Page 8 of Driven to Love

Just then, a loud noise reverberated from the tiny infant. Heat warmed her already sweaty forearm. She checked to see if anything escaped the little one’s diaper. Then, the worst smell on the planet hit her. Ew! Her mind instantly thought… raw sewage.

“Here. Let me take him. Time for a diaper change.” Hailey reached for her child. “Unless you want the honor?”

Honor? “No. I’m good.” Addison handed him over and then checked her dress. Clean. She exhaled and leaned back into the chair. Not bad for her first time holding a baby. She’d had little interaction with kids, babies in particular, but she liked them. She just wasn’t around them much.

“Mom!” A squeal came from across the yard as a young boy sprinted toward them. He squeezed past Addison and clung to Hailey’s leg.

Addison turned to see what the commotion was about, just as cold water hit her dead on. Shock flooded her system as the liquid seeped through the material of her dress. A rapid intake of air filled her lungs. She’d been the victim of a water-gun battle.

“Connor!” Shelly jumped from her seat.

“I’m so sorry.” Jodell offered Addison a napkin that was too small to do anything to help her soaked dress, which now stuck to her body from chest to knees like shrink wrap.

Well, shit. She hadn’t seen that one coming.

Chapter 3

Nash caught the slaughter by water out of the corner of his eye. He held his breath, waiting for the fallout. Addison Benedict was as high-maintenance as they came. No way she’d let the kid get away with it, even if it was friendly fire. Not that he minded the result of the accident. He let his gaze roam over each womanly curve emphasized by the wet dress. Nope, he didn’t mind, not one bit.

Addison threw her head back and laughed. Really laughed.

Nash blinked. What? No fake smile. No shrieking.

She grabbed the water blaster Cade’s nephew had dropped on the ground and took aim.

Nash grinned. Wow! The ice queen continued to surprise him.

He never would have pegged Addison as a chill woman. This was a woman who always looked her best. Was gorgeous and knew it. Around him, she never cracked a smile, though he had tried.

She was one of the few women who never batted her eyes at him or laughed at his jokes, funny or not. Deep down, that was one of the reasons he was drawn to her.

Oh, he lusted after her lush body and those perfect bow lips, but it was her sharp tongue that stirred something in his gut. The chemistry was there. She had to feel it. Otherwise, why would she avoid him like a rotten fish in a hot car?

Addison ran her hands down the front of her dress, flicking the water away.

Nash’s stomach ached. Fuck. His body tightened with desire.

Never in his life did he want a woman who didn’t want him. Nash made his play last spring, and she turned him down flat. He wasn’t stupid. He could take a hint. She wasn’t interested—end of story.

A soft touch on his arm pulled his attention back to the woman smiling at him. Nash had forgotten all about Cade’s neighbor. She was a woman who was interested. She batted her eyes so much Nash at first thought she’d had a medical condition.

She’d said something about looking under her hood. He didn’t think she was talking about her Volkswagen.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Addison heading for the patio door. “Will you excuse me for a minute?” He slipped away before the woman could say another word.

Following Addison wasn’t the smartest thing Nash had ever done. The woman had made it clear—she’s not into him, but something inside him urged him to pursue.

He grinned at the trail of water as he opened the door.

Nash leaned against the doorway. Standing in the kitchen, facing the sink, was the most beautiful woman Nash had ever laid eyes on. Bugger if he didn’t want to wrap his arms around her, wet dress and all, but that would open a can of whoop-ass of epic proportions.

Nash smirked. He was a glutton for punishment.

“That’s a good look on you.”

Addison stiffened. Her spine snapped stick-straight in one swift move. She snatched the hand-towel from the oven handle and wiped off her face, buying herself some time. It had been months since she’d been face-to-face with Nash Steele, but the way the hairs on her neck tingled, she knew it was him before he spoke a word.

Marginally more composed, she blotted her dress with the towel and then turned only her head to look at him. Damn, he was a fine-looking man.