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“I don’t know. I just know that he’s coming at us hard and fast and he didn’t do that until this property became an issue for him.Once it’s gone, she’s free. And I’m going to give her her freedom. I’d like you to still be standing when that happens.”
My jaw sets. “I will be, but he won’t and you aren’t selling the property. I told you. Wait. I have this handled.”
“Back out of this, Gabe.”
“No. I will not back out of this and leave Abbie, and you for that matter, or even the animals, to deal with this alone. I’m in this. I’m with your daughter. The end.” I hang up.
The door opens and Abbie appears. “Gabe?”
“Yes, sweetheart? Are you ready?”
“Yes. I have a suitcase and—I really shouldn’t be doing this.”
“Yes. You should.” I slide my hand under her hair and lower my mouth to hers. “I meant it when I said you belong with me.” I brush my lips over hers, and the tremble of her mouth beneath mine tells me how affected she is by the connection. Good. Because I’m fucking quaking inside for this woman. I’m taking her home. I’m taking her from him.
The end.
His end.
An hour later, Abbie’s bag is in my master bedroom, and I settle Dexter into his new home and even order a few extra supplies online for same-day delivery. I slip in a few extra things to the order I need right about now that I don’t want Abbie to know about. “Tomorrow we’ll go shopping,” I say, pouring her a glass of wine. “To drink in the bathtub. I have a giant one that never gets used. Be the first to break it in.”
“The first?”
“Yes. The first. In literally years.”
“I’d really love a bubble bath. I don’t suppose you have bubbles?”
“No. I don’t, but I ordered some.” The doorbell rings. “Just in time.”
She smiles and shakes her head. “You, Gabe.” She walks to me and pushes to her toes to kiss me. “You.”
“You,” I whisper and caress her hair from her eyes. “Go get unpacked. I’ll bring you the bubbles.”
She smiles again, God, I love her smile, it’s like sunshine and honey, and so damn addictive. She hurries away and Dexter follows her.
I answer the door, bring the bags inside and grab the bubbles plus a bag of treats, carrying them upstairs, and spend a few minutes laughing as Abbie shows me the tricks she’s just figured out Dexter knows. I reward the pup with a piece of jerky and Abbie with her bubbles. She rewards me with a kiss that sends me back downstairs more determined in my mission than ever. The apartment feels different with her and Dexter here. Alive. I feel alive in ways I didn’t know I could feel alive.
I grab one of the bags from the counter and walk to my office and shut the door. Once there, I open one of the three disposable phones I’ve purchased and sit down. It’s time to make the call that ends this and Abbie’s ex.
Chapter forty-eight
Abbie
Ahot bath.
Bubbles.
Wine.
A dog.
A hot man.
If only the asshole that used to be my husband was gone, life would be pretty perfect right now. I down the last of my wine and wrap up in a big fluffy towel, and I really truly don’t know the last time I felt this pampered. It was years before I left my past life because nothing felt special in that world for a very, very long time before I finally departed. I think about the night I left and shove that memory, or rather nightmare, aside.
I dig in my bag and pull out my rose-scented lotion. I slather it on, pull on a pink silk gown and matching robe, right as Gabe appears in the doorway holding the bottle of wine. His eyes rake over my body and my God, I swear I feel his inspection like a lick and a touch that travels here and there and everywhere. My nipples are puckered. My breasts heavy and aching. My sex clenched, thighs wet.
His gaze lifts to mine. “You have no idea how much I like coming in here to you.”
