Authors: Kimberley Reeves
“Did you really think he would go for it?” Abby asked.
“I guess not. He’s in his room?”
Abby nodded. “Where’s Dad?”
“In his office. Tell him I’ll be down after I check on Gage.”
She started towards the office and then stopped and turned back to her mother. “Hey, Mom?”
“What is it, baby?”
“When did you know you were in love with Dad?”
“You mean, did it hit me over the head or did it sneak up on me?”
Abby smiled. “Yeah. How did you know he was the one for you?”
“I couldn’t breathe,” Anne said softly. “Every time I looked at him
,
all the air just left my lungs. And the way he looked at me made me feel like melting into a puddle at his feet.”
“Does he still make you feel that way?”
Anne’s eyes twinkled. “Why do you think he’s always got his arm around me? It’s to prop me up.”
“Daddy has always got to be touching you in some way and it has nothing to do with you melting. I wish…”
“What, honey?”
“I wish I could find someone who would love me like that. Someone who needs to touch me just to know I’m really his. How long did you date before you knew you loved him?”
Anne glanced down the hallway and then leaned towards Abby, lowering her voice. “We didn’t exactly date. It was more like one date that never ended. He kissed me once, we danced, and it was all over but the shouting. I think it took all of an hour to figure out I loved your dad and that I would love him for the rest of my life.”
“What about Daddy? Did he feel the same?”
“Oh, he didn’t want to. Your dad was…like Gage. He thought women were created solely for the purpose of decorating his arm. But after our first night together, he was just as far gone as I was.”
“Are you saying you and Dad…on your first date?”
“You must think that’s just awful,” her mother said worriedly.
“No, Mom, not at all! I think it’s wonderful. So, it really does happen, falling in love that fast?”
“It did for us. Abby, honey, is there something you want to talk about?”
She hesitated for a moment. “I’m not sure, Mom. I think maybe sometime soon, but not just yet. I’m glad you told me about you and Daddy. That reminds me, I’d better go find him before he disappears on me. I’m going to ask him to get me a flight back to the cabin.”
“So soon?”
“It seems like I’ve been gone forever,” Abby said, hearing the sadness in her voice.
A curious look fluttered across her mother’s face, quickly followed by a warm smile. “You have a date?”
Abby returned her smile. “One I hope will never end.”
“Thanks, Daddy, I’ll see you next month.” Abby said as she handed her luggage to the pilot.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”
“I’m sure. Jack won’t mind following me back to the rental center to return the jeep. We’ll do it tomorrow so you’re not paying for two rentals.”
“I’m not worried about that, baby girl. I just don’t like you going up and down that road. It’s not safe.”
“It’s silly for you do go all that way just to drive me up to the cabin and return the rental. I’ll be fine.” She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “You worry too much, but I love you for it.”
“You’ll have Jack drive you down the mountain when you come home next month?”
“I promise.”
“Take care of yourself, baby. If you need anything…”
“I’ll call. Bye, Daddy.”
Abby boarded the plane, pausing in the doorway to wave to her dad. Then she settled in her seat with a dreamy smile.
Jack
. She could hardly wait to see the look on his face when she arrived a day early. She planned on making a quick stop at the supermarket in town before heading up the mountain to buy a couple of big, juicy steaks and the ingredients for a fresh salad. Ice tea would be fine for her, but she made a mental note to grab some of that beer Jack liked.
Abby was so happy she could barely sit still. When she’d spoken to him earlier, she hadn’t said a word about coming back today. Of course, he would hear the jeep long before she reached the cabin so there was no chance of sneaking up on him, but it would still be a great surprise.
Lost in thoughts of Jack and their pending reunion, Abby didn’t even notice they were descending until the wheels hit the ground. It was only three-thirty by the time she picked up the rental and headed for the grocery store; plenty of time to go shopping and get up the mountain before dark. After selecting the thickest steaks they had, she filled the cart with fresh fruit and vegetables, along with several other items, and then went in search of Jack’s beer. It was a strange brand she had never heard of before and was disappointed to find the grocery store didn’t seem to stock it. While the clerk rang up her items, Abby asked if the woman knew where she could buy it.
“Oh, you have to go to Lou Lou’s for that.”
“Lou Lou’s?”
“It’s a restaurant and bar in the middle of town. Just follow this road and make a left at the crossroads. You can’t miss it.” The woman glanced at Abby. “You must be the writer who moved into the Travis cabin.”
“Yes, I am.” She smiled and introduced herself. “How did you know I’d moved up there?”
“Jack told me. He came in a while ago to ask if we carried any books by Abigail Sweeney, which I thought was kind of strange until he told me it was you. Imagine that, another bestselling novelist right in our own little town.”
“Jack was here?”
“Yes. That’s thirty-two dollars and eleven cents.” The clerk took her money and handed Abby the change. “As a matter of fact, I think he said he was headed down to Lou Lou’s, so you just might see them there when you stop in for the beer.”
“Thank you,” she said breathlessly.
Tingling with excitement, she hurried out of the store and tossed the groceries in the jeep. Popping in at Lou Lou’s to surprise him was going to be so much fun. Maybe she would make a game of it and pretend to pick him up. Abby giggled. God, she couldn’t wait to see him! It only took a few minutes to reach Lou Lou’s, and several more agonizing minutes to find a parking space. There were a surprising number of cars outside considering the time of day, but then it was probably the only restaurant and bar for miles around.
It wasn’t much to look at, but she didn’t really care about the building, she only cared about who was inside and the look on his face when he saw her.
***
Jack anxiously sipped at his beer while his editor read the pages of the manuscript he’d brought. Julia rarely showed any expression when she read, which had never bothered him before, but now he found it extremely unnerving. She flipped to the last page, her lips moving slightly as she read, and finally set the manuscript down and looked at Jack.
“
You
wrote this?” She arched a disbelieving brow when he nodded. “All of it? You wrote the love scenes?”
Jack grinned. “Yes, it’s all mine. Does that mean you like it?”
“
Like it?
I love it! I always knew you had it in you. It’s romantic and steamy and…” She narrowed her eyes. “Wait a minute, how is it you’re able to write like this now when I could never get it out of you before?”
“I…uh…had a…coach, you might say.”
“A coach,” she replied with obvious skepticism. “I’ve never heard of having a coach for writing love scenes.”
Jack shrugged. “Let’s just say she is
very
adept at demonstrating the difference between how I used to write and what you just read.”
“Why, Jack Burton, you’ve gotten yourself a woman! And don’t try to convince me she’s just your coach. You’re flat out crazy about her, aren’t you?”
“Ah, Jules, you have no idea. She’s the best thing that’s happened to me in years. No, I take that back, she’s the best thing that has ever happened in my life.”
“Do I hear wedding bells?”
“I think it’s heading that way, at least I hope so.”
“Well,” Julia stood up, “I think she’s definitely made a number one bestselling author out of you. I hope it works out the way you want it to, Jack. I’ll expect the full manuscript in four months.” He stood up to walk her out but she told him to finish his beer. "I can find my way back to my car.” Julia gave him a big hug. “Congratulations, Jack, I’m really happy for you.”
“Thanks, Jules.”
Jack couldn’t help smiling at her enthusiastic reception of his manuscript but it was the thought of Abby that kept it pasted there. It was then that he glanced up and saw her standing in the doorway. At first, he couldn’t believe his eyes, and then his heart gave a happy leap. He looked down at Julia whose arms were still around his neck, then back at Abby, and realized too late how it must have appeared. He saw the shattered expression on her face, the injured look of betrayal in her eyes, and felt the enormity of her pain deep in his own chest.
“What’s wrong, Jack?” Julia followed his gaze. “Oh, damn,” she swore, quickly grasping the extent of the damage caused by their innocentembrace. embrace.
“For God’s sake, don’t just stand here,” she said, giving him a push towards the door, “go explain it to her.”
One step in her direction was all it took to send Abby fleeing from the bar. She was moving fast, but Jack’s long legs gave him an advantage. He reached her just as she was fumbling with the keys to the jeep.
“Abby, wait!”
“Leave me alone,” she sobbed. “I don’t ever want to see you again!”
“Honey, it’s not what it looked like.”
Abby whirled on him, tears streaming down her face. “You’re a liar and a cheat, Jack Burton, and I don’t want you to touch me or talk to me or even glance my way again!”
She turned around and attempted to jam the key into the door, but he caught her around the waist and pulled her into his arms.
“You’ve got to listen to me, Abby. Please don’t cry, honey. Her name is Julia Metzger, she’s…”
“I don’t want to know her name, or where you met, or anything else about her,” she shouted, anger replacing her broken-hearted tears. She pushed against him, but he was holding her so tight and so close, she could barely move at all.
“Abby, please, just let me explain.”
“You had your arms around her, Jack. I don’t need much more of an explanation!”
“Honey, she’s my
editor
. She was hugging me because I had just told her about
you
.”
She stopped struggling. “I don’t believe you. And even if it was true, why would she hug you when you’d just told you were involved with someone else?”
“Damn it, Abby, I wanted to wait until the time was right.”
“What are you talking about?”
Jack sighed. It wasn’t the most romantic setting in the world, but it was the only way to make her believe him about Julia. “I didn’t tell her we were involved, Abby. I told her I was in love with you.”
The anger slipped from her face, her voice barely above a whisper. “Wh…what did you say?”
“I love you, Abby. I think I started falling in love with you the minute I saw your poor bloody hands. You needed me then,” he said softly, “tell me you need me now.”
“Oh, Jack, I
do
need you!”
“And love me?”
“And love you,” Abby repeated as Jack lowered his head to kiss her.
It had crushed her to walk into Lou Lou’s and witness him hugging the stunning blonde, but now that she knew it was simply a horrible misunderstanding, nothing else mattered except being in his arms and the sinfully delicious way he was devouring her mouth. His kiss was hard, needy, and she parted her lips greedily, breathless from the knowledge that he loved her and the fact he was holding her so tight she could feel his growing arousal. Her heart thundered in her chest, and for one insane moment she thought he intended to take her right there in Lou Lou’s parking lot. Until Jack lifted his head, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
“Now,
that
was the greeting I envisioned when I dreamed of your homecoming.”
“Jack, I…I’m so sorry for jumping to conclusions and condemning you without hearing you out first.”
His grin slowly faded. “God, honey, I thought I’d lost you. I couldn’t take it if you left me.” He kissed her again; softly, tenderly. “Say it again, baby.”
She smiled up at him, the tears in her eyes spilling over for a totally different reason. “I love you, Jack Burton.”
He just stood there looking at her for a moment, soaking in her beauty and silently thanking God for bringing her safely home to him. He was about to suggest they go back inside when he saw her eyes move past him, saw the waver of doubt, and turned to find Julia standing quietly behind them. Jack kept his arm around Abby and urged her forward.
“Abby this is my editor, Julia Metzger.”
“I’m really sorry for the misunderstanding,” Julia said as she handed Jack his manuscript. “You’ve really inspired my writer here. It’s the best work he’s done in years. Are you a writer, too?”
Jack answered for her. “Abby’s pen name is Abigail Sweeney,” he said proudly.
“Really? I’ve read your work.” Always the editor, Julia couldn’t help giving her advice. “Now, if you took some coaching from Jack on the suspense aspect of your novels, I think you two would be competing for the number one spot in your prospective genres.”
“Jack
has
been coaching me and it’s already making a tremendous difference.”
Jack could almost see the dollar signs rolling in front of Julia’s eyes as she dug in her pocket and produced a card.
“I don’t suppose you’re looking for a new editor?”
Abby glanced at the name of the publishing company and smiled. “Well, I guess that depends on the offer you put on the table.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Julia said, checking her watch, “I’ve got to run, but I’d like a shot at your next novel. Do you have a few chapters you can send me?”
"I’ve just finished the second chapter. Give me a week or two to get the third one written and I’ll send it to you.”
Julia nodded. “It’s a deal. Jack has my address. Just send it as soon as you can and I’ll see what I can do to persuade you to join our company.” She looked at Jack. “Hang on to her, Burton; I want to be the editor for the top selling author in the country by the end of the year.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Is it always about the money for you, Jules?”
“These tailored suits don’t come cheap, Jack. I expect you to keep me in the lap of luxury for years to come. And if I can get your coach here on board, I may just spring for that sporty little corvette I’ve had my eye on. It was nice meeting you, Abby. Jack; four months, full manuscript, no excuses.”
Abby waited until the saucy blonde sauntered off to her BMW and drove away before lifting her eyes to Jack. “Why didn’t you tell me you were working on a novel? Is it really going to get published?”
“It didn’t seem as important as helping you get yours moving. And yes, it’s going to get published.”
“That’s wonderful! Aren’t you excited? Is it your first novel?”
Jack gathered her in his arms. He’d just averted one disaster, he wasn’t about to invite another. “I don’t want to talk business right now,” he said huskily. “I want to get back to the cabin and spend the next several hours making love to you.”
Abby’s throat constricted at the heated look in his eyes. “I’ll follow you,” she rasped, wishing the cabin wasn’t so far away.
“You think you can keep up with me?”
“You’ll be lucky if I don’t ride your bumper all the way up the mountain.”
She wasn’t more than half a car length behind him on the highway but it was already getting dark by the time they reached the bottom of the dirt road leading to the cabins. Abby groaned when the first pothole rattled her teeth. Jack could probably make it up the road in twenty minutes if he wasn’t slowing down for her, but at this rate it would take at least thirty to forty minutes to reach her cabin. She switched on the headlights and saw Jack do the same a few seconds later.