by Cora Seton
“Your ball is a huge success,” Maud called as she danced by with James. Those two seemed to be having a wonderful time together. So was everyone, Addison thought happily. She’d come into her own putting on this party.
“You are hereby in charge of all the balls at Westfield,” Riley said, echoing her thoughts. “I can’t believe you did this all yourself.”
“I know,” Avery said, joining them. “It’s amazing!”
“I had a lot of help,” Addison said. The ball wouldn’t have been half so wonderful without the aid of the Russells—and the props Felicity had sent.
A cheer came from the Draculas in the corner as they toasted one another and downed another drink.
“But I’m a little worried everyone’s getting wasted,” she added.
“Everyone who isn’t pregnant,” Savannah said glumly. She was sipping a virgin margarita, beautiful in a witch costume despite her growing belly.
“I think it’s good for people to let off a little steam once in a while,” Avery put in. “Everyone’s so uptight all the time.”
“I’m not uptight,” Addison said, stung, even though Avery wasn’t addressing her specifically, then she had to laugh at herself. Thank goodness Kevin had thought she was. What if she’d stayed with him? She’d never have met Kai. “In fact, I think I’m three sheets to the wind.” She tried to put her glass of wine down on the nearest table but missed the first time. “Whoops.”
Savannah took the glass and set it firmly on the table. “You need some coffee.”
“I need Kai,” Addison corrected her. She wanted to kiss the man she loved. The man who loved her.
Right now.
Boone was right; there were Draculas everywhere, Kai thought as he went to fetch another round of drinks for the Vlad Patrol, as a bunch of them had named themselves. Boone had also been right that Curtis didn’t care in the least that he’d taken his spare costume.
“The more the merrier,” he’d said in his best Dracula imitation, which wasn’t very good. But no one had minded; the drinks were flowing freely. Probably too freely.
Still, they’d all been so worried these past few weeks, everyone needed to relax for a night. Tomorrow they’d get back to work—and worrying. He had decided to enjoy himself while he could.
“Here you go,” the bartender said, passing Kai a tray filled with drinks.
Kai balanced it carefully and waved at another Dracula who’d just come in the door. “Come on, Vlad. Over here. Join the fun.”
The man followed him willingly.
“I’m Kai Green. Who are you? I can’t tell a damn thing with everyone wearing masks.”
“Evan Delaney. I’m from out of town, but I couldn’t pass this up.”
“Of course not; it’s the party of the century.” The floor was clogged with dancers, and it wasn’t easy to pass through them and keep the tray balanced. Trust him to upend it and make a mess. He didn’t want to ruin Addison’s evening, so he kept a tight grip on it. “Who are you here with?”
“My wife. She’s around here somewhere. She’s a mermaid. I had to hang back and take a call out in the car.”
“Lucky guy.” He’d seen the mermaid. She had one hell of a body and wasn’t afraid to show it. If Kai was this man, he’d stick closer to her. He had a feeling she already had half a dozen phone numbers tucked into that tight-fitting costume.
“Who’s that Cleopatra?” the man asked, craning his head to get a better look.
Kai swung around to look.
“That’s my fiancée,” he said. Someone bumped him, and both he and Evan grabbed for the tray of drinks.
“That was a close one.”
“No shit.” Kai turned to angle through the crowd, anxious to reach the waiting knot of Draculas. He noticed Addison was edging in the same direction, probably looking for him. He tried to raise a hand to get her attention, but the tray tipped, and he grabbed it again.
Evan kept his gaze on Addison, until Kai wondered if he’d have to speak to him about it. Addison caught sight of him and Evan, and made a beeline for them.
“Look at all these Draculas! Damn good thing I can tell my baby anywhere,” she called out as she headed their way. She’d been drinking, too, Kai noted fondly. They’d have a party of their own later by themselves in their tent.
“Addi—” His words died in his throat when Addison ran straight up to Evan, seized his face in her hands and planted a kiss on his lips.
She was kissing someone, but it wasn’t Kai.
Addison realized her mistake almost as soon as her lips touched the man’s mouth. She put her hands flat on the stranger’s chest and shoved—hard—nearly stumbling back against a pair of dancers.
Crap, crap, crap. Who had she kissed?
“Sorry. Sorry!” she called to the Dracula. “My bad. Where’s my man?” Heck, she was drunk, wasn’t she? She hadn’t had this much alcohol in years. Usually, she kept a cool head while her guests celebrated. She got high off throwing a good party—not from imbibing the alcohol she served.
The room spun, and she tried to stay upright.
The Dracula with the drink tray ripped his mask off. “Addison, what the hell?”
“I thought he was you!” This was awful. Kai was pissed—and hurt by the looks of it.
“Addison?” The other Dracula pulled of his mask.
“Evan? What are you doing here?”
“Felicity demanded that we come. She wanted to surprise you.”
Addison laughed then sobered when she took in Kai’s expression. “This is my brother-in-law,” she explained over the noise of the music, then turned back to Evan. “Consider me surprised. I’m so embarrassed. Where’s Felicity?”
“I haven’t found her yet. She’s dressed in a mermaid costume,” Evan said.
Oh, hell. Suddenly she was stone-cold sober. That mermaid was three sheets to the wind—dancing with every man who asked.
What was wrong with her sister?
“She’s over there—” Addison didn’t even get to finish her sentence before a shrill voice she recognized pierced through the din.
“Whoo-hooo!” Felicity started making her way toward them. “Kai Green, you are just as sexy in person as you are on-screen.”
Kai sent Addison a searching look. Addison grabbed his hand and tugged him close. The drinks on his tray sloshed dangerously. “We’ve got to stop this. She’s drunk. And we’re being filmed.”
“In fact, everyone is sexy. This is a sexy, sexy group,” Felicity drawled.
“Felicity, you’re making a scene, honey,” Evan took her arm and tried to steer her away. Felicity refused to budge.
“I’m not making a scene. There was already a scene.” She circled her finger, taking in him, Kai and Addison. “And there are Draculas everywhere. Why the hell are there so many Draculas?”
She swayed a little. Evan propped her up. “Honey, seriously. Time to go.” He shot an apologetic look at Kai. “Cannot hold her liquor,” he said with the patience of a long-suffering man.
“My sister—this is all my sister’s doing. This fantastic party,” Felicity said. “But she wouldn’t be here if not for me. I’m the one who got her to say yes!”
“Evan, get her out of here,” Addison urged him. Who knew what Felicity was going to say next. “Why aren’t you in Rome?”
“It’s been pretty rough since you left,” Evan told her. “Come on, Felicity,” he added.
“Felicity, it’s time for you to go,” Addison told her sister.
“Don’t act like you’re not coming, too,” Felicity crooned at her. “Sister mine, it’s October thirty-first. The game is over. You won. You can start saying no again. Let’s go home.”
Addison swallowed hard, hoping no one had heard her, but when she glanced at Kai, she knew immediately he had.
“Game?” Kai asked. “What’s she talking about? What game? What does she mean she got you to say yes?”
“We made a bet.” Felicity shrieked as Evan picked h
er up and threw her over his shoulder. The rest of her drink splashed to the floor. “She had to say yes to everything for a month. And she did it. She even said yes to you, you silly man! Silly SEAL. Silly, silly SEAL.” She dropped her glass and slapped Evan’s butt with both hands like it was a pair of bongo drums.
Addison cringed. She’d never seen Felicity so out of control before, and she prayed she could convince Kai not to listen to anything she’d said.
But then Felicity lifted her head again. “You won, sis. You stuck with it and you won. My life is yours, and I get to go to fucking Rome.” She fished around in the bosom of her gown and tossed a something that landed at Addison’s feet. Addison bent and scooped it up automatically. “My keys,” Felicity called back as Evan hauled her away. “The penthouse is all yours. Enjoy!”
Chapter Twelve
‡
“What the hell was that?” Kai demanded.
Addison just shook her head, as if she couldn’t find the words to speak. All around them, guests stood in clusters, watching them, whispering about them, pointing at Felicity being hauled out of the room.
“That was your sister?”
“Yes,” she finally said. “I don’t know what got into her. Something’s wrong. She isn’t usually like that.”
“Hell, yeah, something’s wrong.” He snatched the keys out of her hand. “What are these for? Why did she say her penthouse is yours now?”
“Because—we—I—” Addison lifted her hands helplessly.
Kai had had enough. He didn’t know what was going on, and he needed to find out now. “Hey, you! Put down that mermaid!” He strode after Evan, who was still fighting his way toward the door, Felicity still slung over his shoulder. “You two don’t get to leave until I know what’s going on here.” Addison ran to keep up with them.
“Look, my wife is drunk. She’s upset.” Evan half turned.
“Felicity, take back your keys,” Addison said desperately.
“I’m not drunk, and I’m not taking them back,” Felicity hollered over Evan’s shoulder, her skimpy costume on the verge of becoming all too revealing. “If I’ve got to go to Rome, you have to live in my penthouse. That’s the deal.” She arched around farther to get a look at Kai, and pointed to Addison. “You think this girl came here because she likes sleeping in tents? You think she’s going to marry the kind of man who cooks for a living? She doesn’t want to live with a bunch of cows. Oh, excuse me—bison.” Felicity over-enunciated the word. “She wants a penthouse. My penthouse. Money to spend. Fancy parties. A rich husband, too! And she’ll do what it takes to get it—including saying yes to every single thing for a month.” She pointed at Kai. “Including saying yes to you!”
“Jesus, Felicity.” Evan set her down hard on the floor. Felicity wavered, and he propped her up with an arm around her waist. “I’m sorry,” he said to Addison. “I knew this was a horrible idea. She’s freaking out about the move. Your mom’s being awful.”
Addison nodded, but her face was white as a sheet.
Kai could barely hear what they were saying. His ears were buzzing. He felt like everyone else in the room was suddenly very far away.
Including saying yes to you.
What had Felicity meant? Was she saying Addison had lied? That she didn’t really mean it when she’d agreed to marry him?
“Why?” he demanded suddenly, ignoring the conversations spinning around him. The others turned to him, but none of them answered, so he repeated his question. “Why? Why did you have to say yes for a month?”
Addison’s gaze turned pleading, but he waited her out. Something was wrong here. Very wrong. He had the feeling the next few minutes would turn his life on its head.
“Because of the book,” Felicity said with a laugh. “The Freedom of Yes.”
Kai dimly remembered the title. It had been a splash with the self-help circuit some months back. Its cover everywhere you looked. But what did that have to do with—
“We made a deal,” Felicity went on, gesturing wildly. “If she said yes to everything for one month, she could have my penthouse. And she did. No matter what I threw at her, she kept agreeing. Hope you’re happy,” she said to Addison and began to cry.
“Felicity.” Addison reached for her sister, turning a look on Kai like he was the one who’d done something wrong.
“So—this was all a lie? Every part of it?” If she had to say yes to everything, did that include—? Kai sucked in a breath. “You mean I forced you to have sex with me?”
“No!” Addison’s cheeks went crimson. “Of course not, Kai!”
“Then what? What were the rules to your little game?”
“I… had to say yes to anything that wouldn’t hurt me. But, Kai—”
“Including marrying me? None of that was real?”
“It was real—”
Kai had heard enough. He tossed Addison the keys. She missed, and they skidded across the floor, but he didn’t care. He turned to find Boone approaching them.
“I hope like hell you’ve got a backup bride lined up,” he snarled at his friend then turned and stormed out.
Addison watched the crowd part around Kai as he strode out of the room. She wanted to yell after him—to chase him down—but she knew the only thing was to let him cool down and talk to him when they were all sober. The night was a disaster.
“Hey, let’s stay and enjoy the party,” she heard Felicity slur, but she knew without turning that Evan was finally, blessedly, hauling her away.
Someone pressed a handkerchief into her hand.
Maud.
“Thank you.” Addison hadn’t even felt the tears streaming down her face.
“This is a bad business, but it’ll work out, you’ll see.” Maud sounded too worried to convince Addison she believed that. “Don’t you worry about a thing, pet. The sun will come up tomorrow, and all will be well again.”
“I don’t think so.” Addison wiped her eyes. She knew she should go after Felicity and find out what had happened to set off such a breakdown. Or go after Kai and try to explain everything that had transpired. But first she needed to catch her breath.
How had everything gone so off course?
The music started up again, and slowly couples returned to dancing. Several cameramen remained focused on her, but others drifted off to film the action elsewhere.
“See?” Maud said. “Life goes on. It always does, no matter what the trouble.”
“Kai hates me now,” Addison said. She could only imagine what he thought. Her sister had presented everything in the worst light.
“Rather the opposite, I’d say. He loves you. That makes it harder. But he’ll see the truth in time. You might have come for reasons other than love, but love found you, didn’t it?”
“It did,” Addison admitted. “I love him so much. I don’t want to leave.” She realized it was true. “This life is so much better than the one I was trying to have.”
“Of course, dear.”
“Addison.”
She turned in surprise to find Evan had returned.
“Where’s Felicity?”
“Sleeping in the limo. I’d say she’s down for the count. Listen, I’m sorry—I knew this wouldn’t be a good idea, but she insisted on coming.”
“I thought you’d already gone to Europe.”
“We pushed our travel back until tomorrow so we could attend. I thought it was because she wanted to see the decorations she’d sent—and to say goodbye again, of course. I should have known there was more going on that.”
“She’s afraid,” Addison told him.
“I know. I didn’t expect it. She’s traveled so much before.”
“But never more than a few days without Mom. She’s scared Mom’s right; that she can’t do it on her own.”
“She won’t be on her own. She has me,” Evan said.
“You’re so good for my sister,” Addison said truthfully.
“I know I am. But she’s good for me, too, nin
ety-nine percent of the time. Don’t hold this against her for too long. She’s going to miss you, you know. She’s scared of leaving you, too.”
Addison nodded, so grateful Evan was in her sister’s life. “Just keep her away from the booze,” she implored him.
“Will do,” he said. “Look, about the penthouse. It’s yours. The paperwork is signed and ready to go. You’ll find it on the kitchen table. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.” He handed her the keys he must have picked up off the floor. “Try to hold on to these.” He smiled, and Addison’s heart squeezed. “Really—enjoy.”
Addison didn’t know what to say. The keys were cool and heavy in her hand. Once she’d thought they represented the future she wanted. Now…
“My dear, where is your heart?” Maud intruded, seeming to grasp the situation without much of an explanation. “Here or New York?”
“Here,” Addison said without hesitation. “It’s here. With Kai.”
“Listen to it. It’ll never steer you wrong.”
Addison opened her fingers. Stared at the key ring, then held it out to Evan. “I don’t need it.”
Evan nodded as if not surprised. “I’ve been watching the show,” he explained. “Anyone can see you love it here. And love Kai. But are you sure? I’m going to list it if you don’t take it. We don’t intend to move back anytime soon.”
She hesitated, her fingers still around the keys that were resting in Evan’s palm. If he sold it, that meant no backup plan. She’d be going all-in here at Base Camp. If Kai didn’t change his mind—
She’d be right back where she started from.
But that was okay, she told herself. She’d learned so much about herself in the past few weeks. She was strong. Capable. She could write her own future if this path was a dead end.
She had to fight for Kai—for her life here.