Page 41 of Driven to Love

“You owe me a pop.” Laney high-fived Marti.

“Hey! You two were betting on me?” Addison scowled at her friends.

Laney shrugged. “It was Marti’s idea. She didn’t think you’d cave to Nash’s charms.”

“Yeah. Yeah. Back to the hickey on her neck.”

“It’s not a hickey.” She didn’t think. “It all happened so fast. He looked at my car. Someone poured sugar in the gas tank.”

“Wait? Who would do that?” Laney whipped her head around, concern in her eyes.

“Laney. The road.” Addison pointed toward the windshield.

“Sorry.” The car jerked as her bestie whirled her attention back to the traffic.

Addison exhaled before continuing, “I think it was a prank, but Nash was suspicious. He grabbed my arm and hustled me into the shop. We argued, and next thing I know, he kissed me.”

Marti wiggled her finger at Addison’s neck. “I’d say it was more than a simple kiss. Oh look, she’s blushing.”

“I don’t blush.” But man, was it hot in the car suddenly? “It was a lapse in judgement. That’s it. Besides, I want a normal life with a man who’s a good husband and father. I want the fairytale.”

“Nash is a dad. A pretty good one from what I can see.” Laney’s brow raised in her mirror.

“Davey’s definitely a charmer, like his dad. I have a date to go to his baseball game tomorrow.”

“What? Nash asked you to go to his son’s game? That’s a new angle for picking up women.” Marti leaned back in her seat.

“No. Davey asked me. Nash said I could back out, and he’d make an excuse for me.” Which surprised her more than a little.

“Davey’s a chip off the old block.”

“He’s a great kid. What are you going to do?” Laney asked.

Addison shrugged. “Go to the game. It might be the best date I’ve had all week. Even if he is in junior high.”

Her friends’ giggles filled the car. As they motored down the highway to the bridal shop, Addison watched the fields go by. Her mind looped back to Nash and Davey. From their brief interaction, he seemed like a good dad. But something in her chest wouldn’t let her fall any deeper into a relationship with Nash. Not yet.

Oh, she was going to Davey’s game alright. Now that she knew Nash’s lips were electric, Addison planned to pry deeper into his life. Who was Nash Steele, really? This great guy everyone is trying so hard to convince her he was, or just another hot guy with dimples that made her knees go weak.

She’d find out tomorrow.

“Back seat,” Nash said sternly, but the dog didn’t budge.

Max’s tongue rolled out, and his doggy smile dared him.

“I mean it. Look, she’s almost to the truck. Get in the back.”

Addison opened the truck door. Her cool façade crumbled when she spied Max. “Hey there. I didn’t know you were bringing the pup.” She scooped him up and snuggled him close as she hopped into the seat.

So much for Max learning to ride in the back.

She scanned the inside of the truck. “Hi. Where’s Davey?”

“He stayed at his mom’s house after yesterday’s game. They live closer.” He put the truck in drive and headed out of town.

“Wait. Aren’t the ball fields that way?” She pointed in the opposite direction from where he pulled out onto the highway.

“Gray Duck Grove’s fields, yes. But we’re heading to the Cities. That’s where Davey’s mom lives and where he goes to school.”