Addison (The Mitchell/Healy Family #6)(26)

“They’re best friends. They travel together.”

“Ain’t you worried about your family stopping by?”

“My mom and dad are preparing to leave for North Carolina. They’re going to the beach with our family that lives there. Then, next, they’ll all come here. It’s kind of a tradition. Noah and Shalan are taking the baby.”

“So you’re going to be alone?”

She pointed at my nose. “Don’t get any ideas. The ranch is swarming with farm help. You won’t get anything past them.”

I sighed. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait until everyone is gone?”

“Why would I want to do that? It’ll be fine. I’m not afraid to show you around to them. I’ll just keep the way we met a mystery. They don’t need to know every detail. I’ll say we met at the hospital if they ask. I have lots of friends there.”

“I’m cool if you are.”

“I just think we need to not make any promises. If we’re not comfortable we’ll part ways. I want this thing between us to stay fun. No drama or games.” I wasn’t sure how to take her words.

“Addison, we’re on the same page. Nothing serious. I’ve got it.”

After stopping by a drive thru, we ventured back to the ranch. Like she’d stated, no one was home in the large mansion. I followed her through each room until we were out in a pool yard. Fancy furniture surrounded the rectangular shaped in-ground body of water. Addison walked over to the little cabinet and pulled out two folded towels. She tossed them down on a chaise and started taking off her shirt. She was already wearing what looked like a bathing suit. “You knew we were coming here?”

“I went shopping while I was waiting for you to get off. I needed retail therapy.”

Her top, two little triangles barely able to cover her nipples, was a hot pink in color. She was already pretty tan from the other day at the lake. When she lowered her shorts off her ass I noticed the bottoms were tied on each side. It would take nothing to pull one of them and watch it fall to her feet. She kicked her shorts off her ankles and spun around, to display an even smaller revealing back. “Are you sure that’s your size?” I playfully asked.

She snickered. “What’s wrong? You don’t like what you see?”

She was toying with me, and liked it.

“It’s not bad. There’s only one thing that would be better.”

She stuck her toe in the water an flung it my way. “Good luck with that.”

I pulled my shirt over my head. “I don’t need luck, precious. It’s only a matter of time.”

“I’ve known you for a week. What kind of woman do you think I am?”

“The kind who knows what she wants. Come on. Don’t tell me you’ve never had a one-night stand.”

She opened the bag of food and pulled out a drumstick, then proceed to eat while standing in front of me. “I’m starving. The smell is making my mouth water.”

“You being in that suit is doing the same for me.”

“I’ve had a one-night stand. I was messed up and regretted it ever since it happened.”

“Do you remember it? Were you coherent?”

“Yeah. Of course. I wasn’t forced or anything. It was fun at the time. We were safe, and I’m glad. I didn’t know the guy very well. I’m not the kind of person to do something so stupid with a stranger.”

I grabbed the elastic of the bathing suit bottoms and pulled her toward me. “Am I still a stranger?”

She shook her head. “No.”

Instead of saying something witty, I chomped down on her chicken leg, pulling it out of her hand and finishing it off myself. “Should we eat before we swim?”

“If you go in those shorts you won’t have anything to put on afterwards. My brother keeps shorts here in case people don’t have any. Go put on a pair so you’re dry later. I don’t want my car seats to get wet like last time.”

I tossed the chicken bone back in the bag and unsnapped my shorts. They dropped to my feet below me. Then I stood there in only a pair of boxers. Addison looked down and then back at me. A half-smile formed on the corner of my lips.

“Don’t you dare,” she warned.

I couldn’t help it. I liked getting a rise out of her. I stretched the waist and pushed them down over my ass, freeing everything else as I did it.

Addison closed her eyes and turned, but not before getting an eye full. “See something you like, precious?”

“Oh my god. Put something on. My father could walk up any second.”

I turned and looked around. There wasn’t anyone in sight. “What are you afraid of? Do you think if you see it you might attack me? I mean, it’s pretty nice, if I do say so myself. It’s always been my favorite attribute.”

“I’m not turning around until you’re covered. Go put on some shorts.”

I took a few steps closer to her, reaching my arms around her waist and letting my exposed areas rub against her ass. “I know you want another peek.”

She twisted around, staying close so she was unable to look down. “You’re being bad.”

I stepped back slowly, keeping my eyes focused on hers. Then, without warning, I spun and jumped into the water. When I emerged she was still standing outside with her hands on her hips. “If you think I’m getting in there with you, you’re crazy.”