Fran leaned closer so her voice wouldn’t carry farther than the entry. “Sorry about that, but I did warn you about her. This is the last place she wants to be.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Joanna said, whispering as well. “You told me what to expect, and so far you’re spot-on.”

“I have better things to do than sit here all bleeding day while you three gossip!” Addison shouted from the kitchen. “Let’s get this the fuck started!”

Joanna’s mouth twisted into a frown. “Millie, I made some coffee. Would you mind getting out some cups? I want to go up and check on Dad.”

“Of course not, dear. Go right ahead.”

Flashing an apologetic grin to Fran, Joanna jogged up the stairs. Seeing her father was still asleep, she quietly pulled the door shut until it latched and returned to the kitchen. With Millie and Fran already seated at the table, Joanna took the chair across from Addison Kane and when she spoke her focus was only on Addison. “Before we start, I think I should make it clear to everyone that even though this place isn’t much, it is my home, and I have to ask you to respect that. My father is upstairs, and he’s asleep, and since he has no idea any of this is happening—”

“Fran, you might want to add liar to this woman’s résumé,” Addison said, finishing her sentence with a snort. “It seems you forgot to tell me about that part.”

Joanna had anticipated iciness from the woman whom she had agreed to marry. She had assumed Addison Kane would be nothing more than curt, but she hadn’t expected to be called a liar. Over the years, the edge of Joanna’s temper had been dulled by her life situation, but it had yet to be ground down to a nub...and Addison Kane was about to find that out.