Page 84 of Single Girl in the City
“How long would you want to say?” he asked, achingly quiet.
Forever.If Abi had it her way she’d stay forever. Forget Thailand or Bali or any other place she had on her itinerary. Adventure wasn’t really an adventure unless you had someone to share it with.
“What if you decide I’ve given too much?” The sound of her heart beating thrashed in her ears. “I’m a lot, likea lot, and, even though I don’t mean to, I end up making a mess of things, which sometimes hurts those closest to me. When I get scared, I take the easy way out. And I’m not adventurous like you think, it’s just when things get hard, I bail.”
“That’s okay because when things get hard, I dig in.” She nodded but couldn’t look him in the eye for fear that he’d see the panic his proposition brought on.
She wondered just how far he’d dig in when the honeymoon phase ended or if it would become another catch-and-release kind of situation that she’d become so painfully familiar with.
“Before I can even consider it, I need to know that if you change your mind, we still part as friends.”
Her answer hurt him, she knew it. It was there in his eyes, hidden beneath the hope. “Then we part as friends.”
What was she even saying? This was what she’d been dreaming about—more time. So why was she so scared? “Then yes!”
“What about Thailand? And the teaching job?”
“What about Thailand? And there’s no reason why I can’t teach here. With you.”
He kissed her gently, then took his time looking at her, really looking. She wasn’t sure what he saw—the fight-or-flight instinct thundering through her or the brave woman who had faced down her demons and was ready for something lasting.
She looked down and fiddled with the corsage. “I didn’t get you anything.”
“Oh, you get me, alright,” he said in the light flirty way that implied he was giving her the space she needed to respond. “You get to me in your jeans. And those red boots. You, in this dress, gets to me.” He let out a low whistle taking in every inch of her. “Damn, you’re beautiful.”
A shyness crept over her at the way he was looking at her. Like she was the most stunning thing he’d ever seen. “It’s the dress.”
He tilted her chin up. “It’s you, Abi. Your laugh, the way you look in the morning, the way you feel in my arms.” He leaned in and kissed her. “The way you taste. The way you say my name. I love the way you say my name.” He kissed her again. “I’d like to cash in that rain check.”
“What rain check?”
“The one I just made up to get you to go back inside with me.”
She considered it for point-one seconds, then imagined Margo tapping her watch, counting down every minute Abi made Owen late for her party. “No way. Not with your mother just downstairs?”
“We’re going to find a reason to leave early or we’re going to need to find a closet.” She laughed, but he remained serious.
She kissed him gently and took his hand. “Ready?”
He wove her arm through his, resting his hand over hers. “More than ready.”
She was glad one of them was. As far as she was concerned, now that she was there, she could avoid seeing Margo for the next five thousand years. She wasn’t sure if Owen had talked to her or not. But she knew that when it came to the Eastons, they stood as a unit.
They entered through the back of the bar and Abi took in a nervous breath. The place was packed. There were enough button hats and lace gloves to double for high tea with the queen herself. Then there were the men.Woo wee, those Easton men. Big, built, and one more handsome than the next, with Owen leading the pack. If someone had told Abi two months ago that she’d be in love with an edgy tattoo artist, she would have laughed in their face. Abi didn’t do edgy or artists—tattooed or otherwise. She did logical, practical men who offset her spontaneous and emotionally driven side.
But Owen seemed to offset her perfectly. For a time, Jenny had been the most important person in Abi’s entire life. Owen was quickly coming to fill that empty hole that was left behind at the crash site, which made Abi wonder if there was some validity to destiny and divine intervention. She’d had Jenny in mind with every step she’d taken and yet she’d landed here, at a party with a man she was completely smitten with.
“Don’t you look handsome.” Margo preened like a proud mother.
“You look great, Mom.” Owen leaned down to kiss his mom on the cheek. “Happy birthday.”
“And you,” Margo said, turning to Abi. Her mind must have been in overdrive because it almost sounded like an accusation. “Let me get a look at you. Red is your color.”
Abi let out a breath and smiled a real smile. “You look beautiful in that pantsuit.” Which was the truth. No one could rock a pantsuit quite like Margo Easton.
“Who all is here?” Owen asked. “I want to introduce Abi to Darcy, Jillian, and Piper.” He leaned down to whisper. “There’s strength in numbers.”
“Nonsense, Abi and I will be just fine on our own.” She looked at Abi. “Won’t we, dear?”
