy, have him slide over here when he gets a chance.”
Rusty’s eyebrows scrunch up in confusion. I roll my eyes and mouth a whiny ‘please; and he melts like butter in my palm then jerks his head toward the door, signaling for me to go. I double check myself, make sure that I have my security badge and then step through the door. The minute Jess and Sam see me they squeal so loud that Tristan playfully covers his ears. I laugh.
“What the hell, why didn’t you tell us?” I get the immediate third degree from Jess and look over her shoulder at Cami who winks at me.
“You know better than that, I couldn’t and technically speaking I still haven’t told you.”
Sam laughs. “No, Cami told us.” I shake my head and smile, wrapping my girls into a three way hug.
I look right at Cami and say, “Thanks.”
“Absolutely.” I let the girls go and move to stand in front of Cami. “Nice ink.” Oh crap. I subconsciously rub my arms, I’ve never exposed my ink at work before. “Stop,” she says, “now look at me.” I do, between my lashes, “I don’t care. It’s the clients who care and I gather your boys don’t mind?”
“Uh, you could say that. I think I caused at least one heart attack already today.”
“I heard you put on quite the show at the press conference and then a little birdie told me that you put these boys in their
“Addison, stop. Please don’t cry. It’s not a big deal.”
“He was your brother, Kyle. How on earth can you say that?”
“Because it was an accident, and accidents happen. I’ve moved on with my life.”
“Did you know who I was when I showed up this morning?”
I feel him shake his head in a silent no. “It wasn’t until after I saw you face to face and your bright green eyes that I knew who you were. Mom still has a picture of you and Dan on the fireplace.” He takes a deep breath and I don’t know how to respond to him. The idea that his mom still has our pictures on display is unsettling. “Look, this really isn’t the time or place to talk about this, but I promise you, we will talk about it. Soon.”
I nod into his shirt, praying like hell my make-up isn’t bleeding all over onto his white shirt. When I pull back I notice that it’s not and I’m thankful. I look up into his eyes, “Promise?”
“Absolutely,” he tells me with a sweet yet sympathetic smile. “But I need a promise in return.”
“Anything,” I blurt before I can think twice about it.
“I hoped you’d say that.” He gives me a devilish smile. “Promise me that you will keep me and Dan separate in your mind.”
I smile. “That I can do, but I still need that talk.”
“You got it, I promise, but I have to have the separation because I am not him.”
“I know that. It’s just…” I brush away a stray tear from my cheek, “I…” I can’t finish my thought. I see fear in his eyes, like he’s afraid that his relationship to my ex-fiancé is going to have an impact on whatever may be developing between us. I can feel it, deep down, I’m drawn to him and I can’t understand why. I pray it’s not because of Dan.
“I promise, okay, I don’t break promises easily and now that you know, it will be a little easier for me to talk to you about it, but I need some time, okay?” I nod. “Okay, take a deep breath.” I do. “Now let’s go rock.” He grabs my hand and pulls me back into the arena.
We’re not inside but a couple of minutes when I duck around the wall to see the VIP area and sure enough, mingling together are Cami, Tristan, Jess and Sam. I look around for Rusty and he of course is right on my heels. “I’m going out there.”
“I wouldn’t if I were you.”
I turn to him and say, “Well, my boss, along with her husband and my two best friends are out there, try and stop me. Oh and call for Leroy, have him slide over here when he gets a chance.”
Rusty’s eyebrows scrunch up in confusion. I roll my eyes and mouth a whiny ‘please; and he melts like butter in my palm then jerks his head toward the door, signaling for me to go. I double check myself, make sure that I have my security badge and then step through the door. The minute Jess and Sam see me they squeal so loud that Tristan playfully covers his ears. I laugh.
“What the hell, why didn’t you tell us?” I get the immediate third degree from Jess and look over her shoulder at Cami who winks at me.
“You know better than that, I couldn’t and technically speaking I still haven’t told you.”
Sam laughs. “No, Cami told us.” I shake my head and smile, wrapping my girls into a three way hug.
I look right at Cami and say, “Thanks.”
“Absolutely.” I let the girls go and move to stand in front of Cami. “Nice ink.” Oh crap. I subconsciously rub my arms, I’ve never exposed my ink at work before. “Stop,” she says, “now look at me.” I do, between my lashes, “I don’t care. It’s the clients who care and I gather your boys don’t mind?”
“Uh, you could say that. I think I caused at least one heart attack already today.”
“I heard you put on quite the show at the press conference and then a little birdie told me that you put these boys in their
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