Resisting Her Rival (9 page)

“We’re fine, Abby. You go home, and we’ll check on you in a bit,” Ann said.

Nick held the door open to let Abby walk out ahead of him and then took her arm, tucking her hand close to him so he would catch her if she stumbled.

“It’s not that far. You want to walk to your house or do you want to take my truck?”

She pursed her lips. “I’m thinking that I feel wobbly.” As soon as she made the announcement, she tripped over an uneven place in the sidewalk.

Nick bent and scooped her up into his arms.

She snuggled against his chest and stroked his face with one hand. “You have good—no, great—lips.” Stretching forward, she pressed her lips to his. “I like kissing you, and I like you holding me. Did you like the song? I sang it for you.”

Nick turned his head away. Of all the damn luck. He sighed. “How about you repeat this when you’re sober, and we can go from there, hmmm?”

“Sober.” She nodded her head. “I’m the very proper Abby. I can do sober, you know.”

“Don’t I know.” Nick paused at a crosswalk, looked both ways, and headed to the other side of the street. The lights that lined the sidewalks through the main part of town had come on and bathed the streets in a soft, warm glow.

“I want you to stay the night with me,” Abby said.

Nick tightened his hold on her, and he forced himself to concentrate on walking. “Okay, Abby.” He had no intention of spending the night.

A sad expression crossed her face. “I don’t want to be hurt again.”

“I don’t want that for you, either, honey.”

She closed her eyes, and in seconds, Nick could tell from her even breathing that she was sound asleep.

…

The next morning, Abby woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. The sound was magnified times a thousand. Like birds the size of a monster truck. She carefully leaned up on one elbow. Her stomach ached, her head hurt, and her mouth was full of cotton. She licked her lips against the dryness and then sank back against her pillow, covering her eyes with her arm.

What the hell had happened? She remembered winning the scavenger hunt, gloating, and then they all went for drinks. Everything got a little hazy after that.

“Knock, knock.” Her bedroom door eased open, and Ann walked in, wearing an apron emblazoned with the logo of her chocolate shop and a wide smile. She tapped Abby’s legs to get her to scoot over to make room and sat beside her.

When the bed shook from the movement, Abby’s stomach protested. She dropped a hand to her abdomen. “Careful.”

“So do you want the good news or the bad news about last night first?”

Running her hand through her hair, Abby winced. Even that hurt her head. “As long as I didn’t get up on the table and do a striptease or something, it can’t be that bad, right?”

“I’ll give you the good news first. Amelia didn’t get in the backseat with Chad, and I didn’t get in the backseat with Eric.”

Abby struggled to push herself upright on the bed. Oh, God. Surely her skin was turning green. “Sis, why would I care? You’re adults.”

“I think you were channeling your seventeen-year-old self. You know, where you used to remind me and Ame all the time not to do stuff like that.”

“Oh. Maybe it was in my subconscious. That was a long time ago.” She gingerly pushed aside the blankets. “I think I’m going to attempt to master standing up.”

“I’ll help you.” Ann took her sister by the arm.

Abby raised a hand to her head. “Ouch. My head is coming off, I swear.”

“I’ll go get you some Tylenol. I’ll be right back.” Ann dashed out, and Abby shuffled slowly toward the bathroom.

As soon as she saw her reflection in the mirror, she wished she hadn’t. There were zombies that looked better. More alive, too. She carefully brushed her teeth and thought about combing her hair but decided against it. The pounding of the water from the shower would be agony enough. She’d wash her hair first.

Glancing over her shoulder, she eyed the shower.
What is it about the shower that seems so important?
Unable to remember, she gave up, shook her head, and immediately let out a groan when the motion brought a wave of nausea.

“Here,” Ann said when Abby stepped out into the hallway.

Gratefully, Abby took the tablets and swallowed them with the juice. She handed the glass back and did a slow shuffling walk to her room to gather some clothes.

“So the bad news…”

The inflection in Ann’s voice got Abby’s attention. Her stomach fluttered. “What?”

“You did some karaoke.”

“I couldn’t have been that bad. Not enough to deserve the look you’re giving me.”

“You sang ‘Shut Up,’ and you dedicated it to Nick.”

“
No
.”

“Uh-huh. Then you announced to the entire group that you and Nick were leaving the bar to come home and get into the shower together.”

“I did not!”

“Oh yes, you did.” Ann laughed.

Abby made her way to the bed and sat. How humiliating. “Do you think anyone was paying attention to me? I mean sometimes people get up and sing, and everyone goes right on about their business.”

“Trust me. You had everyone’s attention.”

Abby closed her eyes and breathed out slowly. “Please tell me that’s all. I vaguely remember Nick bringing me home but nothing else.” She opened her eyes and made a sound halfway between a laugh and a groan. “I made a fool out of myself, didn’t I?”

“Abby, it’s not that big of a deal.”

“What else did I say? Did I say anything to Nick?”

“I don’t know. The two of you danced.”

“And?”

“You seemed quite happy with that. Snuggling up like you were cold and he was a blanket.”

“Oh no.”

“I’m sure it’s not the first time some lush made passes at him.”

“Not funny.”

“You’re right. But look on the bright side. You got your first hangover out of the way.”

“My first and last, I swear. I feel half dead.”

“Go shower. You’ll feel better.”

“Okay.” Abby picked out some clothes and then shot her sister a look. “What happened after I left the bar?”

“Since you’d advised us not to get in the backseat, that option was off the table.”

“C’mon, Ann.”

“Amelia went home not long after you left, and of course, the besotted Chad went with her. Sue and Oscar were making out, and that was weird.” Ann walked to the door. “I’ll go make some toast while you take a shower.”

“Thank you, sis.”

“No problem, songbird.”

Chapter Ten

It took a couple of hours before Abby’s head stopped pounding. The toast had settled her stomach somewhat, so there was that to be thankful for. Needing to get started on her list of chores before she could leave for her trip, Abby went outside to the clean out the station wagon.

She’d barely made it off the porch before Nick pulled up. Abby waited while he parked his truck and headed toward her.

He looked fresh and rested.

“Hi,” she greeted with a rueful smile. “Are you stopping by to congratulate me on my debut singing performance?”

“I was a fan.”

“Are you going to let me live this one down quickly or draw it out for a while?”

“Oh, I’m going to draw it out.”

“My knight in tarnished armor. Why’d you stop by?”

“To see if you wanted to do something.”

“Like what?”

“Do you run?”

“Not unless I’m being chased or going for chocolate.”

Nick laughed. “Okay, then how about we catch a movie after we work on the sets for Oscar?”

“We don’t have time. I may have omitted to tell you that in addition to signing you up to help Oscar, I also told Miss Liza that you wanted to take dance lessons.”

“That’s not a problem. We can just catch the movie after our dance lesson.”

“You have a problem with your pronouns.
You’re
going to take dance lessons, not me.”

“After your announcement at the lake, I stopped in every shop I could think of that you might ambush me with to ask if I was signed up for anything. I added your name as my partner for Miss Liza’s cha-cha lessons.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “I look forward to seeing you in those little outfits.”

Crossing her arms, Abby narrowed her eyes. “What else did you find?”

“I cancelled the cake-decorating class.” He patted his abdomen. “Didn’t want to jeopardize these six-pack abs by eating all the homework with that one. Since I know keeping healthy is also a concern of yours, I signed you up for a survival camping weekend, and I paid your deposit because I’m thoughtful.”

“I hate camping.”

“I could come along and protect you from the bears.”

“Fine. You win. I’ll cancel everything.”

“You’re a wonderful girlfriend, thank you.”

“I’m not your girlfriend.”

“Sure you are. You’re a girl, and you’re my friend. So when people ask me about our relationship, I tell them you’re my girlfriend.”

“That explains the looks I’ve been getting.”

“Everyone knows that with me, you’ve hit the man lottery.”

“I don’t know about the man lottery but seriously, Nick…” Abby looked down at the ground and then back up. “Thank you for taking me home and being a gentleman about it.”

“Any time. Movies?”

She nodded.

“You do realize this is a date. A real one?”

It seemed to Abby that the world stopped turning in the second it took her to say, “Yes.”

Nick looked around the yard, then at the garage. “Is your granddaddy home?”

“He’s in the backyard in the gazebo. Why?”

“Since you and I will be alone together in a small, tight space for the trip, I want to let him know the cow offer still stands as long as he doesn’t try to negotiate for the truck.”

“After you talk to him, just tell me if I should start planning a wedding.”

“Will do.” Nick bounded across the path toward the gate leading into the backyard. Abby reluctantly forced herself to stop watching him. Funny. Sexy. So wrong. Going out with Nick was probably a bad idea. A mistake. But it was
one
date. How much trouble could her heart get into with one date?

After she finished cleaning out the car, Abby headed slowly back inside the house, still wrestling with herself. One date with Nick didn’t mean anything. He was fun to be around. Maybe this was the start of a friendship. She could be Nick’s friend and nothing more. She squashed the nagging sensation that told her she was lying to herself.

…

Nick pushed open the gate leading into the backyard and crossed the wide, carefully kept lawn. Abby’s handiwork was everywhere he looked from the flowers to the white gazebo she’d had built. He remembered hearing her talk about wanting a place where she could sit outside and read. Everything Abby touched always looked so welcoming.

Catching Noah’s eye, Nick approached the gazebo. When he took a seat on the bench beside the older man, Noah said, “I don’t see any cows, so I’m guessing this is just a regular social visit?”

“I wanted to talk to you. Put your mind at ease. I know that you’re aware of my family history, and I wanted to assure you that I’d never hurt Abby.”

Noah regarded Nick for a long moment. “I never once thought you were like your father.”

“I’m not, but I do have a reputation that I’m not proud of.”

“Reputations are just mistakes we make or opportunities we take that grow us into who we are. Doesn’t matter who you were, Nick. It only matters who you are now.”

“Then you don’t have a problem with me dating Abby?”

“No, I don’t. Abby’s going to be the one with a problem.” Arching his back, Noah said, “The older I get, the more I see the importance in seeing all my girls settled. I won’t always be around to keep an eye out for them.” His eyes watered, and he cleared his throat. “I want them to be happy, and I’m afraid that Abby will never let herself love again.”

“I know that ex of hers was a real piece of—” Nick broke off. There were no words vile enough to describe him.

“My sentiments exactly. He ran up debts left and right. Big, expensive debts. That’s why Abby sold her home and moved in with me. She paid everyone he stiffed. I asked her to move in here. Told her I needed the care, that I couldn’t handle things on my own anymore. It’s why I signed over the diner to her.”

“That was nice of you.”

“More like an attempt at penance.” Noah bowed his head. “I failed my Abby after we lost her parents. I could only half function, and my wife, bless her heart, couldn’t function at all. No parent should ever lose a child.” Noah took a deep breath.

Nick knew how grief could tear a family apart, he’d witnessed the same when his sister had died, but he’d never experienced the loss of a child. Still, he hurt for Noah’s pain.

Noah wiped at his eyes. “Abby stepped right up, took over the diner, and saw to it that her sisters had some semblance of order in their lives. She was seventeen years old. She lost out on years she should have been carefree. I’ll always regret not being strong enough for her.”

“I’m sure that Abby doesn’t blame you,” Nick said.

“I know she doesn’t because Abby’s not that way, but it doesn’t take away the guilt I feel. That’s why I meddle, son. I’m hoping that I can be of some use and give the girls a happier life now than they had in their earlier years.”

“Noah, what’s done can’t be undone. Abby and her sisters love you deeply. I’ve seen it.”

“I want Abby to have someone who will restore her faith that there are good men in the world. I hope you’re that man.”

“Well, with my charm and good looks, Abby will eventually be swept off her feet.”

Noah’s mouth hung open for a second before he said, “Good grief, son. I hope that’s not your best effort.”

With a laugh, Nick patted Noah’s shoulder and got to his feet. “Don’t worry. I don’t know what my future holds, but you never know. It could be linked to Abby’s.” There was no way he was going to tell her grandfather that theirs was merely a casual relationship. As far as he knew, though his heart was giving him some debate on the casual versus more, their relationship was purely for the benefit of his business.

Noah thought for a second, then got up, too. “I might be able to help with your future and hers.”

No thanks. There was no trip down the aisle in his future any time soon. Like the next century. “I’ve seen your handiwork along with Henry’s, so I’ll pass.”

Noah fell into step beside him. “Henry and I learned from that mistake, and we’ve gotten better—” His step faltered when Nick looked at him.

“Noah, are you and Henry up to something?”

“Of course not,” he said quickly.

Too quickly for Nick’s liking. “Then who is up to something?”

“Trust me, you don’t want to know.”

“Ah, hell. What have you done?”

Peeking around Nick, Noah checked to make sure Abby wasn’t anywhere in sight before he confessed. “I talked Oscar into saying that you and Abby had to work out the building sale between the two of you.”

“That’s why Oscar wouldn’t sell. I knew how much he wanted to, so his reluctance surprised me.” Nick sighed. “Abby’s not going to be happy.”

“Who says you have to tell her? If you tell her, she’ll demand that Oscar choose, and then the gig’s up. You’ll be out the door Abby-less, and I’ll be cow-less.”

“Abby deserves to know the truth.” Nick turned and walked up onto the back porch.

“You could lose your chance of having any type of relationship with her.”

Noah’s words made Nick pause with his hand on the doorknob. “I’d rather lose her honestly than win her over with a lie.” He opened the door and stepped into the kitchen.