Bang. Bang. Bang.
The army of bare-chested men used their bulging muscles to swing their mighty battering ram against the heavy gates.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
They were led by none other than her Prince Charming, Phillip. He was there to save her and Princess. They’d been locked away, high in a tower by a dragon. Princess barked to let them know where they were. Addison had felt so trapped, so scared, so helpless. But it was okay because Phillip was there.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
The banging was louder this time, startling Addison right out of her sleep. She lurched up in bed and then instantly grabbed her head.
“Oh God,” she groaned.
Princess barked, causing her brain to split in two. Suddenly those burly men were using that battering ram to break their way out of her skull.
“Princess. Shhh.” But shushing a dachshund was as useless as wishing ice cream had fewer calories.
Addison blinked, wondering why the room was spinning, and why she felt like a zombie from Dawn of the Dead. Her eyes landed on the bottle of Shiraz on her nightstand. That would explain it.
She flopped back onto her pillow, closing her scratchy eyes. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t think. That is, until Princess licked her face and her mind began to spark with connecting memories: the stolen dogs, her ruined business, dashed hopes and dreams, the shower, Felix, his hands, his mouth, his mmm …
She began to drift off when the banging came once again.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
This time she realized it wasn’t the throbbing in her head. Just the thing making it worse. It was someone at the door.
“Coming!” Addison called out, feeling the word reverberate inside her head. She clambered out of bed. In the process, she knocked over the remainder of her red wine, splattering her lace curtain.
“Crap.” She picked Princess up and set her on the ground so she wouldn’t jump and hurt herself. “Who bangs on someone’s door at”—she glanced at her alarm clock—“ten thirty in the morning?”
She supposed the second empty wine bottle sitting on the hallway table explained the late start. After everything that had happened with Precious at the spa the day before, she’d gone into meltdown mode. A state that could only be remedied with ice cream, red wine, and a chick-flick marathon.
On her way past her tiny bathroom, she grabbed her fluffy housecoat from behind the door, banging her elbow on the doorframe. She swore under her breath, adding the injury to the list of things she’d like to yell at the unexpected visitor for. Along with her worsening headache.
She stumbled bleary-eyed across her apartment, stubbing her toe on the coffee table leg. By the time she wrenched open the door, she was already feeling like the Hulk, but when she saw who was on the other side, she saw green.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“Good morning to you too.” Felix pulled his most charming smile out.
Groaning, she tried to slam the door closed, but Felix stuck his foot out before it could shut in his face.
Determined that it would be a Felix-free day, no, make that week—hopefully life—she leaned against the door with her entire body weight. But since she was no Hulk, he managed to slip his hand inside.
It was grasping a Starbucks cup.
“Peace offering?” he said, jiggling it temptingly.
She glared at the green mermaid. She was taunting Addison with her steamy, delicious caffeineness, like a siren calling to her. Unable to resist, she swiped the cup from the hand and pulled away from the door.
She took a sip to calm her nerves before turning around. “What do you want?”
“You know you’re going to have to talk to me at some point.” He hovered in the doorway. “We still have a mystery to solve.”
Princess sniffed at his feet, pawing at his leg as though asking where her treat was. When all he did was pet her and scratch her neck, she huffed and went in search of her own treat.
“What’s the point?” Addison asked. “We still don’t know where those poor dogs are. We’ve run out of lead suspects and I’ve lost the last customer that actually still believed in me.”
“Chin up. Don’t get so down. There’s still hope yet.” He was acting supernice. Too nice. Maybe he knew that she saw the texts and he was there to suck up. Well, she wasn’t about to fall for it.
“What is this?” she mumbled into her cup. “Role reversal?”
“You’re usually so positive. What happened to that Addison?”
He took a few steps into her apartment, leaving the door cracked open. Maybe he sensed that her inner Hulk was ready to come out and play and he might need a quick getaway.
“I’m sorry. I guess it’s the wine.” Why am I apologizing to him? “Did you want something? I’d like to nurse my hangover here.”
Felix wandered into her kitchen and began rummaging through her cupboards like he owned the place. Finally, he found what he was looking for and pulled out a bottle. He gave it a shake and it sounded like music to her sensitive ears.
“Nothing a couple of aspirin can’t cure,” he said.
Felix shook out a couple of pills and poured her a glass of water. “And as far as the investigation goes, we still have plenty of suspects. It’s always the last one you check out.” He handed her the glass and medication. “So get better so we can carry on.”
Addison studied the pills in her hand dubiously before downing them. For a moment, she considered the possibility of resuming where they left off—the investigation, not the shower.
There were only a few days left before they were both screwed. The dog show started on Saturday, less than a week away. If she didn’t clear her name soon, her fashion show and the launch of Fido Fashion would be a flop. Besides, didn’t Felix have his own deadline to keep? If his own name wasn’t cleared so he could start getting gigs soon, he wouldn’t have the money for his down payment in time. Good-bye bar.
“How about tonight?” she asked.
Felix pulled a face. “I can’t tonight. I work late. And I have, err, plans the next day.”
“Plans?” Her eyebrows drew together. She remembered his “plans” with Celia.
“But maybe tomorrow night.” He said it like a promise, maybe a mischievous warning as he stepped toward her. Running a finger along the collar of her housecoat, he spread it until he could see the swell of her breasts beneath her lacy tank top. “And then…” His voice trailed off suggestively. “Who knows?”
Princess hopped up on the couch as though getting comfy to watch the show unfold.
Felix’s behavior only erased what little patience the coffee had bestowed upon Addison. She slapped his hand away. “And then nothing. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“What?” He held his hands up like she was wielding a gun. Her anger certainly felt as dangerous.
“I don’t know what kind of girl you think I am.” Heck, she didn’t even know what kind of girl she was. She thought she knew what she wanted, and that was Phillip. So then why couldn’t she seem to resist Felix? Why had she been so upset to discover he’d been playing the field? It wasn’t even like they were dating.
Old habits die hard, she told herself. But she was determined to be done with that kind of guy. Hadn’t she learned her lesson by now?
It was a good thing they were interrupted in the shower. She had Phillip, after all. Phillip, Phillip, Phillip. He was the far superior choice. Her blockbuster hit, all the critics would agree. Felix, on the other hand, was the straight-to-DVD guy.
Phillip had a good job, he volunteered, he had manners, education, style, and breeding. Felix was a bar rat looking for a casual hook-up.
Well that wasn’t going to be her. Sure, there was the pool table, and the sauna, and now the shower. But that was it. No take two, no additional after credit scene, no sequel. The end.
Felix laughed incredulously. “What are you talking about? Are those aspirin or crazy pills?” He picked up the bottle and pretended to scan the label.
“Oh, so now I’m crazy?” she said, maybe just a little crazily.
“You’re acting crazy.”
“Maybe because men like you have driven me crazy.”
“Men like me,” he repeated.
“With your lies, and your ‘I’m one of the good ones,’ ‘I’d never do anything to hurt you,’ and all your empty promises.”
“What promises? I’ve never said anything like that.”
Okay, she thought, maybe that wasn’t him exactly, but all the guys before him that were just like him.
Princess’s eyes flicked back and forth between them, amused by the human drama.
Addison stomped toward Felix. “It’s like a game to you, isn’t it? To test your skills, see how good you are at pulling the wool over a girl’s eyes.”
“I have no wool.” He laughed at the ridiculousness of it, spreading his hands to show his complete lack of wool.
But he wasn’t getting off that easily. The way he was mocking her only made her anger feel completely justified. Not unreasonable or hangover-fueled at all.
She jabbed a finger in his chest. “You’re a bamboozler.”
“A bamboozler?”
“You, you bamboozle.” Her voice cracked with emotion. And here she thought she’d done such a good job smothering her feelings with the wine.
“You think I’ve bamboozled you?” he asked seriously, clearly trying not to piss her off any more.
“Oh no, sir. Not me. I’m onto you, mister. But what about your girlfriend? She probably thinks you’re working late or taking your dog in for grooming. Meanwhile, you’re out dry-humping girls on pool tables and feeling their naughty bits in the shower.”
She could feel the tears start to form, stinging her eyes. She blinked them away, using her anger to keep them at bay.
“Girl.” He held up a finger. “As in singular. Just you. I just did that with you.”
“Oh great. So I guess that makes me the other woman.” She crossed her arms. “Well I’m not that kind of girl.”
Felix threw his hands up in frustration. “What other woman?” He half-laughed, half-yelled.
“How about Celia?”
“Celia.” This seemed to catch him off guard. “How do you know about her?”
“When I used your phone to call the cops yesterday, she texted you.” She rolled her eyes. “‘I miss you. Come home soon.’” She scowled, and he backed up as she advanced on him, forcing him to the door so she could kick him out. Out of her life forever. “The hearts? The kissy faces?”
Felix covered his face with his hands, like he was embarrassed he’d been caught. Good, Addison thought. He should feel embarrassed.
“So what is she? A girlfriend? Or just some poor girl you’re stringing along like me?” What was she saying? She wasn’t being strung along. She didn’t care. Nope, not at all.
Beneath his hands, his face had turned red. His shoulders began to shake, and Addison hesitated. Was he crying? But the noises that came out of his mouth next weren’t sobs, they were pure, gut-aching, uncontrollable laughter.
Addison stared at him, stupefied. Her fists clenched and she could feel her own face grow hot with fury. Felix was actually laughing at her. “This is funny to you?”
He leaned against the wall for support, like he was struggling to compose himself, his whole body rigid with laughter. “Yes. It’s hilarious,” he finally managed between gasps.
“You have no scruples, do you?” Addison’s nostrils flared with anger. “I’ve had enough. You can leave right now.”
Felix wiped a tear from his eye. “I’m not dating anyone.” He took a calming breath. “Yes, the text was from Celia’s phone, but she was texting on behalf of someone else.”
“Who?”
“My girl.”
Not wanting to hear another word, Addison reached for the half-open door and flung it open. She hadn’t been expecting anyone on the other side, so when she found a little girl standing at her door like something out of The Shining, she screamed and jumped back.
Princess seemed to sense the newcomer and began to bark furiously, but was just too lazy to leave her perch on the sofa to investigate.
Addison clenched her fuzzy housecoat together. What now? She didn’t think any of her neighbors had a kid, and she would have recognized this one since she was pretty cute. Two cinnamon braids ran down either side of the little girl’s head, a stuffed rabbit dangling from one hand, its feet dragging on the hardwood floor.
Princess was still barking, making Addison’s head throb again.
“Princess. Shhh.”
Addison rubbed her temples. Not the best start to nursing a hangover. She’d had quite enough of this morning already. All she wanted to do was climb back into bed.
“Hello,” the little girl said. She couldn’t have been more than five years old.
“Are you lost, sweetheart?” Addison asked the girl. It didn’t look like she was there to sell Girl Scout cookies—although Addison could have really used some chocolate right then.
“Have you seen my dad?” the girl asked.
“Your dad?” Addison leaned outside the door and looked both ways down the hall, but she didn’t see anyone around.
“Addison,” Felix said, dragging the door open farther. He gestured to the little girl. “Meet my girl.”
The moment the girl saw Felix, she ran into Addison’s apartment and into his arms. He picked her up like she was as light as her ragged stuffed bunny. “Addison, this is my daughter. Naia.”
Addison gawked at the girl cradled in his arms as if she were an alien. “You have a daughter?”
“I do.” Felix was watching her reaction very carefully. He wasn’t laughing anymore. In fact, he looked nervous.
“I had no idea,” she said, unsure of what reaction she was supposed to have. What had he expected? “I never would have thought.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” It was his usual sarcastic response, but his expression was more serious than she’d ever seen.
The battering ram inside her head finally broke through and her head throbbed. She collapsed onto the couch.
Felix sat next to her, an awkward distance away. Or maybe it just seemed that way to Addison. Naia shifted in his lap to peer at Addison from the crook of his neck.
Princess crawled over Addison’s lap to greet the little girl. Naia’s eyes widened and she held out her hand for Princess to lick. Forgetting her shyness, she slid off her dad’s lap to pet the doxie, who Addison had never seen act so submissive. Normally she was the queen bee. Instead, she flopped on her side, exposing her belly for a rub.
“Look,” Felix said. “I know you’re still mad at me about, well, come to think of it, I’m not sure what you’re mad about anymore.”
Addison half-laughed, half-sighed. “You and me both.”
“But I’m kind of in a bind. Joe was desperate for someone to cover a split shift today at the bar. He said he’d allow me back for the day, but my babysitter’s come down with the flu.”
Addison stared at him blankly, the rusty cogs in her brain struggling to turn. She needed more aspirin. Or chocolate. Suddenly she remembered her coffee and took a regenerating sip, trying to make sense of where Felix was going with all this.
“All my usual backup babysitters aren’t available,” he said.
She continued to stare at him, uncomprehending.
“So I was hoping, if you weren’t busy, that you might be able to look after Naia for a few hours.”
“What?” Addison sat up, spilling coffee on herself. “Me?”
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but I wouldn’t unless I was desperate. With everything that’s going on, I feel like Joe is just one excuse away from firing me. As it is, I’m lucky he’s giving me this shift. I can’t lose this job, Addison.” He reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. “Please.”
His forehead creased with worry, and she supposed with his job on the line, she didn’t blame him. And with a daughter to provide for … God, a daughter. Her thoughts were still reeling from the news, especially after she thought it was a girlfriend he was hiding from her. And why did he hide it from her in the first place?
“I don’t want you to lose your job,” she said. “But me? I’ve never really taken care of a kid. I’m not sure I’d even know what to do.”
“It’s not like she’s in diapers or anything. She’s five years old. Just play with her, hang out. She’ll let you know if she needs anything.”
Addison considered the little girl for a moment. She supposed he was right. It wasn’t rocket science. It might even be fun. You know, compared to the full day of wallowing she had scheduled. But she had to wonder why he’d trust her with his daughter. Or was it just out of complete desperation that he was asking?
“Please,” he said again.
She smiled. “Sure. We can hang out,” she said, more to Naia than Felix. “What do you say?”
Naia nodded shyly.
“Awesome. Let me grab her stuff.” Felix practically shot out the front door. In less than ten seconds he returned with an armload of stuff. “Here’s her car seat, her favorite book, and a list of emergency numbers in case you need them.” He handed her an overstuffed bag that weighed a ton. “And I’ve packed the two of you a picnic so you don’t have to worry about cooking.”
Addison stared at all the stuff that he’d obviously stashed out in the hall. “What if I’d said no?”
“I knew you’d say yes. You’re too sweet.” Before she could react, Felix leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
Her skin warmed where his lips had touched, and for some reason her brain finally caught up. Just in time to remind her that Felix was beaming at her like he always did, but this time she had no makeup on, her hair was a mess, her breath tasted like stale wine, and her unshaven leg hair prickled beneath her frumpy housecoat.
He waved as he headed for the door. “You’re the best. I owe you one. Just name it.”
Addison watched Felix leave with a dazed expression. She plunked down next to Naia on the couch. Naia looked at her expectantly, and all Addison could think of was that she wanted another aspirin.