by Donna Grant
Or it could be because Clayton East kissed like a god.
She really couldn’t say which was the reason. All Abby knew was that the kiss had seriously rocked her world. Her knees had gone weak, and her toes had actually curled.
Her eyes closed as she pulled up the memory of the night before. Clayton’s harsh breaths, the moan that had rumbled in his chest. His hands—one holding her as if she were the most precious thing in the world, and the other fisted in her hair as if to make sure she wouldn’t get away.
She snorted while opening her eyes. As if that would happen. She’d wanted that kiss probably more than he had. There were no words to describe how it had felt to be held again. For just a few minutes, she’d stopped being Abby the sister/mom, the one having to make all the decisions.
She’d been able to be Abby, a woman being kissed by a handsome, charming cowboy. And it had been glorious.
Her body hadn’t felt like her own. Desire and heat had coursed through her, making every nerve ending come alive. Making her sizzle with awareness and … need.
Even now, that yearning drummed through her, a reminder that she was still very much alive and aching for more of Clayton’s touch.
There was a pounding on the door that caused Abby to jump, twisting her ankle in her heels. She gripped the sink, biting back a string of cuss words. “Yeah?”
“You’ve been in there forever, Abby, and this is the only bathroom in the office.”
She rolled her eyes at the sound of Jada’s high-pitched voice. It was like nails on a chalkboard, only made worse by the fact that Jada loved to hear herself talk. And she was pregnant, which meant that every conversation started with, “If you can’t tell, I’m having a baby.” Then she’d flash a wide, fake smile with her over-whitened teeth.
Abby flushed the toilet so Jada wouldn’t know she’d been standing in front of the mirror the whole time. Then she opened the door to find the receptionist with her hand on her hip, and her head cocked.
“It smells,” Jada said testily.
It was all Abby could do not to call her a liar. Instead, she grinned and walked out, forcing Jada to move out of the way. There was a loud huff behind her before Jada and her barely there baby bump sauntered into the bathroom.
Abby returned to her desk and tried once more to focus on the file before her. Every night she spent with Clayton at the ranch, the harder it became for her to concentrate at work the next day. If only a few hours with Clayton did this to her, what would she be like come Monday morning after the weekend with him?
She shivered just thinking about it. That weekend started in a few hours. She was so looking forward to it that she’d been packed for two nights. Except she’d unpacked everything last night, reevaluating what she’d planned to bring and then repacked. Twice.
Her brothers had put their bags in her car that morning. The entire week, there had been no griping about homework, teachers, or any drama going on at school. There’d been no fighting, no back talk when she had reminded them of chores, and they’d been getting up on time each morning without her having to yell at them to get ready.
She knew the cause—Clayton. Or the ranch. Or both. Clayton and the ranch were one and the same in her brothers’ eyes. The change in them eased the worry around her heart some.
For the first time in a long while, she saw a bright future for Brice and Caleb. And that made her happy.
Abby mentally shook away thoughts of the weekend, Clayton, and her brothers as she read over the paper in her hand. It was a registration at the county clerk’s office for a new brand. Since this was ranching country, it wasn’t the first time such a piece of paper had come across her desk.
She pulled up the company on the computer and noted it was a fairly new one, as in just a few weeks old. She keyed in the license payment as well as the payment for the company who made the brand.
Just as she was setting the paper aside, she saw a picture of the brand attached. The 4B brand was simple, but not as simple as the Easts’ brand, which was a single E. That made her think of Clayton.
Then again, everything made her think of Clayton.
She moved on to the rest of the invoices. When she looked up at the clock on her computer, only twenty minutes had passed. At this rate, the day would never end.
With the daily invoices entered, she moved on to the next assignment. Abby found a stack of papers very much like the ones she was working on for Clayton within a green file folder. She settled in to work when she heard Gloria, the owner of the firm, raise her voice.
Abby looked over her monitor and through the windows of Gloria’s office to see her boss standing tensely beside her desk with her cell phone pressed to her ear. Gloria was in her late forties with no kids and three ex-husbands. She worked hard to maintain a slender figure, often wearing slim-fitting clothes that showed off her svelte body.
And that wasn’t the only thing Gloria showed off. Her nails were always manicured and painted. Abby hadn’t seen a single chip on Gloria’s nails in the four years she’d worked there.
Gloria’s makeup was always immaculate, as was her long, dark length of hair. Today, Gloria had a small plait on the right side of her head that fed into the side bun on the left. Tendrils of hair were pulled free to frame her square face to soften it.
By the fire shooting from Gloria’s black eyes, someone had crossed a line. Her lips were pinched, her chest heaving in anger as she talked low into the phone. That apparently had no effect because whatever the person on the other end of the line said shattered what little control Gloria was struggling to keep hold of.
“You wouldn’t have done it without my help!” Gloria bellowed.
Then she looked up, her gaze clashing with Abby. Gloria stomped over to her door and slammed it before she shut the blinds so no one could see into her office.
This wasn’t the first time Abby had seen or heard such a call, but in truth, they were rare. Gloria was well known and respected in Clearview. Her CPA firm thrived because she got the majority of the business in the town and its surrounding areas.
Why then did Abby get the feeling that there was something about that conversation Gloria hadn’t wanted her to hear? Abby gave a shake of her head.
It was silly to let her thoughts go down that road. Gloria didn’t want anyone hearing that conversation, not just her. Abby was just cranky because she wanted the day to end so she could start her weekend.
Fifteen minutes later, she caught sight of someone beside her desk. She looked up with a smile that froze when she saw it was Jada. “Yes?”
While rubbing her belly, Jada gave an overly sweet cat-that-got-into-the-cream smile. “I heard your brother was arrested for cattle rustling. From the East Ranch,” she finished, her eyes widening.
The glee on Jada’s face made Abby want to punch her. This was one of those times she wished Jill was still in town. “How did you hear that?” Because Abby knew Danny would never tell a soul.
“Oh, please,” Jada said with a roll of her blue eyes. “Something like that doesn’t stay silent for long. So, it’s true?”
“It’s true that Brice was mixed up with the wrong people.”
“I knew it,” Jada said with a little clap of her hands. “I always said those brothers of yours were destined for prison.”
Abby sat back in her chair. It was time for her to smile now. “Obviously, whoever gave you that information didn’t tell you all of it. Brice was never charged with anything. As a matter of fact, he’s now working after school at the East Ranch.”
And just like that, Jada’s smile vanished. The satisfaction Abby felt was euphoric. There were only five of them working at the firm, and no one really liked Jada, but because she was one of Clearview’s gossip queens, no one wanted to get on her bad side.
It had been the same in high school where Jada had been two years older than Abby. While Jada liked to make fun of the fact that Abby didn’t have a degree, Abby didn’t point out that Jada had married the high sc
hool quarterback who had peaked in school but couldn’t hold down a job anywhere now, while Jada was merely a receptionist.
Because, hey, Abby had her own problems, and she didn’t want to get caught up in anyone else’s drama.
“Anything else?” Abby asked sweetly.
Jada’s face soured, her cheeks sucking inward as she puckered her lips. “No.”
“You might want to watch making that face. Wrinkles form early.”
Abby wasn’t sure why she’d given that parting remark. It was definitely something Jill would’ve said, and after so many years as friends, her friend must have rubbed off on her. But seeing the horror in Jada’s eyes as she began smoothing out her face with her hands was too good.
The next few hours were uneventful. Abby kept her head down and plugged away at her pile of work. She had a sandwich, chips, and water for lunch that she’d brought from home and ate at her desk while working. So she was surprised when Gloria called her into her office.
No matter the occasion, Abby always felt as if she were being called into the principal’s office when she had to go see Gloria.
“Yes?” she said as she stood in the doorway.
Gloria smiled and motioned to a chair before signing a paper and setting it aside. “How’s it going, Abby?”
Instantly on alert, Abby shrugged as she sat. “Good.”
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry I gave you a hard time on Monday when you asked to leave. I had no idea your brother had been arrested.”
Abby wanted to tell Gloria that when she’d said it was an emergency, she hadn’t lied. And it shouldn’t matter if Brice had been arrested or brought to the hospital. An emergency was an emergency.
“Thanks,” she said tightly.
Gloria rested her arms on the desk. “Is everything all right now?”
“Yep. Right as rain.”
“Good. That’s good.” Gloria sat back and crossed one slim leg over the other before folding her hands in her lap. “Jada told me that Brice wasn’t charged with anything.”
Abby tensed. “He wasn’t. May I ask why you’re questioning me about this?”
Gloria laughed, the sound light and airy. But Abby wasn’t fooled.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve said that I was worried about you. I didn’t want to say anything earlier this week when I heard about Brice. No one said he’d been released, so I assumed he was going to jail.”
Wow. They might have to scrape together pennies every month, and yes, her brothers weren’t perfect. But not once had either of them been in trouble with the law. This was the first time, and yet Gloria made it sound as if it were a common occurrence.
Abby merely looked at her, waiting to see what it was that Gloria really wanted.
And she didn’t have to wait long.
Gloria licked her bright pink lips. “Jada told me that Brice now works at the East Ranch.”
“He does.” And that’s what Abby would continue to say. None of those bitches needed to know that it was to pay off his debt.
“Well,” Gloria said with a smile. “I know for a fact that the Easts need a new CPA. How about helping me get them into the firm?”
In the past, Abby would’ve nodded, and that would’ve been it. But something had changed in her. She wasn’t sure when or where or even how, but it was there.
“And what’s in it for me?” Abby asked with a lift of her chin. Jill would’ve been so proud of her.
Gloria raised a brow, her smile growing. “Now that’s what I like to hear.” She leaned an elbow on the arm of her chair. “How about a five-percent raise.”
“Fifteen,” Abby countered.
Gloria’s black eyes narrowed shrewdly. “Ten.”
“Deal,” Abby said and stuck out her hand.
She should’ve felt giddy at the negotiation, but as she shook Gloria’s hand, she just felt dirty.
Chapter 15
Clayton learned the hard way that he hadn’t mastered the art of patience as he’d believed. Waiting for Friday evening to come was the slowest, most cruel type of torture.
But when he spotted the lights of Abby’s car, he was both nervous and excited. By the time he walked to the front of the house from the corral, Abby and the boys were out of the Accord and standing by the opened trunk.
“Are you sure?” Caleb asked, his brow furrowed deeply.
Clayton stopped behind them. “Something wrong?”
All three Harpers whirled around. Both Brice and Caleb briefly met his gaze. Clayton turned his attention to Abby and raised a brow.
“Um,” she hesitated, glancing at her brothers. “We wanted to make sure the invitation still stands.”
Clayton knew she’d included herself so the boys weren’t singled out. And that gesture made him want to kiss her. Abby always knew what to say and how to handle her brothers.
“Of course,” he replied. “I think my mother would chase you down if you tried to leave.”
Caleb elbowed Brice, a huge smile on his face. Brice looked at Clayton and gave a nod before he took his and Abby’s bags from the trunk. Once Caleb removed his bag, and the trunk was closed, Clayton led them into the house.
As usual, his mother had George Strait’s Christmas CD playing, the music flowing from the speakers throughout the house. When she heard the front door close, she hollered for the boys, who rushed to the kitchen.
“She’s been baking all day,” Clayton said.
Abby closed her eyes and inhaled. “It’s amazing. Just what Christmas should smell like.”
He wondered what her Christmases had been like, but decided not to ask then. He wanted her laughing and smiling, not thinking of the past with her mother—or without.
“I’ll take you to your room,” he said. “Have Brice and Caleb decided where they want to sleep?”
She laughed as they made their way to the stairs. “Really? You must have known they would choose the bunkhouse. Both have officially declared that they’re going to be cowboys and work on the ranch.”
He looked back at her as they climbed the steps. “How do you feel about that?”
“If it keeps them out of trouble, I’m fine with it.”
He brought her down the same hall as his bedroom. His gaze was on her face when he opened the door to the guest room and showed her inside.
“Oh,” she murmured softly as she walked in and ran her hand over the red bedspread with a white reindeer and snowflakes. Half of the coverlet was folded down to show white sheets with red snowflakes.
She picked up a rectangular shaped pillow with a white background and four stockings and held it briefly. She replaced it and smiled down at another square pillow that was white with Merry Christmas scrawled across it.
Clayton knew Abby would probably love any of the bedrooms, but for some reason, he’d thought of her when he looked at this room. He’d assumed from the comments that she and her brothers had made that none of them had had a Christmas in the traditional sense. At least not in quite some time.
It had been something he’d never been denied, and something he’d taken for granted. Now, he wanted to give Abby and the boys what he’d always had just so he could see their smiles.
Not to show off his family’s wealth, but to share the love he’d always felt. The Harpers deserved it, needed it even. Especially Abby.
She stood in the middle of the room and turned in a slow circle, taking it all in. She laughed when she saw the two-foot, white Christmas tree decorated with tiny red ornaments sitting on a table. Then Abby faced him. “This is amazing.”
“Enjoy it,” he said as he set her bag on the bench before the bed.
“Oh, I plan to,” she replied with a laugh.
He moved closer to her, staring into her bright blue eyes. All he’d thought about all day was kissing her again. With his hands settled on her hips, he drew her close as his head began to lower.
It was the pounding of feet up the stairs that pulled them apart seconds before Brice came into the room, f
ollowed soon after by Caleb.
Brice let out a long whistle as he looked around.
“Damn,” Caleb said.
“Caleb,” Abby admonished.
Her youngest brother widened his eyes as he shrugged his shoulders. “Seriously? Look at this room!”
“I know,” she said in a conspiratorial whisper.
Brice walked up beside Abby and put his arm around her shoulders. He gave her a smile and a squeeze before his gaze slid to Clayton.
In that moment, Clayton saw that Brice was aware of his interest in his sister. Which meant there would need to be a conversation later. It was the least he owed Brice as the man of the house.
“Mr. Ben is downstairs,” Caleb said. “Mrs. Justine says he’s been stealing cookies all day.”
Clayton laughed as he thought back over the years. “They have a tradition that goes back to their very first Christmas together after they were married. He tries to see how many cookies he can steal while she tries to either catch him or stop him.”
“Who wins?” Brice asked.
Clayton found his gaze on Abby. “Mom lets him steal them, and Dad does it to be with her.”
“So they both win,” Caleb said with a nod.
The boys then walked out of the room, talking about the weekend out on the ranch. As they left, Clayton watched Abby’s gaze follow them.
“All Brice has ever known was the revolving door of men our mother brought into the house after our father died. I shielded my brothers as best I could, but Brice saw them. Caleb did, too, but he was so young that it didn’t really register. Neither of them remembers our father, so they don’t know what it means to have a true relationship.” Her eyes swung to him. “Your parents are showing them that.”
His brows snapped together when he saw tears well in her eyes. As he moved toward her, she hastily blinked to hold them back.
“I’m sorry,” she said with a sniff. “It’s just that my telling them how two people are supposed to be together fell on deaf ears. They didn’t get it until your parents. And I can’t tell you how much that means to me. Maybe now, they’ll have the right kind of relationships.”
That was one aspect that he hadn’t thought about with the boys, but it had obviously weighed heavily upon Abby’s mind. And it brought forth another question.