Chapter Twenty

It was late the next day. They’d arrived home early that morning. Sawyer was bagged and they’d lost. The Whalers took the series, and even though it was close, a loss was a loss. With a normal defeat, they could shake things off as part of the game. This one felt different. Harder.

A bunch of the guys had gone for beers after, but Sawyer spent most of the time wanting to text or phone Addison. He’d never been one to live in the past but shaking off a loss of this magnitude was harder to do while the team was commiserating. Still, he was there with the guys. For the guys.

That didn’t stop him from wanting to put the game behind him and ignore the guilt he’d felt over being relieved that his knee would get a much needed break. He had some serious decisions to make but not tonight. Tonight, for the rest of it, was all about him and Addison.

Sawyer felt a tad weird about the clutch of flowers he held, but if ever there was a woman who made him want to explore the romantic part of himself, it was this one.

He knocked on the door and tried to chill the restless energy bouncing around inside his body. It was nearly impossible, though. He’d stayed over before. They’d been together but there was something about the way he’d left the other day that had shaken them both. There’d been a wall between them and he hated it.

He knocked again, frowning. Checking his watch, he knew he wasn’t early. In fact, he was worried he’d been running behind.

The door opened and though she looked gorgeous, as always, he was surprised to see her hair was tucked up on top of her head, she wore a thick white robe, and looked like she’d been crying.

“What’s wrong? You okay?” He stepped in, on edge at the thought of something upsetting her.

“Come in. I’m so sorry.” She waved her hand and moved so he could come in.

Worry clouded his judgment, making his movements clipped. The scent of cinnamon and…burning caught his attention, but he focused on Addie. He dropped the flowers on the table by the door and gripped her arms, pulling her up to her toes as he leaned down so they were almost nose to nose.

“Sorry for what? What’s wrong, babe?”

She gripped the front of his T-shirt in her fists. “I wanted tonight to be perfect. I wanted to spoil you and I’ve messed everything up and now I’m not even ready.”

Relief washed through him. He tried to bite back his grin because she was upset, but it was hard. He had to clear his throat to swallow the laugh. Lowering her to flat feet, he soothed his hands up and down her soft, fluffy robe. “What are you talking about?”

Addison stepped back, waving a hand up and down in front of her body. “I planned on answering the door wearing something extremely sexy that I bought this afternoon. But by the time I talked to your grandmother, found out your favorites, made arrangements, went shopping, and then got home, it was already so late. Then I got caught up with paperwork and research and everything fell apart.” She turned and continued her rant—which was escalating in pitch—as she walked toward the living room. “I thought, oh, that’s okay. Still plenty of time, right? How hard can it be to make cookies? It’s not like I’ve never made cookies.”

She spun around once they were in the living room, facing him with a look that dared him to argue with her. Again, he bit back his smile. She was so freaking adorable, strands of her hair coming loose from the bun on top of her head, her cheeks flushed with emotion, her robe slipping further apart at the lapels.

“I mean, I’ve never made snickerdoodles, but they’re cookies. How hard can that be? I ordered dinner so at least I didn’t screw that up, but by the time I burned the cookies and got my bedroom ready for the surprise, it was late and I was just about to change into something…different when you showed up. And now you’re here.”

Like it took every ounce of energy she possessed to tell him all that, she collapsed onto the chair tucked in the corner by the patio. Sawyer looked around, noted the candles burning, the fresh flowers in vases. The stars twinkled in the dark sky behind her, through the glass doors. Sawyer walked over to her, slowly until he was standing right in front of her. She tipped her head back as he shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it on the couch. As he lowered himself to the coffee table in front of her, she watched him closely, lowering her chin as they came eye to eye.

Putting his hands over her thighs, easy to feel beneath the fabric, he squeezed. “I don’t know where to start. Maybe here.” He leaned in, pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. “Hi.”

She gave a somewhat watery laugh. “Hi.”

“You called my grandma?”

She nodded, and his rib cage grew tight. “I wanted to know what your favorite foods were.”

He nodded. His throat felt thick as he replied, “She’d know.” He’d wondered, when Grams called him after the game, why her voice had an extra little bounce in it. Now he knew.

“I’m sorry I burned the cookies.” She exhaled a long breath and her shoulders sagged. “And I’m so sorry about the game.”

The game? All he could think about was her. “Thanks,” he said gruffly, trying to gather his words. Sawyer couldn’t stop looking at her; she completely amazed him. “They could be blacker than coal and I’d eat them just because you took the trouble to make them for me. I can’t believe you called Grams. That in itself… Addie, you can’t know how sweet that is. How much that means to me.”

She put her hands on his shoulders and leaned forward. “You mean something to me, and I had the perfect night planned to show you that. I wanted to do nice things for you just for the pleasure of it. I know you have a hard time believing in people, and I just wanted to show you that there are people in your life who find happiness in making you happy.”

It was a damn good thing he was already sitting. Sawyer cupped her cheeks, forcing himself to keep his hold light. The way he felt, he wanted to crush her to him and never let go. Pressing his forehead to hers, he closed his eyes and took a deep, calming breath. Let it out. Then opened his eyes into hers and fell a little further.

“You make me believe in things I never planned to. Never even wanted to.”

This brought out her smile, and it was like winning the series—it lit him up inside, hard and fast.

“Well, other than me not being ready, I guess the whole night isn’t a bust.”

He leaned back, eyed her robe. “What’s under there?”

A light flush grazed the apples of her cheeks and her eyes went to his chest. “I wasn’t ready yet so just my bra and underwear. Guess I’m not exactly a master of seduction.”

She had no idea how wrong she was.

Slowly, he moved his hands and used two fingers to tug the belt of the rope. Addie sucked in a sharp breath when he pulled it from the loops and tossed it on the floor. Bringing his hands to the center of her robe, he parted it, baring her shoulders, which were covered only by thin pink straps. She likely thought he’d just divest her of her clothing as quickly as possible but with Addison, Sawyer wanted to draw every second out so it felt like a hundred. With just her graceful shoulders and collarbone on display, he leaned in, pressed his lips there.

Addie’s shiver made him smile against her neck, and when she tunneled her hands into his hair, he nipped lightly at the spot where her pulse raced under her heated skin. She arched, letting him explore the long, sexy column as he moved up to tug at the lobe of her ear.

As he slipped the robe further down her arms, she used her hands to guide his mouth to hers, kissing him with the same energy and passion she displayed for everything. He’d never met anyone like her, and the fact that he was on the receiving end of her affection…her body…her heart simply staggered him.

“You’re incredible. You’re the sweetest, sexiest woman I’ve ever met. You undo me, Addie. I don’t know how to get enough of you,” he whispered in between kisses.

She stopped, her forehead against his again. “There’s no limit.”

That’s what being loved by her would be like. Even as the shock of the thought rocked through him, he knew it was true. It would be a bottomless well of giving. That was who she was down to her soul. And somehow, he was her choice.

Standing, he scooped her up in his arms, grateful the robe slipped from her completely. The ache in his knee felt trivial. He lifted his head as he walked them toward the bedroom, letting his gaze roam over the sight of her in pink panties and a matching bra. Whatever she bought would have to be something special to be any sexier than she looked right now.

“Uh, I should probably put the robe back on,” she said.

He stopped just where the hallway met the living area, worried about the sudden hitch in her voice. “You won’t be cold. I promise.”

She laughed and kissed him loudly. Sawyer intended to take the kiss further but was interrupted by a knock on the door. He glared toward the entryway.

“That would be another part of your surprise,” she whispered. She wriggled until he put her down. “Can you grab that? I’ll get my robe.”

Confused, turned on, and on the edge of frustration, he stalked to the door and pulled it open. Two women, one dark-haired, one red-haired, both dressed in dark linen pants and long-sleeve shirts, stood in the hallway, large square cases in their hands.

Addie appeared behind him. She pressed her breasts up against his back as she leaned around him. “Hi. Come on in. Thank you for coming.”

“Our pleasure, Ms. Carlisle. Just let us know where to set up and we’ll be ready in five minutes,” the dark-haired woman said.

“Right through there, second door on the left,” Addie said, pointing to the hallway.

Sawyer shut the door behind them and turned to face Addie. He lowered his voice so he wouldn’t embarrass her. “Pretty sure the sight of you in your underwear combined with kissing you on the heels of you being so freaking sweet and knowing you tried to make me cookies has made me stupid. I can’t figure out what’s going on.”

Her smile curled inside his heart, and he was sure it would be imprinted there permanently. She reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck as much as she could with the height difference.

“The idea was to pamper you, win or lose, and I know you’re probably upset about the loss but that’ll make this…even better. Your favorite dinner, dessert, your favorite beer, a massage, followed by…well, wherever things led.”

“We’ll be better prepared for next year. Wait. We’re getting massages? Here?” He couldn’t keep the awe out of his voice.

“Well, yeah. I know you don’t love going out, and I figured what’s the point of having all sorts of connections if I can’t use them for the people I l—care about.”

He caught the slip, and his heart went over the final ledge right there. She was nothing short of amazing. He may have screwed up most of the relationships in his life up to this point but in this moment, he knew, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to give back to her what she so easily gave to him: unconditional happiness.