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Gabe
At the sight of the emergency vehicles, Abbie sits up on the edge of her seat. “What’s going on?”
I keep my voice calm, level. “Law enforcement tend to overreact to high profile residence needs. They’re probably aiding the set-up of the temporary shelter. I’ll call Grayson for news.”
“Aiding the rescue with all those lights?” she asks incredulously. “Why would they do that? That would cause scandal and fear in the community.”
She’s right and my phone is already in my hand, finger already on the button to call Grayson. He answers on the first ring. “Are you at the ranch?”
“Yes, and I was about to call you. It’s a gaggle down here. A neighbor called the police because we were on the property and then the police car scared a horse, and the rider ended up with a broken leg. We’re trying to get everyone cleared out of here before the dogs get here and get spooked, too.”
Relief washes over me. “We’re about to pull up to the ranch. We’ll be right there.” I disconnect and update Abbie.
“Oh thank God. I thought—Just thank God.”
She thought her ex did this and that brings questions to my mind. Nothing about this man coming at her this hard makes sense. Nothing. He’s filthy fucking rich. Why would that property be this valuable to him? This is a conversation I’ve tried to have with her, and the only way I know to get her to open up to me is to be naked, in all ways. The problem is I don’t know if I can get her that naked as fast as I need her to be. Because this isn’t just about naked in body. It’s naked emotionally. I keep going back to there being something that she’s not telling me about this situation.
I pull to the side of the road. “Why are we stopping?” Abbie asks, sounding worried.
I place us in park and flip on the lights, illuminating her features. “You don’t have to tell me now,” I say, turning to her, “but you’re going to have to tell me, or even Reid, what the hell is really going on with your ex.”
“I told you—”
“That you don’t know what this is about, but you assumed he was why there were emergency vehicles here, Abbie. All of the people I’ve involved matter to me. I need to know what I am getting them into. I need to know what you’re into so I can protect you with them.”
“I didn’t ask you to protect me, Gabe, and of course, I assumed he was behind this. He’s come at me hard and fast in the past few hours.”
“There’s a reason.”
“I told you. I don’t know that reason and you acting like I’m lying to you is pissing me off.”
The truck carrying the dogs drives past us. She reaches for the door. I catch her arm. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to help.”
“We’ll meet them inside the ranch,” I say.
“Let go, Gabe. You and your accusations are too much right now. I can’t take it.”
“I need to know what I’m dealing with. That’s all.”
“And I’ve told you what I know. Let me go.”
“No. Stay with me.”
“So you can sit next to a liar that’s pulling you into some sort of nefarious act that you don’t even understand?”
“So that I can earn your trust.”
“Earn my trust? What about you trusting me?”
“This isn’t about trust. It’s about fear. You’re afraid of him.”
“Yes, I am. Which is why I told you to back off of this. And in case you don’t remember, I did that to protect you and everyone around you. I didn’t bring all these people into this. I tried to keep them out, Gabe. I tried. I pushed you. I—”
I drag her to me, tunneling my fingers in her hair and kissing the hell out of her, a long stroke of my tongue against hers. She presses against my chest, resisting, and that guts me. I deepen the kiss, stroking my tongue against hers yet again, and this time she moans. “Damn you,” she whispers against my mouth. “Damn you, Gabe.”
“Damn me, why?”
