Blaire’s grin grew. “I like her. She’s a protective momma. Says a lot about a person.”
“Just wait until you meet Franny and see what an amazing job she’s done raising her.”
“Dinner at my house on your next night off. Make sure you bring both of them.” Blaire didn’t ask; she just commanded.
“Let me talk to her about it first. Make sure she’s good with that. This is all new for us, and I don’t want to do anything that’s too much for Franny.”
Blaire let out a laugh and beamed at me. “You’re a daddy. I love this.”
I did, too. “Yeah,” I replied.
• • •
Once I had my sister out of my office, I went back to check on things. It wasn’t like I was needed, exactly, but I wanted to see Addy.
“Rose was late getting in today and late to the meeting in the dining room. I’m making the call to let her go,” Elle said, walking out of the kitchen and directly toward me.
“No,” I replied, annoyed that Elle was attacking Addy out of simple jealousy.
“Why? Are you seeing her? Is that it? If anyone else was this late, you’d let them go. Why does she get away with it?”
I walked around Elle and headed to the dining room.
“Answer me. Is she the one you moved on to?”
I stopped in my tracks, hating the disbelief in her voice, as if she found herself superior to Addy. Stupid girl. I glanced back over my shoulder and met her angry gaze. “She’s the best damn server we have here. You know it, and so does everyone else.”
As much as I wanted to tell her that yes, I was with Addy, I couldn’t do it. She would attack Addy with a ferocity that would end with me firing her and causing shit with Stout.
“She’s mediocre at best,” Elle snapped.
“Don’t be pathetic,” I replied, bored with this entire conversation.
“I hate you!” she called out heatedly.
I felt nothing in return, so I had no response.
Addy
He had watched me all night. It had made me feel excited and nervous at the same time. I liked knowing he was there, but I was also worried about forgetting what I was doing if I looked back at him.
I expected him to meet me the moment we closed, but he wasn’t there. I went to the back to get my purse, still thinking he’d show up, but he didn’t. Elle kept looking my way and smirking, as if there was something she knew that I didn’t. I ignored her and decided I would stop by his office to say good night. Maybe he was busy.
His office door was open, and I could see it was empty. I thought about texting him but changed my mind. I needed to get home to Franny. I would wait until he contacted me. Maybe he had been trying to tell me something, but I’d never looked his way to find out what it could be.
There were several scenarios running through my mind, but as I stepped outside, I realized it was none of them; his truck was still there in the parking lot, and so was he. In the darkness, I could see him deep in conversation with a tall blonde, her hair pulled back tightly in a ponytail, dressed in tight black leather. They couldn’t be any closer to each other without actually touching. I paused and took them in. Even in the shadows, I could see that Captain’s face was intent as he listened to her.
I’d never seen her before, but he seemed to know her. She was important to him. The way his body leaned into hers as he spoke meant something. There was an air of intimacy about them that made my stomach turn.
Captain looked passionate as he spoke, and he leaned in closer toward her. I couldn’t stay and watch this any longer. I didn’t know what it was, but I could tell just from this little glimpse that it was more than I could accept.
Hurrying to my car, I pulled out my keys and unlocked it. Getting home and holding Franny close would ease this ache. Knowing that she was always there helped me face everything. She came first. She was all that mattered in this world. I didn’t need him. She did. But I didn’t.
I could survive this. I was stronger than this.
It wasn’t until I pulled out onto the road that the tears stung my eyes, and I had to blink them back. Crying over this wasn’t something I would accept. Tomorrow, I was sure he’d have some excuse. I didn’t think I cared to hear it. Nothing could explain what I had seen.
I held my tears the entire trip home, and when I finally got there, I was so exhausted from the sheer force of will that I all but ran into the house.