Page 72 of Never Left You

“Let me guess, Stetson? You love him just as much as he loves you,” she asked, leaning back in the booth.

I laughed, lowered my chin, and shook my head lightly. “No, not Stetson.” I lifted my gaze. “You, Abi.”

She froze, and her lips slightly parted as she tried to find the words. So far, I had called her beautiful, almost kissed her—twice—and now I was basically telling her I was falling for her. Saying it out loud to Sylas this afternoon was only the beginning. Now that he knew, all that was left to do was let her know exactly what was on my mind. Her. Always her.

“Was that too forward?” I asked, making sure my tone was strong, confident. I had to be confident here, especially if I was really going through with this. I didn’t want to tiptoe around this anymore. I didn’t want to question how I was feeling.

Dammit, Iknewhow I was feeling—and all of me thought she was feeling it too.

She shook her head and moved fast, her fingers going to her drink. I narrowed my gaze and watched as she picked it up and chugged the rest of it down.

“Hey,” I said, reaching across the table to take her hand.

Her fingers floated around mine, and she inhaled, pulling her hand back to her lap. “Wanna play darts?”

She stood, leaving her empty glass on the table to join Lachlan and the dart board. I slipped from the booth, grabbing her hand again before she could get any closer to her cousin.

“No, I wanna dance.” I spun her close, stopping for a brief moment to allow myself to feel her against me, before I led her to the open area where other couples were already dancing. I saw Rhett watching us as I wrapped my arm around her waist,pulling her closer to me once more, her warmth spreading over me. To my surprise, her hand squeezed mine as her other reach up and sat softly on my shoulder. She fit against me like a glove, like she was meant to be there.

Two pieces to a puzzle.

“You don’t dance,” Abi whispered.

“I dance.” I pressed my check to her temple, thankful that a slow song started the moment I got her on the dance floor. Some female country singer rang in my ears, my senses filling with her cinnamon and maple fragrance. “I just never danced with you.”

“Well.” She hummed, raising her chin and arching her back to look at me. “You’re not missing much. I’m not a good dancer.”

“That’s alright, I’ll lead you.”

She shook with her inhale, her body stiffened. She was trying to relax into my touch, to let me take the lead, but I could see her fight response was taking over. I swallowed, and once again pulled up that courage.

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

“For?” she asked, lifting her chin.

“If I’m being too…”

“Forward?” She parroted my apology from moments ago. “You’re not,” She said simply.

“I’m not?”

“CouldIbe for a moment?” She raised her chin, the questioning look on her face throwing me for a complete loop.

What’s going on inside that head Abi Acosta?“Be my guest.”

“What happened between you and Carolyn? Why did she leave? Why did you…celebrate?”

I raised my eyebrows, completely off guard. There were too many reasons to go into. One—I wasn’t what she wanted; I no longer belonged to that upscale life she craved. Two—we weren’t good for each other. We never were. I settled, trying to find the same happiness that Sylas had with Abi. Three—my accidentchanged more than just my ability to compete in the rodeo…and, well…that reason was better left unsaid.

“That’s a complicated answer, one I’m not sure we have time for.”

“No holding back Cash. You can tell me anything.” I felt her fingers brush against the nape of my neck as her eyes bore into me.

“Anything?” I smiled. “In that case, can I be more forward?”

“How?” Abi raised a single eyebrow.

“By not holding back.”

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