“I just shouldn’t have—”
He bent down and nipped her neck. She squeaked, giving him a playful swat. He chuckled. “You should’ve, and I can’t wait until you do it again. Like you said, I’ve got a lot of land.”
Finding her hand, he wrapped it in his. She gave him a grateful look. Was it the talk with her parents that had her second-guessing her actions? Or was she that flustered that Dillon might’ve seen them together? She could’ve walked buck naked down the road and Dillon wouldn’t care. He was dopey over Elle. Cash, on the other hand, might get a lecture about getting close to Daniels’s sister when she’d come looking for closure.
Well, he might not be able to give her closure, but he could love her.
Cash swallowed. Where the hell had that thought come from? He was just thinking of having his first adult relationship. But, no, it made sense. He wasn’t about to get serious with someone he couldn’t love.
Abbi squeezed his hand. They rounded the house just as Dillon was getting out of his pickup.
Dillon’s brows rose when he spotted Abbi and his smile faltered. “Hey. I was just checking to see if you wanted help fixing fence since we’re moving cattle next week.”
Cash bristled at Dillon’s tone. Only last spring, they’d mended their own figurative fences after Dillon had spent a couple years resenting Cash for being an unreliable prick. And while Cash might’ve fooled around with women, he’d never brushed off work.
“Yeah, I was just heading out there.” He might’ve detoured into the bedroom to feast on Abbi for another hour, but hopefully she’d still be here when he was done. He tugged Abbi under his arm. “Dillon, I told you about Daniels’s sister, Abbi.”
Abbi hooked an arm around Cash’s back, her grip tight, like she was anchoring herself to him. Was she nervous to talk to Dillon?
Her smile was hesitant. “I came to Moore to find you two and learn more about him.”
Dillon’s gaze softened. “I’m sorry about his death, Abbi. I wish…I wish I could’ve done more. I’ve never felt so paralyzed in my life.”
She shook her head. “I know it wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry, I didn’t come here to break open old wounds.” She shuffled her feet and pressed closer to Cash. “I just wanted to know about his last day. He was here one day and the next he was—” She cut off with a choking sound.
Cash squeezed her shoulder and kissed the top of her head, a move that earned him a hard look from Dillon. Cash countered it with his own challenging glare.
“I can try to answer any questions,” Dillon said. “But I doubt I have much more to tell you than Cash has.” He shot Cash a look that said, Have you even told her anything?
Cash rolled his eyes as if to say, Of course, I’ve talked to her but I haven’t told her that.
Abbi drew in a stilted breath. “You know what, I think I’m okay. Cash has told me some stories about Perry and I really don’t want to make you two relive that horrible day.”
Dillon ducked his head. “Daniels was a good soldier.” Cash nodded, too, because he had been until his last few days. “But feel free to talk anytime. Cash can give you my number.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. I can see why he talked about you two all the time. Said both of you should buy a lotto ticket for getting stationed together.”
It’d definitely been unusual, but Cash wouldn’t have survived the eight miserable years without Dillon, even if they weren’t stationed together they still coordinated their leave. At the time, he’d told himself he was staying in the army for Dillon, but it had really been because he hadn’t wanted to come back home and be the mediator between his parents again. And it made him feel like utter horseshit that the only reason his parents had moved away and left him the house was because Dillon’s dad had gotten sick and passed away, showing them life was too short to be miserable together. All his uncles must’ve been going through some shit because they’d agreed to sell the farm and ranch operation to Cash and his cousins.
“You gonna be okay here while Dillon and I head out? Make yourself at home and—” he dug his keys out of his pocket, “—take the truck if you need to run any errands.”
Abbi peeled away, letting go of his hand last. “Nice to finally meet you, Dillon. You boys have fun.”
Cash watched her sway into the house and gave her a final wave. Dillon watched him.
“I don’t fucking believe it,” his cousin muttered.
Cash snapped his gaze back. “What?”
Dillon shook his head. “I saw you two and thought you were stalling and bluffing and using her until she lost interest and went back home. But you really like her.”
Cash glanced at the house again. Abbi was inside “making herself at home” and the rightness of it settled deep into his bones. “Yeah. I do. Mom wasn’t thrilled.” He winced. What had made him confess that?
“Aunt Patty’s not the one dating her. Look, I know—”
Cash arched a brow for him to finish, but Dillon grimaced like he’d swallowed pickle juice.
“I know,” Dillon continued, “your parents have had shit going on and it’s more than affected you. But I don’t want to see you in forced isolation because of their drama.”
“I am their drama.”
“No.” Dillon vehemently shook his head. “You’re their child. Whatever happened was between the two of them, but even I could see you took the brunt of it.”
Cash took his hat off and swiped his hand through his hair before putting it back on. “I told them about meeting Frankie every week.”
“Good.”
“I’d like to invite her out, you know, sometimes—for meals and shit.”
“Good. She’s your grandma, too.”
“It’s just…when I think about the shit I went through, I think of her. She lost her daughter and her grandson for almost twenty years. She just has two fat cats for company.”
Dillon clapped him on the shoulder. “Not anymore.”
Cash sucked in a deep breath and shook all the emotion off. “Let’s grab our tools and I’ll tell you about Sissy’s new escapade.”
Chapter Fourteen
Abbi stepped back to eye her handiwork. She worried her bottom lip. Would he be upset? Had she been too presumptuous when she’d found the gallon of paint and all the painting supplies in the closet of the guest room?
To be fair, he’d told her to make herself at home and a girl could only sketch so much. She studied the warm earth tone she’d painted on the walls. Whoever had chosen this color of taupe had a good eye. The woodwork came alive under something other than dingy white and before she’d started, she inspected the room. Someone had peeled off wallpaper.
The paint had almost begged her to slap it on.
Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she was stripped down to her undershirt, wearing a borrowed pair of what she hoped were old basketball shorts. Flecks of paint dotted her top and the shorts and she probably had a few smears on her face.
The oven beeped. She bounced out of the room to take the roast out. Whenever she thought of returning home, it cast a gray cloud over her day. This was nice. Wake up to breakfast cooked by a hot man, have some sex, putter around and paint, and fix supper out of whatever was around. Her creative juices were flowing and, god, she’d missed that.
She hadn’t even missed not having access to her phone. She’d shut it off since she’d already talked to Mom, and Ellis wouldn’t quit calling. She’d even texted him to stop and he’d said if she picked up he would. That’s when the power button had gotten hit.
For hours, she’d been lost in painting, had found a long lost part of herself. It wasn’t that she regretted what she’d gone to school for. It’d been a good, solid decision—her own decision. But she mourned having let her hobbies fall to the wayside while she’d dealt with life in the wrong ways. Instead of depending on Ellis, she should’ve whipped out her colored pencils until she figured it all out.
She heard men’s voices outside the wind
ow. She peeked out. Dillon was driving off and Cash was swaggering up the walk. So damn sexy. And he was all dirty and sweaty, probably skipped lunch. She bit her lip. Hopefully, he wouldn’t freak when he saw she’d painted without asking.
The front door opened. “Honey, I’m home.”
She probably glowed with those words as she went out to meet him.
He sniffed. “Did you cook? Lord, that smells delicious.”
“I figured I owed you two meals since technically you’re providing the food.”
He waved it off like it was no big deal and she believed him, had started to crave his easygoing nature.
“Um…but first can I show you something?”
He nodded but eyed her outfit, like he couldn’t place why she’d be streaked in paint.
She led him to the guest room. He whistled and took his hat off. The way his hair was crushed down from being in a hat so long was adorable.
“I hope it’s okay.” She crossed her arms and held her breath. If she got berated about having to ask first and plan, she’d understand. It wasn’t her house.
“You know how long that paint was sitting in the closet?” He wandered the room, looking around.
She shook her head, unable to read anything from his tone.
“Two years. I wasn’t even sure it was good anymore.”
She’d broken a sweat shaking it. “Do you mind that I went ahead and used it?”
“Of course I don’t mind. But I don’t expect you to work while you’re here.”
Her trepidation backed off and the tension drained out of her. “I want to. It was fun actually. Almost like one of those TV shows where I get to restore an old house.”
He smiled down at her, his blue eyes twinkling. “Well, there’s a lot of house here to restore. Go wild. I’m sure your taste is better than mine.”
“Not if you’re the one that picked out the color. It’s perfect.”
He chuckled. “It was Mom and Sissy’s way of hinting that I needed to do something to the place.” He grabbed her hand and led her out to the kitchen. “What’s the reason for that glorious scent? Did you raid my meat again?”
A groan escaped when his eyes landed on the counter where she’d set the food to cool.
“You’re amazing.” He pulled her in for a quick kiss before retreating to the bathroom to wash his hands.
She served him a heaping plate and filled her own. They ate and chatted about their day. He talked of fences in the south pasture, by the north quarter, and other directions she didn’t understand. Maybe they could go riding again so he could show her everything he was describing.
She picked up their plates. Normally, a touch of resentment haunted her when she cleaned the table, but that was because Ellis had “standards” that he expected to be maintained. Cash only directed her when she needed help finding where an item was stored. And as he put food into containers for the fridge, he seemed happy to help. She didn’t even feel like he was helping her, but that they were in it together.
She got a rag damp and went to wipe the table. As soon as she leaned over it, he crowded behind her and nuzzled her neck.
“Do you mind if a dirty rancher has his dessert?”
She turned and gazed up at him. “As long as he doesn’t mind if his dessert is just as dirty.”
He didn’t hesitate, pulling her close. They smashed their lips together, only breaking apart to get her shirt off. Her shorts came off next. He propped her on the tiny table and kissed a path to her sex. When his hot tongue hit her clit, she collapsed back onto her elbows.
Her orgasm hit faster than ever, but the sight of a rugged Cash between her legs would never fail to get her off.
Seconds after she’d crested, he rose and undid his pants to free himself. He was quickly stroking her to another climax. Something about this time was so much more intimate. Not just because they were having sex in his kitchen with the light on, but every stroke had the power of a hundred thrusts. It was like he was velvet-covered steel. The buttons of his shirt chafed her nipples in the most erotic way, but every nerve ending seemed more sensitized than usual.
She twined her ankles behind his back and when his hips jerked with his orgasm, she hit her second climax.
His hands pressed into the tabletop on each side of her as he growled her name. His hot release filled her and her eyes flew to his.
No condom.
They’d established they were safe. She didn’t care, but would he?
Holding onto him while he drifted down from his orgasm, she peppered his face with kisses.
As he was withdrawing, his face went pale and his gaze flew to hers. “Oh shit. I forgot about protection.” He glanced back down, an unreadable emotion flitting over his features. “I’m sorry.”
Was he worried for her? “I’m on birth control. How do you feel about it?”
“Umm… It used to be my worst nightmare, but I…believe you about the birth control. Not that I don’t ever want kids, just…” He seemed to struggle with what to say.
“I get it.” With his history, she understood.
He gave her a lopsided smile. “That was amazing.”
She snuggled into his strong embrace that kept her from collapsing back on the table. “I agree.”
“I bet it’ll feel just as good in the shower.” He picked her up, her legs still wrapped around him.
He was right. It did.
***
Once they were dressed and had finished cleaning the kitchen, she stood in the doorway and shoved her hands in her pockets.
Cash leaned against the counter. “What do you want to do tonight?”
That was exactly what was on her mind. She knew what she wanted, she just had to broach the topic. “Would you mind running me into town so I can grab my stuff, maybe even…” Was she going to ask? What if he turned her down? After what they’d just shared, she didn’t think so. “Maybe I could check out and stay here for a few days.” Until I have to go home and move out of my apartment. Where would she go? Staying in Green Bay…well, it was her home. But the thought of leaving Moore left a big hole in her soul.
A slow, sexy smile spread across his face. “I guess you wasted a few nights of paying for a room.”
“I wouldn’t call them wasted.” Though Ellis would’ve choked on his tie if he’d found out she had paid for a room she wasn’t staying in. He’d probably think it was worse than staying with a man she’d met a week ago.
“I agree, but it’s not my money.” He crossed to her, his hands landing on her hips. “Let’s go get you checked out.”
They loaded into his truck. How easy it was between them. She’d wager Cash knew her better than anyone, even her parents. Oh, they knew her past and everything she’d done in life. But they had a mold they wanted her to fit into, and as long as she didn’t buck the trend, they assumed they’d sculpted her how they’d wanted to.
On the way to town, her mind worked over her financials. She’d probably have to pay for the evening, but she’d planned for two weeks anyway. And she’d been eating off Cash’s groceries, saving almost three nights’ worth by just not eating out. Now she was saving on a hotel. The unintended benefit of meeting the man of her dreams was that she had some money left over for a deposit on her own place.
He hung an arm over the wheel as they cruised on the highway. “I’m going to talk to Sissy tomorrow. Tell her she needs to talk to Mom and Dad about her new career.”
“You don’t think she’s said anything yet?”
He flashed her a look full of irony. “My phone’s been quiet, so no.”
“Shut it off. It’s what I do.”
He groaned. “Then they’d descend on me here. It’s one thing when there’s a family shindig, a whole ’nother when they’re just here to complain to me.”
He switched to more attentive driving and wove his way through town, which took all of two minutes. Abbi stared out the window at the passing businesses that were closed for the night. Bars and g
as stations were the only things open after eight at night in Moore.
“Wow. That dude looks pissed.”
“Hmm?” Abbi glanced at him, then to where he was looking toward the hotel. She sucked in a breath, the blood draining from her face.
By her car in the parking lot was a familiar four-door sedan—a responsible ride, fuel efficient, and without a speck of dirt. Around the two cars stalked Ellis. Street lamps glinted off his plain brown hair, his suit jacket off and his tie loosened.
Her panic soon turned to seething anger. “Oh. My. God. He didn’t.”
His expression grew perplexed. “You know him?”
“Yes. And he’s so dead.”
“Who is he?” His tone was guarded.
Anger boiled through her veins. As soon as the pickup slowed to a stop, she jumped out. “Ellis, what the hell are you doing here?”
Cash got out, too, but hung back. She was grateful for his presence, refused to let Ellis cow her like he always had. Would someone else see how Ellis belittled her?
Ellis stopped where he was and clamped his hands on his hips. His expression was relief mixed with ire. “I’m here to help you.”
“Why? We’re over.”
Ellis held his hands up. His typical placating stance. “Abigail. Couples in a committed relationship don’t pull the plug during their first fight.”
She sputtered. “First fight? What were the fights before that? You thinking I was being out of line for speaking my mind?”
“You two are in a relationship?” Cash’s low voice carried through the angry words.
“Yes.”
“No!” Abbi yelled. She stood in the headlights of Cash’s truck. He hadn’t moved away from his door.
Ellis drew himself up to his full height, still a couple inches shorter than Cash. He glanced at Abbi before settling his gaze on Cash. “Who are you?”
Long Hard Fall Page 13