“I won’t let go until you talk to me.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Fine.”

“Meaning you’re going to tell me.”

“No, I’m going to wait you out.” Addison blinked at him for a few seconds. Along with all of that handsomeness he looked pretty stubborn and she kind of had to pee. Then again, she’d been mocked in the tabloids; what was one more little embarrassment? “Okay, well, I think that men get bored with me after a while, especially in bed,” she said in a huge rush. She hoped he didn’t understand because she wasn’t going to repeat it.

“You’re joking, right?”

She nibbled on the inside of her lip.

“Hold on. Wait. That’s what you meant about the experiment you wouldn’t tell me about? You wanted to see if . . .” Reid swallowed. “If you would give me a happy ending?”

She nodded slowly and then covered her face with her hands. “I think this is the single most embarrassing moment in my entire life. And, trust me, I’ve had a few big ones.”

“You wouldn’t disappoint me, Addison.”

She peeked at him through her fingers. “Maybe not at first.”

“I promise. Not in the short term or the long run.”

“You can’t know that.”

“We’re going to find out.”

Addison dropped her hands and stared at him. “No, I can’t let you do that.”

“I’ll take one for the team.”

“We called the whole thing off!”

“That’s right. We’re not pretending anymore. Addison, look. I know that you’re right. The timing is off for us. I get that you want to back off and get your life together. I have some decisions of my own to make. But Sara said something to me earlier and it stuck.”

“What did she say?”

“When life gets shitty you have to take a leap of faith.”

Addison frowned. “Sara said that?”

Reid gave her a crooked grin. “I’m paraphrasing, but yes. She said that my life is all about numbers and graphs, and sometimes life just doesn’t always add up perfectly.” He sighed. “I guess it’s just that I watched my parents’ financial struggle for so many years. I started to hate the farm, but damned if they didn’t dig in their heels and hang on by the skin of their teeth.”

“It’s called a labor of love. My mother could retire if she wanted to, and my dad spends each day surrounded by music, art, and photography. It’s not about the money. It’s about loving what you do.”

“Yeah, but I thought they were all going crazy! With Jeff heading to Nashville, Braden quitting school, and then Sara leaving her teaching career, I thought I was the lifeboat in a sea of insanity.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “I was wrong.”

Addison put a hand on his arm. “It’s never wrong to care, Reid.”

“That’s what Sara said, but, Addison, I was wrong to try to hold them back. Jeff recently played a gig at Tootsies in Nashville. Braden is happy being back here instead of taking business classes that he didn’t care one lick about. I argued against the Old MacDonald education program and it makes money and, more importantly, has done wonders for my dad’s health. I was wrong about everything, so that pretty much means that the barn wedding idea must be a good one, since I was against that as well.”

“You’re being way too hard on yourself.”

“That’s the way I roll.”

“Well, give yourself a break at least for the rest of the evening.”

He gave her a slow smile. “So, you think you’re boring, huh?”

“Oh, stop.” Addison rolled her eyes up to the ceiling. “I can’t believe I told you that.”

“Well, I’m going to really enjoy proving you wrong.”

Addison’s heart thudded. “So, where do we go from here?”

“My cabin.”

Addison was referring to the future but then squashed it. Aiden and Garret had made her gun-shy and insecure. Reid was right! They didn’t deserve the power to rule her life.

“Hey,” Reid said at her sudden silence. “I was teasing, Addison. I want to take you to my cabin, but let’s just see where the night takes us. No expectations, okay?”

“Okay.” Addison nodded and gave him a smile. “What about food? Do we need to stop somewhere?”

“Are you kidding? My mother keeps my fridge stocked full of her home cooking. I have some fried chicken that will make you weep.” He patted his stomach. “I’m busting out of my clothes.”

“I think it looks good on you,” Addison assured him, and then groaned. “I’m really having trouble keeping my thoughts from coming out of my mouth.”

“No way. I want to know what’s going on in that pretty head of yours. So, here’s what I’m thinking. Let’s get your swimsuit and head out of here.”

“I need to wrap up the cake.”

“I see the plastic wrap over there. I’ll do it. I’ll tidy up while you get what you need.”

Addison smiled. “I’ll get out of this dress and toss on some comfy jeans.” She scooted to the edge of the chair and gingerly put her sore feet onto the cool floor. He helped her stand up. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Reid nodded as he headed over to the table and started tossing paper plates into the green garbage bag Addison had started filling earlier. “I’ll hold you to it.” “Bring the leftovers and the rest of the champagne.” She hobbled over and picked up the flowers.

“Excellent idea. I’ll even pack up the raspberries.” He swiped his finger in some frosting and licked it off. Addison watched as he sucked the top of his finger, and suddenly felt warm all over. “Mmm, really good. Now go get what you need.”

“My bathing suit?” Addison asked over her shoulder.

“Totally optional.”

“Ah, then I think I’ll leave it behind.”

Reid gave her a slow smile, showing off that sexy dimple. “Addison?”

“Yes?” Her heart pounded. There might be no expectations, but it was pretty obvious where the evening was headed.

“Hurry.”

“No problem.” Addison took the stairs as fast as her sore feet would carry her. But the fatigue she’d been feeling suddenly vanished. Her second wind had her slipping out of her dress, letting it pool in a pretty puddle at her feet. She smiled when she put the flowers in water. She wasn’t even going to try to kid herself. Right or wrong, she was happy that Reid showed up.

After tugging on her favorite, worn boyfriend jeans she grabbed a T-shirt and gently slipped her feet into rubber-soled flip-flops. “Ahhh . . .” Not knowing if she would actually muster up the nerve to soak in the hot tub naked, Addison located a royal blue bikini, one of two that she had with her. The rest of her clothing and some other personal items were being shipped by her parents but hadn’t arrived just yet.

After pulling her curls up into a ponytail she tossed some toiletries into a canvas bag, glad that her shop was closed on Sundays until business picked up a bit more, so she could have a day to rest up. Wait . . . her shop. Addison smiled. It was hard to believe that her life had taken this sudden and exciting turn.

Tonight, however, she wasn’t going to think or worry about anything and just enjoy spending time with the handsome man waiting for her downstairs. Sometimes no plan is the best plan of all.

A soft knock at her door had her smiling. “Come in,” she called, and when Reid entered she felt a little flutter in her stomach.

“All of the perishables are put away and I took the garbage out to the Dumpster. We do need a bag for the leftover cake and champagne.”

“Thanks. Follow me into the kitchen.”

He smiled and simply stood there and looked at her.

“What?”

“You looked incredible in that dress and sexy heels, but I like you even more in jeans, a T-shirt, and flip-flops.”

Addison swallowed hard when he walked slowly toward her. He was going to kiss her. She’d seen it in his eyes, felt it in the rapid beat of her own heart. Oh God . . .

This is it.

This was what Mia had been talking about. Could Reid Greenfield be the real deal? Could she finally, truly be falling in love? Addison felt a little flash of fear when all kinds of what-ifs started buzzing around in her brain. But when Reid pulled her into his arms and kissed her all she could think about was how good it felt. She knew it was an old-fashioned notion, but being wrapped in his arms made her feel safe, secure, and happy to the point of being giddy.

“I’ve been thinking about seeing you, kissing you, all week long.”

Addison put her hands on his broad shoulders and raised her eyebrows. “So, how was it?”

“Even better than I imagined.” He leaned in and captured her lips in another sweet, lingering kiss. “Are you ready to go?”

She nodded.

“Good. We should get there in time to see the sunset over the river. By the way, I like what you’ve done with this loft.”

“Thanks! It helps having a really nice antiques shop right next door. I can’t wait to have more time to shop at the thrift stores up on Main Street.”

“Ever been to a flea market?”

“No, but it sounds like fun.”

“There’s a big one at the county fairgrounds every weekend. We’ll go when you get the chance. I’m pretty good at refinishing furniture.”

“I’d like that,” Addison said, and took his offered hand.

“Good. It’s a hobby I enjoy. And gives me a chance to impress you.” He picked up the canvas bag for the cake and they headed downstairs.

The waning sunlight softened the brightness of the late-spring day, slicing through the tops of the trees along the riverbank. Lush and full from recent rain, the woods along the rolling hills blended into various shades of green. “I never knew that Kentucky was such a pretty state. My only visit was to the Kentucky Derby in Louisville.”