Putting down his fork, Robert crumpled up his napkin and placed it on the tray. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Joanna said with a small grin. “But I’ve...I’ve been given an opportunity to better our situation, Dad, and I’m going to take it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you know who Addison Kane is?”

A weak smile spread across Robert’s face. “Sweetheart, I barely remember my own name these days.”

“So you don’t know who she is?”

“Haven’t a clue.”

Joanna avoided her father’s eyes until she decided where to begin. “Dad, I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything. You know that.”

“I need you to promise that you’ll let me finish what I have to say, and not get upset about it.”

“Joanna, you’re starting to worry me,” Robert said, the creases on his forehead deepening to their max. “What’s going on, and who the hell is Addison Kane?”

Chewing on her bottom lip, Joanna got up and removed the tray from her father’s lap. Setting it aside, she sat on the edge of the bed and took his hand. “In a few weeks, she’s going to be your daughter-in-law.”

***

Standing in the doorway of the kitchen, Evelyn Ward couldn’t help but snicker at Noah Hamilton. Dressed in the standard chef’s uniform of black-and-white checkered trousers and a white smock, the brunette, curly-haired man was swiveling his hips to the country-western music blaring from his mobile. Prancing around the room, he was oblivious he was being watched.

“You’re early!” Evelyn shouted over the music.

Nearly jumping out of his clogs, Noah placed his hand over his heart as he reached over and turned off the music. “Crap! Sorry, I didn’t know you were here.”

“You’re lucky Addison isn’t home. She hates that type of music.”

“She hates all music, but since it’s Thursday, and she’s at her staff meeting, I’m safe for yet another day,” he said, batting eyelashes most women would kill for.

“You know, even though she never says anything, she truly likes the meals you create,” Evelyn said, sitting on a stool by the center island.

“It would be nice to hear it from her sometime.”

“Not her style.”

“You mean she actually has one?” Noah said, jerking back his head.

“Be nice. She’s your employer and the last time I checked, she pays you rather well.”

“She pays all of us rather well. Why else would we put up with her bullshit?” Noah said, plopping down on a stool. Rubbing his chin, he stared off into space.