Emotion hit her like a brick wall when she noticed that his eyes weren’t cold. They were a sparkling blue. His lips were set in a thin line, and his face was all hard lines. It looked like it’d been carved by angels. Why did he have to look so stinking handsome to her?
“It is Abi.” She finally noticed Nikola was next to Stone and Jeremy was on his other side.
Abi pulled away from Truman, giving him a brief nod. “Thank you again for dinner.”
“Of course.” He was glancing back and forth between her and the three men. They were blocking the aisle, a wall of muscly men. Abi had no desire to brush past them. If she so much as smelled Stone’s familiar musky scent, she’d probably give in to her intense need for him. She could go around the three of them, but she didn’t want to back down and act like it bothered her to interact with him.
The waiter returned and handed over the padded card holder. Truman signed it, took his card, and shoved it in his wallet. He lifted Abi’s coat off her chair. She probably would’ve left it sitting there, distracted as she was by Stone so close but still so far way. Truman helped her into her coat then put a hand on her lower back, a little lower than she appreciated, but she wasn’t about to say anything with Stone and his friends glaring at them.
“Can I walk you out?” Truman asked. She knew he felt the tension radiating off of Stone, but he maintained his composure. Maybe she should give him another date.
“Yes, please.”
He escorted her forward. “Excuse us, gentlemen,” he said when they got within feet of Stone.
Abi was forcing herself to take shallow breaths, but she could still smell him.
Nikola folded his arms across his chest and arched an eyebrow. Stone didn’t move an inch. Jeremy shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I’ll excuse your pretty boy suit,” Jeremy muttered.
“Excuse us,” Truman said a little louder, as if they were idiots who hadn’t comprehended his first request and each one of them couldn’t thump him with one hand tied behind their back. He was braver than he looked or maybe stupider.
“You’re not going to introduce us to your friend?” Nikola asked.
Abi tilted her chin up to him. “I would if any of you were friends of mine.”
“Oh-ho.” Nikola jeered at her. “So that’s how you want to play this?”
Abi made the mistake of glancing at Stone. There was a muscle working furiously in his jaw, and he stared at her as if drinking in the beauty of a sunrise. Her stomach lurched, and she had to physically restrain herself from running and giving him the hug she usually gave him every time she saw him. Not my friend anymore, she repeated a few times to herself.
“Do I need to call my security personnel?” Truman asked, haughtily staring at the barrier of men.
“If you think they have a chance against us, be my guest.” Jeremy’s fists were clenched like Truman had stolen his girlfriend. Abi was glad Stone had friends beside her, even though it hurt to see him. Her stomach ached worse than the time she’d had appendicitis. Unfortunately, no surgery could fix this, and she was at risk of exploding and dying.
Nikola rolled his eyes. “Honestly, Abi. This is what you would choose?”
“My choices are none of your business.” Abi’s voice rose. She would’ve never chosen this agony, if only Stone could love her even a hundredth as much as she loved him. “Now move!” She could’ve gone another route, but it was a standoff she wasn’t willing to back down from.
“I call dibs on breaking his nose,” Jeremy said just loudly enough for them to hear.
Truman sucked in a breath, and Abi could feel his uncertainty and apprehension.
Finally, Stone shifted and stepped out of the way. Abi hurried through the gap, not letting herself look at Stone again, but dang if she couldn’t smell him, and she had to brush by him. His hand touched hers, and a jolt raced through her. Dang him all the way to Hades.
She started trembling. By the time she cleared the front door of the restaurant and the cold air hit her in the face, she was shaking, and it had nothing to do with the sun being gone and the temperature being below zero.
Truman was right behind her, and as soon as they were outside, he wrapped his arm around her. It seemed like a big brother type of concern. She turned into him, and he held her close. Abi appreciated him being there but thought it was weird that she didn’t feel surrounded by his strength like she did when Stone held her. It was so lame of her to wish Truman wasn’t so thin. It didn’t matter. He’d proven to be a gentleman, but she wouldn’t see him after tonight.
Pulling back, she wrapped her arms around her stomach. “Thank you again. Sorry about all of that.” She looked up and saw the entire front of the restaurant was windows. Of course, she could see Stone sitting at a table with his friends. Their gazes met, and her stomach swooped before she steeled herself and gave him a nasty glare, focusing back on Truman.
“Did you used to date one of those men?”
She shook her head. Truman might be nationally acclaimed, but he wasn’t that impressive of a people person if he couldn’t feel the current that had been running between her and Stone. She didn’t need to give him anything, but she appreciated him being there for her tonight. “No. The one in the middle used to be my best friend.”
“Just a friend?” He arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow and stepped closer.
“Sadly, yes.”
Both eyebrows went up.
“Thanks again.” She turned and hurried through the plowed parking lot to her Cherokee.
Truman followed. He was kind of thick in the head for someone who had written books on interpersonal communication. She reached her car and clicked the unlock button. Truman put a hand on her door. For the love of Pete, let me go home and wallow with a carton of mint chocolate chip.
“I’d like to be more than friends with you.” He leaned in.
“I appreciate your help in there, but it’s been a really long day, and I am not interested in anything more than dinner.”
He waited half a beat before backing away and smiling. “My loss.”
Abi grabbed the door handle, and he was quick to pull the door open. He was being so kind, but she didn’t have any desire to be with him.
She slid inside, the cold leather seeping through her rayon dress slacks. Truman stared at her for far too long, holding on to her door. Oh, please let him walk away.
“Goodbye,” he said and finally closed her door.
She pushed the brake down and jammed her finger against the start button. Leaning her head against the headrest, she felt hot tears sliding down her cheeks. Stone. He’d looked so good, and she kind of loved that he and his friends had blocked her way. That he’d looked at her like she was his personal ray of sunshine. She knew he cared for her. What was it going to take to get him to admit it? Schemes and ideas started churning in her brain.
She shook her head and pulled the vehicle into gear. She was completely and totally pathetic when it came to that man.
Chapter Eleven
Stone thought it had been horrific when his wife and daughter had died, and it had been, but he’d still had Abi. She’d pulled him through and helped him see light and happiness. Now, he had nothing and nobody. Over the last few weeks, he’d worked extra shifts at the fire station, pushed himself in the gym, and made a ton of progress on his house remodel. Work didn’t take his mind off of Abi, but it did pass the hours of the day. Tuesday morning, he was methodically texturing the walls in his dining room. Unfortunately, it gave him too much time to think. Seeing Abi last night had brought everything back to the forefront. He’d wanted to fight the richie businessman who was touching her. It was juvenile and cave-mannish, but he had wanted to plant a fist in the guy’s face then yank Abi into his arms and kiss her longer than he had in the snow cave.
His mind wandered back to that day. Had Abi really said she loved him standing outside his cabin, or was that just something he conjured up in his head? Everything seemed like a blu
r since that awful moment when he’d let her walk away, but what else was he supposed to do? He wasn’t worthy of someone angelic like Abi, not until he could let go of the guilt, anger, and frustration and somehow reconcile himself to breaking the promise he’d made to Virginia. Could he really do that? What kind of man was he if he didn’t have his honor, his integrity? Yet what kind of purgatory would his life be if he couldn’t love Abi?
He thought he’d let go of all his anger at Jace, but it had resurfaced. His former friend had ditched them all and let Stone pick up the pieces. Admittedly, Stone had done a piss-poor job of picking them up, but at least, he’d stayed and tried. He’d wanted baby Abigail so much, and he liked to think he would’ve at least been a good dad, even if he’d sucked as a husband, but he’d lost that chance. It all came back to Jace’s choices. If Jace would’ve kept to the pact and not blown past the boundaries with Virginia, or if Jace would’ve stepped up and taken care of his responsibilities instead of leaving them all for the military, where would Stone be now? Would he have had a chance with Abi?
He hung his head and swirled halfheartedly at the wall. When he’d had Abi in his life, he looked forward to days off because, even if she had to work, she’d finagle a way to spend time together. They would have lunch together or go for a quick hike, or if she could find enough time, they’d go skiing in the winter or mountain biking in the summer. He’d always known she was the joy in his life, but being robbed of that joy was almost enough to make him wish he could join Virginia and the baby. Sheesh, that was morbid.
The front door banged open, and Stone turned in surprise. His parents and brother weren’t supposed to be coming for a visit, and his buddies from the fire station were all busy doing their own projects during their four-day break. Blue was in New Mexico visiting Lucy, but the rest of the guys had planned to get together tonight at Pineapple’s for dinner and drinks. Stone still hadn’t decided if he would go. Last night had been pretty miserable with Nikola and Jeremy talking nonstop about that loser pretty boy Abi had been with and how Stone should’ve laid claim to “his woman.” Abi wasn’t his woman and, sadly, would probably never be. Stone knew that was his fault, but he still didn’t know how to change anything.
He walked toward the entryway as the door slammed shut again. Abi pushed back the hood of her white coat. Her dark hair seemed to shine, but her dark eyes shone more. Stone’s heart slammed against his chest. He wanted to run, pick her up off her feet, and kiss her until they both passed out from lack of oxygen. Of course, he stood there and did nothing.
She placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him. “You look like crap, and your stunt last night was completely ridiculous.”
He nodded. She was here. He’d agree to anything she said.
“What have you been doing the past three weeks?” She demanded.
Missing you. He cleared his throat. “Working.”
“Well, that is completely lame. Man was not made for work alone. Can you seriously have no fun in life if I don’t force you to?” She arched her delicate eyebrows.
Stone smiled. It had been so long since he’d smiled it felt like his face was cracking. He suddenly realized he’d missed the motion. “Nope.”
“You are truly pitiful. Come on. The slopes are calling my name, and while you suck as a friend, you’re a great skiing partner.” She whirled on her heel and strode to the front door. Stone set his scraper down and followed. He was more pathetic than she would ever know, and he was so happy she’d come for him. If only he could find a way to be the friend she needed. If only that could include nonstop kissing and listening to her talk when they had to take a break and come up for air. Why was it necessary for him to talk? Yet he would try if it meant Abi would never ditch him again.
Abi was the pitiful one. Why couldn’t she stay away from him? Sleeping fitfully last night, all she could think about was how Stone had looked at her when she first saw him at the restaurant, like she was love and hope and joy all combined. Did he feel any of that or was she reading something into nothing?
She’d driven past the house he was remodeling in Midway ten times this morning before finally admitting the truth. She missed him … horribly. It was like a root canal that she had to deal with or she knew she’d be eternally in pain. Stone didn’t want her as a girlfriend. He didn’t love her. It ripped her up that she had no chance with the love of her life, but they’d been friends for too long. She couldn’t just dump ties she’d made since childhood, and she couldn’t tell her heart not to love him.
She and Stone had gotten their gear and skis on and were riding up the ski lift named “Quincy” at Deer Valley. The air was crisp, and the view was spectacular, but she was just thrilled to have Stone by her side. He stretched his arm behind her on the seat. He hadn’t talked much on the way to pick up his skis and season pass and drive to the resort, but that was okay. He’d asked her a few questions about work, and she’d rattled on with stories and had even gotten him to smile a few times. Thankfully, he hadn’t asked about Truman. Her date last night had been lame and confirmed once again that nobody could compare to Stone for her. Dang him.
She let herself look away from the picturesque view below them to his handsome face, sadly remembering how the smooth skin had felt against her cheek and lips. His dark hair curled out from underneath his helmet. She wanted to touch it. She sighed.
“You okay?” he asked, turning to her.
“I’ve missed you.” She admitted, ducking her head. She hated that she always had to be the one to bring up anything like that, to always put her heart out there, but it was what it was. She’d chosen to be best friends with Stone Cold for probably the thousandth time, and it obviously wasn’t going to be easy.
Stone nodded slowly.
“You could say you missed me too.” She practically threw the words at him. Honestly. It was like pulling a seven-year-old’s teeth.
Stone chuckled. Then he started laughing and couldn’t stop. They reached the top of the lift, grabbed their poles, and stood, gliding down to the right side toward Blue Bell, a moderate run they both enjoyed.
“Oh, Abi.” Stone swiped a gloved hand over his face, shook his head, and started laughing again.
Abi put her hands on her hips. “You’re a jerk, you know that?” She put her goggles in place, pushed off with her poles, and took off down the slope.
She veered off through the trees into the powder, knowing he would follow, but she needed to keep her distance for a few minutes to remind herself that this was Stone. He wasn’t going to go gushing about how he’d missed her, and it was completely her choice to be with him. When she’d gotten home after seeing him and his firefighting buddies at the restaurant last night, she’d had a good cry and told herself she had to choose. Stone would never love her, but she could choose to be his friend. She decided she couldn’t live without him, so she’d been the one to reinitiate friendship. She had to take him as he was, not expect him to change, but why did he make it so hard? Laughing at her when she said she missed him? Cold-hearted meanie anyway.
She came to a small clearing in the trees, filled with powder. Suddenly arms came around her and tackled her. Snow poofed into the air and settled slowly. It didn’t hurt falling into the thick powder. Her goggles got shoved up onto her forehead, and she pushed them onto her helmet.
“Stone! What are you doing?” She glanced up into his handsome face, so close she could see that scar above his lip.
“I’m sorry for laughing at you.” He grinned, his eyes a true blue and still full of laughter.
“It’s okay.” She immediately forgave him. She was a sucker like that. “I’m glad to hear you laugh.”
His eyes turned serious, but they weren’t gray and cold, they were blue and serious. She was so glad he didn’t wear goggles and she could see those beautiful eyes. “Thank you for making me laugh. I’ve missed you more than you’ll ever know, Abi.”
“Yeah, I’ll never know because you would never talk e
nough to tell me.” She’d been annoyed with her date last night for never stopping talking, but she’d love for Stone to talk, to say anything.
Stone nodded. “You know I don’t like to talk, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.” He cleared his throat and whispered, “I care a lot.”
Abi smiled, loving his admission. She cared about him far too much, and those kisses in the cave were never far from her mind. With him this close and saying words she’d longed to hear, she couldn’t resist as she lifted her head and kissed that scar on the side of his lip. Stone’s quick intake told her she’d crossed a boundary she shouldn’t have. So when he said he cared about her that didn’t mean cared about cared about, it meant like cared for a friend. Well, shoot, should’ve seen that one coming. She was truly dense when it came to Stone.
She lay back in the snow and sighed. Stone stared down at her. His eyes dipped to her lips then came back up to meet her gaze. Heat pooled in her stomach, and she held her breath. Suddenly, he lowered his head, and his mouth connected with hers. The cold snow underneath her couldn’t counteract the warmth Stone aroused inside of her. Abi wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him. His lips were warm and tasted like sunshine and mint. Joy exploded in her chest. Stone was kissing her, and they weren’t stuck in a cave. It felt like fireworks were going off, and her nerves were on high alert, especially the overly sensitive ones in her lips. He tasted and felt tremendously fabulous.
Stone abruptly pulled away and looked at her with such remorse in his eyes she wanted to punch him in the gut and then have a good cry. “Abi, I’m sorry. I’ve thought about kissing you far too much. Now I’m crossing boundaries again.”
Why was he so stinking worried about boundaries? They’d set the dumb boundaries in junior high school. A world of hurt and life had happened since then. Forget the boundaries! She’d learned to tread carefully with Stone, so instead of telling him where he could shove his boundaries, she asked, “Do you like kissing me?”
Stone Cold Sparks Page 6