by Terri Osburn
“So you don’t need me, but you want me?”
Abby tugged him back to the swing. “Exactly,” she said, pulling him down beside her before withdrawing what looked like two plane tickets from the envelope. “I have a long list of places I plan to see, and I’ll go alone if I have to. But I’d much rather take you with me. Our first stop is London. What do you say? Can we try this again?”
Lifting her into his lap, Justin took her mouth with his, answering her the only way he knew how.
When they finally came up for air, Abby breathed, “Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” he laughed, holding her tight. “I’ll go anywhere with you, Abby girl. Just promise to never leave me again.”
“Never,” she said, curling against him. “Never again.”
Chapter 27
Abby leapt to safety in time to avoid being run over by the reckless driver.
“Watch your toes,” called Ian O’Malley as he chased after the two outlaw toddlers in the pink princess car. “I didn’t know these toys could go so fast.”
The young mechanic picked up his pace, followed closely by Noah Winchester.
“Let off the gas, Molly!” ordered Noah, smiling and not winded in the least. The toy car slowed to a stop, little-girl curls blew in the summer breeze, and four wide eyes looked up as if to say, “What did we do?” Though Emma looked more stunned than innocent, as if being in Molly’s passenger seat had been more excitement than she’d expected.
Ian lifted the redhead into his arms. “Jess will have my butt if you get hurt, munchkin.”
Jessi had fallen hard for Ian O’Malley, one of Cooper’s employees, shortly after moving in with Abby the year before. Most men Ian’s age, barely twenty-one, wouldn’t have looked twice at a girl down on her luck and toting a newborn, but he’d surprised them all and stepped up for the young mother. Now the pair shared a small apartment over his parents’ garage, and lucky Emma had two doting parents instead of one.
“She gets prettier every day,” Abby chimed, running a hand over bright red curls.
“Just like her mama,” Ian beamed.
Molly lifted her arms as Noah approached, and he lifted her straight onto his shoulders.
“Might be time to let the car rest,” he said, holding the child with one hand and moving the toy to the side with the other. Along his forearm, Abby spotted a tattoo she hadn’t seen before, featuring two familiar names tucked beneath a soldier’s helmet.
If that didn’t say forever, she didn’t know what would.
The men marched back to the party, bundles in hand, and Abby followed them down the sidewalk leading from Cooper’s back door to the elaborate spread in his backyard. The wedding had been a beautiful affair. Mama and Bruce swayed in the middle of the makeshift dance floor, surrounded by several couples twirling through a two-step. Spencer led Lorelei into a spin that any professional would envy, while Caleb and Snow chose a more simple turn.
Cooper, who fancied himself the best two-stepper in town—though he’d never held a candle to Spencer’s skills—tugged Haleigh reluctantly around them all. She kept looking at her feet, and Cooper kept tipping up her chin to share a trust me smile. No matter the approach, they all looked madly in love, and Abby finally knew exactly how they felt.
“I missed you,” Justin said, stepping up behind her and wrapping her in his arms.
“I was gone less than five minutes,” she pointed out.
“That was four and a half minutes too long.”
Since the day she’d arrived on his parents’ doorstep asking for a second chance, Abby and Justin had spent every minute together, aside from his nights at the firehouse. Abby had been happy with Kyle, but in a different way. He’d made her feel safe. Protected. But the ever-present fear for his safety had locked her into a cocoon. In order to support him, she’d had to become all but invisible. To be the one thing he never had to worry about.
Justin offered the opposite. With him in her life, Abby could do anything. Chase any dream, walk any wire, and know that he’d be there beside her, every step of the way. She would never forget or stop loving Kyle, but the time had come to end the mourning and embrace the new future she’d been given.
“Do you think your mother is ever going to forgive me?” Justin asked.
Regardless of the fact that he’d saved Cooper’s garage and made her daughter exceedingly happy, Linda Ridgeway continued to hold a grudge. Intentionally or not, Justin had brought Quintin Culpepper to Ardent Springs, and furthermore, committed the greater offense of making her little girl cry.
Abby patted Justin’s arm. “Give her time. She’ll come around.” Turning to face him, she rubbed a thumb along his jawline. “I still can’t believe you sold your car for us.”
“For you,” he corrected. “A car can be replaced. You can’t.”
Sharing a secret, she whispered, “Cooper is already looking for a replacement. For the car,” she clarified. “He’s determined to do at least that much to thank you.”
Justin dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “I got everything I wanted, and I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Haven’t you figured out yet that it was always you? All those flower deliveries back in the day were an excuse to see that smile of yours. The night you set your kitchen on fire I wasn’t even on duty.” He laughed.
Abby blinked as her hand dropped to his shoulder. “You had a crush on me when you were eighteen?”
“A major crush,” he admitted. “The day I heard you tell the other nurses that you’d gotten married, my world ended.”
“That sounds very dramatic for an eighteen-year-old boy.”
“I was an old soul.” Justin squeezed her tight. “I admit, I tried to move on. I gave myself to other women.”
Laughter bubbled up and her cheeks ached from smiling. “No one could blame you for that. I had broken your heart, after all.”
“Shattered it into pieces,” he embellished. The man had missed his calling for the stage. “But you put it back together again, too. And now it’s all yours.”
“Always has been? Always will be?” Abby asked with a teasing tone. Those had been the words that brought her back to him. The words that made all the difference.
“Exactly.” He nodded, leaning down for a longer kiss, but they were interrupted by the sound of silverware tapping a glass.
Abby glanced over her shoulder to see Mama waving a knife in the air. “It’s time to cut the cake,” she announced.
“Remember where we left off,” Justin murmured, leading her back to their table near the front.
On the way, they passed the last couple she’d expected to see today. As one of Cooper’s longtime employees, Frankie had been invited to the wedding. And thanks to the exile of Quintin Culpepper, who’d been fetched home by his high-society mother, Becky Winkle was once again on Frankie’s arm.
A development that had taken most in attendance by surprise.
“Could I talk to you for a second?” Becky said, catching Abby by the wrist.
Shocked by not only the contact but the gracious tone from the typically caustic blonde, Abby said, “Um . . . Mama and Bruce are about to cut the cake.”
“This won’t take but a second,” she assured.
Seeing no reason to be rude, Abby surrendered. “Okay, then. Let’s talk.”
Becky smiled at Justin before saying “Excuse me, honey,” to Frankie and tugging Abby away from the crowd. Once they were alone behind a blooming crepe myrtle, the other woman halted, eyes anxious and hands clasped. “I know that you don’t like me, but I hope you’ll hear me out.”
Unwilling to lie, Abby didn’t correct the first part of her statement. “I’m listening.”
“Well,” she started, darting a glance back toward the table they’d just left. “I like Frankie. I like him a lot.”
There had to be a hidden camera in this tree somewhere. “That’s a little hard to believe when you recently ditched him for a stranger.”
“I know. I’m an idi
ot.” Who was this woman and what had she done with Becky Winkle? “I’m a sucker for a slick talker, and I know I should know better by now. I mean, I’ve been married enough times you’d think I’d have learned my lesson. But I want to change, and Frankie thinks you could help me do that.”
Dazed, Abby lost her tact. “You’ve been hateful since high school, Becky. Heck, you were hateful in grade school. You made Lorelei’s life miserable when she already had enough grief to deal with, losing her mom, and just last year you were horrible to Jessi when you learned she was your sister.”
“Half sister,” Becky corrected.
“Which proves my point. You aren’t a nice person. You never have been.”
Pale blue eyes narrowed before closing completely. Taking several deep breaths, the woman mumbled to herself before responding.
“I’m a spoiled brat, okay. Daddy poisoned me against Lorelei from a young age, but that’s no excuse for my behavior. I know that. But you can’t deny that I’ve always been the one left out. I know that people call me names. That y’all make fun of the way I dress and do my hair.”
Her wedding attire included a chartreuse skirt with a sunny yellow blouse, and her hair had been teased into submission, most likely held in place by an entire bottle of hair spray. A despairing look to say the least, but then making fun of the woman’s poor fashion sense didn’t make them any better than she was.
“You have to admit,” she said, searching for a noninsulting descriptor, “the outfits are a little loud.”
Smoothing the skirt, Becky said, “I like attention. I guess this is how I try to get it.”
Talk about a missed approach. “Try being nice instead. Smile once in a while, and not that sneer thing you do, but a genuine smile.”
“See,” Becky said. “That’s the kind of advice I need. I’m willing to put myself in your hands and do whatever you say. Within reason, of course.”
“Are you suggesting that I give you a makeover?” Abby asked.
Becky’s eyes twinkled with excitement. “That’s exactly what I’m asking.”
The obvious question had to be asked. “Why? You’ve never given the impression you wanted to change anything. So why now?”
Chewing the inside of her cheek, the tiny blonde shifted from foot to foot.
“When Frankie takes me places, no one will talk to him. It’s like he’s walked in with the plague. I knew that I wasn’t the most popular person in town, and that was fine when people were only avoiding me, but now they’re avoiding Frankie, and I hate that. He took me back after the Quintin mess, and he says he doesn’t care what other people think, but for his sake, I do.
“I don’t want to be the spoiled brat anymore, Abby. I want to be a woman that Frankie can be proud to have on his arm. Will you help me do that?”
She would likely regret this, but Abby said, “I guess we can try.” Knowing this was a job for the professionals, she added, “We’ll get you into Gertie’s first thing next week, and I’ll call Virgil about helping with your wardrobe.”
“Virgil Lexington?” Becky asked, a look of distaste twisting her lips.
“Yes, Virgil Lexington. If you have a problem with that, the deal is off.”
“It’s just that the dresses in his windows are always so . . . subtle.”
Abby nearly burst out laughing. “Embrace the subtle, Becky. You don’t need these crazy outfits to stand out. If you care enough about Frankie to even ask for help, there must be a good person hiding in there somewhere. We need to let her do the talking instead of the clothes.”
Wringing her hands, she said, “If you’re sure.”
“I am. Now let’s get some cake before it’s all gone.”
“What was that about?” Justin asked as Abby returned to her seat with a large slice of cake.
“You aren’t going to believe this,” she said, settling a napkin in her lap, “but I just agreed to make over Becky Winkle.”
His fork lingered inches above his plate. “You’re kidding. Are you hiding a magic wand in that dress?”
“I know, right? But she’s doing it for Frankie, so I caved.”
Justin watched the bearded man tuck the blonde under his arm. “They have to be the oddest couple ever.”
Abby followed his gaze. “I don’t know. They’re kind of cute.”
“In a King Kong sort of way,” he suggested. “If the gorilla wore thick glasses and the woman dressed like a Vegas marquee sign.”
“Be nice,” she scolded. “That’s my Cinderella you’re talking about.”
“What were you doing with Becky Winkle at the cake table?” Haleigh asked, slipping into the chair on the opposite side of Abby.
“She’s adding fairy godmother to her résumé,” Justin answered, earning a jab to his ribs.
Haleigh scoffed. “Please. Fixing that look would take more than fairy dust.”
“Stop it,” Abby hissed. “Becky has the courage to want to change, and I’m going to help her. We’re all going to help her.”
“We’re what?” Haleigh said.
“We who?” Justin asked at the same time.
Abby sat back and crossed her arms. “We all like Frankie, do we not?”
“Sure, but—” he started, only to be cut off.
“No buts. We like Frankie and Frankie likes Becky. She’s taken the first step by asking for help, and now we’re going to be the bigger people and grant our assistance.”
“Did you spike her drink?” Haleigh asked him.
“Maybe your friend Lorelei added something to the cake,” he replied.
“You two can joke all you want,” Abby said, sitting forward and scooping a bite onto her fork. “But I’ve recruited you whether you like it or not. We have a near thirty-year reputation to undo, and that’s going to take the whole team. Buckle up, because I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting ride.”
Stating the obvious, Haleigh whispered, “But we don’t like her.”
Abby shrugged. “Maybe we don’t know her.”
“Didn’t you all go to school together?” Justin asked, not the least bit surprised by the new development. Abby was a born caretaker, and when Frankie had asked if she might help Becky out, the answer had been an easy one.
“Yes,” Haleigh responded. “And she’s always been a bitc—”
Abby slapped a hand over her best friend’s mouth. “No one deserves to be judged by their past mistakes. Right, Haleigh Rae?” One thin brow arched. “That’s what I thought. If she reverts to her old ways, then at least we’ll know we tried. Until then, no more insults. Understand?”
The blonde nodded her agreement seconds before licking her friend’s hand.
“That’s gross,” Abby said, wiping her palm on her napkin.
The party was once again interrupted by the clinking of a glass.
“All the single ladies to the dance floor,” called Lorelei. “It’s time to throw the bouquet.”
Neither Abby nor Haleigh moved.
“What are you waiting for?” Justin asked. “You’re both single.”
“I’m engaged,” Haleigh replied.
“I don’t see a ring,” Justin argued.
“Your boyfriend’s being an ass,” she said to Abby.
“Abigail Louise, get your butt up here,” the bride ordered. “You, too, Haleigh Rae.”
Justin smirked, earning a smile from his better half.
“You know what it means if I catch this, right?” she asked.
He most certainly did. “What it means is going to happen eventually anyway, but a little insurance from the universe never hurts.”
Abby rewarded him with a slow, wet kiss before strutting to the dance floor, all blue chiffon and delicious curves. When Becky joined the group, Abby welcomed her with a smile, and less than a minute later a dozen women reached for the flowers, but only one came down with the prize.
Becky Winkle.
Justin was likely the only person who saw Abby bump the bouquet toward
her new project with her elbow and wasn’t surprised when the resulting applause lacked enthusiasm. In her excitement, Becky went from hugging Abby to hugging Haleigh, who looked as if she’d been accosted by a bear, the expression on her face priceless.
Color high on her cheeks, Abby returned to the table with pride in her eyes.
“You did that on purpose,” he whispered.
She returned to her cake. “I don’t know what you mean. I gave that my best shot.”
Once again, Justin wondered what he’d ever done to get this lucky.
“I love you, Abigail Louise,” he murmured, kissing her temple. “I don’t deserve you, but I love you.”
Leaning into him, she said, “That’s good. Because I love you, too. And I plan to keep loving you for a very long time.” She slipped a bite of cake between his lips before pressing her own against them.
Staring into her gorgeous emerald eyes, Justin had only one thought. Life didn’t get much better than this.
Acknowledgments
Because I somehow made this year even more complicated than normal, the people who support me in this crazy career were forced to go above and beyond to keep me together. As always, huge thanks to my agent, Nalini Akolekar, who never lost faith in my ability to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Or rather, a book out of thin air. She’s a rock and a bulldog and a friend I wouldn’t want to take this journey without.
Thank you to my editor, Alison Dasho, and the entire team at Montlake Romance, including Ahn Schluep and Jessica R. Poore. You make me smile, are always there when I need you, and by some higher power believe in me and my books. You’re my publishing fairy godmothers, and I’m blessed to have you on my side. Thank you, also, to Krista Stroever. This book is far better thanks to your patience and guidance.
To my daughter, Isabelle, who never blinks when waking for school to find her mother hasn’t been to bed yet, and to my writing buddies who talk me off the ledge more often than I’m willing to admit—Fran, Maureen, Marnee, Jessica, and Kim. To my street team, Team Awesome, for not minding constant neglect, and to every reader who has picked up one of my books. You’re by far the best part about this job.