Page 13 of One Last Kiss
Chapter 4
Abby’s heart was racing wildly in her chest. She’d forgotten how strong her body reacted to this man.
She lifted herself off his lap and sat back in her own chair, adjusting her shirt as she did. “This isn’t going anywhere, Sam. Just because we kissed and almost…” She drifted off. He knew what they were about to do. “Nothing has changed between us. I’m still leaving town.”
“Leaving town?” Sam stiffened. “What do you mean leaving?”
She swallowed and met his gaze. “Right. I’ve been meaning to tell you. I’m selling the restaurant. It’s time for me to move on.” She got up, suddenly needing more distance.
“Move on? To a different job?”
“And a different place. I’ve been offered my own cooking show in Atlanta.” She rolled her lips together. “It’s a great opportunity.”
“You’re moving away from Blushing Bay?” he asked point blank, not masking the disappointment in his voice.
Why had she just made out with him? Hating him was so much better. She stopped pacing and turned to look at him. “Yes.”
He was quiet for a long moment.
“You’re making me nervous. Say something.”
“I don’t know what to say. I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me.”
“Did you think I’d stay in Blushing Bay forever?” she asked.
The basement was growing dark with the setting sun. Abby couldn’t hear noise from upstairs anymore and wondered if Nora had left.
“I never thought about it,” he said. “I just assumed this was your home.”
She folded her arms across her chest, applying pressure to the deep ache resonating in her heart. Thiswasher home, but sometimes people needed a fresh start. “It’ll be on a major network.”
“But you love this restaurant.”
She nodded. “I do.” She’d loved him too. Did she still? “So, I guess this is one reason we shouldn’t, you know, do what we were doing.”
“Abby,” he finally said. He looked up and the emotion in his eyes nearly bowled her over. “If there was a chance for us, a real chance, I’d go with you. You should know that.”
Her mouth fell open. “No. I mean, we haven’t talked in years, Sam. Not really, not until tonight.”
“But I never stopped loving you, and I never will. You know that. Just say the word, and I’ll follow you.”
She was still shaking her head, halfway out of shock. “That’s crazy. We’re getting a divorce.”
“We don’t have to. Let’s work on this. We can go to marriage counseling together.”
“Sam,” she whispered, amazed that she was even considering the offer. What happened to the wall she’d built around her heart when it came to him? Had he knocked it down in a measly couple of hours?
Before she could say anything more, the door to the basement swung open with a loud bang, and there stood Nora at the top. She startled when she saw them.
“What are you two doing down there?” she called, adjusting her thick bifocals on her nose.
Abby found this statement odd. If Nora didn’t know that they were down here, why had she opened the basement door to begin with? She wasn’t responsible for cleaning this area. And how had such a frail woman opened a door that both Abby and Sam couldn’t budge?
“We got locked in. Thank you so much for saving us.” Abby let out a breath. She didn’t feel excited for their rescue right now though. She didn’t want to leave things the way they were with Sam. They needed to talk about this. Would he really go with her to Atlanta? Could they really begin again?
Sam blew out a breath and stood. “You’re right, Abby. It’s time to move on,” he finally said, heading for the staircase. “For both of us. Good luck with your new life.”
Her breath seized in her chest. The hope she’d felt circulating for a brief moment funneled into nothingness as she watched him climb the staircase and disappear.
