Addie via text and email. She had a great sense of humor and didn’t mind his off-color jokes or military-inspired humor. But letting the sexual innuendos fly tonight might get him into trouble.
Her appearance wasn’t the only attraction. Seeing her relax and have fun was sexy, too. The V above her nose wasn’t as deep. She hadn’t reached the carefree stage, but she was closer than she’d been in a long while. That pleased Nick. He sat across from her.
A waiter arrived with champagne and two flutes.
Finally. Nick would prefer whiskey or a beer, but he wasn’t going to turn down a bottle of bubbly.
The waiter handed Addie a glass, his gaze lingering on her longer than Nick liked. “Compliments of Brad.”
She flashed Nick a closed-mouthed smile. So beautiful.
“At least the guy’s good for something,” Nick muttered, taking his glass from the waiter and wishing the man would leave them alone. He wasn’t jealous. No way. But he was protective. Yeah, that was it. Protective over his friend. Make that his wife .
A memory rushed back. When he was younger, his friends had called him Addie’s husband. They joked about him being in love with her. He countered he’d needed to protect her because she was like a sister. Except as they went through high school, his feelings toward her weren’t brotherly.
They weren’t now, either.
She didn’t seem to notice the attention from the waiter or Nick. She focused on her surroundings. He didn’t blame her. This might be an all-inclusive resort, but Mama Lani deserved a special tip for setting the romantic atmosphere with this meal and helping Addie get ready.
“I’ll be back with a platter of appetizers and to tell you about the dinner choices.” The waiter placed the champagne bottle in an ice bucket, then walked down the dock toward the beach.
“To new adventures.” She raised her glass, a twinkle in her eyes. “May our ten days turn out better than we expect.”
Damn. Nick rubbed his fingers against the flute. “About the ten days. I was thinking we’d make an excuse—I have eight to choose from—then catch the first flight off the island tomorrow morning.”
Her face fell. She lowered her champagne. “Oh, okay.”
Only two words, but the disappointment in her voice clawed at his chest. “The reality show . . .”
“Not a good idea with your job. I get it.”
“No, but . . .” He studied her face, noting the smile and twinkle had vanished. The V deepened again. He hadn’t expected this reaction. “You want to stay with a film crew on our tails?”
She glanced around, her gaze lingering on the beach. “It may sound crazy, but I like this place. Mama Lani is so nice. I understand if we have to go. Your job is the whole reason we got married.”
“We got married to help you, too.” Nick didn’t want her to think they’d married only for him. “Emily’s couch was fine in the beginning, but you couldn’t stay there forever and it’s time you went back to college.”
“I know, but the reality show doesn’t affect me the way it will you.”
He didn’t understand why she wanted to stay. “The film crew made you nervous.”
“They did, but I’m not sure they’ll ruin paradise for me. The island is spectacular.”
“Yes, but reality TV is a misnomer. The crew is going to tell us what to do and how to act, then edit the show how they want. Nothing on the show will be real.”
She raised her glass toward her lips. “Nothing about our marriage is real.”
“True.” Addie needed time to relax and find the person she’d once been, but going home was the easy and safe choice. The list of reasons for leaving outweighed those for staying. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“I’m uncomfortable lying about our marriage. That’s going to be the case whether we’re here or in San Diego.”
Her words surprised him. “You’ve thought about this.”
“I’m thinking it out now.”
“You want to
Her appearance wasn’t the only attraction. Seeing her relax and have fun was sexy, too. The V above her nose wasn’t as deep. She hadn’t reached the carefree stage, but she was closer than she’d been in a long while. That pleased Nick. He sat across from her.
A waiter arrived with champagne and two flutes.
Finally. Nick would prefer whiskey or a beer, but he wasn’t going to turn down a bottle of bubbly.
The waiter handed Addie a glass, his gaze lingering on her longer than Nick liked. “Compliments of Brad.”
She flashed Nick a closed-mouthed smile. So beautiful.
“At least the guy’s good for something,” Nick muttered, taking his glass from the waiter and wishing the man would leave them alone. He wasn’t jealous. No way. But he was protective. Yeah, that was it. Protective over his friend. Make that his wife .
A memory rushed back. When he was younger, his friends had called him Addie’s husband. They joked about him being in love with her. He countered he’d needed to protect her because she was like a sister. Except as they went through high school, his feelings toward her weren’t brotherly.
They weren’t now, either.
She didn’t seem to notice the attention from the waiter or Nick. She focused on her surroundings. He didn’t blame her. This might be an all-inclusive resort, but Mama Lani deserved a special tip for setting the romantic atmosphere with this meal and helping Addie get ready.
“I’ll be back with a platter of appetizers and to tell you about the dinner choices.” The waiter placed the champagne bottle in an ice bucket, then walked down the dock toward the beach.
“To new adventures.” She raised her glass, a twinkle in her eyes. “May our ten days turn out better than we expect.”
Damn. Nick rubbed his fingers against the flute. “About the ten days. I was thinking we’d make an excuse—I have eight to choose from—then catch the first flight off the island tomorrow morning.”
Her face fell. She lowered her champagne. “Oh, okay.”
Only two words, but the disappointment in her voice clawed at his chest. “The reality show . . .”
“Not a good idea with your job. I get it.”
“No, but . . .” He studied her face, noting the smile and twinkle had vanished. The V deepened again. He hadn’t expected this reaction. “You want to stay with a film crew on our tails?”
She glanced around, her gaze lingering on the beach. “It may sound crazy, but I like this place. Mama Lani is so nice. I understand if we have to go. Your job is the whole reason we got married.”
“We got married to help you, too.” Nick didn’t want her to think they’d married only for him. “Emily’s couch was fine in the beginning, but you couldn’t stay there forever and it’s time you went back to college.”
“I know, but the reality show doesn’t affect me the way it will you.”
He didn’t understand why she wanted to stay. “The film crew made you nervous.”
“They did, but I’m not sure they’ll ruin paradise for me. The island is spectacular.”
“Yes, but reality TV is a misnomer. The crew is going to tell us what to do and how to act, then edit the show how they want. Nothing on the show will be real.”
She raised her glass toward her lips. “Nothing about our marriage is real.”
“True.” Addie needed time to relax and find the person she’d once been, but going home was the easy and safe choice. The list of reasons for leaving outweighed those for staying. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“I’m uncomfortable lying about our marriage. That’s going to be the case whether we’re here or in San Diego.”
Her words surprised him. “You’ve thought about this.”
“I’m thinking it out now.”
“You want to
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