What Might Have Been: Daniels Brother #4 (Daniels Brothers)

by Sherri Hayes

  For the next hour, they strolled along the path, stopping every now and then to get closer to the river’s edge. It felt normal and very peaceful. Abby knew she had Trent to thank for that. When she was with him, she could be herself. It was a good feeling. She only hoped it would last.

  ***

  Trent couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a more enjoyable evening. As they’d ambled along the riverbank, they’d talked some more about their time apart. He’d learned that Abby had gone back to school a few years ago and become a paralegal. Max had thought it might come in handy from time to time when dealing with clients.

  It was such a beautiful summer night that they drove back to Abby’s apartment with the windows down. Her hair was blowing in the wind and she kept trying to hold it down. He loved seeing her so relaxed.

  Abby shot him a look from beneath her flying strands of hair. “Are you laughing at me over there?”

  Of course her indignation only made his smile grow wider. “Nope.”

  Abby rolled her eyes and turned toward him. She rested her head on the back of the seat. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” he asked.

  She just continued to stare at him and grinned.

  When they arrived at her place, he helped her out of the truck and followed her up the walkway to her door. He was hoping she’d invite him in, but he had no idea what was going through that mind of hers.

  Trent got his answer when she pushed the door open, reached for his hand, and encouraged him to come inside. She barely gave him time to shut the door and turn the lock before she fell against him, pushing him against the door. She gazed up at him for a moment and then placed a barely there kiss against his lips while drawing circular patterns on his chest with her fingers.

  The sensations were completely opposite and it was short-circuiting his brain. He went to put his hands on her hips, to bring her closer, but as soon as his fingers grazed her skin, she backed away from him.

  Abby strolled across the room, swinging her hips seductively. She glanced back at him for a brief moment before returning her attention to the bookshelf in front of her.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  Soft jazz music filled the room.

  She came to stand in front of him again.

  “Did you have a sudden desire to listen to music?”

  “We need music to dance.”

  Trent raised his eyebrows and looked at their surroundings. “You want to dance? Here?”

  “Uh-huh.” Abby didn’t wait for him to catch up to her way of thinking. She ran her hands up his arms, rested them on his shoulders, and began swaying her hips. He had no choice but to follow her lead.

  Trent wasn’t the best dancer, but he could hold his own. He held her close and moved them in a small circle.

  Abby had rested her head on his chest and he wondered if she could hear the thunderous beating of his heart. She belonged in his arms. He never wanted to let her go. He was hoping he wouldn’t have to.

  “If you’d told me you wanted to go dancing, I could have found someplace that had a little more room.”

  She shook her head. “This is perfect.”

  He didn’t argue with her. Although it would have been nice to have a little more space, he couldn’t dispute the advantages. They were completely alone. To emphasize that fact, he lowered his hands and cupped her ass.

  Abby tightened her grip on his shoulders before going up on her tiptoes. She brushed her lips along his collarbone, snaking her tongue out for a lick.

  Trent chuckled and dug his fingers into her backside. “You’d better be careful. You’re playing with fire.”

  “Oh really?” she asked, before nipping at the skin at the base of his neck with her teeth.

  A hiss escaped his lips.

  With one hand still firmly on her ass, he braced the other at the base of her neck and brought her mouth to meet his in a hard kiss.

  Abby gasped and clung to him as he thrust his tongue into her mouth, taking what he wanted. He was so hot for her—so turned on. It felt as if his erection would rip through his shorts at any given moment.

  He backed her against the nearest wall and slid his left hand under her dress until he found the edge of her panties. The lace scratched at his fingers as he worked them down her legs with little finesse. He didn’t care how he did it. The only thing he cared about was getting them out of his way.

  Finally, he let the material fall from his fingers. Abby kicked off her shoes and the panties that had bunched around her ankles.

  As soon as she was free, he wasted no time going after what he wanted.

  Abby moaned and arched against him as he touched her. She was more than ready for him, but he wasn’t going to give in quite yet. There was a part of him that wanted to hear her beg for it—beg for him.

  Trent covered her mouth again with his own, capturing each of her sighs and moans as he brought her closer to the brink. But he wasn’t done with her yet. He didn’t want her going over the edge until he was ready. So when he felt her begin to tense, he pulled back, dropping his hand.

  “What?” She blinked as if trying to clear her head. Then, when what he’d done registered, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Why did you stop? I was so close.”

  Trent reached up and smoothed his fingers over her lower lip. “I know.”

  “Then—”

  Before she could finish her sentence, he crushed his mouth over hers again. Seconds later, she was caught up once more in the sensual dance of their tongues. This time, however, Abby wasn’t content to let him set the pace. She fisted her hand in his shirt and held it in a death grip.

  The sides of his mouth pulled up in a smile.

  “Something funny?” she asked, and kissed him again.

  “Yes,” he mumbled, not breaking their connection.

  All amusement went out the window when she popped open the button on his pants and plunged her hand inside. He jerked his hips into her grasp.

  “Not so funny when the shoe is on the other foot, is it?” She punctuated her question by giving him a little squeeze.

  Done with the games, Trent released her and shucked his pants, kicking them out of the way. Then he took the hem of Abby’s dress and lifted it over her head. He threw it behind him, not caring where it landed. The only thing left between them was her bra and that was swiftly removed and discarded.

  Without the barrier of clothing, things escalated quickly. Trent palmed her ass and lifted her up off the ground. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held on while he carried her into the bedroom.

  The sun was setting and the light coming through the windows gave everything an otherworldly feel. He laid her down on the mattress and hovered over her, running a hand down the length of her body. She was everything he’d ever wanted, and for the moment she was his.

  Abby placed her hand along the side of his face and he looked up to meet her gaze.

  “I know,” she whispered.

  He kissed the inside of her palm. “Do you?”

  She nodded.

  Trent wanted to ask her if she felt the same way about him, but he didn’t. Instead, he covered her body with his and brought their mouths together for a kiss that was much different than the one they shared up against her wall. As the heat built between them once more, he slipped his hand between them and positioned himself at her entrance.

  “Please,” she begged.

  He pressed his forehead against hers and looked into her eyes as he pushed inside. “Always.”

  Trent had no idea if she knew what he’d meant, but he knew and that was what mattered. Abby had always owned his heart and he knew she always would. Now it was up to her to decide if she would give hers to him in return.

  Chapter 19

  When Abby walked in to work on Wednesday morning, she had a goofy grin on her face. She couldn’t help it. The night before with Trent was something she’d never forget.

  It had been so much more than sex. Trent had
a way of seeing past all the walls she put up to protect herself. He knew her. Maybe better than anyone else. Her entire body had responded to him, and even now she ached to have him inside her again. It was completely irrational for an independent woman such as herself, but she wanted him, and on some level she needed him as well.

  Abby leaned back against the wall and daydreamed about the night before as she rode the elevator up to her floor. It had been a long time since she’d felt this way. Reality would come crashing through her good mood eventually, but until then she was going to enjoy it.

  The elevator doors opened and she stepped out onto the executive floor. It didn’t take her more than a few seconds to spot Max sitting behind her desk. “Something wrong with your office?”

  He stopped rifling through the stack of papers and stared at her.

  “What?” she asked, standing up a little straighter.

  “I was going to ask you the same question.” He sat back in her chair and brought his index finger up to press against his lips, studying her. “Something happened last night.”

  She turned on her heel and walked into the small break room down the hall. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. And you still haven’t answered my question. Why are you at my desk instead of in your own office?”

  Max followed her. He stopped right inside the door and stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall.

  Abby pretended like she didn’t notice. She removed a clean mug from the cabinet and poured herself a cup of coffee.

  When she turned back around, the look on his face had changed. If she didn’t know any better, she’d say he looked sad. “Just spit it out, Max. I’ve got work to do.”

  “I'm going to lose you, aren’t I?”

  It didn’t take a genius to know what he was referring to. She peered down into her coffee and bit the inside of her cheek. “I don’t know.”

  “You’re falling in love with him.” It wasn’t a question.

  Abby gripped her mug tighter and took a minute to gather her thoughts. When she looked up to respond, Max was no longer there.

  Confused as to why he would take off in the middle of their conversation, Abby marched out of the break room and made a beeline for his office. He was standing, facing away from her, looking out the large bank of windows that framed the back of his office.

  She placed her coffee down on his desk and walked over to him. “Max, what’s going on? Did you find something out with the reports you’ve been working on?”

  “No. I’m still waiting for the independent accounting firm to get back to me with their final analysis.”

  Abby placed a comforting hand on his arm. Had there been a new development with his father? “Then what is it?”

  He sighed but didn’t look at her. “I was sitting with my dad last night.”

  Her heart sank. “How’s he doing?”

  Max gripped the windowsill and leaned forward slightly, not taking his eyes off the Cincinnati skyline. “He went in for some tests on Monday. The cancer’s spread even more than they’d thought. They don’t—”

  There was a catch in his voice and she knew he was trying to hold himself together.

  “They don't know how much longer he has. The doctors told Dad to make sure he had his affairs in order.”

  “Oh, Max, I’m sorry.”

  He turned to her then and rested his forehead on her shoulder. A shudder moved through his large form as he released a ragged breath. “I guess I kept thinking—hoping—that he’d get better, you know?”

  She placed a hand at the base of his neck, wanting to give him what comfort she could. “I know.”

  A knock sounded at the door and a throat cleared, drawing their attention. Max pulled away and turned once again to face the window.

  Abby greeted their intruder. “Good morning, Phil.”

  The accounting manager averted his eyes and held up the file he was carrying. “I brought the report Mr. Collins requested.”

  Phil looked extremely uncomfortable, almost as if he’d barged into the office and caught her and Max in a compromising position. It made her wonder what kind of office gossip was going around. Abby and Max didn’t exactly have a traditional working relationship, but they also tried to keep things professional while at work. Today was a rare occasion when they’d both allowed that to slip away.

  Abby crossed the room and took the file. “Thank you, Phil.”

  It was a clear but polite dismissal. Max wouldn’t want anyone to see him like this.

  Phil hesitated for only another moment before backing out of the office. “Let me know if you need anything else from my department.”

  As if someone had lit a fire under his feet, he darted out the door.

  With Phil gone, Abby closed the door and placed the file on Max’s desk before rejoining him at the window. He glanced over at her. The short time it had taken her to deal with Phil had given Max a few moments to center himself. He gave her a half smile. “I wonder how long it will take for everyone in the building to hear about what Phil walked in on.”

  “If the look on his face was any indication, not long. I’m guessing we’re going to be the topic of discussion over lunch today.”

  Max’s mood shifted again. “Sorry for breaking down like that.”

  “You just found out some devastating news. I think it’s allowed.”

  This time the smile that graced his face was genuine. “What did I ever do to deserve your friendship?”

  She bumped her hip into his and he laughed.

  “Thanks,” he said.

  “Anytime.” Abby pushed herself away from the window and retrieved her coffee from his desk. Before she left his office, she met his gaze once more. “You know I’ll always be your best friend, right? No matter what happens between me and Trent.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to rain on your parade. It was pretty obvious you were flying high on some post-sex endorphins.”

  Abby felt herself heat and her thoughts immediately went to Trent’s comment about how much he loved to see her blush.

  “See what I mean?” Max chuckled. “I’m happy for you, Abby. Really.”

  “But?”

  He sighed. “But it means I’m going to have to find myself a new assistant when I head back to New York. The selfish part of me isn’t happy about that.”

  “This thing with Trent is still new,” she said, trying to lessen the blow. “And there’s the whole issue with Chris and his family. I don’t know what’s going to happen yet.”

  “It’ll work out. I’ve known you for fourteen years and I’ve never seen you with that look on your face.”

  “And what look is that?”

  Max grinned and reached for the file Phil had brought him. “Like Trent Daniels took you on a trip to the moon and back.”

  Her face was on fire. She could only imagine how red she was.

  Max laughed and flipped open the folder. “Enjoy it, okay, Abby? You deserve to be happy. Even if it means I have to go through the extremely unpleasant task of finding someone to replace you.”

  While she was glad he was taking it so well, she was surprised he seemed okay with the possibility that she’d be staying in Ohio. “I thought you’d be more upset.”

  “Why’s that?” He scanned over the papers in front of him.

  Some people would get upset that he was carrying on such a serious conversation and working at the same time, but that was Max. She didn’t hold it against him. “Because you don’t like Trent.”

  Max met her gaze from across the room, completely ignoring the papers that’d had his attention moments before. “I stand by my original statement. If he breaks your heart, I’ll kick his ass.”

  Before she could second-guess herself, Abby walked over to Max and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  He waved her away.

  Abby chuckled.

  “Get out of here before someone realizes I’m just a big softie,” he said.

&nbs
p; Abby shook her head and reached for the doorknob. “Let me know what you need me to do. If your mom wants me to make any arrangements or call anyone, I can, even if it’s after hours.”

  He nodded.

  She went to her desk and booted up her computer. As she was waiting for everything to come online, it occurred to her that Max had never told her why he’d been at her desk.

  Before she could decide whether to let it go or not, her cell phone dinged, indicating she had a message. Thinking it might be Trent, she scrambled to dig it out of her purse.

  It wasn’t Trent.

  Do you have our flight information for Friday? I assume we will be flying out of Cincinnati.

  The sender didn’t have to sign it. She knew it was from Chris.

  Yes. What is your e-mail address and I’ll forward it to you? - Abby

  Several seconds later, her phone dinged again and his e-mail address popped up on the screen.

  Figuring there was no time like the present, Abby logged on to her e-mail and found the airline confirmation. Once she forwarded it to him, she sent him another text.

  I sent you the confirmation. – Abby

  Abby paused, unsure if she should say anything else. Were they meeting at the airport?

  Before she could decide to say anything or not, she got another message.

  I will pick you up at two.

  She guessed that answered that question.

  Okay. I’ll be ready. – Abby

  She leaned back against her chair and closed her eyes. It was going to be a very long weekend.

  ***

  When Abby emerged from the office building, Trent hopped out of his truck to meet her. The moment she saw him her eyes lit up. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Are you meeting with Max?”

  “Nope,” he said, rocking back on his heels. “I’m here to see you.”