Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“Sell the property in New York City. I’m already looking for a smaller facility. We’ll use more fosters. We’ll make it work.”
“Just—let me think through solutions,” I say. “And we need a new place before I agree to anything.”
“Abbie—”
I kiss her cheek. “Let me think. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Are you staying here tonight for sure?”
“Yes. I’m staying.”
We say our goodbyes and hug, and when I’m alone, I do what I know I have to do. I find a quiet spot in the stable where I know Gabe won’t surprise me and I make the call I know I have to make. The one I hope I don’t regret.
Once the call is done, I’m shaking, but when I make my way back to Gabbie and find Gabe waiting on me, looking all kinds of hot and so completely male, I’m glad I did it. I don’t want to give him up. I don’t want him to be hurt. I walk up to him, push to my toes, and kiss him. “I really can’t wait to get back to your apartment in the city.”
He molds me close. “And I can’t wait to see you naked in my bed in the city again. And in my bathtub. And on my kitchen counter. And—”
I kiss him again and smile. “Take me there now.”
“Yes,” he says, his voice low and gravelly. “Let’s go.”
Chapter forty-five
Abbie
Abbie
Gabe and I walk the rows of animals and then find my mother to say goodbye. She hugs me and then follows up by doing the same to Gabe, but the look she gives me over his shoulder twists me in knots. She likes him, but she still thinks I need to distance myself from him. In fact, that’s why she wants me to distance myself.
I cut my gaze. I don’t want to walk away from Gabe. I’m done fighting our connection. And it won’t matter anymore. I’ve made my call. My ex is going to stop coming after us. I’ve made sure of it. My mom will see and so will Gabe, but for now, I decide to just enjoy Gabe, to enjoy life for the first time in a long time.
I link my arm with his and we walk to the car, laughing about some of our moments with the pups and Gabbie. An hour later, we’re still talking about the ranch, and eating burgers, me vowing I’ll work off my food. “You won’t need the gym,” he promises, winking before shoving a fry in his mouth, and I swear, only Gabe could make eating a fry sexy.
The man is pure sin and sex and he really does make me feel warm all over in all kinds of ways. And he makes me laugh. I laugh now, my cheeks heating.
“And she blushes,” he teases softy, using his thumb to caress my bottom lip. “And makes me want to eat her, not my food. Let’s go to the bathroom. It’s one stall with a locking door.”
“No,” I say. “Eat your burger.”
“Not you?”
I laugh. “Not here.”
“Ah. Not here. Is that a rule? No public places?”
“Yes. It’s a rule.”
“We’ll see if we get out of here with that rule followed.”
We do.
But he tries to change my mind.
Another hour later, we’re packing Dexter’s things into the car and loading up to head to the airport. “If you have this car, why do you bother with one in the city?”
“There are too many reasons a client might need me for me to be without a car, especially with a few of them living outside the city limits. What about you?”
“It’s too expensive to park a car I barely use,” I say.
“From billionaire’s wife to watching your pennies.”
Seeing where this might be headed, I quickly counter, “This is not about him, who for the record, we decided to leave out of our relationship, or his money. No matter how much money I had, I’d make that choice and save the parking money. Unless, of course, my job made a car necessary, but in New York City, that’s not the norm.”
Dexter whines and licks me, clearly aware that Gabe has just been reprimanded and apparently, I now need calming. I thank Dexter and arch a brow at Gabe. He pulls us into the airport and parks. “For the record,” he says, turning to look at me, “that question wasn’t about him. It was about you. Everything I do with you is about you.” He leans in and cups my face. “Remember that. I will never do anything for me that isn’t for you, too. You have my word.”
Despite his low, raspy tone, there is something intense and dark about his promise that shouldn’t be anything but sweet and thoughtful, but then, this is Gabe. He’s light and fun on the outside and layered with secrets and torment on the inside that should scare me. Nothing with him is as it seems. Instead, I’m intrigued. I’m drawn to him in every possible way.