I flipped open the fridge and smiled at the sight of my beloved Heinekens sitting on the top shelf. As I popped the top, I vowed to make sure Mary Anne got a raise. The woman was perfection when it came to taking care of not only my father, but me as well. If she were twenty years younger, I might’ve entertained the idea of marrying her—well, you know, if I was actually the marrying kind.

After crashing on the couch, I started flipping through the channels before settling on ESPN. I’d just drained my second beer when I heard the buzz of the keycard being activated. Since I wasn’t totally without a gentlemanly side, I rose off the couch to help Addison.

She came through the door ass first as she pulled two rolling suitcases behind her. Just as I reached to help her, she whirled around, nailing my junk with her elbow. Bending over at the waist, I groaned in agony as I cupped myself.

“Fuck!” I grunted out.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” Addison cried, and I jerked my head up to look at her. She mistook my mask of pain for anger because she quickly added, “I swear, I didn’t know you were there.”

After huffing out a few breaths, I waited for the pain to subside before I added, “I’m aware you didn’t do it on purpose, but that doesn’t make it hurt less.”

“I can only imagine.” Addison’s sympathetic expression flashed over to mortification. “I mean, I can’t imagine since I don’t have…uh, well, you know.”

I chuckled at her embarrassment. “I know what you meant.”

Ducking her head, she replied, “Good.”

Once I fully recovered, I had the opportunity to notice the difference in her appearance. She’d changed into a pair of black yoga pants that molded to her legs and ass, and as a red-blooded American male, I would also like to note for the record just how fine said legs and ass looked. The view I’d previously had of her rack was hidden by an oversized purple sweatshirt emblazoned with the word Duke across the chest.

Her long dark hair had been swept back into a ponytail, although a few errant strands lingered around her face. She was one of those chicks who looked beautiful no matter how she wore her hair. Hell, she’d probably still look good with a buzz cut.

Damn, it was going to be a long nine months.

Changing the subject, I asked, “What are you doing bringing your own bags up? There are bellmen for that, you know, not to mention a ton of my dad’s minions.”

Addison opened her mouth to respond, but then a male voice responded before she could. “I’m sorry, sir, but Miss Monroe insisted on bringing up some of the luggage herself.”

After glancing past Addison, I saw one of said minions, and he was laden down with bags. I raised my brows at Addison. “Not one for packing light, are you?”

She blew a wandering strand of hair out of her face. “For your information, I’m leaving most of this here to be picked up on Monday by my brother. I assumed it made more sense to sort through what all I would need here, rather than at home.” Lowering her voice so the minion couldn’t hear, she added, “You know, since we’re supposed to be spending time together.”

I nodded. After forcing a broad smile to my face, I said, “I’m glad you didn’t take too long.” I paused, knowing I needed some kind of endearing phrase about missing her to make it believable for the minion. The instant the thought entered my brain, I just went with it. “Cause I miss you, baby, and I don’t want to miss a thing.”

Addison’s brows momentarily furrowed like she knew she’d heard that exact phrasing before, and she had if she’d ever listened to Aerosmith or watched the entertaining but implausible Armageddon. I tried very hard to stop the eye roll at my ridiculous comment. While I was sure the minion was thinking I was a giant douche, his face remained impassive.

“I hate being away from you, too.” Before we could torture ourselves any more with a forced lovefest, Addison turned to the minion. “Let’s get these to the bedroom.”

“Yes ma’am.”

She wagged a finger at him. “Now what did I say about you calling me ma’am?”

He held up his hands in mock surrender. “I know, I know. It slipped.”

As I watched their banter, I noticed that Addison was actually friendly and approachable. She had no false airs or pretentiousness about her, which I guess made sense after what Dad had told me about her upbringing.

At the thought of the file, I went over to the table and picked up the folder with our homework. I figured there was no time like the present to begin the torture. I mean, the sooner we got it over with, the sooner we could separate into our own corners in the suite.

Addison and the minion emerged from the bedroom. “Thanks again for all your help, Zane.”

Minion Zane flashed Addison a wide grin. “You’re more than welcome.”

Returning his smile, Addison added, “I hope your daughter’s cold gets better.”

“I hope so, too. If we have another sleepless night, I think my wife and I will be able to audition to be zombies.” Zane glanced over at me, adding, “Good afternoon, sir.”

With a wave, I replied, “Same to you.” After the door closed behind him, I shook my head. “You managed to learn all that in barely two hours?”

“You can learn a lot about someone in just ten minutes.” She cocked her head at me.

“You know, it wouldn’t hurt you to get to know some of the ‘minions’, as you call them.