His Secretary's Surprise Fiance

When he reached the kitchen, he found her making breakfast in his shirt, her legs bare and her hair restrained in a messy braid that rested on her shoulder. But as he got closer, he could tell something was off by the way she moved. She fried eggs at the stove, her movements jerky and fast.

“Everything okay?” he asked as he passed the walk-in pantry. He might have lost his ability to read her more subtle emotions, but he’d have to be blind not to correctly interpret anger.

“No.” She pulled down two plates from a cupboard and slid the eggs onto them. “I got up early because of a notification on my phone. I keep alerts on various buzzwords in the media as they pertain to you and the team.” She pointed toward the kitchen table. “Have a seat and check out the morning paper.”

Worry stabbed him hard in the gut as he headed toward the table.

“Is Marcus back in trouble?” He’d sprung the kid from jail on good faith, offering him a job helping Evan with some work for the Brighter NOLA foundation. Dempsey needed extra hands for a renovation project on a building that would house a local recreation center for the kids.

“No. Not this week anyway.” Her clipped response gave nothing away as she retrieved silverware and linen napkins from a sideboard near the breakfast bar.

“Hurricanes Coach Muzzles Stormy Girlfriends.” He read the headline aloud from the social section’s front page. “Old news, right? Did she offer anything different than the rumors that have been around for years—that I rely on confidentiality agreements for some of my personal relationships?”

Was this what had Adelaide so riled? They’d seen worse and weathered it in the past.

“No.” She put his eggs down on the table and tugged out a chair to sit across from him. “But nice timing on a game day, isn’t it?”

“Whoa.” He reached for her, bracketing her shoulders with his hands. “What am I missing? Why is this so upsetting?”

“Why?” Adelaide’s eyes widened. “Because for all she knows we really are getting married. And what kind of evil witch does that to someone who is newly engaged?”

She blinked fast, emotions swirling through her eyes quicker than he could register them.

“Someone selfish.” He shrugged, still not sure he saw what the big deal was, although he knew better than to say as much. “Someone who doesn’t give any thought to who she hurts to get her own way. I’ll bet you any money she wants to tout a new contract or sponsor or has some kind of promotional angle—”

He let go of her to turn the paper toward him so he could read the story.

“She has a part in a new action-adventure film,” Addy admitted. “She mentions it toward the end.”

“You see? Self-centered and trying to scam off the Hurricanes’ publicity when a lot of people are paying attention to the team.” He kissed Adelaide’s cheek and pulled her to him again, holding her close, savoring the feel of her wearing precious little under that T-shirt. “C’mon. Let’s have this breakfast you made. It smells fantastic.”

“It’s just eggs,” she grumbled. Then her lips curled upward a bit. “Although I did make use of the cayenne pepper, which is why you like the scent, you crazy Cajun.”

She hadn’t called him that in a long time. Memories of their past—her friendship and unswerving loyalty—stirred along with it. Reminding him he didn’t want to hurt her. She’d made him breakfast long ago when there’d been no food at his place. Eggs were a cheap meal, and even though he had access to the most exotic foods in the world, there was nothing he’d rather share with her right now than the eggs she’d cooked for him herself.

Taking care of him.

“Some spice in life is a good thing.” He tugged her back and kissed her harder, more comfortable thinking about the chemistry they shared than that other, deeper connection. “And speaking of which, last night was incredible.”

“I had fun, too.” She shot him a flirtatious look as she took her seat at the table. “I’m glad you’re not upset about the article in the paper—even if I’m still steaming a little.”

He flipped it over and shoved it away.

“Not at all.” He tucked her chair in and then sat beside her. “Valentina is annoying but predictable. I’m only upset for you.”

He took a few bites before he noticed Addy had gone quiet. Glancing up, he noticed her studying him.

“Is that a plus when you’re dating?” she asked, carefully cutting a piece of her egg and sliding it onto her toast. “Predictability trumps selfish and annoying?”