Back to Me without you (Sibling Love Book 1) (22 page)

They were wise words uttered by his new sister-in-law.

Had Justin married someone smarter than him?

Maybe Jessica was right. Maybe he did spend too much time dwelling on the breakdown of his marriage to allow fresh love into his life. Maybe he ought to give love a second chance in his life. Not everyone was like India.

“She might surprise you.”

Something about Jessica’s words had him thinking she knew more than either of them was willing to admit. Had Jessica noticed the chemistry between her sister and him? Was this her way of saying she approved of he and Abby as a couple?

Sam knew what had to be done.

But what if it was too late?

A
bby could hardly contain her excitement. She had just landed back in New York City from Australia after a twenty-hour flight. She felt fatigued, but she just couldn’t wait to go back to the two-bedroom apartment she called home.

While some would call it insignificant, it was spacious to her. She had a kitchen, dining-slash-living room, bedroom, bathroom and even a tiny corner where she did the majority of her writing. There was nothing better than curling up on the couch in front of her laptop computer and allow the words to flow.

When the pilot had announced they were approaching JFK airport, Abby was jubilant. She had departed Sydney the previous morning but was still arriving on the same day as she had left, just at a different time. She could thank the time difference for that one.

She was walking through the tunnel towards the terminal with her carry-on in tow, ready to head straight to the baggage claim to retrieve her luggage before hailing a taxi and going home.

Abby wasn’t scheduled to meet with her editor for another couple of days, which was a good thing because she’d need that long to sleep off the jet lag. She would need to stop at a grocery and pick up a few things for her fridge, but after that, she didn’t plan to leave the apartment until she was completely rested up.

It wasn’t until Abby neared the exit that she spotted a familiar scruff of blond hair in the crowd of people at the gate of the terminal.

Sam.

What was he doing here?

How had he made it back before her? Last time she checked, he hadn’t left for the airport yet.

She wove around people until she ended up in front of him, her heart beating fast.

“Hi.” He spoke first, his voice husky from exhaustion.

“How did you get here so fast? I thought I left before you.”

“Guess you paid for a slow plane, while I flew on a faster one than yours,” Sam joked with a grin. Then he turned serious. “Truth be told, I haven’t been here very long. I stepped off the plane a mere ten minutes before you.”

“What? Why? Did you follow me to New York City? I thought we made it clear that it’s just not going to work out between you and me. We don’t want the same things.”

“Yeah, about that,” Sam began. She could hear the nervousness in his voice. He took hold of her hand. “I like you, Abby. I like you a lot. I can’t imagine never seeing you again.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his confession, but she willed herself to stay focused on the reality of their incompatibility. “What about your commitment phobia? I thought you didn’t know if you could be in another relationship, risk getting hurt all over again.”

Sam dipped his head down to her level and gave her the sweet, sexy smile she had seen him wear when she walked down the aisle at Jessica’s wedding.

“I’ve had a little time to process everything, and I know that you’re not like my ex-wife. You wouldn’t do half the things she put me through because you’re so much better than she ever was. I don’t want to be afraid to open up to an incredible woman anymore. Your sister is smart—smarter than I think you take her credit for.”

“Jessica? What she does have to do with this?”

“She convinced me to chase after what I want and to follow my heart.”

“She did?”

Abby was shocked. Jessica had a change of heart? Didn’t she think it would be too weird for the two of them to be with brothers?

Had she seen the connection that Sam and Abby shared, knowing how perfect they were for each other?

“I’d like to take this slow, but if you’ll have me and you’re willing to give it a go, then I’d like to see you again.” He stepped closer and gently brushed strands of hair away from her face. She loved the feel of his touch. It was warm and sweet.

Abby bit her lower lip and gazed into his eyes. “I... I’m still not sure. We have a lot to discover about one another, but I think I would like to see where it could lead.”

“I’m glad,” Sam whispered, placing one finger on her chin and tilting her face up a little more. “Can I kiss you?”

Abby’s heart was pounding so loudly, she could barely hear her own whispered, “Yes.” And then his lips were on hers, kissing her sweetly, his hands cradling her face.

When Abby wound her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, he hugged her tightly against him and spun around.

A few cheers from passers-by erupted around them.

They shared one more kiss before breaking into soft laughter.

“We’ll continue this later,” he murmured, his breath was warm against her ear.

Abby didn’t think she’d ever be able to wipe the smile from her face. She was most definitely looking forward to continuing things later with Sam.

Of course, she knew they would have their problems, and they weren’t going to rush into a relationship with each other. But Abby liked the idea of spending more time getting to know Sam. He intrigued her, and she couldn’t think of the last time a man did that.

There was a time not too long ago when Abby had all but given up on love. She believed she was simply unlucky in love, and no one could love her as much as she could love. So instead Abby threw herself into writing about romance instead.

Abby didn’t expect to go home for Jessica’s wedding and find love.

What a trip it had been! She had been going back to visit her family and ended up revisiting a lot of memories and feelings she’d been too scared to face. Her mother and father were never coming back. She was at peace with that now and finally at peace with herself. It felt good.

And along the way, she hadn’t just found herself, but she may have found her future as well. Love had finally burst into her world. She had a feeling Sam was going to be her everything, just as she hoped she was going to be his.

I did it. I’m back to me without you, she thought to herself, as she clutched at the heart shape pendant hanging around her neck, a gift from her parents on her twenty-first birthday.

And she knew they’d be smiling down at her from above.

Now, she could only hope that the same would happen for Steven.

Read other books by Christie Mack

Five months ago at Jessica’s wedding...

S
teven couldn’t remember the last time he felt so damn good to a woman. Well, he could, but he didn’t want to call attention to it that this moment with Alex wasn’t the first time he was hooking up with her.

Why did she have to be so damn desirable to him? These feelings that he had for Alex were new to him, and he had no idea how to turn them off.

He had tried forgetting about her but couldn’t. And as hard as he did try, the moment he saw her working his sister’s wedding reception proved to be even more of an internal struggle. There was no denying it anymore. One more fling wouldn’t hurt.

He had to touch her, feeling her skin against his own. Her body pressed him as they ignited into passion.

“We shouldn’t be doing this. I should go back to work. I should be out there,” Alex moaned between kisses.

She made no attempt to pull away from Steven even though she knew she shouldn’t be making out with him in a bathroom stall.

“Mm, you’re right. We shouldn’t be doing this,” Steven whispered even though he had no intention of stopping. What they were doing was wrong, but it felt oh so right.

Alex allowed Steven to run his hands down her back to the waistband of the short black skirt she was wearing as her work uniform. Alex flicked the button on the top of Steven’s pants, sliding them down his legs and giving her access to the growing bulge deep in his trousers. She had to have it. She wanted to feel her hands wrapped around his dick before he slipped inside her.

Her hands touched the length of him. Steven moaned at her touch as his hands found their way to each button on the white blouse she was wearing. It fluttered to the floor, as did the matching bra when Steven unhooked it from its clasps.

Alex wrapped her legs around Steven’s waist, bringing them even closer together. Her hand gripped the side of the cubicle for support. Steven dragged his mouth down her neck, his kisses making Alex powerless to desire. Within a matter of seconds, Steven was inside of her, sending Alex farther and farther over the edge as though she was high on ecstasy.

Neither Steven nor Alex cared that there were most likely people outside wondering where they were. She also didn’t care if someone walked into the restroom at this moment, witnessing their tryst. Both were in heaven as well as a sweaty mess as Steven pushed deeper into Alex, determined to allow Alex to hit her highest peak. It was all Alex could do to ensure Steven’s name was a soft cry on Alex’s lips.

Back in the Day – Parmalee

Back to Me without You – The Band Perry