Acting Up

by Kristin Wallace

  He leaned forward, resting his arms on his thighs. “Jenny died in our bed. I was sleeping right next to her and—” His voice broke, and he cupped his hands over his face as memories crashed in on him.

  How many times had he relived that moment? Rolling over and touching her shoulder, only to find her body cold and lifeless? The gut-churning sense of utter doom. He’d yelled. Dialed 911 and then performed CPR until help had arrived. He’d kept at it, until the EMT had physically pulled him back.

  CPR had been useless. The EMT said she’d probably been dead for hours. Hours. His wife lay dead only inches from him, and Ethan hadn’t stirred. How could he not have known? Why hadn’t he felt the seismic shift in the universe as the love of his life departed this world forever?

  “You didn’t wake up and save her,” Addison said.

  His head bobbed.

  “I did some research on the Internet, and from what I gather, even if you had woken up and called 911 immediately, she probably still would have died,” Addison said.

  “I know,” Ethan said. “The doctor told me the same thing, but it doesn’t erase the fact that my wife was in trouble, and I slept through it.”

  Her hand squeezed his shoulder. “Always wanting to play the hero. Your wife was very lucky.”

  His gaze flickered down. Flushing in embarrassment, Addison pulled back and clutched the edge of the bleacher.

  Ethan might not have sensed his wife passing away, but every nerve ending was aware of Addison. Her scent. The softness of her skin. The curve of her full lips. The shuttered expression in her blue eyes telling him maybe… maybe… she shared the same awareness.

  Reaching out, he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and she jumped like he’d given her a shock. “You’ve become something of a problem, Alice Jones,” Ethan said, savoring the feel of her skin beneath his hand.

  A delicate shudder rippled through her body, and then she fluttered her lashes. “Trouble?” she said in a breathy, Southern-accented voice. “Little ole’ me?”

  Right on cue. The Hollywood actress tried to reassert herself. Knowing her alternate persona was mostly a cover, Ethan understood. Ms. Covington appeared whenever she felt threatened or vulnerable, and there was only one reason for her to feel vulnerable now.

  The one possible reason made him stifle a smile. “The guilt I mentioned isn’t only about Jenny dying. It’s that someone else has started to occupy a place in my heart.”

  “Oh,” she said with genuine astonishment.

  Ethan was surprised she hadn’t guessed.

  “Half the time I’m not even sure you like me,” Addison said. “You even told me you didn’t have time to for a Hollywood actress on the lam.”

  Oh, had he ever been a jerk. “I’ve apologized, right? My attacking you was nothing more than a defense mechanism. The truth is, ever since I saw you leaning against your car at the Gas Up, I’ve started breathing again.”

  “What?”

  “Sometimes it seems like I’ve been holding my breath ever since I watched my wife being lowered into the ground. Then you showed up. Now I’m having trouble concentrating. Trouble sleeping. Trouble remembering why it would be absolutely crazy to kiss you right now.”

  “Are you sure it’s crazy?” she asked, tongue flickering out to moisten her lips.

  “It has to be. The fact is you’re not Alice Faye Jones anymore. You’re Addison Covington, one of the most famous women in the country, and I’m a high school principal. You probably made more money last year than I’ll make in my entire life.”

  “If I don’t find another job I could find myself living out on the street—”

  A brow quirked.

  “In about ten years,” she admitted, with a sheepish grin. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those men who can’t handle a woman making more money than he does.”

  “I’m a realist, and the reality is you’re only in Covington Falls for a short time. You’re here because you needed a place to hide out, but soon you’ll go back to your life. The life you love.”

  Addison released a sigh so long and deep he felt it in his own chest. “Of course, you’re right,” she said, bracing her hands on her knees to stand up.

  Before she could escape, he tugged on her hand. She lost her balance, ending up lying across his lap. Ethan took one glorious moment to appreciate the weight of her body against him. Curves that seemed to meld perfectly with his.

  “I thought you said this was a bad idea,” Addison said, staring up at him.

  “Oh, it is.” He cradled the back of her head. “You’re trouble because even though I know it’s crazy, I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  Suddenly, Addison tugged him closer. “Mr. Thomas, you talk too much.”

  Yes. Talking was overrated. Very overrated. Kissing Addison Covington, on the other hand, was as close to heaven as Ethan would ever feel on this earth.

  She pulled back and gazed at him in surprise. “You’re pretty good at this kissing thing, for a man with so little experience.”

  Addison’s eyes were dazed and unfocused, her cheeks flushed with color. Ethan was man enough to feel triumph at knowing he was the one who’d put her in such a state. “I was married for a few years, you know.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not like you were Don Juan before then. You saved yourself for marriage, right?”

  He pressed kisses along her temple. “Jenny and I dated for seven years before we got married. We spent seven years perfecting the art of kissing, because that was all we could do. We were still teenagers with raging hormones. Anything more and we never would have made it to our wedding day. So, we had to be creative.”

  “Like an apprenticeship in kissing.” Addison chuckled, the short puffs of air brushing his cheek. “I should thank your Jenny.”

  Ethan silenced her with another deep kiss. Addison wound her arms around his neck and hung on. When she squirmed to get closer, he knew he had to call a halt or he’d explode. So even though every part of him screamed to finish the job, he pushed her away.

  “What—” She gasped, reeling a little as she tried to regain her balance.

  Shoving his hands through his hair, Ethan took several deep breaths. “Sorry. I think it’s time we stop.”

  “But it was starting to get interesting.”

  “That’s the problem. It’s been too long. Kisses won’t be enough with you.”

  “Who says we have to stop at kisses?” Addison reached for him again. “We’re both adults. Unattached and obviously attracted to each other.”

  “I do. The vow I made about sex before marriage didn’t end when I became an adult.”

  Addison stared at him in disbelief. “No way.”

  “Way.”

  “I didn’t think anyone believed in abstinence anymore,” she said. “If you love someone, why should it be wrong to express it physically?”

  “Are you saying you love me?”

  The question caused her breath to hitch. “I don’t—”

  “Look, I know what the world says. The kids at my school certainly know the message. I loved my wife. I loved making love to her. I believe sex is the most beautiful gift God ever gave us, but it should be within the bounds of marriage. Besides, I’ve got two boys who’ll soon be at an age where they’ll be interested in girls. How can I ask them to abstain if I won’t?”

  Addison shook her head and then started laughing.

  “What?” he said.

  “I’m thinking it’s just my luck to meet the last honorable man on earth,” she said, running a hand through her hair in frustration.

  “You think I’m old-fashioned and ridiculous?”

  “No. It’s very sweet, actually. Very gallant. I should have guessed you’d feel this way. It goes right along with your Sir Galahad mentality.”

  A flush stole up his cheeks. “I hope you aren’t offended. It’s not that I don’t—”

  “No apologies.” She laid a finger to his lips. “Maybe we should get back.”

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nbsp; Ethan encircled her wrist, pressing a kiss to her finger. “Right.”

  Pushing to her feet, Addison carefully made her way down the bleachers. He followed but at a much slower pace. He needed a minute to get all his limbs — not to mention certain parts of his anatomy — in working order again.

  Addison hit the ground and immediately took off for the midway. Her head stayed down, and he knew she had to feel rejected. He couldn’t stand her thinking he’d turned down the sweetest offer he could imagine because he didn’t want her.

  He jumped over the last two bleachers, landing on the ground inches from her. “Hey—” he called out.

  She whirled around. “What?”

  He stepped close, cradling her face as he pressed one more searing kiss to her lips. She swayed toward him when he pulled away.

  A lovely dazed expression entered her eyes, making him want to howl at the moon. “What was that about?”

  “For not being offended,” he said. “Plus, you did pay six hundred dollars for me. I figured I owed you.”

  Addison wasn’t one to let a guy have the upper hand for long. She rose up on her toes and nipped his chin. “I tell you what, Sir Galahad. I’ll let you work it off in kisses.”

  “I’m not sure I’d survive,” he said on a desperate groan.

  Addison let loose with a glorious, knee-weakening, tongue-tying, movie star smile. “I think that’s the most flattering thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

  Yep… he was in so much trouble.

  Chapter Twenty

  Aunt Ruth gazed at her house with a pensive expression. “It looks different.”

  “I haven’t touched a thing,” Addison said, putting a hand to her heart and raising the other in an I swear gesture.

  “Not that kind of different,” Aunt Ruth said with a smile on her lips. “It looks lived in.”

  “Wait till you see Aaron’s room.” Addison chuckled as she unhooked her seatbelt. “You haven’t experienced lived in until you’ve walked into a teenage boy’s bedroom.”

  “Hey,” Aaron called out from the backseat, sounding highly affronted.

  “Entire families could hide under all the clothes on the floor, and you’d never know they were there,” Addison said over her shoulder.

  She jumped out of the car and hurried around to the passenger side. The ascent from car level to a full upright position took Aunt Ruth several moments.

  Once on her feet, she let out a whoosh. “That was harder than I expected.”

  “Maybe I should have borrowed an SUV from someone,” Addison said, fighting to hide her own dismay. “Then you wouldn’t have had to sit so low.”

  “And climb up into it on the other end?” Aunt Ruth asked. “I just need to get inside and rest a bit.”

  “Okay, take it easy,” Addison said. “Aaron, get her walker.”

  Even with the walker, her steps were careful and deliberate. Aaron ran ahead to open the door, then the two of them helped Aunt Ruth up the stairs to the front porch.

  “Lounge chair or bed?” Addison asked.

  “Bed,” Aunt Ruth said reluctantly, as if not wanting to admit she was in pain.

  They shuffled through the kitchen to the newly renovated bedroom.

  “Aaron, turn down the sheets,” Addison said. “Then go back and get her suitcase.”

  Looking a little peeved that he’d become a gopher, the teenager nevertheless hurried over to the bed and pulled back the sheets. Then he ran out again.

  Addison eased her aunt down and carefully lifted her feet onto the mattress.

  “You’ve been busy,” Aunt Ruth said, looking around the room, her eyes widening in surprise.

  “We stored a lot of things upstairs. When you’re feeling stronger, I can bring some boxes down so you can decide what you want to keep.”

  She sighed and closed her eyes. “It looks nice.”

  “Do you need a pill?”

  A long silence said louder than words how much Aunt Ruth detested the need for medication.

  Addison understood the sentiment, but seeing her aunt like this tore her apart. “It’s not a weakness to need a pain reliever to make you comfortable,” she said. “The doctor said the drive would be hard. You need one. It’ll help you sleep, and when you wake up I’m sure you’ll feel better.”

  After another hesitation, Aunt Ruth nodded.

  Addison went to pour a glass of water. As she was putting the water jug back in the fridge, Aaron trudged through with the bags.

  “How much do I get paid for playing butler?” he asked.

  “A free room,” Addison answered. “Along with your food, which, trust me, could feed an entire village in Botswana. Now, take that in to her bedroom.”

  “Aye-aye, captain,” he said, with a mock salute.

  Once Aunt Ruth had taken her pill, she proceeded to study her newest houseguest. “You’re a handsome boy.”

  After a quick, puzzled glance at Addison, Aaron shrugged. “Thank you.”

  “I hear you got yourself arrested.”

  Bemusement turned to accusation.

  “Don’t look at me,” Addison said. “It’s not my fault you got caught in a town where the gossip mill works faster than any social media outlet.”

  “True,” Aunt Ruth said on a raspy chuckle. “My physical therapist is second cousin to one of the boys who got caught with you. Oh, she was full of stories the next day. Seemed like poor Jeremy had been kidnapped and forced to drink beer, the way she told it.”

  “His brother was the one who bought it for us,” Aaron said, curling his lip.

  “Regardless, I hope you never put your stepmother through anything like that again,” Aunt Ruth said.

  Instead of a show of attitude at a near stranger telling him what to do, Aaron surprised Addison by nodding. “I won’t.”

  “We should go and let you rest,” Addison said. “Can I get you anything else?”

  “My Bible. It’s in my suitcase.”

  Addison retrieved the well-worn Bible. The leather binding was soft as butter and cracked in places.

  “Could you read something to me?” Aunt Ruth asked.

  Addison hesitated. “Oh, I guess. What should I read?”

  “Try Isaiah 40.”

  Addison flipped through the pages until she found the passage and began to read:

  To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God?

  Addison’s breathing slowed and a quiet peace seeped through her being as she read. She glanced up and Aunt Ruth nodded in encouragement.

  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

  The words were at once poetic and beautiful. Addison’s voice rose as she became lost in the verses. The power and majesty of them. By the time she came to the end of the passage, Aunt Ruth had fallen asleep. Her chest moved in gentle slumber. The lines around her mouth carved by discomfort softened.

  Glancing over at Aaron, she saw he was wide awake. In fact, the teenager seemed as shaken she felt.

  Finally, he took a deep breath. “Cool.”

  Trust the man-of-few-words to sum up their feelings so succinctly. A startled grin sprang to Addison’s lips. “Cool.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The next morning Addison looked in the mirror and screamed.
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br />   Footsteps thundered down the hall, and a moment later Aaron burst into the bathroom. One hand covered his eyes, while he reached out like a mummy searching for its next victim.

  “What are you doing?” Addison asked.

  “You screamed like a chick in a slasher movie,” he said, keeping his hand latched over his face. “What’s wrong? Did you hit something? Break something?”

  “No.”

  “What then?”

  “Put your hand down,” Addison said. “I’m perfectly decent.”

  Aaron peeked through his fingers, as if to make sure the coast was clear. When he saw she was indeed dressed, he scowled. “You’re not bleeding. No bones are showing. No killer hiding in the bathtub. Why were you screaming?”

  “Look at this,” Addison said, smoothing her hair down to reveal her part.