Impulsively, he reached for his cell phone and hit speed dial. When Abby answered, her voice husky with sleep, he felt a moment’s guilt, right along with enough heat to set his sheets on fire.
“I thought you were a night owl,” he said lightly. “I’m sorry if I woke you.”
“It’s okay,” she murmured. “I must have dozed off while I was reading.”
“Then you’re not in bed yet?”
“No. Why?”
“I was thinking about coming over, if it’s not too late.”
She hesitated for so long he thought she might refuse.
“Abby?” he prodded. “What do you think? Are you up for company? Or are you still hiding out from me?”
“I wasn’t hiding out,” she claimed.
Seth didn’t call her on the blatant lie, but waited until she sighed.
“Okay, maybe I was,” she said.
“So, is it okay if I come over or not?”
“Sure,” she said at last.
“That’s good, then. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Seth, wait.”
“What?” he asked, holding his breath. Now that he’d made up his mind, he didn’t think he could bear it if she told him not to come.
“Are you sure?”
The question was proof enough that she knew exactly what he’d had in mind when he called, that he was ready to put an end to this impasse they’d reached. Whether she’d intended it or not, she’d given him just enough time to realize he didn’t want to live without her, at least for tonight.
“Are you?” he countered.
“I’m sure,” she said, but there was an uncertain hitch in her voice.
“Abby, this doesn’t have to happen. It could be a huge mistake.”
“I don’t think so,” she said. “At least not for me. How about you?”
“I wish to hell I knew. I just know I need to be there tonight, with you.”
“Then no more talk about mistakes or regrets, okay?”
Regrets hadn’t even crossed his mind, not until now. He had a hunch he’d have a boatload of them by morning. But the thought of her there, waiting, outweighed them.
“On my way,” he said.
The soft click of the phone as she disconnected told him she’d be ready.
* * *
“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!” Abby muttered, racing around her bedroom, gathering up the clothes she’d left scattered everywhere. Neatness had never been one of her virtues. She vowed on the spot to change that, especially if surprise visits like this one were ever to become commonplace.
She whipped off the flannel pajamas she’d been wearing and tore through her lingerie drawer in search of something sexier, then decided the pale blue negligee was too obvious. She covered it with a thick terrycloth robe that would have been suitable for receiving the most judgmental visitor.
But when Seth arrived, took one long look at her and sealed his mouth over hers, what she wore hardly mattered. In less time than she could count, she wasn’t wearing anything at all.
18
Abby fell back against the pillows and tried to catch her breath. Just the sight of Seth had been stealing her breath for weeks now, but that was nothing compared to this. Boy-howdy, when this man finally let himself go, he held nothing back.
She glanced in his direction, took in the glorious view of his beautiful body stretched out beside her. She propped herself on an elbow and studied him, aware that a smile was forming on his lips, even though his eyes remained closed.
“Don’t look smug,” she said, nudging him.
“Smug was the last thing on my mind,” he said. “I was simply enjoying the experience of being ogled.”
“How did you know I was ogling you?”
His smile spread. “Lucky guess, but that indignation in your voice is a clear giveaway.”
“Not amusing,” Abby declared.
“Would it make you feel better if I swear to you that I was just wondering why the heck we took so long to get here?”
“Marginally,” she told him. “And I’d have to say that mature, rational thought probably played an important role in our delayed gratification. We had a lot of very good reasons for taking our time.”
He frowned at her answer. “Are you suggesting this was an immature, irrational thing here tonight?”
She thought about the question. “Maybe a little impulsive,” she responded carefully. “I mean we’ve been resisting for ages and suddenly, out of the blue, here we are.” She held his gaze. “Why is that?”
“Because I came to my senses,” he suggested.
“What sort of an epiphany did you have today?” she inquired curiously.
“It has been brought to my attention that I’ve been making excuses to avoid getting involved with you,” he said. He glanced at her. “And the truth was, we were already involved. No matter how many sane, logical reasons I came up with for keeping you at arm’s length, it couldn’t stop the inevitable.”
“The inevitable?”
“Tonight,” he said, his hand stroking her hip. “This.”
Abby shivered at the touch, but made herself say, “Maybe we should talk about those sane, logical reasons of yours.”
“Now?” he asked, propping himself on an elbow to look directly into her eyes. “You want to rehash them now?”
“I think we should,” she replied. “I want to know what’s changed. If anything.”
“Okay, if you insist,” he said. “First, there’s the fact that you have more money than me.”
She nodded. “That hasn’t changed.”
“But I’ve come to accept it.”
He glanced over at her, doing a thorough survey that had her skin heating.
“You’re older than me,” he said, continuing to list the arguments he’d had for not getting any closer. “Though frankly that one didn’t amount to much.”
Abby smiled, relieved.
“Seaview Key is gossip central,” he added.
“Little question about that.”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t seem to matter. I think we can weather a little talk.”
“Is that it?”
“No, here’s the biggie, that I wasn’t
