“None of that, now,” Mick said. “Jaxon and I haven’t left yet. Keep it clean.”
I smirked. “Hey Mick, would you take our picture?” I asked, handing him my phone. I looked at Addison. “It kind of seems fitting to have a real picture taken before the vultures strike, don’t ya think?”
She smiled up at me while I was still smirking down at her when I heard the first click of the camera. I’d have to text that one to my mom. She’d be happy to see a candid shot of me with someone I really liked.
We took a few more pictures before grabbing her small purse, getting in the limo and driving away.
Before I leaned over to kiss her, I asked. “Is it ok if I kiss you?”
She looked at me questioningly. “Of course it is. Why are you asking?”
I shrugged. “I promised Jaxon that I would only kiss you if I asked you first and you agreed. That was the deal if he was gonna give his permission for me to take you on a date.”
She smiled as she leaned over and kissed me on the lips. “That was really sweet of you. Thank you for making sure he was comfortable with this.”
I smiled and kissed her again.
Once again, we fell into comfortable conversation as we headed toward the Museum of Fine Arts. She told me about a coworker she was having difficulties with at work and I told her about my mom’s latest endeavor into the world of oil painting. Before we knew it, we could see the lights and all the pandemonium that went with it.
“Whoa,” Addison said, looking out the window. “I’ve seen stuff like this on TV, but this is just wild.”
“You ready to do this?” I asked, trying to give her an out. I knew this wasn’t the most comfortable thing for her and I wanted to make sure she was totally ready. “We can wait if you want. We don’t have to do this tonight.”
She took a deep breath as the limo got in line behind a couple of other cars who were also dropping off at the event. “No,” she said, looking me in the eye. “I’m ready. Just please don’t leave me, ok?”
I smiled at her. “And run the risk of another man hitting on the most beautiful woman there? I don’t think so.”
She smiled wide in response.
When it was finally our turn to make an entrance, the door opened and I stepped out, looking around. I recognized most of the reporters and knew which ones to avoid. As Addison’s foot came out to the curb, I smiled and reached my hand out to help her. She kept her eyes locked on mine until she was standing and took a deep breath.
There were already flashes going off everywhere. But when Addison took her gaze from mine and started to look around, I swear the number of flashes tripled. I knew everyone was wondering who this gorgeous woman was and where I had found her. I was so proud to have her with me.
We made our way up the steps to the staging area where we posed for pictures. I didn’t stop touching her the entire time . . . either my hand was on her back or I was holding her hand. She handled the entire thing like a pro, even following instructions and taking some individual pictures when she was asked.
When we got to the media staging area, I bypassed April Gill and went to the next available reporter. April could still pick up my answers on her mic since she was right next to us. But as long as I was in the next reporter’s staging area, she couldn’t ask me anything.
“Jason Hart,” Yvette Rodriguez from Channel 13 said, “who is this beautiful woman you have brought with you tonight?”
“She is beautiful, isn’t she?” I said, smiling down at Addison. “This is my girlfriend, Addison Bryant.”
“Girlfriend?” Yvette asked. “Is this a recent development?”
I was glad Adam and I had anticipated some of these questions. I already had some answers ready.
“I wouldn’t call it recent. We’ve been dating for a while. We’ve just been keeping it really low key,” I answered.
“Addison, can I ask you a few questions?” Yvette asked. I appreciated that she asked Addison before she just assumed my date was as comfortable in front of a camera as I was.
Addison looked up at me, seemingly a little shocked. But she recovered quickly. “Um . . . sure,” she said with that beautiful shy look on her face.
“Jason has been known as a self-proclaimed bachelor for a while,” she started. “But what is he like as a boyfriend?”
Addison looked up at me and smiled. “He’s a really great boyfriend. He’s so generous and caring. So easy to talk to. And he loves my . . . my family so much. I feel so blessed that even with all the gorgeous women he comes into contact with every day, he chose me.”