“You’re so infuriating!” she shrieked before she started pushing and shoving her way through the crowd. After glancing over her shoulder to see me close on her heels, she whirled back around. She poked me in the chest with one of her fingers. “Look, I know you’re not used to being dumped by women, but trust me when I say, we’re done. Now leave me alone!”
I placed my hands her shoulders. Dipping my head close to her ear, I said, “But I can’t do that. Trust me, I tried to respect your wishes and walk away, but the last two weeks were absolutely miserable without you.”
Realizing we had an audience of curious onlookers, I nudged Addison out the nearest door. Unfortunately, it was out onto one of the balconies. Biting cold air rushed at the two of us, causing us to shiver. Once we were hidden away from prying eyes, I pulled Addison into my arms. “I love you.”
Her eyes pinched shut in pain. “Please stop saying that, Barrett.”
“I’m going to keep on saying it until you understand I mean it with all my heart, body, and soul. I’m going to fight day and night for you.” I drew in a deep breath. “I love you, Addison Monroe. If I’m honest with myself, I’ve loved you since that first weekend at the Jefferson. I loved you when you mooned the press corps and when you drank half a quart of moonshine and became Eva Peron. I loved it when you flashed your tits and ass on stage as Cher at Divas.”
“Those are the things that made you fall in love with me?” Addison huffed indignantly.
“Yes—I mean, no, not just those. It was a million other things, like the way you genuinely care for my parents, and how you never meet a stranger. I love how intelligent and driven you are. I love how you want to make the world a better place with your empathy and your caring heart. I’m not sure there is a single thing about you I don’t love.”
When I dropped down onto my knees, Addison gasped. “Barrett, what on earth are you doing?”
“An incredibly grand gesture since the concrete is fucking freezing and these pants cost a ridiculous amount of money.”
“Excuse me?”
I sighed. “Look, I’m on my knees before you to beg you to forgive and forget my past, to realize I am not the same man I was before I met you. I can tell you with absolute certainty that as long as I live, there will never be another woman I could love as much as I love you. You’re the one and only.”
Addison’s eyes bored into mine, desperately seeking the answers to the questions I knew were swirling in her mind. More than anything, I knew she wanted to know if this was for real. “I love you for real and forever, Addison.”
“You really do?” When a few tears slid down her cheeks, I desperately wanted to brush them away—anything to touch her.
“Yes, I do.”
Addison’s face lit up, and she smiled. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, and damn if she wasn’t mine.
“I never stopped loving you, too, Barrett.”
Just as I rose off the concrete, she dove into my arms and our lips crashed together in a desperate kiss. After staying lip-locked for a few minutes, we pulled away to catch our breath. “I’m glad you finally believe me. I thought I might have to do something really desperate like threaten to jump off the Washington Monument or something.”
With a grin, Addison replied, “You would pick a phallic object to declare your undying love from, wouldn’t you?”
I laughed. “I’ll have you know that thought never crossed my desperate mind. I just wanted to find a way to make you mine.”
Cocking her head, Addison asked, “You’re really going to belong to me and only me?”
“Yes, for the rest of my life.” Taking one of her hands, I placed it over my heart. “This has never belonged to any other woman but you, and it is only yours.”
After glancing around to see that no one was watching us through the windows, she cupped my dick with her free hand. “I know this has belonged to hundreds of women—is it only mine now?”
“Yes, for your immense pleasure only.”
Addison laughed. “It sure as hell better be.” After taking her hand away from my dick, she pressed herself against me, and her satisfied sigh fanned across my shirt. “I love you, Barrett.”
“I love you more.”
As I dipped my head to kiss her, the balcony door blew open and we whirled around to see Ty staring at us expectantly. “You guys need to get in here. They’re about to start calling some major states in favor of your dad.”
“Okay. We’ll be right there.”
Ty nodded before he headed back inside. I held out my arm for Addison to take. “Ready to go shake the hand of the president-elect?”
Addison’s face lit up. “He’s really going to win, isn’t he?”
“He sure as hell is.”
“I knew he would, especially the last few months when he was leading in the polls, but it’s still surreal to believe he’s actually going to be the president.”
“I’d have to say it’s been a pretty victorious night for the Callahan men. Dad got the country, and I got you.”
Smiling up at me, Addison said, “Kiss me, First Son.”
As I brought my lips to hers, I couldn’t believe how lucky I was that someone like Addison could love someone like me. Just when I wrapped my arms around her to deepen the kiss, Ty banged on the door. “Cockblocker,” I muttered against Addison’s lips.