Chapter Twelve
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“What the hell was that?” Kai demanded.
Addison just shook her head, as if she couldn’t find the words to speak. All around them, guests stood in clusters, watching them, whispering about them, pointing at Felicity being hauled out of the room.
“That was your sister?”
“Yes,” she finally said. “I don’t know what got into her. Something’s wrong. She isn’t usually like that.”
“Hell, yeah, something’s wrong.” He snatched the keys out of her hand. “What are these for? Why did she say her penthouse is yours now?”
“Because—we—I—” Addison lifted her hands helplessly.
Kai had had enough. He didn’t know what was going on, and he needed to find out now. “Hey, you! Put down that mermaid!” He strode after Evan, who was still fighting his way toward the door, Felicity still slung over his shoulder. “You two don’t get to leave until I know what’s going on here.” Addison ran to keep up with them.
“Look, my wife is drunk. She’s upset.” Evan half turned.
“Felicity, take back your keys,” Addison said desperately.
“I’m not drunk, and I’m not taking them back,” Felicity hollered over Evan’s shoulder, her skimpy costume on the verge of becoming all too revealing. “If I’ve got to go to Rome, you have to live in my penthouse. That’s the deal.” She arched around farther to get a look at Kai, and pointed to Addison. “You think this girl came here because she likes sleeping in tents? You think she’s going to marry the kind of man who cooks for a living? She doesn’t want to live with a bunch of cows. Oh, excuse me—bison.” Felicity over-enunciated the word. “She wants a penthouse. My penthouse. Money to spend. Fancy parties. A rich husband, too! And she’ll do what it takes to get it—including saying yes to every single thing for a month.” She pointed at Kai. “Including saying yes to you!”
“Jesus, Felicity.” Evan set her down hard on the floor. Felicity wavered, and he propped her up with an arm around her waist. “I’m sorry,” he said to Addison. “I knew this was a horrible idea. She’s freaking out about the move. Your mom’s being awful.”
Addison nodded, but her face was white as a sheet.
Kai could barely hear what they were saying. His ears were buzzing. He felt like everyone else in the room was suddenly very far away.
Including saying yes to you.
What had Felicity meant? Was she saying Addison had lied? That she didn’t really mean it when she’d agreed to marry him?
“Why?” he demanded suddenly, ignoring the conversations spinning around him. The others turned to him, but none of them answered, so he repeated his question. “Why? Why did you have to say yes for a month?”
Addison’s gaze turned pleading, but he waited her out. Something was wrong here. Very wrong. He had the feeling the next few minutes would turn his life on its head.
“Because of the book,” Felicity said with a laugh. “The Freedom of Yes.”
Kai dimly remembered the title. It had been a splash with the self-help circuit some months back. Its cover everywhere you looked. But what did that have to do with—
“We made a deal,” Felicity went on, gesturing wildly. “If she said yes to everything for one month, she could have my penthouse. And she did. No matter what I threw at her, she kept agreeing. Hope you’re happy,” she said to Addison and began to cry.
“Felicity.” Addison reached for her sister, turning a look on Kai like he was the one who’d done something wrong.
“So—this was all a lie? Every part of it?” If she had to say yes to everything, did that include—? Kai sucked in a breath. “You mean I forced you to have sex with me?”
“No!” Addison’s cheeks went crimson. “Of course not, Kai!”
“Then what? What were the rules to your little game?”
“I… had to say yes to anything that wouldn’t hurt me. But, Kai—”
“Including marrying me? None of that was real?”
“It was real—”
Kai had heard enough. He tossed Addison the keys. She missed, and they skidded across the floor, but he didn’t care. He turned to find Boone approaching them.
“I hope like hell you’ve got a backup bride lined up,” he snarled at his friend then turned and stormed out.
Addison watched the crowd part around Kai as he strode out of the room. She wanted to yell after him—to chase him down—but she knew the only thing was to let him cool down and talk to him when they were all sober. The night was a disaster.
“Hey, let’s stay and enjoy the party,” she heard Felicity slur, but she knew without turning that Evan was finally, blessedly, hauling her away.
Someone pressed a handkerchief into her hand.
Maud.
“Thank you.” Addison hadn’t even felt the tears streaming down her face.
“This is a bad business, but it’ll work out, you’ll see.” Maud sounded too worried to convince Addison she believed that. “Don’t you worry about a thing, pet. The sun will come up tomorrow, and all will be well again.”
“I don’t think so.” Addison wiped her eyes. She knew she should go after Felicity and find out what had happened to set off such a breakdown. Or go after Kai and try to explain everything that had transpired. But first she needed to catch her breath.
How had everything gone so off course?
The music started up again, and slowly couples returned to dancing. Several cameramen remained focused on her, but others drifted off to film the action elsewhere.
“See?” Maud said. “Life goes on. It always does, no matter what the trouble.”
“Kai hates me now,” Addison said. She could only imagine what he thought. Her sister had presented everything in the worst light.
“Rather the opposite, I’d say. He loves you. That makes it harder. But he’ll see the truth in time. You might have come for reasons other than love, but love found you, didn’t it?”
“It did,” Addison admitted. “I love him so much. I don’t want to leave.” She realized it was true. “This life is so much better than the one I was trying to have.”
“Of course, dear.”
“Addison.”
She turned in surprise to find Evan had returned.
“Where’s Felicity?”
“Sleeping in the limo. I’d say she’s down for the count. Listen, I’m sorry—I knew this wouldn’t be a good idea, but she insisted on coming.”
“I thought you’d already gone to Europe.”
“We pushed our travel back until tomorrow so we could attend. I thought it was because she wanted to see the decorations she’d sent—and to say goodbye again, of course. I should have known there was more going on that.”
“She’s afraid,” Addison told him.
“I know. I didn’t expect it. She’s traveled so much before.”
“But never more than a few days without Mom. She’s scared Mom’s right; that she can’t do it on her own.”
“She won’t be on her own. She has me,” Evan said.
“You’re so good for my sister,” Addison said truthfully.
“I know I am. But she’s good for me, too, ninety-nine percent of the time. Don’t hold this against her for too long. She’s going to miss you, you know. She’s scared of leaving you, too.”
Addison nodded, so grateful Evan was in her sister’s life. “Just keep her away from the booze,” she implored him.
“Will do,” he said. “Look, about the penthouse. It’s yours. The paperwork is signed and ready to go. You’ll find it on the kitchen table. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.” He handed her the keys he must have picked up off the floor. “Try to hold on to these.” He smiled, and Addison’s heart squeezed. “Really—enjoy.”
Addison didn’t know what to say. The keys were cool and heavy in her hand. Once she’d thought they represented the future she wanted. Now…
“My dear, where is your heart?” Maud intruded, seeming to grasp the situation without much of an explanation. “Here or New York?”
“Here,” Addison said without hesitation. “It’s here. With Kai.”
“Listen to it. It’ll never steer you wrong.”
Addison opened her fingers. Stared at the key ring, then held it out to Evan. “I don’t need it.”
Evan nodded as if not surprised. “I’ve been watching the show,” he explained. “Anyone can see you love it here. And love Kai. But are you sure? I’m going to list it if you don’t take it. We don’t intend to move back anytime soon.”
She hesitated, her fingers still around the keys that were resting in Evan’s palm. If he sold it, that meant no backup plan. She’d be going all-in here at Base Camp. If Kai didn’t change his mind—
She’d be right back where she started from.
But that was okay, she told herself. She’d learned so much about herself in the past few weeks. She was strong. Capable. She could write her own future if this path was a dead end.
She had to fight for Kai—for her life here.
She let go of the keys, and Evan took them.
“Good luck,” she told him. “I hope you two are very happy in Rome.”
“I hope you come and visit us really soon. Your sister misses you already.”
“I miss her, too.”
He backed up a step. “You’re sure?” He raised the hand that held the keys. “You want me to list it?”
Addison was as sure as she’d ever been in her life. “Yes.”
“Some night, huh?” Avery said the next morning.
Kai grunted. She was the first person he’d seen since he’d gotten up at the same time he’d always done, did his yoga routine, meditated—rather unsuccessfully—and gone for a run. He’d slept alone last night. He didn’t know where Addison had slept—probably on a flight to New York, back to her sister’s penthouse. Her prize for fooling him.
He was prepping breakfast, as usual, but he wondered if he was wasting his time. The whole camp seemed to have decided to sleep in after their late night.
As for Addison—he didn’t even want to think about her. Everything she’d done was fake. Everything she’d said.
She’d never been serious about him at all.
He kept running back over their time together in his mind, trying to figure out what parts were real and when she’d been acting. It must have all been an act, he finally concluded, because he couldn’t find a way to distinguish one set of her behaviors from another.
“Breakfast will be in about a half hour,” he said shortly.
“I didn’t come for food. I came to talk.”
“Not much in the mood.”
“I can see that.” But Avery didn’t leave. Instead, she popped up onto the counter, legs swinging.
Kai turned and glared at her.
She didn’t budge.
“Say what you have to say.”
“I think you’re making a mistake. Addison might have come here on a dare or something, but she fell in love with you.”
Kai grunted again. He didn’t think so.
“You need to—”
Kai’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out. “Kai here,” he said when he’d answered it.
“Kai! It’s Linkley. Want to have a little chat about your pilot.”
“Uh… sure.” This wasn’t what he needed, but he didn’t have a fiancée anymore. He didn’t want to lose his cooking show, too.
“The studio was really pleased with what they saw. They want to run with the show. Ten episodes for the first season.”
“That’s… great.” It didn’t feel great, though. He wondered if anything ever would again. “Really—that’s great,” he said again, trying to sound more enthusiastic.
“Just one thing,” Linkley went on.
Kai gripped the phone so hard he thought it might shatter. One thing? He didn’t think he could take one more thing. Not when the woman he’d thought he loved had turned out to be a liar and fraud. “What’s that?”
“This… subtext you’re trying to push. It’s got to go. You read the teleprompter and you stick with the program. You’re not a comedian.”
“I wasn’t trying to be,” Kai said slowly.
“Improv’s not your best skill,” Linkley said. “But you look good. The studio really likes the way you look.”
Kai tried for a reply. Couldn’t come up with one. He looked good? What the hell did that mean? He was trying to change the world; who cared how he looked while he was doing it?
“The business is the business, kid. You understand? Don’t try to outsmart it. Roll with it. Do what you’re told. Can you do that?”
“I… I’m excited to work with you, sir.”
“We’ll send the paperwork.” Linkley hung up before he could reply.
“Who was that?” Avery asked when he pocketed his phone.
“I got my cooking show. Ten episodes.” Kai turned back to the meal he was preparing, and for the first time in his life, he didn’t feel like cooking. He braced his hands on the counter and bowed his head.
Fuck. First Addison, now this.
Avery jumped down and came to stand next to him. “Tell me.”
“It’s not going to be my show at all. They’re going to kill my brand before I even get started. I’m going to end up a spokesman for all the things I don’t believe in.”
“Then don’t do it.”
“I may not get another chance!”
Avery surveyed him. “Go ask Addison. See what she suggests.”
“Addison’s gone.” The sentence stuck in his throat, and Kai swallowed hard.
“She’s in her tent,” Avery contradicted. “Sleeping off her hangover like everyone else. Boone found her another sleeping bag. Seems you had hers.” She smiled. “Talk to her. No, better yet—listen to her. Hear her side of the story. You might learn something.”
“Addison’s in her tent?” But why? She’d gotten the keys to the penthouse she so desperately wanted.
“Because she loves you,” Avery said simply.
“No, she doesn’t.”
“Yes, she does. Maybe this all started with some stupid deal she made with her sister, but then it turned into something else. I’ve seen the way she looks at you, Kai. She’s not faking that. Give her a chance.”
For one long moment, he almost agreed, but then he remembered everything Felicity said. Remembered the way Addison had thought the show was fake.
She hadn’t come here to marry him.
It was time to move on.
When Addison woke up, she had one blessed second before all the events of the previous evening crashed into her consciousness. She groaned and pulled the sleeping bag over her head. She wasn’t sure why she’d thought she could fix things if she stayed. She’d slinked out of the ball, Avery and Maud assuring her they’d take care of everything, and after making a half-hearted attempt to find Kai had simply gone to bed.
“Addison?” a female voice said outside.
“Mmm?” she managed.
“Come on. Let’s go to the manor.” It was Riley.
Addison wanted to ignore her, but she had a feeling Riley wouldn’t stand for being ignored. Against her better judgement, she climbed out of the sleeping bag, gathered some clothes and opened the tent flap.
It was a long trudge up the hill. Thankfully, Riley didn’t seem to need to talk. At the manor, Riley ushered her upstairs.
“Take a good, long, hot shower,” she said. “You’ll feel better. I’ll help you dress. Then you can go find Kai.”
Addison hesitated by the bathroom door. “Maybe I should just leave.”
“Honey, you’re not responsible for how your sister behaves,” Riley pointed out. “We don’t want you to leave.”
“But Felicity was right,” Addison felt compelled to say. “I did come here because I wanted her stupid penthouse.”
“And then you fell in love with Kai, right? And everything else about Base Camp. You had a blast putting on the ball, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” Addison wondered if she’d ever be able to say that word again without thinking of her time at Base Camp.
“Then that’s that.”
“You think it’s really so simple?” Addison leaned against the doorframe. “I’m not sure Kai will see it that way.”
“You won’t know unless you ask him.”
“But—”
“He loves you, too,” Riley insisted. “Now, take your shower, we’ll get you dressed and we’ll go find him. Together.”
Addison did so, and when she was ready, she and Riley walked down to Base Camp in silence, Addison fighting off tears. She’d gotten to know every step of the path between the camp and the manor. She loved this walk. Loved all of it.
Loved Kai.
Was she about to lose everything?
“There he is now. Looking for you, I’d say.” Riley pointed to Kai exiting the bunkhouse. Addison swallowed hard as Kai spotted them and stopped. He waited for them to reach him, and Addison’s gut tightened as they approached. Would he yell? Swear? Tell her to pack her things and go?
Several cameramen grouped around them, and she wished to God they could have this conversation alone, but maybe this was a type of humility, baring your mistakes in front of the world. Maybe other people could learn from the mess she’d made of things.
Kai bowed his head, and when he looked up she read resignation in his eyes. “Would you walk with me?” he asked.
“Yes.” Addison bit her lip when he winced. Every yes now seemed fake, no matter how heartfelt it was, and it must sound fake to him, too. He was pissed. He was going to ask her to leave. She couldn’t imagine what her life was going to look like without this place—
Without Kai.
They turned toward the track that led down to Pittance Creek. Addison wasn’t sure whether to break right into an explanation, or wait—
“Avery says I should talk to you,” Kai said stiffly.
Addison nearly quailed at how distant he sounded but forced herself to speak up. “I want to apologize for what happened last night.”
“Can you explain what’s really going on? I’ll try to listen.”
He was making an effort to hold back his anger—and pain, Addison thought. It hurt so bad to know she’d hurt him, especially when she knew the ways he’d been hurt before. Why had she been so careless with the love of a man like this? She deserved everything she got, but first she was going to fight to change his mind.
“Just like Felicity said, it all started with a book. The Freedom of Yes.”
“I’ve heard of it.”
“Well, I was reading it. And Felicity saw it and started teasing me. She’s always saying I’m too uptight. That I plan too much. Worry too much. While she just goes and gets what she wants. It was the same weekend she told me she and Evan were moving to Rome. I guess… I guess she was trying to distract me from that. Distract both of us. She was afraid of leaving—I didn’t realize that then.” Tears stung her eyes. “I should have been paying more attention.”
“So, you were reading a book.” He wasn’t going to let her off easy. Addison took a breath and went on.
“She kept at me. Dangled her penthouse in front of me, said I could have it—if I said yes for one month. She was leaving, and I was going to be stuck in Connecticut, living a life I didn’t like—”
“And you agreed to that.”
“I agreed to that.” She wished she could say otherwise. Shame flared through her at the mess she’d made.
“Whose idea was it to apply to marry me? Felicity’s?”
Addison nodded.
“Did she… did she make you dress like you did in the audition tape?”
Heat suffused Addison’s face. “Yeah, she did. She bought me the clothes I wore here, had my hair and makeup done. She controlled all of it.”
Kai seemed to consider this. “How do you normally dress?”
“Well, I’m an insurance actuary, so I—” She broke off when Kai tilted his head back and guffawed. “What?”
“Oh, man. The Universe is fucking with me. Big time!” He continued walking, shaking his head, and after a moment Addison caught up. “The whole idea of my ad was that for once I was going to pick a sensible woman. A safe one. A practical one. I guess that’s what I got.”
“Who do you usually date?” Addison wasn’t sure what to make of that. She was sensible, but she didn’t know about… safe. That sounded so boring.
“Women who knit caps for surfers. Which, let me guess: you don’t actually do.”
“Nope.” She waited a beat. “So, I’m not the kind of woman you even like.”
Kai was silent a minute. “That’s not true. I liked you a lot, right from the start. Even though you weren’t knitting.”
“I liked you a lot, too.”
He stopped, and Addison waited. “Maybe fate knew what it was doing after all,” he said quietly.
“Maybe. Kai, I’m sorry for all of it. I never meant to hurt you. Felicity and I really did think the show was staged, and the moment I arrived none of that mattered anyway. I fell for you fast.”
Kai stilled. “Did you?”
She felt heat rise in her cheeks. “Actually, I fell for you a long time before that. I’ve watched the show since the first episode. I’ve… daydreamed about you a lot.”
Kai cocked his head. “Really?”
“Really. So when Felicity suggested applying… it was her idea, but I went along with it. I never dreamed you’d pick me.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not… Felicity.”
Kai frowned. “Who cares about Felicity?”
“I mentioned she’s a supermodel, right?”
“She’s not you.”
Addison’s heart skipped a beat. “I’m just a regular person.”
“But are you a regular person who thinks she could spend her life with me—here, at Base Camp?” He shifted closer.
Addison nodded.
“Are you sure? There aren’t any penthouses here,” he cautioned, drawing her into his arms.
“There are tiny houses, though, and they’re even cooler.” She braced her hands on his chest, loving the feel of his embrace. She’d thought she’d lost this. She could hardly believe she might be wrong.
“What about being an actuary? Could you really leave all that behind?”
She rolled her eyes. “I know what I want to do now. Run the B and B—if the women will let me.”
“What about that rich husband Felicity thinks you were hunting for? I’m no millionaire.”
“I don’t need one. I only need you.” She tilted her chin up, and when Kai met her halfway, kissing her so thoroughly Addison became dizzy, she knew she was getting another chance at happiness. She braced her hands on his shoulders, loving the strength of him.
“Are you sure?” Kai asked one more time when they parted again.
“Absolutely. I love you,” she said.
“I love you, too.”