Page 53 of The Heartbreaker

This wasn’t the same private room as last time. This one was even smaller. And there was a salty odor lingering throughout the small space, like the poor bastard who had been in here before me had sweat himself to death.

“I can’t say it’s just one thing,” she replied. “It’s … all the things.”

“Start with something.”

Her chest rose even though most of it was covered by her arms. “The reason you’re here.”

“You know that answer.”

“No, I don’t. I mean, I have theories. And each one isalotto take in.”

This woman got more interesting by the second.

“Why don’t you tell me what they are?” I leaned back in my seat and rested my foot over the opposite thigh.

Where I was getting relaxed, she was more upright, her back fully erect. “Theory one: you like the challenge of trying to get someone you can’t have since I made it extremely clear the last time we were alone that we could never do this again.”

I laughed.

She was so fucking cute when she was trying to prove a point.

“What exactly isthis, Addison?”

“Huh?”

“You just said we can’t do this. What is this?” I waited. “Because all we’re doing is talking. So, is that what you meant? Or were you referring to something else?”

“I’m half naked, Ridge. I wouldn’t call this a normal conversation.”

I waved my hand across the air. “I didn’t notice.”

There was just enough light to see her brows lift. “You’re telling me you don’t see the bra I have on right now?”

“If I looked down, sure, I’d see it. But your arms are covering most of your chest, and it’s dark in here, and if I’m being honest, I’m not interested in looking at your bra. I’m far more interested in hearing your next theory.”

“Hmm.” She stalled. “Before we get to that, are you really going to tell me you didn’t see me braless onstage?”

I smiled. “You were on a stage?”

“Ridge …”

“Yes, I saw you. Yes, I watched you. Yes, it turned me on. But not in the way you’re thinking. You could have been fully dressed—it wouldn’t have mattered to me.” I leaned forward to get closer to her. “Remember this, Addison: I’ve already seen what’s under that bra and those panties. I got to see because you came back to my house and I got to peel the lace off your body. If I’m going to see your tits and pussy again, I prefer it to happen undermy control and not because you’re on a stage, stripping off your undergarments for eyes that aren’t mine.”

I could almost hear her breathing.

“You and my real name—it’s becoming a thing, isn’t it?”

“Any motherfucker in this building can call you Addy. I’m the only one who can call you Addison—I assume. I like that.”

She went quiet for a moment. “You haven’t answered my question.”

“Which is?”

“You want me because you can’t have me.”

I leaned back, giving her the space she needed while she stewed in the silence.

I had quite a few years on her, and what that gave me was experience with people. What I’d learned was that an environment that wasn’t filled with words made most people uncomfortable. So, they did things or they said things to fill the quiet gap.