“You don’t have enough room? You have to use the floor space, too?”
I didn’t look up. “It fell off the chair.”
Addison Ridge bent down, snagged the handles, and dropped my bag into the empty chair. “You could have picked it up off the floor.”
My lips quirked. We had done this many times. How her parents met was one of her favorite stories, and I relived it with her often. “Did you stumble? Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Then stop being such an ass.” I winked. “Say hello, Addi.”
She blinked at me, leaning close. I could smell her perfume, feel her heat. No one else paid attention to us. They never did. “You can’t call me an ass,” she murmured, her eyes dancing.
“I think I just did.”
“You can’t call me an ass when we’re about to commence a business meeting.”
“But once I get you alone, can I touch yours?” I whispered.
She shook her head, a wide smile gracing her face. It transformed her features, softening them. It was a look few people ever saw, and I was thrilled to be the one who saw it the most. My Addi—my little elf. The love of my life.
“Can the two of you behave?” Ronan groaned. “This is a meeting after all.”
I pushed the plate of buns his way. “Shut up and stuff your face.”
Addi rolled her eyes. “Enough, boys.” She turned to me. “Behave, Brayden.”
“Your wish, my command,” I deadpanned, then smiled as Addi ran her fingers down my cheek, her engagement ring catching the light. My ring. My girl.
I had loved her from the time I could walk, always gravitating to her. We were always together, although she had resisted once we grew up, insisting we were almost family and it seemed improper.
I was heartbroken, my feelings real and permanent. Finally, Nan sat her down and had a long heart-to-heart with her. Whatever wisdom she imparted helped, and Addi came to me shortly after, admitting her feelings.
We’d been together ever since.
With a grin, I leaned in with the whisper of a kiss. “You have the floor, Madam President.”
I was so damn proud of her. A natural leader, she was in control and all business during the day. When Uncle Bentley decided to add another arm to BAM, Addi was the right choice to run it. We jokingly called it ABC—Addi, Brayden, and the Callaghans. It went well with BAM, and our older, business-savvy fathers loved the idea. So, it became real. ABC Corp.—a division of BAM.
We concentrated on outlying areas. Finding new acquisitions and developing them as a new revenue stream, running the businesses we put into place in some areas. We all had our jobs. Addi discovered, the boys designed, Ava and Heather added the finishing touches, and I handled the budgets. We had business teams for the day-to-day running of the companies we added. It was lucrative and challenging, and we all loved it. Not all the BAM second generation were part of the company, but our parents supported us no matter what option we chose.
Addi cleared her throat as she took in the group gathered around the table, waiting for her to speak. With our fathers’ guidance, we continued to make our mark on the landscape of various Ontario cities, always expanding and growing, and Addi was a huge part of that growth.
“Please note the new item on the agenda. I discovered a property while on a detour heading to Port Albany this weekend. An undiscovered, undeveloped piece of property, possibly due to its odd shape and the fact that it is off the beaten track.”
Excitement saturated her voice. “I had a vision…”Part IPRESENT DAYChapter 1BraydenThe morning of December 22, I stood in the kitchen, staring out the window as the sun began to rise. Slowly, its rays lightened the sky, scattering over the beach, glinting on the frost-covered rocks.
Winter in Port Albany was magical. The water in the inlet usually froze, while the open waters farther beyond our tiny cove remained alive and frothy. The sand mingled with snow and ice, creating sculptures and divots everywhere. The trees hung lower with ice, and the ground was often covered with snow.
I loved it here. It was my favorite place on earth. A smile stretched across my face. My favorite place on earth, my favorite time of year, combining into my favorite day of my life.
My wedding day.
Today, I would marry my Addison. My little elf. Here in this place created by my uncle Bentley—soon to be my father-in-law.
His vision of a special place, a place where family could gather and be together—to de-stress and find your center—had grown and changed over the years. As a child, I could recall the six houses, all clustered—a small community, as it were. All of us kids running around, parents always close. Sandy and Jordan were never far. Adopted uncles, aunts, cousins—there was always someone to play with, hang around with, enjoy life.