They tell me youre a genius, he found himself saying.
His words clearly took her by surprise. Who are they?
People I talk to. People in Lyndon. Are you a genius, Abigail?
His words clearly took her by surprise. Who are they?
People I talk to. People in Lyndon. Are you a genius, Abigail?
Im smart enough that you should be listening to me.
And Im stupid enough to think theres another way.
Youre not stupid. Exactly.
Ouch.
Id say you were self-confident to a fault.
Its taken me a long way in life. He felt compelled to defend himself.
That doesnt mean it shouldnt be mitigated.
Youre really quite fearless, arent you?
Where did that come from?
Nobody challenges me like this. Nobody pushes me, nobody makes me second-guess myself. Ive missed you, he confessed, easing closer to her.
In a good way?
Was it his imagination or was she leaning slightly toward him?
My life seems flat when youre not around.
Mine seems a whole lot simpler when youre not around.
You want simpler?
She hesitated, brain obviously cataloging again. Finally she shook her head.
Neither do I, he muttered. He gave in to impulse and lifted his hand, cupping her cheek, easing his spread fingers into her hair. I want you.
Her eyes closed, and she turned her face into his palm. When you touch me, she breathed, nothing else seems to matter.
Everything matters, he countered. But you matter the most.
Zach She sighed. What now?
He moved in. Now I hope I kiss you.
We shouldnt.
Agreed. Not the way things have been between us. But youre free from me now. From here on in. No matter what, Ill never bother you again.
So I can leave? And you wont try to stop me?
He held his breath, afraid shed do exactly that. You can do anything you want.
But she didnt move. In fact, her lips softened and parted, and her pupils dilated ever so slightly.
Kiss me, Zach.
His arms went around her instantly. He tried to be gentle, but passion pushed him on. He kissed her deeply, holding her tight, reveling in the feel of her body pressed against his own. Hed missed her so much. Every minute of every day theyd been apart, hed missed her.
She was soft to his hard, supple to his taut steel. She smelled like wildflowers, and she tasted of champagne.
She kissed him back, her delicate hands gripping his shoulders, her tongue tangling with his, opening to him, molding against him. Desire crested in his bloodstream, and he knew he was careening toward losing control. He forced himself to pull back.
Im sorry, he rasped. I didnt mean this to get out of hand.
Its out of hand? She was equally breathless, and her hands went to the buttons on his shirt.
Abby, he warned.
What? she asked, glancing up, tone falsely innocent, eyes blinking up at him.
Youre a very smart woman.
I am, she agreed, still unbuttoning.
Youre unbuttoning my shirt.
Also true. She separated the fabric and placed a hot kiss on his chest.
You know what this means.
In fact, I do.
Just so were clear.
Were clear.
I cant keep my hands off you.
She smiled impishly up at him. Youre doing a pretty good job so far.
He scooped her into his arms and strode for the bedroom. Lets fix that.
Her luscious lips went to his neck. Please do.
He was in the bedroom in seconds, setting her down on the bed, stretching out beside her, kissing her lips, her neck, her shoulders, inhaling deeply as he ran his fingers through her soft hair.
This is the sexiest dress ever, he told her.
Katrina picked it.
Remind me to thank her. He released the zipper and pushed the fabric down over her breasts.
Abby groaned. Im trying to picture that conversation.
He kissed one nipple, bringing the tip to a bead.
Her fingertips dug into his shoulders.
Picturing it now? he teased.
Huh?
Nothing.
With a free hand he drew her dress up along her bare thighs, reveling in the soft, tender skin, his thumbs drawing circles as he moved higher.
She finished with his buttons, pushing his jacket and shirt off his shoulders. He let them fall to the floor, taking her lips in a deep kiss.
He touched the hot silk of her panties, and she gasped against his mouth. Her panties were filmy, barely there, and he easily pulled them off, down her gorgeous legs, tossing them to the side. In answer, her hands went to his pants, fumbling with the button and his zipper.
He retrieved his wallet, working with one hand for a condom as she pulled down his zipper, grazing him with her knuckles, her hand surrounding him through his boxers.
He followed the contours of her body, reveling in her soft skin, kissing her from her hairline to her toes and back again. Then he finally rose above her, watching her expression, the moue of her pink mouth, the glow of her golden eyes, the sheen of sweat on her forehead, and he gently pushed inside.
He groaned out loud. How can anything be so good?
A haze was taking over his brain. A roar had started in his ears. And all nonessential systems were shutting down.
Abigail was the center of his world. The blackmail was done. From this moment on, she had the power.
Oh, Lucky. She kissed his mouth, wrapped her arms around his neck, tightened her legs around his waist, her entire body cradling his.
Hed never felt anything like it. Explosions started at the base of his brain, growing in intensity, fanning out.
He heard her cry, felt her body ripple around him, and he let himself cascade over the edge.
Their breathing was ragged, and long minutes passed while he held her to him, passion slowly throbbing its way from his body.
Neither spoke. Her body was limp, and her head was tucked into the crook of his neck.
I thought about what you said, she whispered.
What did I say? Whatever it was, hed say it again.
About your employees being your family. It made me want to help you. To throw my heart and soul into it.
Thank you, he said simply.
You really do need to move your headquarters.
Can we talk about this later? Though he accepted that she was right. He and Alex had to sit down and seriously talk about how that might work.
There is no later, she told him, tone regretful. Ive got a 9:00 a.m. flight.
Stay, his mind screamed. Back to the ranch? he asked instead.
She nodded.
Her words made him feel helpless. She didnt want to go back there. She shouldnt have to go back there.
Have you told them? he asked, already knowing the answer.
Im never going to tell them, Zach. And you cant either.
You cant live your life for your family.
Youre living yours for your employees.
Thats different. He loved his job. He loved working with Alex, and he took immense satisfaction in the success of Red, White and Brew.
She gave him an ironic smile and cocked her head.
Hot tub or bed? he asked, deciding to assume she was staying the night. Before she could refuse, he touched the bottom of her chin with his index finger, placing a gentle kiss on her swollen mouth.
Bed, he decided for her on a whisper. Dont make me let go of you just yet.
Wrapped in Zachs discarded dress shirt, sleeves rolled up a few turns, Abigail gazed through the window of the darkened hotel bedroom, watching the distant spot of light that was an early flight taking off from the Denver airport. It trailed across the sky, disappearing into a blend of stars on the horizon. It wouldnt be long before she was on a plane just like that, winging her way north, while Zach made his way south.
Wrapped in Zachs discarded dress shirt, sleeves rolled up a few turns, Abigail gazed through the window of the darkened hotel bedroom, watching the distant spot of light that was an early flight taking off from the Denver airport. It trailed across the sky, disappearing into a blend of stars on the horizon. It wouldnt be long before she was on a plane just like that, winging her way north, while Zach made his way south.
She heard him moving behind her, and then his arms were around her, drawing her back against him.
Hey. His voice was husky above her ear.
I didnt mean to wake you, she apologized.
I wasnt asleep.
She drew a breath and allowed herself to absorb his warmth. He seemed so strong, so sure, as if nothing in the world could slow him down. She tried to imagine how hed become such a successful man, how hed overcome what must have been innumerable challenges in his childhood.
What was it like? she found herself asking.
What was what like? he asked.
Growing up. Alone. In the group home.
You dont want to hear about that.
She turned in his arms. Yes, I do.
He gazed at her for a minute, eyes dark, expression serious. Unremarkable, he finally answered.
That didnt come anywhere near to satisfying her. Were you happy, sad, lonely?
We were all lonely.
She looped her arms loosely around his waist, studying his expression. Im trying to imagine what it must have been like when you were little.
It was like having a hundred brothers.
But no parents.
Parents, no. Workers, yes. Around the clock. Some of them stayed for years. Some of them seemed to like me a lot. Well- he gave a wry smile -when I was little, anyway. But then I met Alex, and we were typical, active boys, and we mostly made the workers all crazy.
Abigail smiled back, but her heart couldnt help aching for him.
What about you? he asked. What was it like when you were little.
Seth and Travis were horrible to us girls.
I can imagine.
They teased us unmercifully. I was the oldest. Mandy was pretty tough. While Katrina was always really small and delicate. They werent too bad with her. I guess even as kids, they realized it would be cruel to go after her.
What did they do to you and Mandy?
Everything from putting spiders in our beds to throwing us into the freezing-cold lake in the spring. Travis sneaked into my bedroom once in the middle of the night and glued my hair to my pillow. The next morning, Mom had to cut it off.
Zach smoothed back her hair. Travis get a whipping?
My parents didnt believe in spanking. But he spent the next two weeks shoveling manure in the hot sun.
Learned his lesson?
He never did anything like that again. But I dont think manual labor ever bothered him much.
At St. Stephens they had a big old leather strap.
They beat you?
They didnt call it beating back then. They called it discipline.
She cringed just thinking about it. Did you
Oh, yes.