Chapter 38 Abby
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Abby
For once, I’m glad Mav is with Cole tonight. My parents dropped him off with them after their little donut run this morning, so the house will be quiet.
Usually, I dread it, but after a shit show of a shift, I want nothing more than to take a hot shower and fall into bed. I don’t even feel hungry for dinner.
The day started with a bang when I found out my car wouldn’t start. Then, the hits kept coming all day at work, a string of difficult cases one after the next.
I can’t even think about my car right now. I have the next two days off, so that’s a problem for future Abby.
Becks taps my shoulder, making me realize she’s stopped at my house. It’s a short drive from the hospital, but I didn’t realize we were here already.
“Oh…” I say, grabbing my purse and lunchbox from the floorboard. “Thanks for giving me a ride.”
“Anytime.”
The door creaks loudly when I swing it open. “How is my car the one that broke down and not your old piece of junk?”
Becks rides her motorcycle whenever she can, but she also has this beat-up car that’s about a million years old. I honestly don’t even know what make it is.
She pats her hand affectionately on the dash. “Hey… don’t talk bad about my girl. They don’t make cars like her anymore.”
“Yeah, because it’s an ancient relic,” I say, stepping out of the car.
“And yet whose car isn’t working right now?” she asks, quirking a brow.
“Whatever… I’ll give you this one.”
I’m still shaking my head and smiling when she drives away. Walking up the sidewalk, I sneak a quick glance at my car.
Something bright yellow catches my eye.
Walking a little closer, I see it’s a sticky note stuck to the driver’s window. There’s one word on the small square of paper. Fixed.
What the hell?
I test the handle to see if it’s locked. It’s not. I must have left it unlocked in my frenzy to get to work this morning.
Great. I didn’t just leave it unlocked. The keys are staring at me from their spot on the middle console.
I already know what’s going to happen, but I have to try it anyway. I toss my stuff into the passenger seat, then slide the key into the ignition.
Without even a second’s hesitation, the engine rumbles to life.
I look down at the note I’m still holding. I know that handwriting. My seat belt is secure, and I’m driving before I can talk myself out of it.
After pulling up to the curb, I slam the car into park and quickly scramble out.
My fist collides with the wooden door in three loud knocks. I have no idea who’s going to answer the door, or what I’m going to say when they do.
But I’m committed now. There’s no backing out.
The sound of the locks disengaging carries through the door. Linc is standing there shirtless when it opens.
I am rendered speechless by the drips of sweat traveling down his defined chest and abs. His hair is tied back with a few stray pieces that have escaped.
From the whole delicious package standing before me, I’m guessing I must have interrupted his workout. I can’t bring myself to regret it, though, because damn, that man is fine.
“Abby,” he says, a little out of breath.
I feel a little breathless, and I’m not even the one who was exerting myself. Just the sight of him like this is stealing the air from my lungs.
Get your shit together, Abby…
“You fixed my car?” It might have only been one word, but I know he wrote it.
He nods once.
“Why?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
I don’t have a decent answer to that. “What was wrong with it?”
“Bad battery.”
“How much do I owe you?”
“You don’t.”
“I’m paying you back.”
“No, you’re not,” he says.
He’s barely moved since we started arguing. His level of calm is kind of disarming. I open my mouth to say something else, but he continues.
“If you want to keep bickering, that’s fine, but can you get your perfect ass in here? It’s cold as fuck, and I’m not really wearing much.”
Yeah… I noticed.
He smirks as my eyes track over all the skin he has exposed.
“You’re the one that brought it up,” I grumble, stepping past him and into the house.
“Mmhmm,” he hums.
“Don’t mmhmm me,” I say, trying to stay firm, but I really don’t know what I’m angry about anymore. It’s just really easy to bicker with this man.
He riles me up in all the best ways. If I’m being honest, it’s kind of turning me on.
Not kind of… I’m absolutely turned on.
He leans his shoulder against the closed door, like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “Where’s your coat?”
I let out a loud, frustrated breath. “Why is everyone always so worried about me wearing a coat?”
His eyebrows narrow. “Because you live in the mountains and it’s cold.”
I stare back at him with the same intensity he’s giving me. The tension seems to build around us, making the air feel almost muggy.
It’s hard to drag in a breath without feeling the connection between us weighing down my lungs.
One second, we’re standing in a face-off, neither of us willing to give an inch. The next, our bodies are crashing together. His hands are in my hair, hungrily pulling my mouth to his.
The kiss is anything but gentle. It’s fierce and intoxicating. He groans against my mouth, and all coherent thought flies out the window.