Family Pieces (23 page)
A knock at the door interrupted Addison’s train of thought. Marjorie had not announced anyone. She looked up. The door opened slightly and a hand holding two tickets appeared, followed by a familiar face. A broad smile spread across her lips.
“What are you doing here?”
Pleasantly surprised, she attempted to conceal her delight.
“Stealing you away for a night on the town?” Russell wore cargo shorts, dark brown leather sandals and a deep navy flowered shirt that intensified his crisp, ocean blue eyes. Addison admired his casual look, thinking he could look sexy in anything.
“It’s Monday.”
“So?”
“So what makes you think I’m available?” she teased.
“Just a hunch. You have a well-oiled machine of a company, complete with a fully capable staff that you compensate above any market-value industry threshold. I’m certain they can hold down the fort for one night. And seeing that your mother told cancer who is boss - I suppose all that practice raising you over the years helped her hone those skills – I figure she can make it through one night without you, too.” He gave her a quick wink.
“So, unless you have another hot date with two premiere tickets to
Spamalot
and reservations at Restaurant One, NY, I’m guessing my offer sounds enticing?”
Addison paged Marjorie. “Didn’t I tell you to keep the crazies out?”
“You sure did, Ms. Reynolds. That’s what I used to tell your father before he let you move into that office,” she bantered back. “Didn’t work then, didn’t work now.”
“So, is it a date?” Russell moved in closer to her desk.
“Yes. It’s a date,” Marjorie’s voice chanted from the hallway. “And if she doesn’t accept, would you consider an old broad like me?”
“Any time, Marjorie,” he yelled back.
Russell’s eyes lingered on Addison awaiting her reply. She was beautiful, her light olive skin flawless. He’d heard the rumors of her noncommittal history; the tabloid reporters often compared her to a female playboy. He didn’t see it. There was something about her he found irresistible. She challenged him and that alone enthralled him.
“Well?”
Addison finally acquiesced. “Okay. It’s a date. There, happy now?”
“Yes, actually.” He smiled his crooked smile that she was starting to adore. “I’ll pick you up at six.” He leaned across the desk and kissed her. His mouth lingered just long enough to arouse her. He smelled uniquely good. She inhaled, trying to place the masculine scent.
She straightened up in her chair. “Now go. Unless you happen to need a full-page advertisement running twelve issues in
Urbane,
that is. In that case, sign here.” She pushed a pile of papers toward him and held her pen in his direction.
“Can it be a personal ad for you?”
“I’m sorry, we’re not that type of publication.”
“How about I just see you tonight then.”
Smiling, he turned and shut the door behind him.
Four dresses sprawled across the bed, each with their merits and shortcomings. The fifth, Addison evaluated in the mirror.
Sexy but not too revealing
, she thought. Typically, she was not this indecisive. She stripped off the dress one last time and again tried on dress number one. The dress was a sleek black number dipping low in the back with the length falling just over her knees.
Elegant and sexy. This is the one.
She scoured her drawer for the appropriate lingerie and proceeded with getting dressed. She pulled her hair into a loose, flowing up-do, making visible the sleek skin of her shoulder blades all the way down to her lower back.
Russell arrived promptly at six. She opened the door and ushered him in. “Wow!” His eyes widened. “You look great.”
He leaned toward her and kissed her cheek.
“Thanks.”
He followed after her into the kitchen. He noticed the vase of orchids still on the table from their first date. The robust birds of paradise and greenery remained, while the more fragile flowers she had obviously pruned out. He was pleased she had cared for them enough to preserve their longevity.
“By the way, you don’t look too shabby yourself,” she said. He was dressed impeccably in a dark gray suit tailored perfectly for his powerfully built physique. She imagined him in the boardroom, exuding confidence and strength. The thought excited her.
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” he said playfully.
She blushed slightly and took the last sip of water from her glass and set it in the sink.
“I’m ready if you are. Just need to grab my coat.”
She moved toward the hallway. He jumped ahead of her, opened the closet, took the coat off the hanger for her and held it open. She turned her back to him and slipped her arms into the sleeves. His hands squeezed her shoulders lightly then moved seductively down her back, pulling her hips toward him.
“Mmmm.” He moaned slightly, nestling his face into the nape of her neck. She could feel the masculine scruff of his unshaven cheek and allowed herself to melt against him for a moment. He felt strong, safe. She squeezed her eyes tight and soaked in the moment before straightening up and turning to face him.
“We should go,” she smiled demurely, thinking to herself,
before we can’t.
They arrived back at Addison’s loft just after midnight. She was rarely up this late during the week. The usual stress-induced fatigue escaped her, though, replaced by a rather giddy, energized state.
“Who would have imagined Monty Python on Broadway?” she asked, dusting off a few lingering snowflakes before placing her coat back in the closet. “I couldn’t stop laughing. I think that was better than any ab workout I’ve ever tried.”
Russell didn’t comment. Instead, he grasped her arms gently, turning her to him. He lifted her into a long, passionate kiss. She welcomed his brazenness with exhilaration and suddenly couldn’t remember what she’d been saying as she lost herself in his embrace. She stopped kissing and stared into his eyes, trying to read his intent. Was he falling for her? Was she falling for him? Grabbing his hand, she led him silently to her bedroom.
Morning arrived swiftly as the sound of Addison’s alarm resonated through the room. She hit the off button and snuggled back onto Russell’s shoulder. He stirred.
“Good morning,” he said in a raspy, just-woke-up voice.
“Morning,” she replied, always unsure how to act the first morning after. He turned his head and met her lips. She pulled away and held her hand over her mouth. “Morning breath, sorry. Let me go brush my teeth.”
“Uh-uh.” He pulled her hand down gently and kissed her anyway. In a swift movement, he rolled, positioning his body over her. He held the weight of his body with his arms as his lips moved lower to explore. She hadn’t meant for him to stay the night. She needed to maintain control, yet she felt his strength radiating a feeling of protection around her. Too easily persuaded, Addison relented.
A
fourth piece.
How was that possible? Karsen mulled the information around again and again in her mind as she sat like a zombie in class. Surely, Mom would have told us if she had made another charm. She didn’t know whether to question her mother’s honesty or question her own sanity. A twinge of anger crept into the pit of her stomach. She did her best to squelch the feeling. Now that she was gone, the last person Karsen wanted to be upset with was her mother.
The professor handed back her latest chemistry quiz. A large, red ‘C’ appeared on the top. Karsen stared in disbelief. A C? She had never received a C before. Ever. She placed the paper in her bag before Hanna caught a glimpse of the grade. At least it was only one quiz. She knew the trend would continue if she didn’t get her focus back soon.