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Harper had been the voice of reason. Addison knew the solution was talking to Stone, but she didn’t want to admit she’d looked at his computer like that. She’d been snooping to see if she could find a hint about where they were going for their honeymoon, not trying to unearth secrets and lies. Whoever said ignorance was bliss had kind of been on to something.
Stone had been in Mountainville, but drove down for all the final, pre-wedding day activities. They agreed to meet in the house he purchased for them a month ago. Preferring to move in after the wedding, Addison was still in the house she rented from Rachel. This new house, her dream house, was in the process of being decorated by her sister, Harper’s company. It would be complete by the time they came back from their three-week honeymoon.
Addison had picked up breakfast for them on the way to see Stone. She’d ordered both their favorite breakfast foods but couldn’t eat until she got her question answered. It had been lingering in the forefront of her mind for too long. “Tell me who you send fifteen thousand dollars a month to...in Maine.”
Stone had just put a piece of sausage in his mouth. He chewed, swallowed, and then took a sip of his orange juice before responding. “How do you know about that?”
“I saw it on your computer.”
“When?”
Addison picked up her fork and moved some food around on her plate, like admitting that was casual conversation. “A few weeks ago, when I was at your house.”
“So is this a part of your M.O. that I don’t know anything about? You snoop and then let things fester?”
She put her fork down and deadpanned him with a look. “If I was snooping, I would have used my resources already to figure out who it is. I was trying to let it go, but I can’t. I want to know.”
Stone cut another piece of meat. He raised it to his lips and held it there, using the fork like a pointer before putting the meat in his mouth. “It’s a personal family matter that doesn’t concern you.”
“It’s a lot of money.”
He chuckled. “You know what I’m worth, Addison. Are you concerned that you won’t have shopping money?”
Stone’s response frustrated the heck out of Addison. They were both blessed or cursed with the gift of sarcasm, but she wasn’t in the mood for the snappy comebacks right now. “I’m concerned that you’re hiding a person from me. And I want to know who it is.”
He took a long sip from his glass and cleared his throat. Lines etched his forehead. Lines she’d seen before when he was annoyed. “It’s Bennett family business.”
Addison rolled her neck. “Excuse me. Aren’t I about to become a Bennett?”
“Yes, you are, but this is sensitive, and I can’t talk about it.”
She pushed her chair back and stood. “I’ve lost my appetite.”
Stone frowned. “Addy, come on.”
“Don’t Addy me. This is shady. I don’t have any secrets, Stone.”
“And I personally don’t have any from you.”
“Except this mysterious benefactor in Maine. I could have figured out who it is, but I decided to respect your privacy. I feel like I owe you that.”
“If you had respected my privacy, you wouldn’t know about it.” Stone groaned. “I’m glad you didn’t do any investigative snooping. I would have been disappointed.”
“Kind of like I am right now.” Addison planted a hand on her hip. “Is this how it’s going to be. You doing the most and me putting up with it?”
“No.”
“I love you. If you have something you’ve hidden from me...this is your moment to be honest.”
Stone shook his head. “You’re ruining a good meal.”
“Don’t try to gaslight me, man. Do you have a secret child?”
He stood and walked to her side of the table. “I wouldn’t keep a child from you.”
“A wife?”
“Addison...” he placed a hand under her trembling chin.
“A mistress or some woman you’re keeping?”
“Never. I have never kept a woman.”
“Are you being blackmailed?”
“This is getting interesting.” He almost looked insulted. “No.”
“Paying some penance for some crime you committed?”
Stone found that one funny. She could see it, but he didn’t laugh. “No.”
“Okay.” Addison nodded, relenting. “I’ve heard your no’s. I’m going to believe that this person or payment is not for any of those things, but Stone, if I learn anything different...I won’t forgive it. I will never trust you again.”
“Well, I’m in the clear.” He dropped into the chair she’d vacated and pulled her onto his lap. He raised a hand to stroke her chin and cheek. Like always, Addison melted under his touch. She was still annoyed, but she let the Bennett family mess go...for now. Instinctively, she trusted him. She remembered her father’s advice, some of the last advice he’d ever given them.
Believe a man’s actions, not his words.
Stone’s actions had been consistent since he’d put his ring on her finger.
A sexy smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. “I want to skip the wedding and get right to the honeymoon.”
She raked a hand over his dark hair and brought it down to settle on his shoulder. “Which is where?”
“Someplace exotic that neither of us have been to.”
“How long is the flight?”
“Between four and twenty-four hours,” he teased.
She shoved his shoulder back, playfully. “You’re so infuriating.”
“You’re going to love it.”
“Not as much as I love you.” Addison melted some more. This time into his eyes.
“I don’t know...you might love it more,” he said. He took her hand and stroked it for a moment before raising his eyes to hers again. “Seriously, are we good?”
She released a long plume of air. “We’re fine.”
“Fine?”
Addison hiked a shoulder. “That’s the best I can do. I trust you.”
“Trusting me...I can live with that,” Stone said. “So what are you doing today?”
“Spending time at the spa. Massage, facial, mani, pedi and anything else they’re going to do to me.”
“Sounds relaxing.”
“That’s the point,” Addison said, playing with the collar of this polo shirt. “What about you?”
“I am going to Jackson’s house for a ride. Then golf with Ethan and Cole and later...a haircut.”
“It’s so easy for you.”
“Yeah, but I won’t look nearly as yummy as you will.”
“You look pretty yummy right now.”
Stone’s eyes glinted with unabashed wanting. “Don’t play with me, woman.”
Addison took that as her cue to get off the man’s lap. She stood and reached for a piece of toast. “We’d better get going. Sienna has me on a timeclock, and I know Jackson is a stickler about time.”
Stone stood and moved her body back into her chair. “You are going to eat something first.”
She looked up at him. Smiling, she asked. “Is this you taking care of me, Mr. Bennett?”
“You’re darn right. I’m a man who is going to make sure every need is met. Plus, I like eating with you.” He sat and picked up his fork.
Addison liked the sound of that. She was looking forward to it for the rest of her life.
***
ADDISON PULLED OUT into traffic on Main Street. A text message came in and she read it. The spa had a plumbing issue, so the opening was delayed by an hour.
Great.
The last thing she needed was for her day to be pushed back. But she wasn’t going to stress. She’d given herself a four-hour break between her treatments and the rehearsal dinner, so she had time. She also knew if push came to shove, the owner of the spa would send the staff to Bennett Manor to take care of her. Lauren had an entire salon set up in one of the rooms. Addison realized she probably should have set it up that way, but she hadn’t wanted to put more on Lauren.
Because Ethan had the largest house, Bennett Manor was full of close relatives who were attending the wedding, including his parents, who couldn’t get enough of their grandchildren. A couple of people were staying with Harper and Logan too, but not many because Harper had been in a mood these days. Although hospitality was her business, she wasn’t feeling particularly hospitable.
Addison came to a stop at a red light. She tapped her thumbs on the steering wheel. She hadn’t even decided where she was going for the next hour. This was her last day as a single woman. The wedding planning had been intense even with her sister, Sienna’s work with the wedding planner, and now they were finally here. Tomorrow she would become Mrs. Stone Bennett.
Many had vied for the title, and all failed to achieve wifey or even girlfriend status. When she interviewed Stone for her magazine’s “Bachelors of Atlanta” article last year, she never would have thought she’d be the woman to make him want to give up his bachelorhood. She never would have thought he’d be the man she’d want to call her husband—not with his reputation—but they were here.
The attraction washed over them like a tsunami and from there, they hadn’t been able to escape their chemistry. She hadn’t believed in love or rather she’d been so hurt in the past that she was focused on her career. Stone pushed past all her inhibitions and snatched her heart right out of her chest. She was his now—ceremony or no ceremony. She was already one with him.
They’d decided to split their time between the new house in Forest Hills and his ranch in north Georgia. Most of the time would be spent at the ranch, so she couldn’t keep her current job. Stone suggested she start her own magazine and she’d given that some thought, but a startup magazine was a lot of work, even with a good staff. She wasn’t sure she was willing to begin their marriage with her having that kind of stress, but she also didn’t want to lose herself in being his wife. He had a full life. She was stepping into it and giving up most of hers.
Her sisters—Lauren, Rachel, and Harper—were married to Bennett men, but it was different for them. Lauren had three children to manage, and Rachel also had a child and some work with her husband, Zeke’s soccer team in graphic arts and her own charity. Harper worked side-by-side, full-time with Logan in their hotel business.
Her phone rang. Rachel always seemed to be reading her mind. She was the one Addison whined to when she thought about giving up her job, so she answered and whined.
Rachel was full of advice. “You need to be focused on the wedding and the honeymoon. Take one day at a time. Enjoy being married. I promise the sex is going to be a whole job at first.”
Addison sighed. “Really, Rachel?”
“Girl, I’m telling you. Husbands come for you nonstop. You already have your hands full, and you don’t know it yet.”
Addison laughed. “You’re silly.”
“I’m not. You’ll see. Anyway, once things slow down a bit, you can worry about your next step.”
“You’re right. I don’t know why I’m even thinking about this.”
“Because the idea of giving up everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve is uncomfortable,” Rachel said.
Addison released a long breath. “Stone fell in love with an independent woman with a career. I just don’t want to become something different.”
“Stone fell in love with your personality and your temperament and your fly mouth.” Rachel laughed. “He wants you to be happy. That’s how men are. Whatever it takes for you to feel fulfilled is what they want for you.”
Addison nodded like Rachel was with her instead of on the phone. “You’re right.”
“And you’re a writer, which means you can still find writing to do. You can also start a charity or join some boards for charities you care about,” Rachel said. “Maybe something related to youth and writing, or you know you taught in Nicaragua that year...something in that vein.”
A horn blew behind her and Addison moved through the intersection. She hadn’t decided where she was going, but now she was going on the interstate because that was what not making a left or right turn got her.
“Rachel, I need to go. I’m not paying attention to the road.”
“Okay, see you later.”
She removed her sunglasses from the dash compartment. They were an oversized pair with black lenses that protected her eyes from the sun. Sienna got them for her for Christmas and called them hater-blockers.
A truck passed her in traffic on the far left and she squinted. It was Stone. He was going the opposite direction of Jackson’s house. They must have changed their plans. She called him. He didn’t answer. She called again and this time, he answered. “Hey, babe, what’s up?”
“Nothing, I...”
“If it’s nothing, let me call you back. I’m in the middle of some business.”
The call ended. Addison snatched her head back. That wasn’t like him. And what business was pressing today? He’d turned everything over to his people.
He was moving a few cars ahead of her. He got in the right lane to exit, and she decided to follow him. Nothing like getting another kiss and hug from her man. But she was the one surprised. Stone turned into the parking lot of the Henry Holiday Hotel.
Addison frowned. They didn’t have any guests staying at this hotel. The houses and the two Bennett hotels had been sufficient. She’d never heard Stone or any other Bennett mention this hotel. It was okay, but it was kind of beneath their class. Besides, he was supposed to be at Jackson’s. He didn’t have time to talk to her and now he was going to this hotel...
The strange phone calls and text messages came back to her mind. She felt a knot of tension in her stomach.
“Stop it, Addison,” she whispered. She trusted Stone, but still she hung back until he was parked and then she pulled into a space and watched him walk in. Paralyzed, she sat there for a few minutes. She should leave. She could always ask him about it later. That’s what the side of her that trusted him completely said. She could go inside and make sure he was in the restaurant talking to a business colleague. That’s what the mistrusting side of her said. Mistrust won. She pushed the car door open and stepped out.
Addison entered. Stone wasn’t in the small lobby, so she went right to the bar/restaurant area. She peeked around at the people gathered at the various tables. It didn’t take long for her to spot Stone. He was sitting with a woman. A young woman she’d guess was about her age. She was beautiful. She had long limbs and long hair nearly down to her waist. She and Stone were talking, casual at first and then he said something that upset her. Her facial expressions and hand movements were exaggerated, and Addison could see that Stone was trying to keep her emotions from escalating. After a few more words, they calmed. Then Stone placed his hand on top of hers. Addison felt her heart drop into her stomach because he held it there and she let him. Just as quickly as she had calmed, the woman got upset again.
Whatever they were talking about...it was not business. There was too much emotion, especially on her part. Their eyes were locked like...lovers.
Addison’s heart sank, but she continued to watch. The woman popped to her feet and walked away from the table. Addison stepped back behind an oversized plant as she watched her long legs glide to an open elevator. She slipped in and the doors closed. Addison fell back against the wall. Her heart was pounding so hard, she had to catch her breath. Just when she was about to walk into the restaurant, Stone strode past her. He headed for the elevator bank too.
“Ma’am, can I help you?”
Addison looked through teary eyes at one of the hotel staff. She was glad to have her sunglasses on, but still, a tear ran down her cheek that told the story of what was going on behind her glasses.
“I’m waiting for a friend,” she replied.
“Would you like to wait in the lobby or the lounge?” The woman pointed to the sofas off the lobby and then hiked her shoulder in the direction of the bar.
“Is standing here a problem?”
“No, ma’am, you just seem upset. I thought—”
Addison turned away from her and walked out of the hotel and back to her car. He’d gone to her room. She banged on the steering wheel. There was no plausible reason for him to be here and there was absolutely no reason for him to follow her up to her room. And he’d lied to her about going to Jackson’s and about having business. This was not business.
Addison removed her shades. She couldn’t stop the tears that accompanied her sobs from flowing.
“I trusted you!” She screamed and dropped her face into her hands. She’d trusted another man when she knew better. She’d been a fool again.