Page 136 of The Heartbreaker
A wedding that had been perfect in my eyes—small, special details that stood out because nothing was too elaborate to overshadow them. And now that the ceremony was over, the backyard had been transformed into a magical, twinkling, starlit paradise, where everyone was either dancing or drinking or eating.
I grabbed his fingers and squeezed them. “As long as her dad never gets that title, Daisy can break all the hearts she wants.”
“Ridge? Shit.” He sighed loudly. “You’ve got nothing to worry about there. I’d be the first to tell you you’re fucked, but you’re not. That motherfucker is crazy for you. That man has one mission, and it’s to make you his wife.”
A conversation that lined up with the one we’d had on the plane on the way over here.
But we had plenty of time for that to happen—I wasn’t ever going anywhere, and neither was Ridge.
I turned toward Rhett, taking in his profile. His black hair and beard, eyes that were ice blue—a reflection of his personality at times. What caught my attention the most was the tattoo on his thumb. It was the face and mane of a lion.
I reached for his other hand and held his thumb so I could get a better look at it. “It’s beautiful and so fitting.”
When we locked eyes, he stared at me silently for a few seconds. “He told you everything, didn’t he?”
I nodded.
“Don’t look at me like that, Addison. I know what you’re thinking …”
“You’re misreading my expression, Rhett. What you’re seeing is how blown away I am by you. You’re just misunderstood—but not by me. I get you. But by everyone else.” I offered a simple smile. “You’re inspiring—I hope you know that.”
He whistled out a mouthful of air. “Hell, I know who to call the next time I need a little pick-me-up. How about I phone you instead of guzzling a whole bottle of whiskey? Can you be my phone-a-friend?”
I laughed. “Asshole.”
He pretended to punch my shoulder. “You know something? I like you. You’re fucking perfect for him. A little spicy, a little sassy, and a whole lot of kindness. You’re just what he needs.”
I glanced toward the dance floor. “He’s everything I need. If you had asked me if something wonderful could build from where we met, I would have told you you’re nuts. And here we are—he saw past all of it.”
“That’s because Ridge was a stripper in college.”
I craned my neck back. “He was?”
“He didn’t tell you? He used to dress up as a cop and do bachelorette parties.” Within a few seconds, his balled-up fist was covering his mouth, and he was laughing behind it.
“Dick.” I slapped his chest. “I’ve never been more thankful to have a sister and not a brother. I wouldn’t have survived your kind of teasing every day.”
“Ah, but you just inherited yourself a brother, Addison.” He clenched my shoulder before he released it. “Another sister too.” He nodded toward Rowan. “I’m going to go get a drink.”
As I watched him walk away, I realized the power in what he’d just said. Ridge’s family was becoming mine, and that meant Rhett would hopefully be in my life forever, and so would Rowan. She was standing on the other side of the lawn with Cooper, who was holding their little girl. I needed to spend some more time with Rowan. The past two days, since we’d arrived in Scotland, had been full of wedding festivities and sightseeing, and Rowan was a bit limited with what she could do because of Rayner.
With Ridge and Daisy still occupied by the music, I set my destination on his sister, smiling to everyone I passed on the way. This wedding had introduced me to so many of Ridge’s friends and colleagues. There were the Daltons—the group of lawyers who the Coles and Spades hired for business and personal affairs and hung out with regularly. There were also the Westons, who were friends and business associates. And then there were the Spades, who I got to really know, along with all ofthe incredible women they were dating, engaged to, and married to.
A group that seemed large due to their personalities, but one so tight and loyal, and they had welcomed me with open arms.
I was just walking around one of the tables when I noticed Jana. She was sitting halfway between where Rowan was standing and I was heading, and it seemed, due to the way she was positioned, she was watching Daisy and Ridge dance.
We’d been in each other’s presence multiple times over the last couple of days, and during every instance, she was cordial. She didn’t embrace me with a hug, and neither did I, nor did we go out of our way to speak to one another, but when words were exchanged, the mood wasn’t stormy.
There were things I felt I wanted to say to her.
Things I felt I needed to say.
And I felt it was my responsibility to make the effort. Even though I didn’t technically do anything wrong and I hadn’t purposefully set out to date a student’s parent, I couldn’t help but feel it was my place to break the official ice.
So, instead of going over to Rowan, I stopped at Jana’s table, waiting for her to notice my presence and look up at me. I’d expected the nerves. I just hadn’t anticipated them coming on so strong.
I attempted to calm my voice when I said, “Do you mind if I sit?”
