“Yup. Ice cream night is a big night for me.”
He leaned over and intercepted the spoonful she’d just scooped up. “Green tea? You’re in Asia this week. Nice. So are you going to invite me in?”
“Oh, right. Sure. Come in. Why aren’t you at the gala?”
“Because you’re here.” He tried to pull her in for a kiss but she grimaced and took a step back.
“What’s wrong?”
“You smell like perfume. And before you say it, I know you didn’t do anything, it’s still…”
“Right. Like the kiss thing. Well, as was the case then, I was completely innocent tonight as well. Gabriella was all over me like a barnacle I couldn’t shake.”
“Who’s Gabriella? I thought you were going with Victoria.”
“It’s a long story that involves my father.” He stole another spoonful. “I don’t want to talk about it. Can we just hang out tonight? Do you mind?”
“Of course not.” She started clearing off all the research books on her couch.
“Actually, while you’re doing that can I shower first? If you think this perfume is bothering you, try wearing it.” He made a face.
“Extra towels are in the cabinet above the toilet and if you check the third shelf in the hall closet, you’ll see a bunch of Brian’s clothes. Take whatever you want.”
Connor paused and looked back her way. “Does he do that a lot?”
“What?”
“Leave his clothes here?”
She shrugged. “It’s a collection that’s been building for years. It’s mostly from the times he used to pick up Skylar after seeing Beth. He’d used to shower as soon as he got here to get the hospital feel off of himself.”
“You wear a lot of his shirts.”
She studied his hooded expression. “Because they’re comfortable. Connor, are you okay? What happened tonight?”
“Still don’t want to talk about it,” he called out, pivoting back on track for the bathroom.
It was a good ten minutes before Abby heard any signs of life that confirmed he’d made the journey successfully.
“Hey Abby, can you come here for a sec?”
Walking into the wide open bathroom, she was greeted by a sight infinitely more decadent than her ice cream. A wet, naked Connor sitting in her tub.
He grinned. “Remember our first phone call?”
She shivered at the reminder. “Yes.”
“Come here.”
As she took the four short steps to the tub, Connor stood up and sent sheets of hot water rippling down his body.
Holy swizzle sticks.
He reached over and peeled the shirt off her body. Slowly. And then skimmed her bike shorts and panties down her legs, trailing kisses across every new inch of skin he uncovered. “I’ll never get over how gorgeous you are.”
Likewise.
She stepped into the tub and straddled his thighs, smoothing her hands all along the hard, muscular planes of his chest and abdomen…god, touching him was an art of foreplay all on its own.
Speaking of touching—
She gasped. “You went snooping through my drawers.” In her head, the accusation was a whole lot more indignant. Way less breathy.
“No bath is complete without a few toys.”
Good lord, why did this feel a thousand times better when he was doing it?
Feeling the sensations build to a crest, she grabbed his hand.
“Too strong?” he asked worriedly.
“It’s fine,” she said, pulling the vibe out of his hands. “But it’s not you.” She slid forward, gliding her inner thighs slowly across his erection. “I want you in me when I come.”
His pale blue eyes turned dark and turbulent. “
Condom
.”
Abby smiled. She liked it when he turned Neanderthal.
As she reached over to the drawer to grab one, he swatted her behind lightly. “I’m not sure I like the idea of you having a big box of condoms just lying around your house.”
She ripped the foil packet open with her teeth. “I bought it the same day I bought my pairs of red and white panties.”
His grin lit up the bathroom.
When he reached for the condom, she held it away from him. “I want to do it.”
Slipping one hand down his body, she stroked him gently, fascinated with the feel of him under water. Getting thicker and harder. For her.
“
Abby. God.
Put it on me. Now.”
Drifting in a lusty fog, she blinked. Put what on where?
Then she remembered. Too late. He snatched the condom from her, slid it on, and yanked her atop his lap, all in one slick move.
Her fingernails dug into his shoulders as he lowered his mouth to her breasts, circled one sensitive nipple with his tongue, and moved over to score the other with his teeth. Back and forth, he kept her on the edge, varying his attacks, all the while staring at her like a hungry predator beyond ready to devour her, clutching her to him as if he’d never let her go.
Just when she thought he meant to tease her to the point of insanity, he lifted her up by the hips and plunged her down onto him in one smooth, slick thrust. She gave a silent scream as he began driving into her deeper and deeper, harder and faster. All she could do was match him thrust for thrust and hold on for dear orgasm as she felt the first waves of pulsing hot pleasure come crashing down on her. Wrapping both arms around her, encasing her in a whole body restraint, he thrust into her one, two, three more times, following her over the edge with a fierce, primitive shudder.
E
VEN DAYS LATER
, Abby was still replaying that bath with Connor. In fact, that’s exactly how he lured her back over to his house last night.
Two words: jet tub. And she’d been sold.
“So, you’re still insistent on the dancing tonight, huh?” Connor snuck up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist.
Abby leaned back against him and made sure her smile was as bright as possible. “Yep. I got a new dress and everything.” Well, not
new
. But new to her. And so gorgeous—flouncy skirt, sleek bodice, and shimmery black all around. If she was going to have a last night with Connor, she might as well go out in style.
Connor sighed. “Fine. I’ll be back at six for our date. Oh,” he added quietly, “I got you a few more avocados; they’re in the pantry.” He paused at the door and gave her a long, lost look filled with emotions she couldn’t face. Not now. Not without breaking.
Don’t look at me like that. Don’t make me think about what tomorrow is.
Thankfully, he read her closed look and left without another word.
Unable to help herself, she went straight to the kitchen pantry. Just to torture herself. Seeing the mesh bag of about twenty or so avocados opened the floodgates for the tears she’d been holding in all morning.
God, this was going to be the most depressing date in the world if she didn’t get a grip.
With the most calming breath she could muster, she took out her laptop and research notes, making sure only to take out what she needed. She didn’t want to accidentally leave something here that she’d have to come back for. She didn’t want to be
that
girl.
For an hour she worked, and wrote exactly one sentence. All the words on the page were gibberish, her mind a mess. By lunch, she gave up completely.
Wandering upstairs in search of a distraction, the sight of her new dress caught her attention. It was so pretty. With no rhyme or reason for it, she stripped down and slipped it on. Staring at her reflection, she hardly recognized the woman in the mirror, the woman that would be saying goodbye to Connor tomorrow morning.
The ringing doorbell was the only thing that kept her second wave of tears from coming.
With no time to change, she ran to the door with the dress on, tags swishing.
“Hi, can I help you?” she asked the pretty woman on the porch.
The woman just rolled her eyes and made to move past her into the house.
Abby blocked her way and attempted to remain civil. “Look, I’m not sure what you’re selling, but we’re not interested.”
The stacked redhead scoffed and looked down her obviously manufactured nose at her. “Please, don’t act like you live here. I just need to get my purse. I left it here the other night Connor and I…well, you know.”
Liar!
Abby struggled to keep a lid on her temper. She detested women like this. “I’ll make sure to tell Connor you stopped by. He’ll find a way to get it back to you if it’s here.”
“So high and mighty,” she snarled, crossing her arms over her artificially inflated fun bags. “I know all about you. You’re the little teacher Connor is banging this month. The one he’s finishing up with.”
No. There was no way Connor could’ve talked about her to this horrible woman.
The woman laughed at her stricken expression. “Oh, don’t worry. He’ll finish out the month. You know him, always one to fulfill his commitments, especially his ‘needy’ projects. After that, he’ll come back to me.”
“You’re dreaming.” Connor would never break his rule in that way. Especially not for a woman like this.
“No, you’re the one dreaming if you think Connor’s going to make your little Cinderella fantasies come true. If you don’t believe me, ask him about the marriage arrangement his father and mine are ironing out as we speak. Face it, all you are is his last fling. And a cheap one at that.” She flicked her hair over her shoulder and stalked off to her Porsche. “I do so appreciate you keeping him warm for me though.”
Abby stood there, frozen in place, when the woman slid her window down and yelled out, “By the way. Nice dress. Though it looked way better on me before I donated it to the thrift store…probably because it actually fit me.”
With that, she drove off the property and Abby had to grip the wall for support. She felt like vomiting. Never had anyone been so cruel to her before. The awful woman’s words clung to her like a web of venom, numbed her, made breathing next to impossible.
“Abby? Abby, what’s wrong!”
Blinking slowly, Abby realized Connor was standing there holding her up, helping her back in the house.
How long had she been standing out there?
“
A
BBY, HONEY
? Talk to me. What happened?” Connor was officially freaking out. He’d come home for lunch to surprise Abby with flowers when he saw her white as a ghost on the front porch looking ready to faint.
“Are you feeling sick? Do you need me to take you to the ER?”
Abby shook her head.
He exhaled in relief. “Did something happen today?”
Slowly, very slowly, the color returned to Abby’s face…and became replaced by…fury?
“That horrible woman! How could you ever have been with someone that vile?”
Shit. This did not sound good.
She picked up the flowy skirt of her dress, looked at it sadly, and then proceeded to rip the stretchy dress up off her body. “How can you live like this, Connor? These people…”
He couldn’t tell if she was still sad or just plain livid now. “Sweetheart, tell me what’s going on. Did someone come by?”
She laughed bitterly. “Oh, just some woman who said you two had sex last week. I believe she referred to herself as your future wife.”
What?! Once wasn’t enough. “What?!” his mouth echoed his brain.
“Tall redhead in a Porsche? The one who called me the cheap, fat pity project keeping you warm for her, and your upcoming nuptials.”
“That goddamn bitch!” he shouted. “That’s Gabriella, the woman who was all over me at the charity ball.” Rushing over to Abby, he swept her up in his arms. “I am so sorry she did that to you. You can’t believe a single noxious thing she said. She’s working with my father on some harebrained scheme.” He rested his forehead against hers. “She hurt you to get to me. And I’m so sorry for that, baby. So, so sorry.”
Abby sagged against him. “I keep telling you to stop apologizing for these people. They’re the ones at fault, not you.”
But I’m the one dragging you into all this.
He kissed both her eyelids gently, thankful she hadn’t wasted any tears on a whack-job like Gabriella. The lines of strain on her face worried him. This is exactly what he was afraid of. Abby didn’t belong in this world. She was too good. Too
nice
. His world would undoubtedly kill her spirit, break her down and scrape away everything that was so special about her.
His father was right.
Abby was far better off with Brian.
C
HAPTER
T
EN
“
A
BBY, WE DON’T HAVE TO
do this. We could’ve just stayed home,” Connor repeated for the tenth time as he pulled into the parking lot of the club.
“No. We were looking forward to going dancing tonight. I don’t want that über bitch from today to ruin this for us.” She unbuckled her seatbelt, looking determined to stomp in that club and dance away their last night together. Keep pretending that everything was okay.
Meanwhile, Connor just wanted to hold her, keep her for himself for just a little while longer. Not just to ease her hurt, but to ease his as well. To preserve the part of him that she brought out, celebrated,
loved.