Bad Boy (Invertary 5)

“Good point.”

A moment later, Matt appeared in the living room doorway. He was grim. “The idiot is here to talk to you.”

“I know a lot of idiots,” Abby said. “You’ll need to be more specific.”

A man stepped into view behind Matt and the wind went out of Abby. Great. That idiot. Flynn wore a faded blue tartan shirt that hung open, revealing his toned chest. A pair of blue sports shorts showed off one muscled leg and one with a chunk missing from the calf and the rest of it covered in angry red scars. He leaned on crutches, his easy charm absent.

Flynn hobbled into the room without being asked—another mark against him. He was a couple of inches shorter than his cousin, which made him about six feet tall. He didn’t have the same bulk as Matt, who stood behind Flynn with his arms folded over his wide chest. Nope, Flynn was all lean, corded muscle and toned power. Abby resisted the urge to count his abs. She’d been staring at his chest for weeks now. She didn’t need to count to know there was a perfect six-pack waiting to be ogled.

Abby scrambled to her feet and sucked in a quivering breath. No way was she going to sit on the floor to deal with the man.

“I’m sorry.” Her words came out as a sharp bark that sounded nothing like a genuine apology. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I’m sorry about earlier. There was no excuse for it. I will, of course, replace your stereo and pool.”

She straightened her back and raised her chin, as she was taught to do. He gave her a rueful smile.

“Yeah, about that.” He licked his lips and glanced at Matt.

Everything within Abby went on alert. She knew, with every fibre of her being, that she wasn’t going to like what came out of his mouth next.

His mesmerising silver eyes captured hers. “I have something I need to tell you. It isn’t good. Are you going to make a run for a knife? Do you need to be restrained?”

She narrowed her eyes at him before catching herself and replacing the expression with one of cool derision. “I think I can manage to control myself.”

“Yeah. Right.” He didn’t look convinced.

“Well?” she prompted, folding her arms. Jena came up beside her and put a hand on her shoulder in silent support. It was welcome.

Flynn rubbed a hand over his unshaven jaw. “It’s like this. There’s a sports network doing a documentary on me right now. They’re following me around for the next few weeks.” His eyes flicked to Matt before returning to her. He let out a sigh, heavy with resignation. “Your visit was taped. They put some of it on the internet. You’ve gone viral.”

Jena gasped. Matt cursed. Flynn’s attention remained firmly on Abby. He studied her like a science experiment gone wrong, waiting for her to blow. His muscles were tense, poised ready for flight. Abby blinked. She felt as though her focus was zooming in and out. As though the room was moving.

“I’m sorry?” Her voice was eerily soft and calm. “Did you just tell me my behaviour was filmed and made public?”

He nodded.

The afternoon’s events flashed through Abby’s brain in vivid colour and detail.

“And”—Flynn’s voice sounded as though it was coming from far away—“there’s more, but maybe you should sit down first.”

She felt Jena’s hand clench on her shoulder. Abby couldn’t sit. She couldn’t move. As in at all. Not an inch.

“Spit it out, Flynn,” Matt said with a growl.

“Okay.” Flynn actually took a step back from Abby. “The promotional clips were picked up by the news media. We made the ten o’clock news.” He paused. “All channels.”

That was when the world stopped. Abby blinked twice. Her breath faltered. Everything faded as stunned silence filled her brain. She felt herself falling.

And then she felt nothing at all.

???

“You broke Abby!” Jena wailed as she caught her friend before she hit the floor.

Flynn rushed forward to help, but his damaged leg gave way and he almost fell on his face in front of her. Bloody useless leg. Holding on to the back of an armchair, Flynn watched as Matt lifted Abby onto the couch.

Jena glared up at him. “When her husband died, she didn’t faint. When her business collapsed, she didn’t faint. When her family disowned her, she didn’t faint. When Katy was sick and rushed to hospital, she didn’t faint. You spend two months living next door to her, she’s acting like a crazy woman and passing out in her living room. You broke my best friend, Flynn Boyle.” She snapped her head towards Matt. “Hurt him, baby.” She pointed at Flynn. “Break something. I’ll be compassionate. You can break something he doesn’t use.” She glared back at Flynn. “Like his head.”

Matt looked like he might follow his wife’s orders. “If you weren’t already injured, I’d kick your arse.”