Page 44 of The Heartbreaker

“She has an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a master’s degree as well. She student-taught at multiple well-known schools throughout LA. She tutors adults who can’t read, and she also offers English SAT prep.”

“Damn,” Rhett whistled. “She’s certainly qualified.”

Rowan nodded.

“Now, you’re the one who’s not answeringmyquestion,” I said to my sister.

She took several deep breaths. “Would I switch my daughter out of her classroom?” she repeated, staring at me, her face making no indication of which way she was leaning. “My main concern—and Jana’s too—would be whether Daisy was getting the best education. That’s one. Two, if something happened between you and Addy—whether that something was positive or negative—would Addy be able to set that aside and teach your daughter the way she deserved?” She sat up straight. “If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then I don’t think you need to switch her out of Addy’s classroom.” She paused. “But I want you to remember something: if you two got together and things went south for some reason, Daisy is the one who would suffer.”

I leaned both arms on my desk. “What do you mean?”

“If Addy started spending time at your house, but then you two broke up,” Rowan continued, “why would she suddenly not be there? Yet Daisy would still see her in the classroom every day, and that could be hard for our little one to process.”

I couldn’t even get Addy to call me. Progressing to the point where she started spending time at my house? That was a massive jump.

But a jump I wanted.

And if I got my way—which I normally did—she would be spending some time at my house.

“There’s also the school aspect,” Rowan said. “Why is Daisy getting called on more than the other students? Why is the teacher being harder on her? Remember, other kids can be tough nowadays. You don’t want Daisy getting any type of privilege when they’re not.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I almost think if you end up dating her, you need to keep that part of your life separate from Daisy. There should be no crossover at all. And at the end of the school year, if you guys are still together, then it would be appropriate to introduce her as your girlfriend.”

“Don’t you think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself?” Rhett said to her. “You’re setting rules before there’s even a foundation. Let the motherfucker breathe for a second.”

She eyed up Rhett. “Do you know our brother? Women are obsessed with him. I would be very, very surprised if Addy is the opposite. And if she is, Ridge is going to charm the hell out of her and get what he wants in the end.” She looked at me. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

I chuckled.

She smiled. “Exactly.” She then gloated.

“Still, there are a lot of ifs that are making this situation much more difficult than normal,” I said. “The most important part is Daisy. And first and foremost, I need to protect my daughter.”

TEN

Addison

Ididn’t know why I was so jittery and shaky as I shut my car door and walked up to Ridge’s house. I’d had most of the day to prepare for this conversation; it wasn’t like it had been thrown on me moments ago. But I still felt so lost in my thoughts, and that only got worse when he opened the door.

My eyes did a quick sweep—I couldn’t stop them.

Gray sweatpants. A baseball hat. A white T-shirt that clung to his arm muscles and chest with just the right amount of bagginess in the waist.

Is he serious? Of all the things he could have put on, he chose the sexiest outfit ever?

Sigh.

“Addison, come in.”

The sound of my full name was almost startling.

He held the door wide enough that I could slip inside. But not too wide because my shoulder swished against his chest, and with that, I got a tease of his hard pecs and a hint of his scent.

God, that scent. I swore I’d smelled it all day in my classroom and even when I’d gone home to change and eat dinner before coming here.

I waited in the foyer, frozen as I glanced up at the second floor. “Daisy isn’t here, is she?”

“She’s with her mom.” He shut the door and moved beside me. “Can I get you anything to drink? Some rosé perhaps?”

I followed him into the kitchen, where he picked up a short, stemless martini glass and took a sip from it.