“Nice spin,” Addison replied with a smile.
“I learned from the best.”
After giving Addison a knowing look, Evan said, “While that would certainly work, I don’t want any extra scrutiny on the club.”
“I agree.”
“Are you sure about that? Think about all the publicity,” I argued.
“We’re doing just fine without a media circus.”
“If you say so.”
Monte poked his head in the door. “You’re supposed to be on stage now!”
“Calm your tits. I’m coming.” He turned to Addison. “Go out the back, and then go two doors down to La Trattoria. Knock on the back door and tell them Evan sent you. You can leave through there just in case anyone was following Barrett.”
Addison grinned. “You always come up with the best plans on the shortest notice.”
Evan winked before hurrying out the door. “Love ya,” he called.
“Love you, too,” Addison replied.
Ty cleared his throat. “Barrett, why don’t you and I wait outside so Addison can get dressed.”
“I’d like to talk to her for a minute first.”
“Okay. I’ll be just outside.”
“Thanks man,” I replied.
After the door closed behind Ty, Addison gave me a sheepish look. “I’m pretty sure I know what you want to talk to me about.”
“The campaign’s foreign policy stance?”
She laughed. “No. About Evan.”
“Bingo.”
With a sigh, she said, “I was afraid this was going to happen.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I asked, “That I might find you singing in a drag club?”
The corners of Addison’s lips twitched. “No, that you would find out the truth about Evan.”
“He was in your FBI file, but there sure as hell wasn’t anything about him that drew a red flag.”
“That’s because when Evan was twenty-five, he had his name legally changed.”
“Why?”
“Even though my parents completely accept him being gay, Evan felt it would be a lot easier on my dad if he kept this aspect of his lifestyle hidden. People at his church accept that he has a gay son, but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be so forgiving about having a gay son who owned and performed in a drag show.”
“Yeah, probably not.”
“In the end, Evan didn’t want Dad to lose his job because of him.”
“That was noble of him.”
“That’s Evan for you.” Pure love radiated in Addison’s eyes. “He has the biggest heart in the whole world,” she said with reverence.
“Not only that, but he has one hell of a singing voice.” With a wink, I added, “Just like his sister.”
Redness once again tinged Addison’s cheeks. “Thank you.”
There was something seriously endearing about her humility; it made her even more attractive. Of course, the fact that she was practically naked under her shirt was also very appealing. I cleared my throat to clear my mind of the highway to hell it was barreling down. “With Evan changing his name, he didn’t show up in any of the files.”
“If anyone dug deep, they would find that Evan Nelson owned the club, rather than Evan Monroe.” Addison rolled her eyes but then smiled in spite of herself. “He chose his last name after Prince.”
I laughed. “Good choice.”
Addison’s expression grew serious. “Barrett, the reason I didn’t tell you about Evan is not because I am ashamed of him.”
I held up a hand to silence her fears. “I know that just as much as I know the real reason why you didn’t tell me.”
“You do?”
“You were afraid of what it might mean for Dad’s campaign.”
Her eyes widened. “You don’t think I lied because of the money?”
“While I’m sure you didn’t want to do anything to screw up your chances, I know in your heart you worried what the news might do to Dad’s chances.”
She nodded. “That day I met with your father, he and Bernie were so sure that there weren’t any skeletons in my past, I couldn’t bring myself to tell them about Evan.”
“Although I’m pretty sure my dad wouldn’t give a shit, I’m sure some of his advisors would’ve been less than pleased by the news.”
After nibbling on her bottom lip, Addison asked, “Should we tell him now?”
“I think he has the right to know, especially if something comes out in the media after us being here. It would be better if he wasn’t blindsided.”
A worried expression overtook her face. “You think he’s going to be mad at me for lying?”
I smiled that she cared so much about what Dad thought, and that she was obviously so oblivious as to how much he absolutely adored her. “Don’t worry. He’ll understand.”
“I hope so.”
“He will.”
Addison smiled. “Thanks for being so understanding about all this, Barrett.”
“You’re welcome.”
“But I’m still pissed you thought I could be a man.”
I laughed. “Like I said, it was a delusion brought on by extreme paranoia.” When she gave an exasperated roll of her eyes, I countered, “Put yourself into my shoes for a minute. After you say you’re going to be home all night, we track you down to this club. What other conclusion could I possibly come to?”