down.
“Thanks, Darcy.”
“No worries.” She shrugged. “Saved myself an extra trip back here.”
***
Cael noticed the tight short skirt. Hell, how could he not? The way the fabric hugged her curves was enough to send any man into fantasyland. Did she always dress like that while tending bar? It didn’t seem like the best choice of clothing, considering how gorgeous she was. Men must flock here just to get a glimpse of those long shapely legs. He blinked as an unwelcome surge of energy heated his blood and his face warmed. Jealously? Where did that come from? Addison crossed her legs and he had to reposition himself in his seat at the sight of her milky white thigh. She intertwined her slender fingers in her lap as though she didn’t quite know what to do with them and he wondered, fleetingly, if she had the ability to read his thoughts. Shrugging off that idea and calming the erotic vision her exposed thigh instilled, he noticed a shyness about her. Yet at the same time, he sensed a powerful essence seeping from her. What was that? He had a sudden urge to run his fingers through the golden brown curls draping loosely over her shoulders. Her brown eyes picked up the light golden color from her blouse. But her thoughts were a mixture of confusion and uncertainty. She wasn’t like other women he’d known. Most of them were usually easy to read. Maybe things were different now that he was thirty, but it used to be, they’d get one look at him and immediately undress him with their eyes. Boring. He tried his damnedest not to portray an air of conceit—knowing he was a good-looking guy—but it was hard sometimes when they were so obvious. But this Addison was different. He honestly could not get a clear reading from her convoluted emotions.
“So, you’re a friend of Breena’s?” Cael asked, wanting to know why someone Addison’s age would be friends with a little girl. Maybe it was something simple, like she was Breena’s babysitter or something. But wouldn’t his mom have said that instead of “It’s complicated?” And who the hell was that guy who’d so graciously wrapped his arm around her waist when they’d been introduced? Did Addison possess an ability? Had all the people at the party possessed abilities? He’d been gone a long time. Not gone, he corrected, just robbed of his fucking memories.
She nodded but kept her eyes focused on her drink. Most definitely shy.
As he studied her, it was almost as if some alien took over his body and he couldn’t stop himself from blurting out, “I have to wonder why a woman of your age would be friends with a little girl?” Not very tactful, he admitted.
Addison blinked at him and he sensed a tiny bit of … what? Fear? What was she afraid of? Or was it just a flux of uncertainty? Then, when she answered, he realized it wasn’t fear at all. In fact, there was nothing uncertain about this woman that he could see. “I don’t understand why that would be so odd. Breena’s a very intelligent and likeable little girl,” she answered matter-of-factly and with a hint of defiance. He found her bravado a bit too sexy. She paused for a few seconds and added, “She’s come to visit Bart a few times, right Bart?”
“Oh yeah. Of course. All the time.”
Cael glanced at his uncle, wanting to ask why he hadn’t mentioned that, but remembered there were too many things that he couldn’t recollect and Bart couldn’t possibly know all of them. Focusing back on Addison he said, “You’ll have to forgive me. I seem to have forgotten a lot of things. You see, the last I recall, Breena was only five years old and …” He trailed off as thoughts of Breena’s mother, Claire, came to his mind, her dark hair blowing in the breeze the day Stefan and she married in the courtyard of the Sectory. Breena looked so much like her now. Claire had been very protective of Breena, never letting anyone other than Siana watch her. A long time ago, he reminded
“Thanks, Darcy.”
“No worries.” She shrugged. “Saved myself an extra trip back here.”
***
Cael noticed the tight short skirt. Hell, how could he not? The way the fabric hugged her curves was enough to send any man into fantasyland. Did she always dress like that while tending bar? It didn’t seem like the best choice of clothing, considering how gorgeous she was. Men must flock here just to get a glimpse of those long shapely legs. He blinked as an unwelcome surge of energy heated his blood and his face warmed. Jealously? Where did that come from? Addison crossed her legs and he had to reposition himself in his seat at the sight of her milky white thigh. She intertwined her slender fingers in her lap as though she didn’t quite know what to do with them and he wondered, fleetingly, if she had the ability to read his thoughts. Shrugging off that idea and calming the erotic vision her exposed thigh instilled, he noticed a shyness about her. Yet at the same time, he sensed a powerful essence seeping from her. What was that? He had a sudden urge to run his fingers through the golden brown curls draping loosely over her shoulders. Her brown eyes picked up the light golden color from her blouse. But her thoughts were a mixture of confusion and uncertainty. She wasn’t like other women he’d known. Most of them were usually easy to read. Maybe things were different now that he was thirty, but it used to be, they’d get one look at him and immediately undress him with their eyes. Boring. He tried his damnedest not to portray an air of conceit—knowing he was a good-looking guy—but it was hard sometimes when they were so obvious. But this Addison was different. He honestly could not get a clear reading from her convoluted emotions.
“So, you’re a friend of Breena’s?” Cael asked, wanting to know why someone Addison’s age would be friends with a little girl. Maybe it was something simple, like she was Breena’s babysitter or something. But wouldn’t his mom have said that instead of “It’s complicated?” And who the hell was that guy who’d so graciously wrapped his arm around her waist when they’d been introduced? Did Addison possess an ability? Had all the people at the party possessed abilities? He’d been gone a long time. Not gone, he corrected, just robbed of his fucking memories.
She nodded but kept her eyes focused on her drink. Most definitely shy.
As he studied her, it was almost as if some alien took over his body and he couldn’t stop himself from blurting out, “I have to wonder why a woman of your age would be friends with a little girl?” Not very tactful, he admitted.
Addison blinked at him and he sensed a tiny bit of … what? Fear? What was she afraid of? Or was it just a flux of uncertainty? Then, when she answered, he realized it wasn’t fear at all. In fact, there was nothing uncertain about this woman that he could see. “I don’t understand why that would be so odd. Breena’s a very intelligent and likeable little girl,” she answered matter-of-factly and with a hint of defiance. He found her bravado a bit too sexy. She paused for a few seconds and added, “She’s come to visit Bart a few times, right Bart?”
“Oh yeah. Of course. All the time.”
Cael glanced at his uncle, wanting to ask why he hadn’t mentioned that, but remembered there were too many things that he couldn’t recollect and Bart couldn’t possibly know all of them. Focusing back on Addison he said, “You’ll have to forgive me. I seem to have forgotten a lot of things. You see, the last I recall, Breena was only five years old and …” He trailed off as thoughts of Breena’s mother, Claire, came to his mind, her dark hair blowing in the breeze the day Stefan and she married in the courtyard of the Sectory. Breena looked so much like her now. Claire had been very protective of Breena, never letting anyone other than Siana watch her. A long time ago, he reminded
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