Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
She shudders a breath. “Davis.”
I know I said too much. It’s not like she doesn’t know the life I had, but I couldn’t just sit here and let her think what she has here isn’t special. Alexis is a lucky little girl—hell, anyone that is able to spend any time with Abby is lucky.
I squeeze her wrist and then force myself to let go of her. I stand up and move across the porch to lean against the column. With my arms crossed over my chest, I tell her, “I should probably get out of here. I have physical therapy early in the morning.”
She nods and gestures to my leg. “I hope everything you did tonight doesn’t cause you to be in more pain, Davis. I wasn’t joking earlier. I didn’t mean for you to come see us all and then work the whole time.”
I take one step down the porch and stop. “I know you don’t need me, Abby. You or your parents. But it felt good to be doing something for someone else… to feel useful again.”
She gets up from her chair and walks over, not stopping until she’s right in front of me. She’s leaning her head back to look up at me, and her hand goes to my waist. My muscles tighten at her touch, but she doesn’t seem to notice. “I like having you around, Davis.”
My hands fist at my sides. It’s either that or I’m going to reach for her and wrap my hand around her to bring her body flush to mine. My voice is strained. “Tonight was special, Abby, and it means a lot to be able to spend time with you and Alexis.”
She’s looking at me expectantly. She’s looking at me like she wants to be kissed. And I would give anything to lean down just the few inches needed to ravage her perfect, bowed mouth. Her tongue rolls across her lower lip in slow motion, and all I can do is watch. I bite back a groan, and because I know it’s the right thing to do, I put my hands on hers and remove them from my waist. I take a step away and drop her hands as I put some distance between us.
She crosses her arms over her chest, and I hate the look on her face, but I know I’m the one that put it there. “Anyway, thank you again, Davis. We really appreciate everything.”
She’s backing away from me and doesn’t stop until her back is to the door. “Can I come see you this week?”
She shrugs. “Sure, you know you’re welcome anytime. Plus, you know you have to come to dinner at Mom and Dad’s on Sunday.”
She has one hand on the door, and she’s stepped inside. It’s like she can’t wait to put some distance between us. She holds her hand up. “That reminds me. Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
She disappears inside, and while she’s gone, all I can think is that I’m fucking this up. It’s obvious she’s into me. That’s one of my favorite things about Abby. She’s not going to beat around the bush, and you know where you stand with her. She isn’t trying to play games or anything, and I know if I asked her out, she’d say yes. And even though I know I can’t do it, I at least owe her an explanation. When she comes back, I’m going to tell her why she and I are a bad idea.
She walks out the front door carrying the bag of leftovers and cookies. “Thanks, I would have been missing those later.”
She laughs, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Right. I know.”
“Abby, I need to—”
I’m cut off when Alexis comes running out the door and dives for me. I brace myself for impact, and when she wraps her arms around my leg, she smiles up at me. “Bye, Davis. Mom said you are leaving.”
I pat her softly on the head. “Yep, I’m going home.”
Her lips pucker. “Are you coming back?”
I brush my hand through her hair. It’s obvious that this little girl already has me wrapped around her finger because there’s no way I can tell her no. Not with the way she’s looking at me. “I already asked your mom if it was okay for me to come back and visit.”
She squeezes my leg. “And I know she said yes. She likes you.”
Even under the glare of the porch light, I can see Abby’s cheeks turn pink. She puts her hand on Alexis’ shoulder. “Okay, well, let’s get you inside to get a bath. Davis needs to get home.”
She squeezes my leg again, and I pat her on the back. “See you soon, Alexis.”
She releases her hold, and her mom pulls her back. “Thanks again, Davis. Are you sure you don’t want me to take the lawn mower back to Mom and Dad’s? I can put it in the garage.”