Page 139 of Broken Grump

Busted.“Fine. Let’s just say that I have some daydreams of my own.”

He doubles over and conceals his hands over his private parts. “You’re kidding me, Addie! What am I supposed to do with that information now?”

I shrug coyly. “Whatever you’d like, I suppose.”

He growls before taking me in his arms again. “I swear to God, you’re going to be the death of me, woman!”

“But what a way to go, right?” I joke.

Chapter forty

Hayden

Finally, Addie agreed togo out with me. I feel like I’m walking on clouds as I saunter up to her house.

But just as I’m about to reach for the doorbell, the door opens.

“Shhh!” There she is, looking as beautiful as ever, and pressing her fingers to her red lips. “I just managed to escape.”

“Who’s watching Luna?” I ask in a hushed tone. I know she’s incredibly picky about who she does and does not trust alone with our daughter.

“Penny. She putMoanaon, and I placed Loones before the TV and snuck away. If she sees you, we’ll never be able to leave.”

With that, we hurry back down the stairs and into the back of the large SUV.

“Oh, my gosh. Lionel!” she exclaims after getting settled and securing her seatbelt.

He lowers the rearview mirror and tips his hat. “Good evening, Addie.”

“I haven’t seen you in forever. How have you been?”

“Very well, thank you.”

“Good. The wife and kids are alright?”

“Of course.”

From there, they talk about details regarding his personal life that I didn’t even know about, and I just watch in awe at her. Even though she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, like me, she certainly doesn’t act like it. Instead, she seems to genuinely care about people, and even the “help” that makes their living by working for us.

“So,” she says while clapping her hands together and putting them in her lap, “where are you taking me tonight?”

“Have you ever been to Otium?”

She gasps. “No, I haven’t. But I hear it’s absolutely exquisite. Actually, my friend, Sam, knows the chef. Timothy Hollingsworth?”

“No kidding.” I am genuinely interested in what she has to say, but she looks so beautiful. And the city lights are sparkling just right in her shiny, silver dress that it’s hard for me to pay perfect attention to her words.

“Yeah! You remember me talking about Sam, right?”

I have to sort through the deepest creases in my mind, but thankfully, some helpful information pops up. “The one from Phoenix?”

“Exactly. They worked at The French Laundry for a while.”

Her striking appearance and enthusiasm are more than I can handle. I readjust myself before she notices just how excited she’s making me. “That’s crazy,” I manage to mutter.

“Yeah! Do you mind if I text her quickly and tell her? She’ll freak out that we’re going to his restaurant.”

“No, no. Go right ahead.” If anything, I welcome the momentary distraction. It would be quite the sight for me to pop into such a hopping and well-known place with a tent in my pants.

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