Page 59 of Broken Grump

“Ah, the marvelous Mr. and Mrs. Cohen.”

I shake away how strange, but simultaneously pleasing, it is to hear him say that.

“It’s wonderful to see you again,” Addie comments, holding out her hand and using the other to adjust the cross necklace I gifted her.

Now, I’d be lying through my teeth if I said I hadn’t previously noticed how well it nestled in between the nook of her breasts.

“Hayden?” Randall says, getting my attention.

“Ah, yes. Hello, sir.” I similarly shake his hand before pulling Addie’s chair out for her.

As soon as our server comes up and introduces himself, she wastes no time in ordering wine.

In response, he rattles off a bunch of fancy names, but she just responds, “Red. Dry and red. Please and thank you.”

“Coming right up, ma’am.”

To prove the point that I’m her teammate in all of this, I simply ask for the same. But Randall, on the other hand, just goes for water.

Go figure.

After dropping off our beverages, Addie takes a few sips and becomes more outgoing and bubblier with each one.

“Claire wanted me to send regrets on her behalf,” Randall says. “She isn’t feeling well tonight, so it’s just the three of us.”

“No problem,” Addie answers for both of us.

I curl my lips in and tilt my head in her direction. “Yes. What she said.”

“So, shall we get down to business?” he suggests. “The food is so delectable here; I doubt we’ll want to do much talking after it’s arrived.”

Leaning forward, I ask, “Yes, please. By all means.” Seeing as he was the one who requested this meeting, I’m intrigued by what he’s going to say.

“Mhmm,” Addie says with a nod and after hiccuping.

Although I can tell he’s kind of charmed by her whole show tonight, I don’t want things to turn south. So, I put my arm around her shoulders and whisper, “Hey, maybe try to slow down a bit. Or try eating some of this.” I bring the bread bowl in the middle of the table over to her.

She huffs, but nevertheless, grabs some, rips some pieces off, and crams it into her mouth.

With that, I relax a little and sit back in anticipation of whatever is about to come out of Randall’s mouth.

“Unfortunately, we aren’t able to sign off on the agreement just yet.”

Dammit.I resist letting my body deflate.

“Excuse me,” Addie announces, slurring her words a little despite the carbs in her belly. “I just need to step out and check on . . . something.”

Her eyes dart over in Randall’s direction before she stops herself from saying “Luna” or “my daughter.”

Thankfully, she didn’t say the last one because that could’ve raised red flags on our whole ruse.

“I’ll be right back. Sorry about that.”

We both watch her walk away and when I turn back to him, he comments, “She sure is a beauty, isn’t she?”

“Who—”

“Your wife, I mean.”

---