Page 78 of Never Left You

I just heard her voice in my head.

The sun was just rising as I pulled up on the ranch. I sent Lachlan a quick text.

Me

Any tasks for me today?

Lachlan

I got a few I could use your help on. Let me know when you’re here.

Locking my phone, I took in the sight of the stables in front of me. It looked better than when I arrived weeks ago. The new roofhad really made a difference, and the barn in the background shined the deep red. There were still things to fix and do while I was able to help, but first…

How the hell was I going to explain to Abi that her phone number was blocked? Would she believe me when I told her I wasn’t sure how it happened? After last night, I had high hopes she would, but then again…she even said there were still things to hash out, and me not even attempting to call her for these five years was most likely the top of her list.

There were a lot of ‘I should haves’ or ‘I could haves’ during this. They fell on both of us. But that saying ‘the phone works both ways’ didn’t add up here. Shehadcalled, shehadtexted. I was the one who vanished.

How the fuck was I going to explain this?

I didn’t even have an answer.

The soft light that came from the stable told me she was there. Turning off my rig, I grabbed my hat and slowly made my way inside. Hook bobbed his head up and down once he saw me, and Charming popped out munching on some hay. Nova was near the back, and Luna…she was with the person I wanted to see.

Abi was hunched over, her hair in a messy ponytail that was flopped over her shoulder. Her Carhartt jacket covered her back, her boots had that signature mud on the toes. Even mucking out a stall—she was gorgeous.

She stood, taking a deep breath before she turned, taking a jump into the air once she saw me.

“Holy shit, Cash…” she said breathlessly, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Say something next time.”

“I just got here.” I opened the stall as she started to make her way towards me. “How did you sleep?”

“Not bad,” she said, the ghost of a smile lingering. “You?”

I shrugged a shoulder. “Listen, I…”

“Nope.” Abi stopped me, a hint of a smile on her lips. “I haven’t had that much coffee yet so, before we start the day with ‘Listen, I need to talk to you’ how about…”

I reached out and grabbed the edge of her coat, pulling her to me. With ease, almost as if she had done it every day, she slipped her arms around my waist, nuzzling up next to my chest. She hummed as she melted into me. I kissed the crown of her head, taking her in, enjoying the brief moment I would have before telling her a hard truth and potentially pissing her off even more. For now, I just needed to have her here.

“Good morning.” I lifted my chin slightly, and Abi arched her back to look up at me.

“Morning. Sorry I smell. I got up early because I have a showing today, and I didn’t shower. I need to get Stetson ready for school after this and…well…you know how it is.” She let me go, taking a step back, holding her arms out to the side as if showcasing herself.

Absolutely magnificent—in every way possible.

“I told you, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world, shit under the fingernails and all.” I moved towards her once more, using my fingers to grab her coat. “Come here.”

She let me pull her towards me, and once she was close enough, I cradled her face in my palms.

“Are you going to kiss me?” she asked, almost a whisper.

“Can I?”

She nodded slightly, and then I dipped my mouth to hers. I could taste the slight hint of coffee on her lips, I could smell the cinnamon on her skin, and once she deepened the kiss, I breathed her in. I could get lost in her. No matter what was happening, this right here would bring me back to life. Abi. Her kiss. Her scent. Her taste. Everything about her made me whole.

Her hands ran up my chest, pulling warmth the entire way until her fingers locked at the nape of my neck. She hummed andher entire body relaxed, I had to move my hands to keep her up right. I smiled against her lips, loving the way she let out a breath of air. My arms tightened around her waist.

“I just had to stop you from melting,” I muttered against her, giving her a small kiss.

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