Chapter 16
Sixteen
“ A re you working by yourself today?” Abby set her purse on the chair next to her and eyed the chocolate chip cookies Emma had on display. It had been such a long week, but it was finally Thursday. And she desperately needed a pep talk from Emma.
“Yeah, Mel has a big project for one of her classes and I didn’t want her to stress about hours this week. So, it’s just me here today and tomorrow.”
“You are the best boss, Em. And the best landlord. I could tell you horror stories about the ones I had in college.”
“You think Sam would ever let me hear the end of it if I was a bad landlord to his sister?”
Abby laughed. “You know Sam is scared of you, right? He’d definitely let it slide.”
Emma smiled. “Listen, I can’t help it if people realize I’m a bad bitch. Those people are probably the ones who will live longest because of their great self-preservation skills.”
“So true.”
“Now, as much fun as I’m having listening to you agree with my self-praise, I know you aren’t here for that. I usually don’t see you after school. What’s going on?”
“John and I are going out tonight.”
“That’s right! How could I forget? Please tell me you aren’t wearing that.” Emma pointed at Abby’s outfit and wrinkled her nose.
“What’s wrong with this?”
“For one, it screams ‘preschool teacher’, not ‘fuck me on the hood of your truck and let me call you daddy’.”
“Em!”
“Just make sure you use double protection. Jackson got Grace pregnant the first go. I think John ended up with Katy that way too. Those Boone boys get it done.”
“If you must know, Mom , I’ve got the implant in my arm.”
“Good. Now what are you going to wear?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t even know what we’re going to do. I was just thinking black leggings an?—”
“Oh shit,” Emma hissed as she pulled her hand into her apron.
“What?” Abby put down her coffee mug and dropped off the stool. “Are you okay?”
“No… I mean yes.” Her eyes closed as she raised her face towards the ceiling. “I cut my hand. I hate blood.”
Abby swallowed, her own body starting to feel slick with cold sweat. “Yeah, I know you do. Come sit down.”
She wrapped her arm around Emma and led her over to a booth. The color was rapidly draining from Emma’s face. Shit, what the hell would she do if she passed out?
“What can I do?” Abby asked. “Do you need some water? Want me to take a look and I’ll clean it up for you while you keep your eyes closed?”
“No. Can you just call Seb?” Emma reached inside her apron and pulled out her phone. “He’s the first speed dial.”
“Yeah, I can definitely do that.”
Abby stepped back towards her abandoned coffee, keeping an eye on her pale friend.
“Sprinkles. I thought you’d be too busy to call me randomly today.” Sebastian answered the phone and Abby cringed.
“Sebastian, it’s Abby.”
“Where is she? What’s wrong?” The alarm in his voice made her own heart pump harder in her chest.
“She’s okay. She just had an accident and cut herself. She really is fine, but just shaken up. If you can get away from work, you should probably come over.”
“I’m already on my way. Can you give her the phone?”
“Sure.”
Abby turned to walk back towards Emma when the door to the front of the bakery chimed and Sebastian came running in. There really were perks for the bakery being across the street from Montgomery Equities.
Abby pulled the phone away from her ear and tried to ignore the shaking in her hands. She tipped her head towards the booth at the end of the shop where Emma was sitting, her eyes locked on her fiance as he made his way towards her.
“Let me see it.” Sebastian took Emma’s hand as Abby slipped the phone back onto the table. He would take care of Emma. She could go.
She could go.
She could leave and get back to her apartment.
She needed to go, but her feet were glued to the floor. Her muscles wouldn’t listen to her brain begging them to move. To leave the shop. She needed to leave before the walls started to close in.
There was no doubt in her mind that seeing the blood from Emma’s cut had brought back a wave of emotions from the night she was attacked. The way the blade had sliced into her skin. The way Emma had gasped. It all came rushing back at her.
Stickiness dripped down her neck. She could feel the warmth sliding over her skin, her breath growing pained as the panic set in.
Strong hands grabbed both of her arms and she blinked the bakery back into focus.
“Abby? You okay?” Sebastian’s gray eyes were locked on her, concern written on his face.
“Y-yes. I just got lost in thought.”
“Why don’t you sit down for a minute. Are you not good with blood, either?” Abby had never had that aversion, but her stomach did feel weirdly queasy.
“No. I’m fine, really. I just need to get back upstairs. Lots to do… John and I are going out tonight… oh, please don’t say anything to Sam.” She looked at Emma, who nodded with a weak smile. “I need to get ready for that.”
“I really think?—”
Abby gave Emma a small wave before grabbing her bag off the chair and all but running out of the bakery. She climbed the stairs, air becoming harder and harder to get into her lungs until she forced the key into the lock and fell into her living room.
John would be lying if he said Sebastian’s call hadn’t scared the shit out of him. The two had been keeping in contact about Marco and the ongoing investigation into the Santoro crime family. When he’d answered the call, he’d been expecting information about that. Not that Sebastian was in the bakery with Emma and he’d just watched a panicked Abby run to her apartment.
He said goodbye to Katy, who he was in the middle of dropping off at his mother’s house for the night, before running to his truck and driving over to Main Street faster than he should have.
There was just something in his gut telling him he needed to get to her. Fuck, his heart wasn’t going to calm down until she was in his arms. Slamming the truck door shut, John ran around the back and up the stairs to Abby’s apartment.
The first knock went unanswered, and John drew in a ragged breath, trying to stop the instinct to kick down the door. The second time, he knocked more forcefully and waited. Finally, he heard the chain sliding and the door opened to reveal a sleep-rumpled Abby standing in front of him.
But she couldn’t have been sleeping. There wasn’t enough time between the call from Seb and his arrival there for her to.
Abby ran into his arms and before he could register the tears streaming down her face, she pressed her lips against his. Holy fuck, she was kissing him again. It was everything he remembered it being. Her lips were so fucking soft and warm.
John thought maybe it was a fluke the first time he felt it, but that kiss sealed the deal. He finally understood what Jackson meant when he said that kissing Grace was like coming home, because that’s exactly what it felt like with Abby. Finally being home. Finally being with his other half. Finally being at peace.
Slowly, he pulled away. Her eyes went wide as she swiped at her cheeks, red rapidly building on her pale skin.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I just assaulted you.”
“Trust me, beautiful, I’ve been thinking about doing that every minute of the day since we kissed last week. Was maybe even planning on doing it tonight on our date.”
“And I stole the moment. I’m so sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Baby,” John pushed her hair behind her ear before he placed his thumb under her chin to raise her face towards him. “Anytime you want to take the lead, that’s fine by me.”
“I’m not usually like that. I wasn’t expecting it to be you at the door and I was just happy to see you standing there, I guess.”
“Who were you expecting it to be? Why are you crying?”
“It’s nothing. I don’t even know. I think you giving me permission to cry the other night just sort of opened the floodgates.” A smile flashed across her face, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Actually, what are you doing here? We aren’t going out for a few more hours, right?”
“Sebastian called me. Said you left the bakery upset. I came to make sure you’re okay.”
“He shouldn’t have bothered you. I’m fine. I promise.” Her eyes drifted down his body. “You’re still in your uniform.”
“I was dropping Katy off. Grace had her from school pickup, but my mom is working on something for the Christmas pageant and she needed me to bring her over right after I got done with work. There’s never a dull moment when you have kids to shuffle from place to place.”
“Wow.”
“Sometimes it feels like I’m juggling a mini-celebrity’s schedule with all the places Katy goes every day. She’s busier than I ever was at that age.”
“It’s good that she has so many people in her life.”
“I guess you’re right. That’s a good way to look at it.”
“You know, I just realized you kissed me while in your uniform, Deputy. I thought that was a no-no.”
“Well, technically, you kissed me. Remember?” He loved the way her cheeks flushed. “So, can I come in?”
She shook her head. “No.”
His stomach sank.
“No? Why not? You said you were okay.”
“I am. It’s because you’re supposed to be picking me up for our date in two hours. And as much as I would love to spend extra time with you, I need those two hours to get ready. So, no. You can’t come in. You need to go home and change out of your uniform. Maybe take a shower. If it’s any consolation, you can think about me while you’re in there, and I’ll think about you while I take mine.”
“Jesus, Abby. I’m going to need a cold shower now.”
She laughed, and there was a brightness in her eyes that wasn’t there when she opened the door.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. I really appreciate that you came over to check on me, but I’m good. I’ll see you in two hours for our date, alright?”
“Yeah. Two hours. See you then, beautiful.” John pushed away from the door frame and turned, only to be stopped by Abby’s hand on his arm.
She stood on her tiptoes and her pink tongue popped out, licking her lips. Abby raked her teeth across her bottom lip, her eyes searching his. He’d wanted to wait until that night, until he’d pulled off a spectacular date, but seeing the way her eyes sparkled with hope, he couldn’t stop himself.
John bent down and captured Abby’s mouth. His tongue licked out at the seam of her lips, waiting impatiently for her to let him in. She did, and he took the opportunity to explore her mouth completely. His arms wrapped around her waist, letting his hands touch the small of her back which was arched, pressing her chest into his. Her hands made their way into his hair, her fingers raking across his scalp.
It was the most perfect fucking kiss he’d ever experienced.
“I have to go, beautiful. Because if I think about that kiss too long, I’m going to want to do some very ungentlemanly things to you before I even feed you dinner.”
“Tonight. After our date.”
“Can’t wait.”