Page 6 of On the Wild Side

It doesn’t take us long to have Daisy in her pajamas, her corsage off and safely in its box, and tucked into bed, and I follow Abbi back downstairs.

“Are you hungry?” Abbi asks.

Truthfully, I’mstarving.And it must show on my face because Abbi grins and crooks her finger for me to follow her into the kitchen.

“I have some leftover meatloaf from dinner. I can make you a sandwich, if you want?”

“That sounds damn good.” I take off my jacket and set it on a chair at her small kitchen table, loosen my tie, and sit at the kitchen island as I roll up my sleeves. I love the way her home feels warm from the fire and from the glow of Christmas lights from the tree in the corner.

When Abbi turns back around, her eyes go wide.

“Problem?” I ask.

“No. No, of course not. You should get comfortable. Was Daisy good for you?”

“Daisy’s always good,” I reply with a grin. “She’s smart, and she listens. She had a blast dancing with her friends, and I even cut a rug with her a couple of times. That seemed to make her happy.”

“I’m sure it did,” Abbi says with a chuckle as she slices the meatloaf and sets it on the buttered bread. “My daughter is quite taken with you, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

“It goes both ways.” She slides the plate my way and then opens her fridge.

“Would you like some lemonade? Water? I don’t keep soda because Daisy likes it too much, so we save it for a treat. I do have beer, if you want that.”

“Water’s perfect, thank you.” I’d tell her she doesn’t have to go to so much trouble, but the truth is, Ilikebeing here with her, even though I know I shouldn’t. I take a bite and sigh when the flavor hits my tongue. “Jesus, this is good.”

So, she’s gorgeous,andshe can cook. I’m fucked.

“If I’d known you hadn’t eaten, I would have fed you before you went to the dance.” She puts the rest of the leftovers away and wipes down her countertop. Abbi’s house isclean.Sure, there are a few things out here and there that show that the house is lived in, but it’s all clean. Which makes sense, given that she owns a private cleaning company here in town.

“It’s okay,” I reply. “I just had a busy day. We had to herd cattle from higher ground, down near the barn so we can keep an eye on them in this weather. We don’t want to lose any of them.”

“Of course not.” Once she’s finished tidying up, she leans on the counter, and I get a front-row view of her impressive cleavage.

What am I doing here? I should go home. I should get the hell out of here, where I’m not tempted to make moves on a woman that I absolutely can’t fuck around with.

“This was delicious,” I say after finishing the last bite. “Thanks for it.”

I take my plate to the sink, rinse it, and then set it in her dishwasher.

“Are you sure it’s safe for you to drive home?” Abbi asks with a frown as she nibbles on her bottom lip. “It’s snowed another foot since you picked up Daisy.”

I sigh, looking toward the windows where the snow is coming down hard, and shoot my brother, Chase, a text. “Let me check with Chase.”

Me: How nastyarethe roads?

Almost immediately, he replies.

Chase: Rem just texted. He barely made it home without going off the road. Had to crawl. It’s a shitshow out there.

I show her the response, and she cringes.

“Stay here,” she says, and my whole body reacts at her suggestion. “I have a guest room upstairs, and I’d feel better if I knew that you were safe. The storm should pass by morning.”

“Abbi, you don’t have to?—”

“Am I that repulsive?” she demands, her hands on her hips now, and we’re caught here, between the island and the sink, and I want to kiss her more than I want my next breath. “I know I’m not a skinny woman, and I’m a mom, but I’m only suggesting you stay here, where it’s safe. You don’t have to worry about me getting naked and trying to have my wicked way with you when my daughter is twelve feet away.”

Her eyes go wide, and she covers her mouth with her hand, clearly horrified that she said the words out loud.

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