Page 63 of Hidden Vows
I’m not the only one who’s shared about their life over the last decade and a half.
I’ve hated almost everything Abbey’s told me—the fact that she closed herself off so completely from everyone around her breaks my heart. Knowing I’m the one who caused it tore me in two. But seeing who she’s become and how strong she is makes me so damn proud.
I’ve been in love with Abbey since I was six years old, and there wasn’t a moment in time where I thought that love disappeared. But getting this second chance with her? I want to shout it from the rooftops how in love with her I still am.
I’m so focused on the screen in front of me, I don’t hear anything going on around me. I know Jane and Cole, the newest bartender I hired, are behind the bar serving the few patrons that came in for lunch today, but I haven’t been paying the slightest bit of attention to them.
I hear Cole shout to someone but I don’t let my eyes wander from the screen. It’s not until hands cover my eyes that I’m forcedto pull away from my computer.
“Guess who?” Abbey whispers, trying to disguise her voice with a terrible Irish accent, but her scent gives her away. Lemon and lavender surround me, and I immediately melt into her.
“Sorry to disappoint, love, but I’ll always know it’s you.” Her hands fall from my face but slip around my neck as I spin in my stool, pulling her between my spread thighs. “How’s your morning been?”
“Good. George and the team are ahead of schedule. They’re confident they’ll be done by next week.” The smile that breaks out on her face is so contagious, I can’t help but smile in return.
My grip on her hips tightens slightly as I press a quick kiss to her lips. “That’s amazing, mo ghrá.”
The shiver that runs down her spine makes me chuckle. I love that she can’t help her physical reaction to my nickname for her. It’s nothing different than what I call her in English, but something about the Gaelic term does something to her and I hope that never changes.
She presses herself further into me, her lips landing on mine in a demanding kiss. It’s Cole’s whistle that tears us apart.
“All right, you two, that’s enough of that. Some of us have yet to find our person.” Cole smiles at us, making it clear he’s only joking as he steps up to us from behind the bar. “Can I get you anything, Abbey?”
“No, I just came from The Diner with Emily.”
“Do they have a new menu or something? Maybe that’s where everyone is?”
Cole’s only lived in town for a few weeks now and is still learning all the ins and outs of small town living, but the fact that even he’s noticed the change in customers around here makes me a little nervous.
I’ve been trying to be optimistic about the lack of people coming through the doors, but it’s getting harder and harder to ignore.
The people of Ashford Falls have changed a lot since I’ve been gone. People who never would have stepped foot in these walls before I left are now regulars, but it’s also true that they’ve stopped coming around recently. And the only thing that’s changed around here is me.
Abbey’s brows pinch as she glances around, noticing how empty it is for the first time. “Well, it is lunchtime on a Wednesday afternoon and school just started back up two weeks ago.” Her eyes come back to mine and I see the worry starting to pour out of them.
“Good point.” I reach over and squeeze the back of her thigh. “This could be totally normal for Murphy’s at this time of year.”
“Maybe,” Cole murmurs. “You sure I can’t get you anything?”
“No, I’m good. Thanks, Cole.” She offers him a smile as he walks away and steps from between my legs, slipping onto the stool next to me. “What are you up to?” Abbey asks, gesturing to my computer.
My next move isn’t subtle or cute in the slightest. I slam my laptop shut and offer her the goofiest smile—not intentionally. “Nothing.” I’m the least nonchalant I’ve ever been, and Abbey is far too smart not to call me on it.
“Yeah, okay.” She reaches for my computer and I push my hand down on top of it, holding it in place.
The second her eyes meet mine the guilt settles in. It’s hurt that fills her eyes and after everything we’ve been through, I can’t blame her. My eyes fall to the floor between us as I lift my hand in surrender.
She slides the laptop in front of her and because I’m a chicken,I spin in my seat to face the bar. I don’t watch her reaction head on, but I can see her out of the corner of my eye. I shouldn’t be surprised at how quickly she figured it out.
The little gasp she releases a few minutes later confirms she’s learned my last secret before the words leave her mouth. “You’re AJ Doherty?”
I turn to face her slowly, not entirely sure how she feels about this news.
“Yeah.” I release the simple word on a breath, having no idea what else I should say.
“Why didn’t you say anything? We’ve talked about his books…” Her words trail off as she looks at the computer screen once more. “Your books,” she whispers.
“The first time I saw you readingThe Silent Promisewas a few days after I got back to town. Talking about that book was the way I got you to talk to me, and I didn’t want to lose that.”
