Alpha Billionaire Series

TANNER

Stunned. Shocked. Rocked to my very core. Those are the only words to describe how I'm feeling right now. It's Addie and my numb brain doesn't quite know how to process it.

I decided to stop in the small flower shop because I always keep a fresh vase of daisies on the entrance side table of my apartment when I'm in the city. Daisies were Addie’s favorite. Maybe it's silly, but by having her favorite flower always there and within view makes me feel closer to her.

And now she’s here, right in front of me, and I think I'm on the verge of a meltdown. For the longest moment, neither of us says anything. Then a smile curves my mouth and I step closer. “Addie. Hi."

Completely lame, but it's all I can manage to say. She's even prettier now than she was when we were dating, and my heart instantly thumps harder.

“Tanner, what're you doing here?” she asks, voice soft, almost breathless.

My heart catches. I can't believe she's standing right here in front of me. “I, uh, moved back to the city."

She tilts her dark head. “I never knew you left”

There's a lot she doesn't know because she took off so fast. But I don't say that. Suddenly, I have a million questions for her, and I don't know where to begin. But my gut warns me to be careful and to take this slowly. I don't want to spook her.

Go with small talk! think. That's always safe.

“Yeah, I've been living upstate for a while now."

“oh!

I walk closer and study her. Her dark hair is shorter- just hitting the tops of her shoulders- and those freckles that I love so much come into view. She looks curvier than I remember and, Ged help me, my mouth starts watering. It's like I'm a starving man and she’s a delicious meal spread out before me. A tempting banquet spread, a feast for my hungry senses.

Clearing my throat, I try to keep the stilted conversation going. “So, you work here?” I ask.

“Today's my first day."

“You're living in the city again?”

She shakes her head. “No. Right now I'm at my parents’ old house.”

I'm dying to know more, but I'm scared to push her and she’s not offering any information. So instead of drilling her, I nod and lean against a pillar, and do my best to keep things light. A part of me is still in disbelief that she’s here with me. “South Grove?” She nods. “How's your mom?”

Addie glances away and I instantly realize I asked the wrong question. Shit. A palpable sadness washes over her and I could smack my forehead.

“She just passed away,” she says quietly.

My shoulders sag. “I'm so sorry, Addie. Your mother was a really kind woman."

Addie pulls in a deep, steadying breath. “She was and I miss her”

Randy, her stepdad, on the other hand, was a first-class a*****e. Just like my father. “My dad died, too,” I say. Not that I'm mourning him, but something in me feels the need to share.

“I'm sorry," she says carefully.

“I wish I could say the same, but we both know he wasn't the greatest guy."

“Guess neither of us lucked out when it came to the father figures in our life.”

“No. But, luckily, we had a couple of amazing moms. At least for a little while."

The conversation is turning depressing, and I need to change the subject fast. Before I can, though, Addie asks why I'm here and if there's anything she can help me find. Do I tell her the truth? Probably not yet. It's best if I play it cool and take things slowly.

“I came in to buy a bouquet of daisies” I send her a meaningful look, but she only nods and walks toward the cooler.

“We have a few varieties,” she says stiffly.

Oh, shit.She thinks I'm buying them for some other woman. I move up beside her, ready to do damage control, and that enticing baby powder scent of hers fills my nose. “I buy a bouquet every week and keep them in the foyer of my apartment” She glances over at me. “You buy them for yourself?” She sends me a confused look.

“Not exactly,” I admit and prop my shoulder against the cool glass.

She frowns, not following me.

I sigh. “They were your favorite flower. I buy them because they remind me of you."

Her pretty brown eyes widen. “Why would you do that?”

Okay, time to go for broke. So much for playing it cool. But I have never been the type to play games. Especially with Addie. “Because I never got over you, Addie.”Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Her mouth drops open and she stares at me with a thunderstruck expression. Finally, she closes her mouth and shakes her head. “You're the one who didn't want me anymore, Tanner. It wasn't the other way around.”

“That's not true,” I insist. “You ran off before I could even explain what happened.”

“I can't get into this right now;" she says, backing away from me. “My boss is coming back soon and it's my first day. You neec to leave”

“Can I take you out?”

Addie frowns, looking so confused and torn that I suddenly feel bad.

“I don't think that's a good idea,” she answers.

“I have to explain what happened.”

“Tanner, just pick what color daisies you want and go. Please,” she begs me.

“Only if you promise to talk to me.”

“Fine,” she answers quickly.

It's clear she wants me to leave, but it's the last thing I want to do. “Okay,” I relent.

“Okay what? What color?”

“What color do you like best?"

“They're your flowers, Tanner," she says in frustration. “You pick”

“But I'm going to give them to you, so I want you to like the ones I choose.”

With a huff, Addie points to the white ones just like I knew she would. I go into the cooler, pick up the whole damn bucket and walk back out.

“What're you doing?” she asks.

“Buying all of them. Gotta vase?”

“Oh, my God, you're crazy!” she exclaims with an exasperated sound.

Crazy for you.Some things never change, I realize. Smiling, I plunk the big bucket of daisies on the counter. She looks at me like I'm not serious, but I'm completely serious. I reach for my wallet. “How much do I owe you?” I ask.

She blinks then goes off in search of a large vase. I lean a hip against the counter and watch her move around, opening cupboards and looking on shelves. It's completely insane how much I've missed this woman and now that I've found her again, I am never letting her go. And I don't care what it takes. I'm going to do everything in my power to win her back. Addie spends a few minutes cutting the stems and arranging the daisies in the vase in the work area. While she does that, I reach for a complimentary card and scrawl a message out to her. When she returns with the flowers, I hand her my credit card.

She eyes me strangely as she rings me up and swipes the card. As though she still can't quite believe I'm standing right here in front of her. I get it because I'm feeling the exact same way. At any moment, I wouldn't be surprised if I wake up alone in my bed. This dream seems too perfect.

After I sign the credit card slip, Addie takes the receipt, and I can't stop looking at her. “Do you work tomorrow?” I ask.

She nods. “Monday through Friday, I0am-6pm.”

Ituck the card in the flowers. “I'll see you tomorrow then,” I say.

“What?”

“I plan on buying you more flowers. Every day from today until forever” With a wink, I turn and head toward the door feeling lighter than I've felt in two years.

“Tanner!” she calls out.

I glance over my shoulder and arch a brow.

She opens her mouth to say something then closes it and frowns. “My break is at 2

Elation floods me and a huge smile curves my mouth. “See you at 2 then.”

At exactly 2pm the next day, I arrive at the flower shop. Addie quickly introduces me to Heather, the very curious owner. “Where do you want to go to lunch?” I ask her as we walk out the front door.

“I don't have time for lunch, and this isn't a date,” she warns me in a serious tone. “It's just a quick 30-minute break” “That's enough time for ice cream,” I say. “There's a great place on the next block that always has warm waffle cones ready tc go!

“Sounds good."

We walk over to the ice cream shop and get in line.

While Addie studies the board of flavors, I study her. I can't look away. Her hair is pulled up in a high ponytail today and she wears a fitted t-shirt and jeans that emphasize every single luscious curve. Damn, I don't remember her being this voluptuous and I really like it.

“I think I'll have-"

“Mint chocolate chip?” I ask, already reading her thoughts.

Her eyes narrow. “And I assume you'll get pralines and cream?”

I chuckle. “We haven't changed much when it comes to our tastes in ice cream, have we?”

“I guess not,” she says and grins.

I order each of us a scoop in a waffle cone and then pay. Addie murmurs a thank you and after we get our treat, we sit down ata little table near the window. After a couple of licks, Addie sighs. “This is delicious,” she says.

“Best ice cream this side of Manhattan,” I tell her, and we share a smile.

For a moment, neither of us says anything, but I know both our minds are spinning. I feel like Fate has stepped in and it's offering us a second chance. And I'm not about to blow it. I also know it's a little too soon to get into the serious questions that have been plaguing me like why she left so abruptly two years ago. It's eating me up inside, but I try to keep the conversation light and pleasant.

“So how long have you been back in South Grove?” I ask.

“Not even a week,” she replies and takes a lick.

My gaze tracks the movement of her tongue around the scoop of ice cream and then across her lower lip. My groin tightens in response. Goddamn this woman will be my undoing.

“And you said you were living upstate?”

Ind, unable to look away from her dark eyes. They are like some kind of magnetic black hole, sucking me in and theres no escape. Not that I'm looking for one. I could happily swim in their dark beauty forever and never come up for air.

“I didn't think you'd ever leave the city,’ she says.

“The last couple of years have been difficult I say and study her closely. “Wouldn't you say?"

“Yes,” she answers carefully. “But they've also been pretty amazing at the same time.”

My eyes narrow at her cryptic response. What the hell does that mean? Is she seeing someone? I look down and triple-check her ring finger. It's bare. “Are you single?” I ask, being completely blunt. I refuse to play games and pretend I'm not interestec when I'm dying inside to be with this woman again.

“Are you?” she tosses right back.

“Yes!

She gives a slow nod, blinks, and takes another bite of ice cream, making me wait. “Me, too,” she finally admits.

Relief floods through every single pore of my body. Thank f**k. I wouldn't have handled it very well if she said she had a boyfriend or, God forbid, a husband. “Addie, can I be completely honest with you?” I ask.

“I don't know. Can you?"

“The weird way she says that throws me for a loop. She's the one who left, I remind myself. When we broke up, it's because she had skipped town without bothering to talk to me. So why is she making it sound like it's my fault?

Before I can respond, she wipes her hands and tells me she has to get back to work. I bite my tongue and decide to wait and bring up Chella and the disastrous dinner later. Maybe the key is to take things slowly and get to know each other all over again.

That's what I tell myself as we walk back to the flower shop. Then I buy 50 long-stemmed white roses, jot down another “message on a complimentary card and tuck it in the side of the vase. Heather rings me up this time and after signing the credit card slip, I glance back toward the work area where Addie cleans thorns off some roses.

“See you tomorrow at 2," I say and give her a smile. As I turn to head out, Heather calls out to me.

“Don't forget your flowers!”

“I didn't," I tell her. “They're for Miss Hayes."

Heather's mouth drops and I walk out, hoping to God that my plan to woo Addie is working.