The Best Goodbye (Rosemary Beach, #13)(31)

“No, I’m going in. She’s been threatening for weeks to send me away. I don’t want to give her a reason.” I knew that using my fear of leaving him would be the only way he would agree.

“I won’t let her.”

“River, you can’t stop her.”

“She won’t send you away, because she knows I’ll report her. I’ll call social services. I’ll leave, too. She knows it. You’re not going to be taken away from me.” The determination in his voice made me feel safe, even though I was standing outside a house with a madwoman raging inside.

“She’s on the phone with Dad,” he said, reaching down to squeeze my hand. “Go to the pond for me.”

I shook my head. “No. I won’t leave you here.”

River sighed, then turned to face me and placed both of his hands on my shoulders. He towered over me now at six feet. “Addy, please. I can handle her and calm her down. But if she hurts you, I will hurt her. I don’t want to hurt my mother. She needs help. I need to go in there knowing you’re safe.”

I stared up at him, wishing he wasn’t right. “I hate you having to deal with her alone. I hate being the reason.”

He pulled me close to him and lowered his mouth to my ear. “You’re my reason for everything.” Then he kissed me on the cheek and straightened back up.

In the midst of this insane moment, I had butterflies in my stomach going crazy. But he always had that effect on me. “I can’t remember what my life was like before you,” I told him honestly. “And I don’t want to remember.”

He smirked. “I remember what mine was like before you, and I don’t ever want to live without you again.”





Captain


After our ice-cream date, Addy agreed to bring Franny over for dinner in three days on her night off. I was trying to give them both time to adjust to having me in their lives, but I sure as hell didn’t want to wait that long. Watching Franny talk was fascinating. She was a ball of energy, and I felt like I had a lifetime to make up for with her.

The paperwork on my desk was waiting for me, but my head wasn’t on work. It was on the two girls in my life. The only two I would ever love.

A knock interrupted my thoughts. “Come in,” I called out.

Brad opened the door and stepped inside. I’d left a message for him to come see me. I had something we needed to discuss, and the kitchen wasn’t the place to do it.

“Hey, you need me?” he asked, looking like he’d just crawled out of bed.

“Late night?” I asked, hoping he’d say yes. I wanted his attention off of Addy.

He nodded. “Yeah, I was up late trying a new idea for a menu. Took me three tries, but I think I nailed it. I’ll make it today and let you try.” The guy was obsessed with food, but that was what made him the best.

“You do that,” I replied. “Close the door, and have a seat.”

Today the new manager was coming into the restaurant, which was going to give me more time to spend with Franny—and her mother. Because I intended to spend time with Addy. Even if she seemed unsure about me.

“Brad, what’s your relationship with Ad—I mean, Rose?” I corrected myself quickly. Calling her Rose was hard now. Remembering at work would be difficult. Explaining a name change to everyone wouldn’t be easy.

Brad frowned and shifted in his seat. “Nothing yet. I mean, I think we’re friends. I like spending time with her. Is that against policy? I assumed since you dated Elle, it was OK.”

He went from nervous to defensive fast. “No, it isn’t against policy, but I’m going to ask you to step back in your pursuit of Rose.”

His frown deepened. “Why?”

Because she was my Addy, and I didn’t want him f*cking near her and making her laugh. “Because you have a kitchen to make first-class. Flirting with the servers isn’t something you have time for. Rose has a daughter. She needs to focus on that when she’s not here. So back off.”

Brad stared at me a moment, then moved to stand up. “Not sure how me being her friend and seeing her after hours affects any of that. She’s the best server we have, and you know it. She doesn’t let anything affect that.”

He needed to back down. My hands clenched tightly as I glared at him. “Don’t push me on this,” I said, lowering my voice to meet his challenge.

“Do you like her? Is that what this is about? Because last time I checked, she isn’t your speed. You go for the Elles of the world. And Rose isn’t like Elle. Not even close.”

I agreed with him completely on that. “I’m watching out for her. That’s all. You can leave now.” I didn’t want to leave any room for argument.

He looked like he wanted to say more, but he didn’t. I knew how I looked to him right now. He wasn’t going to say anything with the warning in my glare. With a frustrated expression, he turned and left my office.

That had gone as expected, but it had to be done. Brad was the best chef around here, and I’d hate to fire him because he couldn’t back off from Addy.

? ? ?

I got lost for the next few hours in paperwork and phone calls. When Jamieson Tynes finally showed up, I was annoyed and relieved. Arthur had said he’d be coming today, and I needed him here now more than ever. He would be my way to create the free time I needed for my daughter.