Page 79 of Never Left You

Shaking her head, she dipped her chin. “Well, it’s been a while since someone kissed me like that.”

“Like this?” I lifted her chin with my forefinger and thumb, taking her mouth in mine again. She hummed as I gently licked her bottom lip with my tongue, smirking as her lips parted for me.

Holding her tight against my body, I could feel each and every breath she took, every deep inhale that was followed by a sigh, our lips barely leaving each other’s. Her fingers caressed my hair, they gripped at the collar on my shirt and tickled the skin at the back of my neck. Enhancing the spark between us.

A throat being cleared stopped us mid moment. Abi pulled away first, her hands sliding down my chest as she tilted her head to look behind me. Secretly loving the blush that spread across her cheeks, I twisted, keeping one hand on her waist, to see Lachlan standing in the center aisle. His arms were folded, baseball cap on backwards, and one eyebrow raised higher than I’ve ever seen.

“Hi Lach.” Abi’s voice was heavy as she licked her lips, fully stepping away from me.

“Hey.” I turned back to her, remembering the entire reason for my trip to the stable. “Have lunch with me?”

Her eyes danced as she bit her bottom lip. “Okay.” Taking a breath, she snapped herself back to reality. “I need to get Stetson ready for school.”

Her eyes met mine once more, before she took a single step past me, past Lachlan, and finally left the barn.

Lachlan was a statue, his full attention fixed on me. “What was that?”

I shrugged. “A ruined moment thanks to you.” I shoved my hands in my pockets, casually walking up to him like he didn’t just catch me making out with his cousin. “What’s on the docket today?”

His eyebrow raised higher—if that was even possible. “Do you know what you’re doing?” he asked, completely avoiding my question.

“Yeah.”

“Does she?”

I looked back at the main house, just in time to see Abi pull open the screen door, vanishing inside.

“She's a big girl Lach,” I quipped, remembering his ‘big girl pants’ bit the day I arrived. I looked over at Lachlan, “If you raise that eyebrow any higher you’re going to get it stuck that way.”

“Just…be careful there. Abi hasn’t let anyone close to her—like this—since Sylas.”

“I’m aware. I haven’t been close to anyone—like this—since Carolyn.”

“Abi’s different, Cash. Don’t screw this up.”

I pinched my brow, not quite ready for thedon’t hurt herspeech.

My phone dinged, the vibration pulsing as I pulled it from my back pocket. My eyes twitched and a smile pulled on the corner of my lips.

Abi

It’s a long shot to text you…but lunch? Meet me at 12:30.

“Oh.” I looked up at Lachlan. “There is no way I’m screwing this up.”

I typed out my reply faster than I think I ever have.

Me

It’s a date.

Shortly after noon, once Lachlan and I had managed a few tractor repairs, I jogged into the stable. The spring sun was beginning to beat down on the farm, any trace of snow long gone, but that chill was still in the air. Flowers would be blooming soon; the cattle would need to be moved, and before we knew it calving season would begin. More things to keep the Hartwell’s busy. Another excuse for me to have this time with Abi now.

As soon as I got to the stable door, Abi appeared—the messy ponytail replaced with two braids, a cowboy hat perched on her head. She wore boot cut jeans with a brown jacket half zipped to show a pink shirt underneath. And yet still just as vibrant, stopping me in my tracks. In her hands were two reigns, Luna and Nova, saddled and ready to go.

She flipped her braid off her shoulder, and her gaze locked with mine.

“Oh, hi.” She smiled, “I thought we could take the horses and have a picnic.”

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