"Gage, I think going to the shore to get me taffy was an incredibly nice thing to do. And even if I don't like it, I'm very touched you went to so much effort because you thought I did. And, I hope now that everything's out in the open we can start over and become friends."
He gave her a sideward glance. He had an odd light in his eyes when he asked, "How much?"
Abby wasn't sure how to interpret the question, but something in his expression made her body start to hum again, like it always did when he looked at her a certain way. The way he looked at her now. She'd never experienced anything like it with another person.
"How much what?" she asked, the pull so strong it almost frightened her. She leaned into the counter as if needing an anchor to hold her in place.
"How much does it touch you?" His eyes were smoldering depths of forbidden passion. They traveled over her face like clouds brushing across the sky…shades of gray…deep and mysterious…smoky and forbidden.
"I just think it was nice. Not necessary, but nice. After all, you had no way of knowing I wasn't still married to Dick. You were trying to protect your company. I'm just glad the truth's out, and we can put all the other stuff behind us."
Picking up her glass, she headed back toward the living room. "I'm sure you've already considered there may be occasions when I have to cover for Harold Billings on your account. It'll go a lot smoother if we can be professionals about it."
Gage followed her out. "That's the other thing I wanted to talk about."
Abby turned. He stood in the kitchen doorway, his left hand in his pocket, the other holding the glass of wine, a picture of sophisticated elegance.
"What about it?" she asked, wondering if it would ever be possible for her to look at him and not be affected.
"I'm putting you back on the account."
~~~
Gage had anticipated an argument. Although he wanted her agreement, he felt an odd satisfaction at having predicted her reaction so accurately. It meant he was beginning to know her, and getting to know Abby held enormous appeal.
Her concerns were grounded. He knew it would be awkward for her. But he would have what he wanted and, after working with Billings for a week, he'd had enough of the guy.
He held firm until Abby relented. Once she accepted the situation, she moved right into problem solving mode. Gage was pleased with how quickly she could shift gears. If she approached other situations the same way, it would be a definite asset when they bumped up against problems on Riv One. It only confirmed his resolve to have her back on the account.
"So tell me exactly what you plan to say to Mr. Norwell?" Abby sat in one of two matching chairs on either side of a large trunk in her living room with her feet tucked up under her legs. Gage sat in the other wondering if it would scare her off if he kissed her.
She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, and regarded him, her expression serious as she awaited his reply.
"I'm going to tell him I've decided to work with you instead of Billings."
She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. "You can't just say that. He'll want to know why."
"Because that's what I want. He'll get his money no matter who handles the account, so I doubt he'll care."
"He'll think you're not satisfied with Harold."
"I'm not. I don't like the guy." He leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees to match her position and smiled. "I like you, Abby."
She looked at him as if to say get serious. He loved the way her expressions could tell a story when she allowed them to.
"Gage," she said, a bit of school teacher in her tone that he got a real kick out of. "I know you're probably used to saying jump and people saying was that high enough? But when it's just me, Norwell, and Billings, they're going to start asking me why."
"And you can tell them if they want the answer to that question, they need to ask me."
"But you said you're just going to say it's because that's what you want, with no further explanation."
"Look, Abby, you don't want Norwell to know we were already working together, right?" She gave a reluctant nod. "I have no problem telling the guy I think Billings is a worm. I won't because you said you didn't want me to do that. But you were excited about working on Riv One before, weren't you?"
"Yes," she sighed, nodding again.
"All right then, I really think the less said the better. Trust me on this. Norwell might scratch his head, but he'll do what I ask. Just act like you're as surprised as they are, and everything will blow over in a day or two."
"Oh, believe me." She rested her chin in her hands. "I won't have to act. Every time you and I have an encounter I walk away from it surprised."
He laughed. "I hope at least one or two of them have been pleasant ones."
She sat back and put her hands on her knees again. "One or two."
His gaze lingered on her mouth. The place he wanted his to be. "I should be going. I didn't even ask, but you might have had plans." He stood up.
She didn't confirm or deny it, which made him wonder if she might have a late night date. How many men had been waiting for Abby to rejoin the ranks of eligible female?
She stood up as well. "Actually I do, but they're flexible."
Gage frowned. He didn't like the idea of having to compete for Abby's affections, especially when he didn't know how many other men had their hats in the ring.
He followed her to the door. Mine. The thought rang in his head with a possessive zing. Wanting her exclusively for himself should concern him, but it didn't. He'd never been possessive of a woman, but in the case of Abby, nothing so far had followed his usual patterns.
"I'm glad you came." Abby gave him a warm smile when they reached the front door. "I know things are going to be weird at the office for a few days, but I really am happy I'll be working on the account again."
She reached out to shake his hand. He glanced at it but didn't take it. He wanted to seal their deal with more than a handshake. Besides, he had one more gift for her.
He fished into his back pocket. "This belongs to you. I thought you might like to have it."
Abby stared at the small red suede book he held in his outstretched hand. He heard her intake of breath. Her eyes slowly rose to his. "My diary," she breathed. Her voice was a mere whisper of disbelief. Her fingers trembled as she took it from him. "How did you?"
As he gazed down at her, the image of a young girl running away with tears streaming down her cheeks rose in his memory, and a part of him wished he could go back in time and wipe those tears away.
"God, what a horrible night!" She clutched it to her breast. "I wanted to die when my father accused you of…and I had to admit I made everything up…and everyone was laughing." She looked at the floor and bit her lip, so much emotion playing on her face he could barely keep from taking her in his arms.
"And when Kelly started reading about you kissing me and…you were so angry with me. I didn't have the courage to stay and face you."
"I wasn't angry with you."
"But I heard you curse. And I saw the look in your eyes. You looked like you might—"
He touched a finger to her lips. "I was mad, yes, but not with you. Your father had already humiliated you in front of dozens of people. I was furious with him. And I wanted to strangle Kelly for adding to your embarrassment, especially when it was over me. I took the diary from her and went looking for you, but you'd already disappeared. When I couldn't find you, and since I didn't want to go to your house and risk setting your father off again, I took it home and put it in my dresser drawer."
"Why'd you keep it?"
Gage shrugged. "I guess I thought I might run into you the next time I visited my aunt and uncle. I went back to school and forgot about it, and I never did see you again. On the drive to the shore this morning I started thinking about the scene with your old man, and I remembered the diary. I really didn't expect it would still be there, but when I checked the dresser in my old room, there it was, right wh
ere I'd left it all those years ago."
Abby stood very still for several seconds. He saw her shoulders begin to shake, and he reached out to hold her, intending only to soothe the humiliation he thought she must be reliving.
He pulled her gently against his chest and felt her shake harder. A surge of protectiveness filled him. He glanced down, intending to tell her it was all in the past.
She looked up and to his surprise he saw she was laughing! He eased back, staring at her, wondering if she could be having some hysterical sort of reach-back reaction.
"I'm so glad we cleared up that nonsense about me wanting to stalk you," she said between laughs. "If you'd read this, it might have made you wonder if it weren't true."
The amusement suddenly faded from her eyes and she frowned. "You didn't umm—" She glanced up at him through half-lowered lashes.
Gage hiked a brow.
"You know. You didn't read it, did you?" She chewed on her bottom lip and seemed to hold her breath.
"That wouldn't have been a very gentlemanly thing to do, now would it?" He arched his brow higher and adopted his best insulted look.
She released her breath and smiled. "No, it wouldn't. It's boring reading anyway, nothing but girlish fancy. Anyway, Kelly read the worst of it." She avoided his eyes. On a nervous laugh she added, "I don't know what my father got so upset about. It was just a kiss."
Gage bit his tongue—everything in its time. When she glanced back at him, he just smiled.
Abby blushed. She must have been worried she hadn't convinced him because she went on to say, "I mean, I was only a kid. What did I know? I don't even remember what I wrote, but I'm sure it was grossly exaggerated. I have quite a talent for exaggeration."
Gage ran his tongue over his lips. He saw her eyes flare. He took a step forward, brushing his hands up her arms again. "Did you exaggerate our kiss?" he asked, desire making his voice husky. Abby's mouth parted, and he watched as passion darkened her eyes.
She started suddenly. "Of course I exaggerated it. I told you I have a vivid imagination. And, well, reality's never as good as fantasy."
"Isn't it?" Gage pulled her closer and lowered his head toward hers.
"Gage, what are you doing?"
He weaved his fingers into her hair. "Testing that theory," he murmured, and captured her lips before she could object. He felt the moment she let go of her resistance and drew her in, angling his mouth over hers. Abby groaned and to his tremendous pleasure, returned his ardor.
The kiss went on, growing more desperate. Desire snapped through him, lashing out, whip quick and demanding. Moisture broke out on his forehead as he fought to control the need she ignited.
He ran his tongue over her lips and her mouth parted, and like a starving man he devoured her. He was wise enough to realize if he pushed her too far, too fast, he'd risk what he wanted most of all.
He'd staked a claim, now he would tend it carefully. Everything in its time, he reminded himself. And he wanted everything.
Her lips were still parted as he eased her gently away. They were moist, a bit swollen from their kiss, and they were his. Her lashes drifted up with a languid, dreamlike quality. Unable to resist one more taste, he covered her mouth again, slowly, gently, achingly. He wanted, knew she wanted, but he wouldn't rush her. When he finally took her to bed, which he knew was inevitable now, he wanted her to be very sure she wanted to be there with him.
"I think," he murmured against her lips, "your theory is full of holes." He ran the tip of his finger down the bridge of her nose, chucked her under the chin, and walked out the door.
CHAPTER SIX
Gage kissed her. She let him because she had wanted him so much. It was heaven, just as she knew it would be. She felt hot, starved for his touch. He pulled her against him and again she let him. She had wanted that, too, as much as his kisses. His hand moved up her ribs, and she knew he was going to touch her breast. She wanted that, too, to feel his palm on her bare skin. He wanted her desperately. She could tell, and she would give herself to him. She belonged to him and he belonged to her. She begged him to touch her, and he did, as if he'd only been waiting for her permission. He pushed her tank top up over her head and threw it on the beach. His hands were everywhere. He acted like he couldn't get enough of her, and she knew she'd never get enough of him.
Abby leaned back against the headboard and laid the open diary upside down across her legs. Man, thank God Gage hadn't read any of this because it was scaring her! Day after day of Gage wanting her, Gage needing her, Gage loving her. Why hadn't her parents insisted she go to tennis camp or something to keep her mind occupied?
She touched her mouth. Well, she finally knew what kissing him really felt like. And he'd been right. Reality had been better than anything she'd ever imagined. No man had ever kissed her so thoroughly. From the moment Gage's mouth had claimed hers she'd been lost. She had wanted it to go on forever. It had ended too fast. It could never happen again.
Abby grabbed one of the bed pillows, and bringing her knees up, leaned forward and buried her face in it. What if he'd just been testing her? What if now he wouldn't want to work with her again? She groaned loudly into the pillow. He'd probably just been curious. All that talk about kissing, and old crushes, and whatever—it happened—get over it.
Sleep finally quieted her woes. Amazingly, she slept undisturbed and woke Sunday morning feeling more rested than she had in weeks.
Abby spent the day cleaning and refused to think about Gage or the repercussions of their kiss. The temperature reached the low seventies. She opened the windows to air things out, enjoying the sound of the chickadees that came to the feeder in her tiny back garden. She scrubbed the kitchen and bathroom floors. She did a couple of loads of laundry.
That evening, she ordered pizza and watched A Fish Called Wanda. As much as she liked it, she didn't think anything beat Faulty Towers for vintage Cleese.
She was in the middle of brushing her teeth before going to bed when the phone rang. Still brushing, she picked up the phone. "Alo."
"Hello, green eyes."
That rush again. Damn. She took the brush out of her mouth. "Hi Gage." She wondered if he'd called to tell her he'd changed his mind again.
Aren't you supposed to be getting over it? So he kissed you. He probably got over it before the door closed! Of course he had, he kissed women all the time. So you think maybe the earth moved when he locked lips with you? Dream on, Abby girl.
"Did I interrupt anything important?"
"Important? Umm, no." She paced in front of the night stand. "I was just brushing my teeth." All right, good one. Just what he'd probably called to hear, an update on her dental hygiene.
"I won't keep you then. I thought you might be worried about tomorrow, and I wanted to put your mind at ease. Trust me, and I'll take care of everything."
"Okay. So you still want me on the account?"
"Of course I still want you. Why wouldn't I?"
"Oh, I don't know, just checking." She considered telling him if they were going to work together they should set some ground rules, but it probably would be better to do that in person. She'd wait. "Is that all?"
"That's all. I didn't want you to worry about it."
"Okay," she quipped, "thanks." She tapped the toothbrush against her bottom lip. "Bye."
"Goodbye, Abby." His voice went all deep and lazy again, wrapping around her like a warm soft blanket. "Actually, there was one more thing. You're a very good kisser."
She opened her mouth to respond only to realize he'd hung up.
~~~
Madeline brought glazed doughnuts to work on Monday. Abby passed the box several times without giving in to temptation. When she went to refill her coffee around nine thirty, her willpower crumbled, and she snatched one on the way back from the lounge and took it into her office.
It seemed every one of her clients picked that day to call for one reason or another. The morning flew by, and before she knew it, it was almost
one.
"I'm off to lunch," she told Madeline on the way out. "I'm just going to grab something from a vendor so I should be back in twenty or thirty minutes." Norwell hadn't stopped by her office with any news yet, and Abby didn't want to be gone long in case he did. She hated the anticipation, preferring to get on with things and deal with whatever fallout resulted when Gage called to say he wanted to change account managers.
She bought a hot dog from the corner stand and started back to the office. Halfway there, two teenagers on skateboards came breezing down the sidewalk. An elderly man walked out of a building right into their path, oblivious to any danger. Abby called out a sharp warning. It alerted the boys, who both swerved to avoid hitting the man, but in doing so one of them veered straight toward her.
Clutching the hot dog, she raised her arm in a reflexive gesture to protect herself. The skateboarder managed to prevent a full-on collision, but his elbow flew out as he careened by, knocking her hand into her chest and throwing her slightly off balance.
"Sorry lady," he called back from several feet beyond her. Abby steadied herself and glanced down at her white linen blouse where a large glob of mustard and ketchup had been left behind from the hot dog. She tried to wipe it off but only made it worse. Now she had a big fat pumpkin colored stain marking the location directly over her right nipple. Well that was just freakin' great!
When she got back to the office, she saw Billings coming down the hall from Norwell's office. His expression left no doubt Gage had finally called. He stopped about two feet in front of her, eyes glowering. "Norwell wants to see you immediately."
She headed toward her office to get her jacket but Billings snapped, "Now Carpenter! He isn't in any mood to be kept waiting." As she turned back, Billings stepped in front of her. "This little blip doesn't mean a thing."
If Norwell was in a mood, it would be unwise to keep him waiting even a second longer than necessary. She'd just have to clean herself up later.
She knocked on his door and waited for the familiar bellow. To her surprise, it opened quietly and Norwell said, "Come in, Carpenter." His conciliatory manner threw her off guard, and she cast him a wary glance as she entered the room. "You remember Mr. Faraday," Norwell indicated with an outstretched hand.
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