Chapter 16

She walked into her office and stopped short when she saw the bouquet of roses sitting on her desk. She walked over and grabbed the note, curious to see who sent them.

Pete's voice startled her just as she finished reading the card, "Those are nice."

She set the card down and pulled off her glasses. "Roses are nice but I'm more of a tulips girl." She braced herself for the next question she knew was coming.

"So who are they from, if you don't mind me asking?"

"His name is Jared. He's the father of one of the little girls in Molly's class. We're supposed to go out to dinner tonight so I guess he decided that flowers before the date would gain him some points."

"You're going on a date tonight?"

"Yeah, it's no big deal or anything. I was going to say no at first but it's been so long since I've been out anywhere. He's not really my type so I don't even know why I said yes." She tried to think of something she could say to erase the disappointed look on his face but knew it was too late.

He was silent for a moment, "Would you like me to keep an eye on Molly for you?"

She had completely forgotten that she was going to need a sitter. She was touched that he even offered but slightly irritated that he recovered so quickly. "I'm sure she'd love that. Can you be over by 7?"

He simply nodded and walked out of her office without saying another word. Addison's forehead wrinkled in confusion. She wasn't sure if she should be more excited about the date or more upset about Pete's indifference to it all.

Later that evening she found herself getting more and more nervous as 7 o clock approached. She kept looking at the clock as she rushed to get herself ready. The first three outfits she tried on looked too conservative for a date so she decided to wear a dress instead. The dress she decided on was dangerously low cut and extremely seductive and the minute she slipped it on, she felt like a goddess.

She heard the doorbell ring and Molly's excited squeals pierce the air. Pete must have just arrived. She looked at herself one last time and headed out to the living area. She knew from the moment he looked her way exactly what he was thinking.

His eyes danced slowly down her body taking in her perfection and he felt himself having to swallow hard just to find his voice, "Wow."

Molly stood between the two of them and giggled. "Aunt Addie, you look beautiful."

"Well thank you very much sweet pea." She bent down and kissed Molly's forehead. "Did you finish washing your face and your hands?"

"I'm going, I'm going…. Geez." She walked off into the hall with her hands on her hips, shaking her little head from side to side in exasperation.

Pete chuckled, "Looks like you have a mini teenager on your hands."

Addison laughed nervously, "She just started that a few days ago. The psychologist said it's actually typical for a four year old to…"

She felt her heart skip a beat as he pulled her close and cut off her nervous rambling with a passionate kiss. As shocked as she was that it was happening, she felt herself responding with an equal intensity.

The sound of the doorbell forced them back into reality.

"For the record, I'm envious of this guy and I am secretly hoping you have a miserable time." He released her and walked over to the door, leaving her spinning in overwhelming confusion.

Pete opened the door and reached out his hand, "You must be Jared, I'm Pete. Come on in, I was just helping Addison out with the final touches on her look. Doesn't she have an incredible glow about her tonight?" He shook his head, "I don't know how she does it."

Addison wasn't sure what had come over Pete but she found herself trying to suppress a giggle at the inside joke while contemplating stripping him naked right then and there. She had never been so amused, frustrated and turned on at the same time in her entire life.

Jared must have picked up on the tension because he cleared his throat. "Well I guess we should go now. I made reservations for 9 and it takes a little while to get there."

As they were heading out the door, she felt Pete's warm breath tickle her ear and trickle down her neck, "I plan on continuing our um… conversation when you get back."

She glanced at her watch as she got into the car. Never in her life did she so badly want a date to end before it had even begun.