Finding Hope Read online

  Her cheeks warmed again at the complement and her mind went blank. What was she supposed to do with one man she couldn’t figure out. Now there were three men staring at her like she was the last piece of pie left in the world.

  Holy cow!

  “Go find your own dates,” Adrian growled, stepping forward and taking her hand from Hale.

  “Oh, she’s over by the salad bar with Derek’s date trying to decide if she’s going to eat a carrot or a piece of celery for dinner tonight.”

  Addison covered her mouth with her free hand as fast as she could, but the laughter still escaped. The men looked at her and grinned. Adrian edged closer, still refusing to release her hand. She couldn’t help but enjoy his attention. It was going to be an interesting evening.

  “Can I get you something to drink, Addison,” Derek asked.

  Hale feigned a look of offense. Adrian’s glare was not so feigned. It was all quite entertaining. However, Haven and Amber would not be pleased at all when they noticed their dates had abandoned them. She couldn’t blame Derek and Hale. Those two women were terrible company and probably even worse dates. She’d only met the girls once before, but they had both left a lasting sour impression.

  “Just some water, please,” she answered.

  “I’ll get it,” Adrian rumbled and walked away.

  “Now,” Hale started, “Tell me, honey, are you interested in Adrian? Or do I have a chance to enjoy a dance with you this evening?”

  “Hey now, I want one too, if we are sharing.”

  Both men stepped closer. Their very presence was intimidating and thrilling at the same time. For just a second her mind wandered, but then it remembered she’d promised herself not to be the desperate woman at her best friend’s wedding.

  “Your offer sounds very nice—”

  “I’ll just leave you with your two new friends then.”

  The force of Adrian’s voice made Addison jump. Where the hell? He handed her a crystal glass of water and walked away before she could open her mouth to object. The man moved like a predator. No warning. No sounds. And apparently no explanations.

  “Your loss,” she hollered after him. Jerk. One minute he’s acting all possessive and jealous and then the next he’s cutting his losses and running.

  “I guess your dance card is open then,” Hale said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

  Addison sighed. “I’m not risking my hide by stirring trouble with Amber or Haven. Go back to your dates, gentlemen.”

  I’ll just go sit with Missy while my date stalks around, unwilling to talk. God! He’s not worth the frustration.

  ***

  Aphrodite sighed and leaned back in her chair at the Wentworth rehearsal dinner. Sometimes humans could be so ridiculous. These poor souls seemed to be able to find any tiny thing to completely dismiss the idea that they were extremely attracted to each other. She knew she could continue to provide opportunities for them to get closer, but this situation called for a little of Elpis’s hope. A help from the spirit of hope was just what these two stubborn people needed. That and maybe a slap upside the head.

  ***

  Missy came hurrying into the living room, and Adrian looked up from his magazine. He’d arrived early that morning at Tom’s request to help soothe the frantic bride and mother-of-the-bride. Tom had gotten called into work to deal with a last minute hiccup on a pending sale. It was a good thing he’d been able to fill in for the groom, too, because they had already sent him to the store for half a dozen things. He’d made at least three trips already.

  “Adrian, would you make sure the bus drivers are ready to go? The guests are all here, and Mama wants to have plenty of time to check things at the lodge before the wedding tomorrow,” Missy asked.

  “Yes, ma’am, I can do that.” He was just glad he didn’t have to run to the store again.

  “Good. Addi is already outside too.” She gave him a wink and a smile.

  He pasted on a smile and walked quickly from the living room. Just what he needed. More flack from the maid of honor. Wasn’t last night enough? She’d ditched him for the two groomsmen…or so he’d thought. But then, he’d watched her sit alone all evening at the reserved family table. Derek and Hale never came near her again. After his outburst, wherever the hell it’d come from, he just avoided her. He hadn’t embarrassed himself over a woman since high school. What was wrong with him?

  He stepped out the Wentworth’s front door. Two large buses were parked on the long driveway. Several men were packing the guest’s luggage into the storage compartments. A flash of bright floral print, peeking out from underneath a white wool coat, caught his eye; Missy had apparently convinced her pants-addict of a friend to wear another dress. Her legs looked phenomenal.

  She walked the length of the second bus toward the first one. Her hips swayed enticingly, and her long blonde hair fluttered in the wind. The only thought that crossed his mind was wrapping his hands in her golden locks and bending her over the first piece of furniture he could find.

  Shit. What is wrong with me? She doesn’t even like me. And, I behaved like a jackass last night. I’ll be lucky if she even acknowledges my presence.

  He ran his hands through his hair and sighed with frustration. This was going to be a really long weekend. Perhaps the god of fate would intervene and he’d get called away at the last second on a case. Tom would kill him, but at least he wouldn’t have to watch Addison Connelly from afar, knowing she didn’t want to have anything to do with him.

  ***

  “Make sure all the red bags make it from the front living room.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I just sent one of my girls to start loading those now. She should be back shortly,” the wedding planner assured her.

  “There are about thirty bags. I don’t think she’ll get them all in one try.”

  “We’ll get them.”

  Addison nodded. “Be sure the champagne is stocked, as well as water for the guests.”

  “Already done,” the young woman answered with a smile.

  “Great.” Addison looked down at her checklist. “I need someone to come upstairs with me and get the wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses to hang in the back.”

  “Oh, of course. Let me see who I can find.”

  Addison followed the small brunette off the bus. The wind gusted, blowing her hair across her face and into her mouth. She grabbed her hair and pulled it back. A pair of ocean-blue eyes met her gaze, and she froze in place. Her mouth felt as though she’d just swabbed it out with a cotton ball. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

  He averted his gaze and shifted back a step.

  The high she’d had came crashing down. What? He thinks I’m so bad he can’t even stand near me? What an ass! Give him a chance, my foot, Missy! No more. Last night was the end of his chances.

  “Sir, do you think you could help –” the brunette started.

  Her temper flared. “No, I’ll get them. I don’t need his help.”

  The damn man could spend the entire weekend alone. She didn’t need a wedding date with someone who couldn’t even stand to be in her presence.

  ***

  She slammed the door of Missy’s bedroom shut, and stalked to the giant walk-in. The door clicked behind her and creaked. Haven and Amber trailed in.

  “Addison?” Haven called out.

  “Yes.”

  “Are you okay, sweetie?”

  She whirled and faced Missy’s two other bridesmaids –Gossip and Rumor. Fuck. A person did not lose their composure in front of these two women unless they wanted the whole of Nashville to hear about it. Even though Addison did not socialize in the same circles, she didn’t want the girls to have any ammunition to use against Missy. Addison sucked in a quick breath and pasted on a smile.

  “I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”

  Haven and Amber both smiled. Their teeth were as white as the frosting on a wedding cake, and the sugary sweet attitude emanating from the two of them made her ill. />
  Haven walked toward the closet. “Let me help you get the dresses. Amber, sweetie, you grab the shoe boxes there on the floor.”

  “Thank you,” Addison managed to squeak out while pulling their bridesmaids dresses and Missy’s wedding dress from the closet. She handed Haven the three dark blue dresses, and Amber gathered up the four shoeboxes from the closet floor. Addison zipped up Missy’s wedding dress in its protective bag and motioned the two women toward the door.

  “Is that everything?” Amber asked, walking toward the bedroom door.

  “Yes,” she answered. “The dresses were the last item on Missy’s checklist.”

  “Great.” Haven opened the door and allowed them to walk out before shutting it quietly behind them.

  Addison trudged down the front stairs, being careful not to catch her heels on the stair lips. Damn shoes.

  “I guess you are excited to have Adrian as your date to the wedding? He seems like quite the catch,” said Haven as they entered the kitchen.

  “Really?” she answered.

  “Well, if you aren’t interested,” Amber piped up.

  She glanced over her shoulder. The glint of greed in Haven and Amber’s eyes gave Addison pause. “I didn’t say that.” She stopped walking and turned. Maybe she should tell the nit-wits he was free to be chased and hounded. It would serve him right for being such an ass to her. No, I can’t do it. Not even to him.

  “Oh,” Haven replied, “Well if you change your mind.”

  “You’ll be the first person I tell.”

  ***

  Wards pricked at her skin like static electricity. Aphrodite sat up from her bed and phased to her garden. The lush green area was clear. No one was near the pool, and the tingling from the wards had stopped.

  She walked to the edge of the pool and looked down at the sparkling soul mate diamonds beneath the surface. They were the treasures of her existence. Her mother, Gaia, had created the pool to house the diamonds and keep them safe. She knelt down at the edge and reached beneath the sparkling clear water, scooping one up into the palm of her hand. This particular diamond linked her to an old pair of souls. They had been matched nearly a thousand years and had lived ten lifetimes together.

  She took a deep breath, absorbing some of the energy and calming her nerves. The diamond glittered and glowed. The amount of energy inside a soul mate diamond this old was equal to that of a human-created nuclear power rod. Aphrodite slipped the glowing gem back beneath the water and watched it sink slowly to the bottom.

  The wards around her palace and garden had been disturbed several times a day for the last week. It was really starting to piss her off. Someone was trying to sneak onto her grounds and they were stupid enough to keep trying to break through the magical barrier that protected her palace. The first suspects were, of course, Chaos and Strife, Ares’ petulant godling lackeys. They were still mad at her for locking them up last time.

  ***

  “Addi, I don’t have his ring. Adrian picked it up for me at the jewelers, but I forgot to get it from him.”

  Addison rolled her head, allowing the joints to pop and relieve the pressure in her stressed body. “I know what you are doing.”

  Her friend smirked and turned back to the mirror. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “Sure,” she groaned.

  She walked to the door and paused, looking back at Missy in the mirror. Marissa Wentworth was gorgeous. Her long blonde hair had been curled into ringlets. A topknot had been pinned up for the tiara and veil to rest on. Her mother was busy fastening the two hundred buttons that Tom would have to later unfasten. He won’t mind one bit. The makeup artist was doing a fabulous job as well. Missy’s blue eyes popped against the silver and purple eye shadow.

  In the opposite corner of the room, Haven and Amber were busy putting on their own makeup at the two other stations in the dressing room. Addison licked her lips, tasting the strawberry lip-gloss she’d applied earlier that morning before they’d left for the resort. The ride had been pleasant and only about two hours. The worst part was being stuck on the same bus with Haven and Amber for two hours. Those girls talked more than chickens clucked.

  “Don’t dawdle too long, Addi. You still have to change clothes and let Carrie put your hair up.”

  “I was just going to wear it straight.”

  “Oh, well, okay.”

  “I’ll be right back so she can put it up,” Addison answered, giving Missy a reassuring smile. If her friend really wanted her hair put up, it was no skin off her back.

  “Thanks, Addi!” Missy beamed.

  She was glad Missy had loved her makeup from the shower last weekend and insisted she do the same look for the wedding. It made her life easier. She’d done her makeup before they left the Wentworth’s house, so it would only need a few touchups. Mostly, all she had left to do now was slip out of the dress she was wearing and into the royal-blue strapless bridesmaid dress. And, apparently, get her hair put up.

  She closed the door behind her and walked down the long hallway. The lodge was breathtakingly beautiful. Rich dark hardwood floors complemented the abundance of wood trim and satin-finished autumn-toned paint colors. Everything was warm and elegant. Just how the Wentworths liked it. The style actually reminded her of the décor in the Wentworths’ line of steakhouses.

  People were scurrying to and fro carrying flowers and food and lots of other last minute additions Missy and her mother had requested. She rounded the corner to the groom’s dressing room and knocked three times on the dark-oak stained door.

  “Who’s there?” a deep bass voice called out from behind the door. Her skin tingled with arousal. She knew it was Adrian.

  I’ve really got to control my emotions better. He doesn’t even like me.

  “Addison.”

  The door swung wide. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored tux. His white button-up shirt was accented with a dark blue satin vest that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses. A black bowtie finished the ensemble, which only emphasized his broad, muscular shoulders more. Her gaze continued up until she met the cold stare in his gorgeous blue eyes.

  God! It shouldn’t be legal for a man to be so handsome and so unpleasant at the same time. What is his problem? Does he dislike me that much? He doesn’t even really know me.

  “I was asked to get Tom’s ring from you. Missy said you picked it up for her.”

  He reached into his pocket and produced a small black box. Without a word he laid it carefully in her outstretched palm.

  “Thank you.”

  His body language was stiff and uncomfortable, making Addison even more irritated. She closed her hand around the box and he stepped away. That was the last straw.

  “Look, buddy! I don’t know why you don’t like me, but you owe me. I told Haven and Amber you were my date to the wedding so they wouldn’t attach themselves to you like a tick on a hound dog. So you’re just going to have to get past this whole avoiding me thing and act like a grownup, or I swear I’ll tell them hunting season on Adrian Colter is open.”

  The look of horror on his suddenly pale face was well worth the outburst. She turned and marched back down the hallway toward the bride’s room.

  Insufferable man!

  Chapter Six

  “Wait!”

  Adrian stepped out into hallway. She was nowhere to be seen. Damn, that girl is fast. He hoofed down the hall toward the bride’s dressing room, stopping suddenly at the sight of Addison’s flowery dress. She was standing outside the dressing room talking to Missy’s parents.

  He stood to the side waiting for her to finish. No way in hell did he want Amber and Haven anywhere near him, especially when all he wanted to do was run his hands up and down Addison’s gorgeous body.

  She caught his gaze and frowned, then excused herself from the Wentworths and walked over to him.

  “What?”

  The smirk on her face was playful. It was obvious she knew he’d come to beg.

&
nbsp; “I need to make something clear.”

  “Oh.”

  “I like you.”

  “Really? I couldn’t tell. The way you back away from me in disgust and avoid me at all costs indicates quite the opposite.”

  “I didn’t think you wanted to be around me.”

  “Oh, because of how you told Missy you didn’t want to associate with any of her powder-puff, pain-in-the-ass girlfriends. Or could it be your atrocious behavior toward me at the rehearsal last night? Well, gee, I wonder why.”

  Frustrating woman!

  “I just told you I liked you.” Adrian took a deep breath. This was not working out the way he’d envisioned it. “And you are not a powder puff.”

  “Ah, yes, but you are only saying this now because I threatened you with harm via powder puff.”

  “Addi! There you are!” Haven’s voice made Adrian’s blood curdle.

  “Fuck a duck.” Could that woman’s timing be any worse?

  “I don’t think that’s her thing,” Addison whispered through half-closed lips. He glanced down and saw an evil smile and a devilish glint dance through her blue eyes. A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth as well.

  He looped Addison’s arm through his own and met Haven’s appraising glance.

  Addison turned to face her as well.

  “I liked you before you threatened,” he whispered.

  “Threatened what?” Haven asked.

  Addison laughed, covering her mouth to muffle a snort.

  “She was just telling me to keep Missy’s ring safe or else…” Adrian started.

  Haven’s eyebrows scrunched together. “Or else what?”

  “Or else…” What was he supposed to say? He knew better than to keep explaining.

  “Never mind, Haven,” Addison interrupted. “What did you need? Is Missy okay?”

  Haven shrugged. A look of confusion still muddled her gaze, but she took Addison’s redirect in stride. There really just wasn’t a lot of intelligence between those two big brown doe-eyes.