Moonlight Kiss Read Free Page A

much-needed hug.
    “I broke up with Garret,” Addison replied with a muffled sob against his shoulder.
    “Oh . . . sweetie.” He hugged her harder and then backed up and gave her a sympathetic shake of his head. “I’m so sorry.”
    “Thank you, Dad.” His hug immediately helped to calm Addison down. “Is Mom here?”
    “No, she’s recording back-to-back shows today. But you can bend my ear.” He pointed to the leather sofa against the far wall. “Have a seat and tell me about it.”
    After sitting down, Addison explained Garret’s reality-show nonsense. “Although he denied it, I really do think it was one of the main reasons he wanted to get married.”
    “Oh, Addison, I’m so sorry to hear that.” He blew out a sigh that held a hint of anger. “I rather liked the fellow, but I have to admit that your mother complained that she thought Garret lacked depth. She wanted to talk to you about him, but I thought we should steer clear of your love life. And now I wish I had encouraged her to say something.”
    Addison scooted sideways on the smooth brown leather to face her father. “No, Dad. This was my own choice. I’m twenty-eight years old. I take full responsibility.” She paused to swallow the hot emotion squeezing her throat. “I had so much fun with Garret that I overlooked his flaws. He could be very charming and always had me in stitches. He’s not a bad guy . . . just a bit . . . I don’t know . . . confused, I guess. It can be hard enough being Melinda Monroe’s daughter, but even so, I had a normal childhood growing up in the suburbs. I can’t imagine being the son of a rock star.”
    “You’re being too kind.” He reached over and patted her hand. “Just like with Aiden. I don’t care who you are. Bad behavior is simply bad behavior, no matter how you slice it or the reasons behind it. If Garret’s motives for marrying you weren’t pure, then as sad as you are right now, you’re better off in the long run.”
    “Oh, believe me, I
know
. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.” Addison groaned. “But the media is going to jump on this just like with Aiden. There will be a lot of junk put out there that isn’t remotely true.”
    Her father squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry, Addison. You know I love your mother dearly, and don’t get me wrong; I’m really proud of her. But damn if I don’t sometimes wish that her show hadn’t gotten so big that it makes her only daughter a target for this kind of rubbish.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “Unfortunately, the media loves a scandal and the public somehow enjoys seeing a wealthy or famous person fall from grace. You’re always getting caught in the crossfire. I know we should count our blessings, but sometimes I just hate it.”
    “I get where you’re coming from, and it’s okay, Dad. And you’re right. I
am
lucky . . . well, except for the whole falling-in-love part,” she added drolly. “And I am proud of Mom too.”
    “Your mother didn’t set out to become famous, you know. All she wanted to do was help people, especially middle-class folks, manage their money and plan for the future. She simply wanted resources out there to help, advise. All it took was one segment on
Good Morning America
and a runaway bestseller and everything changed in a heartbeat.”
    “I know it’s not easy that she’s gone so much.”
    He gave her a solemn nod. “Yeah, to tell you the truth, I miss the days when I was a starving artist teaching at school and Mel was trying to convince publishers that self-help books on finance would sell. But when the economy was booming nobody wanted to hear her dire predictions of how the prosperity was a house of cards ready to cave in.” He chuckled. “We were eating canned soup and peanut butter and jelly and . . . I don’t know. Things were just so much . . .”
    “Simpler?” Addison gently supplied.
    “Yes, and all we had was loving each other. Now . . .