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  “You—are wonderful. You’ve been nothing but wonderful.”

  I narrow my eyes on her. “But?”

  “No buts. That’s a fact.”

  “He was wonderful at first, too,” I say, understanding washing over me.

  “Not in the Gabe kind of way. He was debonair and charming, but he wasn’t you. I don’t mean to judge you by him, because that’s not fair.”

  “What’s the Gabe kind of way, Abbie?”

  “You’re funny and sweet and yet so damn protective. He was never those things. He was flowers and jewelry, and nothing more. Superficial things that meant nothing.”

  “You want flowers and jewelry.”

  “Don’t turn me being honest into that, Gabe. I don’t care about flowers and jewelry. I said those things don’t matter.”

  “I can give you those things and more. I haven’t had time.”

  “You already have.”

  “And yet you want me to fall alone?”

  “No. God, no. I want you to be the man of my dreams and that is some scary shit, Gabe. I don’t really know you.”

  “You know more than you think.”

  “I know you’re determined to keep a part of you locked away and it’s not even fair for me to ask you to share those parts of yourself right now. We’re new and—I have no right.”

  But one day, she will. She doesn’t have to say that. It’s true. She will but that doesn’t mean I’m going to go all those deep dark places with her. “Some things don’t matter. Especially when someone comes along and shows them that they don’t matter.”

  “I don’t know what that means.”

  “It means I’m different with you, baby, and that’s a good thing.” I pull her hand between us and kiss it. “Go to the bathroom. We’ll talk later when we’re finally alone. I’ll be outside waiting for you.” I reach for the door and she catches my arm.

  “What about my mother? Where will she go tonight?”

  “She can go home or she can come to my place. What will she want? What do you want?”

  “She won’t go to your place. She’s very independent, but I’m worried about the police cornering her.”

  “Reese will handle that and I’m sure he’ll schedule an interview for her as he did for us. But if Reese feels she should stay with us, we’ll force the issue.”

  Her eyes soften. “Thank you, Gabe.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. We’re—”

  Her lips are pressed to my lips, and I don’t need further invitation. I cup her head and kiss the hell out of her, but the thing is, she kisses the hell out of me, too. I am instantly hot and hard, and it’s all I can do not to turn her to the sink, pull up her skirt and find my way inside her, but now is not the time nor the place.

  “You, woman, are definitely trying to make me fall,” I say, releasing her and exiting the bathroom to find Reid sitting on the stairs a few feet away, waiting on me.

  “How’s Cat?” I ask, claiming the step next to him.

  “She’s Cat. Ready to save the world and us. On another note. I heard from Blake. He doesn’t see anything electronically that looks like trouble for either of us.”

  “That’s good news.” Only he’s scowling. “What?”

  “There’s an account in Abbie’s name that, while inactive now, had a large sum of money in it at one point.”

  “The point? Aside from the fact that she was married to a billionaire.”

  “It has some funny transactions that might be money laundering,” he says.

  “Holy fuck.” I scrub my jaw and lower my voice. “Can Blake make this go away?”

  “He already did, but there’s more. There’s a connection between that account and—”

  “Our father,” I say, instantly realizing where this is going.

  Reid gives a sharp nod. “Yes. Our father. “

  “This explains so damn much. He served her a phony lawsuit under our company. I called his bluff, but clearly, he’s motivated to scare her away from me. Because this all runs too close to home, his home, for his comfort.” I grimace. “I wonder if Abbie will love me or hate me when she finds out that I killed my own damn father.”

  “I could make it easy on you,” Reid offers. “I could do it for you.”

  Only he won’t. He has a wife to think about. I, on the other hand, have Abbie to save. I’m not sure that’s going to work out so well for my father.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Gabe…

  Reid and I are still sitting on the stairwell of Cat and Reese’s apartment when Carrie rounds the corner. “What’s going on with the Maxwell brothers?”

  “Just talking about our dark side,” Reid replies, the dark side being our father.

  Abbie exits the bathroom at the same time and manages to hear what was said. “Dark side? Oh do tell.”

  I stand up and before I can reply, Carrie answers for us. “That would be their father, the monster, who they fantasize about slaying. As do I. He tried to destroy me and my father.”

  Abbie’s stare rockets to mine, and it’s her inspection now that feels dark. Abbie now knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that the same kind of evil that’s in her ex’s blood is in mine. “He’s that bad?”

  “Worse,” I say, seeing no point in holding back now. My father’s a prick worthy of a public announcement.

  “Can we talk a minute alone?” Abbie asks, and since we just talked alone in the bathroom, I assume my father, the prick, has her attention.

  “We’re all done!”

  It’s Abbie’s mother, who enters the hallway, and suddenly it’s a family fucking meeting in the hallway. That alone talk between me and Abbie isn’t happening, which means whatever she is thinking right now is going to simmer and brew. Especially since her mother is now standing in front of her. “Let’s step outside a minute,” her mother suggests, her body now between me and Abbie, blocking any chance I have to see Abbie’s expression. And then, fuck, they’re walking away. I do the same. To the damn kitchen.

  I find Reese and Cat standing on the opposite side of the island and I join them, taking advantage of my first chance to talk to Reese alone since this happened. “What are you thinking?”

  I’m talking to Reese, but Cat answers. “That we have the worst father on planet earth. That I still want to go see him and just deal with this.”

  “And you know why that isn’t an option.” I change the subject with a forceful push in another direction. I look at Reese. “What are you thinking?”

  “That your father is the biggest bastard I’ve ever known and I’ve known some bastardly people. As for Abbie and her mother, they’re good people. I’ll get them through the interviews and we’ll hope they need nothing more.” He leans closer, lowering his voice. “Is there anything I need to know?”

  “I talked with her ex this weekend. We fought.”

  “About what?”

  “He was harassing Abbie. I didn’t let that continue.”

  “What did you do to stop that from happening?”

  “Gabe told him that he’d fuck him without Vaseline,” Abbie says from the door. “I may or may not have gotten those words one hundred percent right. I think there was something about bending him over, as well.”

  “Bending over was definitely suggested,” I confirm, “but no one actually bent over.”

  “He could have recorded your call,” Cat says. “You can’t assume this isn’t a problem.”

  Abbie steps to my side. “He took the phone because Kenneth was harassing me.”

  “Harassing you how?” Reese asks.

  “He told me to get rid of Gabe or he’d make my life hell. He was all but stalking me. He even broke into my apartment and left my wedding ring on the bed.”

  “Wait,” Cat says. “When?”

  Abbie replays the entire incident, and eyes Reese. “You don’t look happy.”

  “This all complicates our interview responses,” he says. “It’s good you told me but I need to think ab
out how I’m going to guide you to answer, or not answer, certain questions. We’ll prep tomorrow. Everyone needs to get some rest tonight.”

  “And food,” Cat says. “No one ordered me and my baby pizza.”

  I round the island and hug her. “Pizza and ice cream next time.” I lean in and whisper, “Don’t let dad work you up. He’s not worth it.”

  “But you and Reid are,” she says, her voice cracking. “Be careful.”

  I nod, wishing I could have kept her out of this, and knowing it’s time to give her space. I catch Abbie’s eye and motion toward the door. “Where’s your mother? Does she need a ride?”

  “Would you believe that billionaire rancher from the Hamptons is here with her? She left. They have dinner plans.”

  She left Abbie during this mess? That hits me ten shades of wrong I don’t voice. “We do, too,” I say, thinking I might try to convince her to eat pizza naked in bed. It’ll give new meaning to pizza for me.

  We say our goodbyes, grab our coats, and once we’re in the hallway, I turn Abbie to face me. “You had something you wanted to say to me?”

  “Yes. I did. I do.”

  “Well?”

  “Not here. Not now. Alone.”

  And yet she wanted to have the talk here a few minutes ago. “Tell me now.”

  “No,” she says, and she starts walking toward the elevator.

  And I follow, because a) she has a mighty fine ass, and b) I want to. I’m in trouble with this woman and I fucking love it.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Gabe…

  The minute Abbie and I enter the elevator, I punch in the lobby level and then drag her to me, my hand at the back of her head. “How’s this for talking?” I ask a moment before my mouth closes down on hers, my tongue licking past her lips, drinking her in, tasting her.

  She pushes against my chest, moans, sinks into the kiss, but ultimately, when we reach the lobby and our lips part, she doesn’t mince words. “That’s not talking. That’s deflection. We need to talk. Really talk.”

  “We did talk, baby. We just spoke volumes by kissing instead of yelling.”

  “Talk, Gabe. Real conversation.”

  “I’m all about real with you, Abbie,” I say, which is true. What I say to her is real. I just don’t say all there is to say. “And we’ll talk. At my place.”

  “Yes,” she says, offering that confirmation. “At your place.”

  The doors open and I lace the fingers of one of her hands with mine, leading her into the hallway and outside to our hired car. She slides into the backseat, and I follow, sealing us inside without missing a beat. My hand comes down on her leg and I drag her close. She doesn’t push me away. Her hand comes down on my hand, her eyes lifting to meet mine. “Gabe,” she whispers.

  “Just to be clear. Are we fighting?”

  Her hand settles on my cheek. “Maybe. We can decide when we get to your apartment.”

  I laugh. She laughs. There is a warm intimacy between us, but it doesn’t erase the fact that she wants to have that “alone” talk. That she wants answers to questions I can only assume were created by being around my family. I kiss her hand, settling it on my leg, my hand covering hers now. She’s still going to hit me on the conversations she overheard tonight between me and Reid. She’s still going to want answers I’m not eager to offer but after the past few hours, I’m of the mind that I can’t keep as much of me to myself as I’d planned with Abbie. Not if I want her in my life. The question is, how much is too much of me, this soon, for Abbie?

  A few minutes later, we pull up to my apartment, and it’s not as simple as taking her upstairs and just fucking her until she forgets why she wants because one: she’s Abbie. I want more than that with her. And two: Dexter needs to pee and eat. The damn dog who greets us with ridiculous happiness and kisses. “You’re blowing your serial killer reputation, bud,” I say, as I squat down to give him some love. “Seriously, man. You need to keep the story going.” I stand up to Abbie’s assuming stare.

  “You and Dexter,” she says. “Two men with more to you than meets the eye. Is that what drew you to him?”

  “I do believe you’ve hit the nail on the head,” I say, because no matter how silly the moment, there’s an element of honesty there but I still finish off with a wink and a compliment. “You mad genius you.”

  Dexter barks his agreement or maybe he just really needs to pee like a Russian Race Horse. “Yes, killer,” I say. “We’re going out.” I wink at Abbie and motion to the door. “Walk with us?”

  “Of course,” she says, warmth in her eyes that tells a story. She likes that I was honest. She needs honesty in her life. I want to be honest with her. I have to be honest with her. In every possible way I can be without losing her in the process.

  After a quick change to casual clothes, with Dexter’s supervision of course, we head out. I open the front door and Dexter darts for the hall. “Stop,” I order.

  Dexter stops and looks back at me, impatience in his gaze. “Ladies first,” I tell him “Sit and wait.” Dexter proves he’s had some training because he does as he’s told; he sits and waits.

  Abbie laughs. “Impressively submissive for a serial killer.” She heads into the hallway and turns to eye us both. “Come to me, you handsome man, you.”

  “Me or Dexter?” I ask.

  “Both of you. Come to me, you handsome men, you.”

  Dexter looks up at me and whines, showing great restraint considering he wants to hurry to Abbie’s side, and with good reason. She’s fucking beautiful, all that red hair wild and free right now. Her smile touching her eyes, lighting her heart-shaped face. “Go, boy,” I say.

  Dexter barks his approval again and rushes toward Abbie. She kneels and greets him and he rewards her with sloppy doggy kisses. The only woman I’d kiss after a dog. I’m pretty sure that means I’m right again. I’m falling in love. I exit to join them and help Abbie to her feet, pulling her to me, her body aligned with mine, nice and tight. “Did I ever tell you that I don’t like redheads?”

  She laughs. “What are you talking about?”

  “Just what I said. I’m not a guy who goes for redheads. Except you, Abbie,” I say, and my joking moment has gotten all hot and serious, my voice lowering as I add, “You’re really fucking beautiful. Too beautiful for my own good.”

  “But you don’t like redheads?”

  “Nope. Never. I’m a changed man now, though, and that’s all about you.”

  “Gabe,” she whispers, her eyes going all soft and willing while I go all hot and hard.

  Dexter whines and Abbie tugs my arm. “He needs to go out.”

  “Yes, the little beast needs to go out.”

  I kiss her and we hurry toward the elevator. A few minutes later we’re at the park a block away and Dexter is sniffing everything in sight. Abbie and I stand together and watch him. “I should probably hire a permanent dog walker to come in twice a day.”

  “From rescue to spoiled king,” Abbie says. “I love it.” She turns to face me. “Gabe, I really do love so much about you.” Her fingers curl on my chest. “But I need to know the man I’m falling for really is the man I think he is.”

  “I am. I’m me. I’m just me.”

  “I heard enough today at your sister’s to know that you’re not all jokes and fun. I heard that with your interaction with Kenneth.” I open my mouth to reply but she quiets me with a hand. “Carrie is Reid’s compass. I sensed that in her and him. If you want us to make it, you have to trust me the way he trusts her. Eventually. Not now. I know that, but eventually.”

  Eventually is too soon, considering my past but I can’t say that to her. “One day at a time. Okay?”

  “As long as those days are honest days, Gabe, I can handle almost anything. Except one thing: lies. I can’t handle lies. If you, this person you are with me, is a lie, tell me. End it now.”

  My hand slides under her hair, settling on her neck. “I told you, Abbie, I’m more real with you tha
n I have ever been with anyone.”

  “More real. Not real.”

  “Everything I show you, everything we share, is real.”

  “The parts you show me, excluding the part of you that you think I’ll hate, of course.”

  My expression tightens. “The part of me that I know you’ll hate.”

  “The part you believe is your father. That was the talk I wanted to have and this is what I wanted to say to you. You are not your father. I will never see him in you.”

  Until she does, I think. “Never make a promise you can’t keep, baby.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Abbie…

  Gabe and I move on from our “talk,” enjoying our walk with Dexter and all of his silly antics. It’s laughter and fun. It’s an escape and I find myself not wanting this part of the day to end. Dexter seems to agree, as he takes off running and Gabe curses. “Oh hell. Why’d I let him off leash?” Gabe takes off running now, too. I laugh because Dexter turns around and charges at Gabe. In what feels like a few blinks, Gabe is on his back and Dexter is on top of him. I hurry toward them and go down on my knees, only to be tackled by Dexter, too.

  “Dexter!” Gabe chides, pulling him off of me, but not before I get a tongue bath. “My tongue,” Gabe says, “her mouth. Not your tongue.” He grabs my hand and sits me up. “You okay, baby?”

  Baby.

  It’s not the first time he’s called me this, but now, in this moment, that small endearment does big, fluttery things to my belly. “Yes, I say. “I’m great. Actually, really great.” I brush grass from his hair. “Dexter’s pretty wonderful.” And so are you, Gabe, I think, so are you.

  “Yeah,” he agrees, his eyes warming. “He is and so are you.”

  “Tell me that when you know me better,” I tease, pleased that he’s said what I was thinking about him. “I have bad habits.”

  “Tell me about these bad habits,” he says, as Dexter plops down on the ground next to us, and a cold breeze blasts over us.

  I shiver and Gabe stands, taking me with him. “Tell me at home in the warm apartment.”