Luann McLane - Moonlight Kiss

She giggled.

Reid shooed her toward her bedroom. “Now go. I’ve got it under control.” As he watched her walk toward her bedroom Reid realized that he liked this domestic spin that cooking for company put on their relationship. He’d never even considered what it would feel like to be married.

Until now.

He waited for a shot of fear or apprehension but it failed to come. He smiled as he dried a bowl and put it in a cabinet. Nice . . .

About thirty minutes later Addison walked back into the kitchen, wearing white jeans and a billowy teal blouse belted at the waist. She wore her hair up in a loose bun. The only thing flashy was the diamond tennis bracelet that she’d told him was a gift from her parents for her twenty-first birthday.

“What?” Addison asked, making Reid realize he’d been staring.

“You’re gorgeous, Addison. I can’t take my eyes off of you.”

She came over and smoothed her hands up his chest. “I know the feeling. I can’t keep my eyes or my hands off of you. It’s going to be tough not being all over you when the company arrives.”

Reid groaned and was about to dip his head for a kiss when the doorbell chimed. He felt a slight twinge of nerves, but when the Monroe clan came into the room, full of hugs and laughter and introductions, he felt at ease. Addison took a tray of appetizers from her father.

“I brought artichoke dip and pita chips,” Mia said. “It’s still warm.”

“My favorite,” Addison said.

Mitch handed Reid a bottle of bourbon. He looked at the label. “Pappy Van Winkle’s twenty-three-year-old? Are you kidding me? That’s as smooth as it gets.”

“Oh, he’s been on the bourbon trail twice,” Nicolina said with a shake of her head.

“I love the history behind the distilleries,” Mitch declared, drawing a laugh from Paul.

“Yeah, right. You love the bourbon.”

“What’s not to love?” Mitch asked, but then looked at Reid. “You’re a Kentuckian. You know what I’m talking about.”

Reid nodded. “I sure do. There’s nothing better than a fine bourbon.” He held up the bottle. “This one is one of the finest. Wheat is used rather than rye, giving it a sweeter taste. This twenty-three is really hard to come by.”

Nicolina laughed again. “He loves telling people he’s a Kentuckian now.”

“Makes me feel badass, like on Justified,” Mitch said, making them all laugh.

“Something smells amazing,” Melinda said. “Sweetie, did you cook dinner?”

“A big pot of beef stew. Reid came to my rescue and helped.” Addison nodded. “I thought we could talk easier here than in a noisy restaurant. Is that okay?”

“Perfect,” Melinda answered, making Reid notice the similarities between mother and daughter.

“I hoped Bella might be able to come,” Addison said to Nicolina.

“Mitch couldn’t take another day of seeing her sad face and insisted that she fly out to Iowa to see Logan play. He’s with the Iowa Cubs now, hoping to move up from the farm team to Chicago.”

“Impressive.” Addison peeled back the foil from a veggie tray and put out cocktail plates. “I will forever be a Cubs fan. So, Uncle Mitch, the Cricket Creek Cougars aren’t affiliated with Major League Baseball?”

“No, it’s an independent professional league,” he answered. “Noah Falcon wanted to give players a second shot at making the minor leagues. Logan, for example, was drafted into the minors but came back too soon from an injury, almost ruining his career. Noah and Ty gave him a second chance and it paid off.”

“Cam came with a bad attitude and a chip on his shoulder,” Mia said. “He just needed someone to believe in him.”

“The Cougars scout smaller schools, hoping to find talent that gets passed over,” Mitch continued. “Of course, only a small percentage of them will make it, but the rest get to enjoy playing competitive baseball for a few more years.”

After breaking out the bourbon the men chatted about baseball and the women toured the apartment. Reid knew that Addison’s parents were being polite and casual but he could tell that they were checking him out. He didn’t blame them because he would do the same thing.

After dinner they lingered over cupcakes and coffee. Reid enjoyed talking about finance with Melinda. He found the entire family entertaining, friendly, and fascinating. Other than getting Addison alone, he was actually sorry to see the evening end.

“I wish you were in town longer,” Addison said as the company headed for the door.

“Me too,” Melinda admitted. “We’ll be back as soon as we can. I’m really impressed with your shop, Addison. With the popularity of lavish weddings From This Moment should do quite well. Uncle Mitch and I were chatting earlier and I’m thinking this is just the beginning . . . but we’ll talk about that later.”

Reid frowned, wondering what Melinda was referring to, but the exit turned to tearful hugs and he put his worry aside. As soon as the door closed Reid pulled Addison into his arms. “Don’t get me wrong. I think your parents are amazing people and I enjoyed your family, but I’ve wanted you all evening long.”

Addison wrapped her arms around his neck. “Well, now you get me all night long. Are you up for it?”

Reid pulled her close. “All it will take is one kiss.”

“Are you going to kiss me?”

“Remember, all you ever have to do is ask.” He grinned. “But that ripping-off-my-shirt thing works for me too.”

Addison laughed but then she fell silent and looked up at him with those brown eyes. “Kiss me, Reid.”

Reid dipped his head and met her mouth in a sweet kiss that quickly heated up into something hot and hungry. Groaning, laughing, they pulled, tugged, and shed clothing, leaving a trail all the way to the bedroom. They fell onto the bed in a heap of tangled arms and legs, kissing with a wild, all-consuming passion. Reid had never kissed this way, felt this way, and when he entered the welcoming heat of her body he knew that he never wanted to be with another woman. Nothing could compare to . . . this.

Reid made love to Addison deeply, intensely. He watched the play of emotion on her beautiful face through half-lidded eyes drinking in every detail. And when she slid her arms to the side and fisted her hands in the covers the sight would remain in his memory forever.

“ANGIE, YOU PROBABLY DON’T REMEMBER WHEN THIS WAS done by pulling hair through a rubber cap,” Maggie said, while the cute hairstylist slid a foil beneath a few strands of Maggie’s hair.

Angie dipped a fat brush into a bowl, painting and weaving with quick efficiency. “No, but I’ve actually had clients that ask for it and call it having their hair frosted.”

Maggie chuckled. “Well, I guess I’m dating myself. But, then again, when I was a teenager I used to spray Sun-In onto my hair. Oh, how times have changed. I wonder if they still make that stuff.”

“Products are so much better now. A lot less harsh on your hair, for sure.” Angie gazed at Maggie in the mirror. “Well, I think you’re ready to process, my soon-to-be blond bombshell. Would you like a magazine to read?”

“Please.” Maggie nodded and the foils clinked together, sounding like a whispering wind chime.

Angie handed her a People magazine. “Sorry. It’s a few weeks old. I’ll see if I can find another one.”

“Don’t worry. This is fine.” With a dismissive wave Maggie smiled, then started flipping through the pages, looking at the pictures and shaking her head at Lindsay Lohan’s latest blunder and wondering why the public found the Kardashians so fascinating. The photo of shirtless Huge Jackman had her pausing to appreciate his amazing chest.

“Oh, very nice.” Angie looked over Maggie’s shoulder as she unfolded a foil and checked the progress. “I’m kinda into older dudes. Don’t know why.”

“Older dudes are sexy too,” Maggie said. Very sexy, she thought with an inner sigh. When her mind drifted to the passionate night of lovemaking with Richard she almost had to fan her face with the magazine. Having lived through some tough times in her life—her mother’s desertion, her father’s wrath, single parenting, and fighting breast cancer—Maggie always drew inward for strength and forged on with a brave smile, even when she was shaking on the inside. She’d always longed for but never really thought that love would find her. Having Richard come into her life at this stage of the game felt like a miracle to Maggie and she treasured every single minute with him.

Love, it seemed, hadn’t passed her by after all.

Maggie closed her eyes and swallowed hard. Richard had said he had something special planned for tonight. She simply could not wait to find out what he had in mind, but Maggie had the feeling it was going to be amazing. And if he told her that he loved her she was going to say it back because she was head over heels in love with Richard Rule.

Giddy with happiness, Maggie flipped the pages of People, not really seeing what she was looking at, but something gave her pause. Wait. . . . She turned back a few pages, thinking she’d spotted Addison Monroe. “Yes,” she murmured, and took a sip of her water. Sure enough, there was the pretty little bridal shop owner. Addison was on tiptoe, kissing a leather-clad, long-haired, bearded man. Because Addison was so down-to-earth Maggie had forgotten that she was the daughter of famous finance guru Melinda Monroe, but who was the guy? He looked old enough to be her father. Maggie read the caption beneath the photo: After recently breaking off her engagement to Garret Ruleman, rumors are flying that Addison Monroe is having an affair with none other than Rick Ruleman, Garret’s rock-legend father. Both Addison Monroe and Rick Ruleman have been suspiciously absent from the LA area, while Garret has been dropping hints that the rumors are indeed true.