Abby (Tate Family Holidays 2)

“How come I have the feeling if I go home to shower and change clothes, you won’t let me back in?” he asks me before kissing the top of my head.

I allow myself to lie back in his arms momentarily, enjoying the feel of being in his arms. I want to tell him—hell, I want to beg him to stay, but I know this won’t last and I’ll just get hurt in the end.

“It’s probably best if I don’t,” I tell him honestly.

His arms and body tighten against me. “Why, Abby? Explain it to me.”

I turn in his arms, but I can’t make myself back away. “We’re, I don’t know, just too different.”

He smiles at me before kissing me. His kiss goes on and on, making my toes curl. When he pulls away, he leans his head against mine. “Abby, I’ve had women that wanted to be with me because of how much money I have. But you DON’T want to be with me for the same reason.”

I laugh when he puts it that way.

“You can laugh if you want, but it’s true. And I’m not letting you throw this away. Just give us a chance. We’ll take it as slow as you want.”

I look into his eyes and see the sincerity there. He’s right. I feel it too; I know we have something special. And as long as it’s here, just the two of us, we’ll be fine. I merely nod my head at him, and he puts his hands on each side of my face. “So, if I go across the hall for ten minutes, you going to let me back in?”

“Yes,” I say before I get up on my tiptoes and kiss him again.

Brent

After spending another night in her bed and then waking up next to her, I know that this is how I want to spend the rest of my life. Yeah, it’s fast. But I’ve fallen, and I’ve fallen hard. The next day, I stop by her jobsite. After meeting Jackson and talking business a little bit, I then find her and make sure I claim her for everyone there to see. I latch my lips to hers and don’t come up for breath until we’re both gasping. The guys hoot and holler, but after I give them a death glare and Jackson orders them back to work, the commotion dies down.

“I know what you’re doing.” She smiles up at me.

My chest bows out proudly. “What? I had to stake my claim. I can’t have any of these men thinking they can come and take my woman from me.”

“Really. You worried about him?” she asks and points over to the corner, where a man is bent over working and half his butt crack is hanging out of his jeans.

We both laugh quietly, but then I look at her sincerely. “Even him, Abby. I don’t like to think about you working with all these men. You’re mine, honey. The sooner you realize it, the better I will feel about everything.”

She rolls her eyes. “Brent…”

I lift my shoulders up in a shrug. “I know, I know…. We’re taking it slow.”

The next two weeks pass by quickly, and they are perfect. Abby is everything I want and more. She’s smart, beautiful, determined, kind… she’s the whole package. But there’s something holding her back. We’ve had a great time every night just hanging out, watching movies, and eating dinner.

But ever since I asked her to attend a fundraising gala with me, she has been pulling back.

The night of the event rolls around and I know that she is tense. That beautiful smile she has is missing.

“Why don’t you just go without me?” she asks me for the umpteenth time.

“I’m not going without you. I want to have you with me… by my side… where you belong,” I tell her as I clasp the necklace around her neck. She is absolutely breathtaking.

She has gotten used to wearing my white button-down shirts in the evenings and I can’t decide if I like her better in that or this red dress with the plunging neckline. She’s stunning no matter what.

“This is a mistake, Brent. Just let me stay home,” she begs.

I stroke my hands down her body and grab on to her hips. “We haven’t gone out in these last two weeks together. And don’t get me wrong, I love having you to myself. But I want to take you out on a date, Abby.”

Reluctantly, she agrees and before she can change her mind, I lead her to the town car waiting outside.

“You look beautiful, Abby,” I tell her honestly.

She smiles at me, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thank you.”

Chapter 7

Abby

I knew this was a bad idea. And I was right when I see all the mean girls from my high school days walking around in their fancy dresses. He doesn’t realize that I’m not really one of the popular girls and I don’t run in his circle. I hold my breath and will the night to be over, because he’s going to find out soon enough.