Addison (The Mitchell/Healy Family #6)(34)

I smiled and pretended I wasn’t nervous to divulge information. “I suppose I’ve been interested since we met.”

“Where are you from?”

“Here originally. I went into the Army out of high school and moved to Georgia. I got back a couple weeks ago.”

“Are you a player?”

“What?” I scrunched up my face. “I don’t have time for that shit. I’m real. What you see is what you get.”

“If you hurt my sister I’ll make sure you never get a chance to hurt anyone else again.”

I put down the grill brush and shook her hand. “I have no reason to let you down.”

“Good. You also might want to keep your dick in your pants. My sister doesn’t need anything to add to her problems. Stay clean. Don’t take her back to the place she was before. I’m not screwing around either. I will personally destroy you if you hurt her.”

“I appreciate your honesty, really I do, but you don’t have to worry about that. I like her clean and healthy.”

“Good. Ethan and I are about to leave. Don’t give me any reasons to come check up on you later.”

“I won’t.” It was funny being threatened by such a petite female, though I knew she meant business.

Once the steaks were on the grill, I went over and grabbed a pair of swimming trunks. I went inside to change and found Addison sitting on a stool in her swimsuit. “You went home and got clothes. That’s not fair.”

“I live right down the dirt lane. I took the golf cart while you were gabbing with my sister.” She lifted up a bag. “Don’t worry. There’s stuff in here you can wear.”

“I’m not wearing your dad’s clothes.”

“Oh my gosh, I’d never get you those. They’re Noah’s. He still has a closet full of stuff in his old room in boxes. It’s been years since he moved out, but I’m sure they’ll fit you, and he won’t miss them. Mom said she’s donating them anyway.”

“You thought of everything. What if I wanted to go home?”

She brought her foot up between my legs and teased me. “I’d persuade you to stay.”

I walked until I was in between her legs. “Oh, I like being persuaded.”

She bit down on her lower lip and smiled. “I bet you do.”

“I need to flip the steaks in approximately five minutes. Don’t you dare get me going so I screw them up.”

“I’m too hungry to do that.”

“Oh yeah? You like thick meat do ya?”

“Shut up. You can’t be serious.”

“I was serious,” I argued. “I wanted to know. I can satisfy any cravings you might be having, with the steaks of course.”

I kissed her quickly before walking back outside. This was getting dangerous. I was treading on thin ice that was about to break beneath my feet.

While I considered how quickly things were progressing, and what it all meant, my phone began to ring. It was Joe. He was the last person I wanted to talk to.

“Hey, man. What’s up.”

“Don’t hey man me. You’re using again aren’t you?”

“What? No!”

“You didn’t come home last night. You think I don’t know the patterns?”

“I’m at my girl’s house. I spent the night and she picked me up from work. Damn.” Of course he’d accuse me of being stoned. He’d never trusted me.

“Where does this girl live? I want to make sure you’re telling me the truth.”

“I’m not telling you my business.”

“Then you can get the f*ck out of my parent’s house. I’m not going to stand for you hurting them again.”

“You’re being ridiculous. I’m a grown man. I’m allowed to make my own decisions.”

“Come get your shit, or I’ll drop it off to someone who needs it.”

“Whoa! Wait a damn minute.”

The line went dead. I rushed into the house after turning off the grill. “I need to go home.”

“Why? Did I do something wrong?”

“No. Joe is tossing my shit out. He thinks I’ve been using because I didn’t come home last night.”

“You were with me.”

“I know, but I didn’t want you to get mad if I told him.”

Addison grabbed her keys and started heading for the door. “I’ll bring the car around. Get the steaks and put them in the refrigerator until we get back. If Joe wants proof, I’ll give it to him.”





Chapter 13


Addison


It was time to stop hiding behind what I was afraid of. Joe was threatening Cole. He needed to stop assuming the worst in him. Since I’d met him he’d been nothing but perfect. It pissed me off how bad Joe treated him, not to mention he was ruining our night together.

I think one of the biggest problems for me was that my family was always around. I was still getting to know Cole. Since they’d all pretty much gone out of town, I had the ranch to myself, or at least my Gram’s house. It was like we couldn’t catch a break.

I was hot driving to Joe’s house, and I’m not describing the temperature. Cole was beside me telling me how Joe was threatening him. What really rubbed me wrong was that Cole was just trying to start his life over. Yeah, he’d made mistakes along the way, but didn’t everyone? How could Joe continue to try and hook up with me when he treated his foster brother like he was a junkie? Cole hadn’t dabbled into the things I’d gotten involved in. He was a much better example for me to follow.