19. Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
Gabe
W ho is KM?
That’s not a question I intend to answer now, or probably ever, and I don’t even allow it to hang in the air between me and Abbie. “Let’s go help your mother.”
“In other words, KM is not a conversation you’re willing to have with me, despite the fact that it was used as a weapon in a conversation about me.”
“It was used as a weapon to get me to back off. It didn’t work.”
“How bad is it for you, Gabe?”
“I’m not going anywhere, Abbie,” I say, tangling her fingers with mine, “except inside.” I soften my voice. “Leave it at that.”
“For now,” she concedes, her other hand pressing to my cheek, “but I am going to be naked in your bed again tonight. Expect me to ask again when you’re feeling a little more giving.”
“If you have this on your mind when you’re naked in my bed, I’m not doing a good enough job with my tongue.”
Her cheeks flush red and someone shouts out, “Abigail!”
“That would be my mother,” she explains, twisting around as I do the same only to find a pretty redhead that could be Abbie’s sister running toward us in faded jeans and a shirt with a Golden Retriever on the front.
“Abigail,” her mother says, stopping in front of us. “Thank God you’re here. We can’t find a place to move the animals. I don’t know what to do.” Her gaze catches on me. “Hi.”
“Mom, this is Gabe,” Abbie says. “Gabe, my mom, Shannon. Mom, Gabe is going to help us out.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
“Nice to meet you, too.” She looks at me. “He’s who?” She looks at me and presses her hand to her forehead, her gaze moving back to me. “Sorry. I’m rude.” Her hands go to her hips. “It’s been a rough day.”
“I’m dating your daughter,” I say, “and helping you both any way I can.”
“Oh,” she says, glancing at Abbie. “Well, this is new. He’s new, and your ex was just here.”
“I know,” Abbie says. “He and Gabe just went to war.”
“And who won?”
“I did,” I assure her, wrapping my arm around Abbie. “And I’ll continue to do so. Now. Tell me what you need.”
“A place that can house at least fifty dogs. I can’t lose them. I can’t.”
“And you won’t,” I promise.
“Gabe!”
I rotate to find my sister and her husband Reese headed this way, both in jeans, boots, and hoodies on as coats, and even with the hoodie, I can see my sister’s growing baby belly. The very idea of my baby sister being a mother does funny things to my chest. Babies are a tough topic that hits a little too close to the KM threat as it is, but right now, I’m focusing on Cat. We did so much to protect her that actually hurt her as a family, and now, there’s a baby to protect. We can’t fuck this one up, too. I won’t fuck this one up too.
Abbie and I maneuver to allow them to join us and I do the introductions, making Shannon the focus. “We’re eager to help,” Cat says, holding up the boots in her hand for Abbie. “Your feet are rescued and I have to say, I wish I still looked as good as you in those clothes.” She touches her belly. “I’m fat.”
“You are not fat,” Abbie exclaims. “You’re a gorgeous blonde with a baby on the way.”
Cat snorts. “You and all that red hair and tiny little body saying that is priceless, but thank you.”
“You’re pregnant,” Reese announces firmly. “Stop calling our baby fat. Understood, wife?”
“Yes, husband,” she says, smiling and it’s a smile that goes to her eyes, and spreads love over her face. The kind of smile I want Abbie to give me, and holy fuck, where did that come from?
What the hell is this woman doing to me?
“Where do you want us?” Cat asks, looking at Shannon.
“Preferably helping to get us to another location,” Shannon says. “The animals are all safe right now, but they need dry ground. We have to move them to repair the property. So far I have nowhere to send them.”
“I have an idea on that,” I say. “Give me a few minutes to make some calls. Go take care of the animals.”
Shannon lights up her green eyes so like Abbie’s they’re stunning. “You really think you can help?”
I don’t hesitate. I want to come through for her and Abbie, and I will. “I know I can.”
“Then you’re a better man than the one before you.” She eyes Abbie. “He did this. You know that, right?”
“I think that’s a safe assumption.”
Cat gives me a curious look, and I respond with a returned look that says “I’ll explain later.” She nods and holds out her hands. “Put us to work. What do we do now?”
“Follow me,” Shannon says, and she, my sister, and Reese fade away as Abbie steps in front of me.
“There are regulations for buildings and rescues,” she says. “We can’t just move them to someplace random.”
“Trust me, Abbie. I got this.” I pull out my phone and dial a large client of mine, billionaire Grayson Bennett, who unlike most billionaires I know, isn’t a pretentious ass. He answers on the first ring. I explain the situation, including the regulations. “Give me half an hour. Mia and I,” he adds, speaking of his fiancée, “are in town. We’ll come help. Text me the address.” We disconnect.
Abbie gives me a hopeful look. “Anything?”
I tell her who I called and why. “I’ve heard of him. Of course, my ex was competitive with all those who might be considered a threat.”
“Like me? Because I’m the one who gets to fuck you now?”
“He barely fucked me when he had the chance. I don’t know why he would care now.”
“Men tend to want what they can’t have. The challenge stirs that primal side of us. He’ll come for you again, now that he knows I’m in the picture.”
“I don’t want him, Gabe if that’s what you’re asking me again. Because you asked in the car.”
“What do you want, Abbie?”
“What I shouldn’t want.”
I snag her waist and pull her to me. “What do you want, Abbie?”
“You, Gabe. I want you, but you have to see now how dangerous he is. He threatened you and I saw your face. He hit a nerve. Whatever, or whoever KM is, is a problem for you.”
“No,” I say. “KM is not a problem for me.” But she will be for Abbie, if I allow her to be, but I won’t.
My cellphone rings and I pull it from my pocket. “Grayson,” I answer, and listen as Grayson details the solution that I knew he’d find. “And text me the address,” he says. “I’m sending over transportation. Mia and I are on our way.” We disconnect, and I text the address while Abbie eagerly waits.
“Well?” she prods.
“Not only did he convince a friend that owns a ranch in the Hamptons to shelter the dogs, he’s sending transportation, on his dime, to get them there. All of this is free of charge.”
Her eyes go wide, excitement bubbling from her voice. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Gabe,” she says. “Like for sure. Really ?”
I laugh. “Yes, sweetheart. Really.”
“Oh my God! I have to tell mom.” She turns and shouts. “Mom!” as if her mother was still close enough to hear, and then turns around to face me.
“Gabe.”
“Abbie.”
She wraps her arms around my waist. “ You are a miracle. You are incredible. You are not an asshole after all. Thank you.” Her green eyes are warm with appreciation, little flecks of gold in their depths.
“My pleasure, Abbie,” I say, stroking her hair. “Your pleasure as soon as I get you alone again.”
“About that,” she says. “I’m still not staying with you beyond tonight.”
I arch a brow. “I didn’t know we had a limit on nights.”
“Yes you did, because I’m trouble for you. I told you that. You’ve seen that now. I’m not dragging you into my trouble. And I’m definitely not falling for you.” Her lips curve. “Though you make it very tempting.”
“Good,” I say. “Because I’m definitely not falling for you, no matter how tempting you make it.” But I don’t smile to finish my tease, as she has. I kiss her instead, and as always, she drugs me with the sweet taste of her, with the delicate, sexy strokes of her tongue. I’m not a man to deny anything, good or bad and I’m not about to deny where I’m at right now with this woman. I’ve already fallen for Abbie when I promised I’d never fall for anyone ever again.
Not after the hell that was KM.
Abbie thinks she’s trouble.
She doesn’t know what kind of trouble I am. And she can’t. She can’t know. Not now. Not ever.