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Torin
As Abigail steps past me into the bar, she stumbles slightly on the threshold. My hand on her elbow keeps her from falling, and I get a whiff of the scent of lavender.
And it has the usual effect.
I’m so fucked here.
This night is going to end differently than the last time we were together.
Because last time I was attracted to her. Very attracted, but it was all based on her sweet curves, and that intoxicating scent, and the way she looked at me with those big blue eyes that seemed both wary and interested at the same time. She’d been a little awkward but had made me feel protective, made my skin tingle, and had made me smile.
Now? Well, now I know that the woman who shot me down two years ago, who I’ve thought about every time I’ve set foot in this bar since then, is a gorgeous genius who wants to change the world. And actually has a plan for it.
And I want to help her do it.
I watch her sweet ass as she crosses the kitchen and pushes through the door that leads into the main portion of the bar. I study the way the braid I created touches her upper back as she joins her sisters at the head table. Her hair is so silky. I can still feel it against my skin. Did braiding her hair take several minutes longer than it needed to because I just wanted to run my fingers through it? Definitely. I lift a hand and sniff. Yes, I can smell lavender on my hands.
This beautiful woman, who is so nervous about giving this toast that she literally got sick, is a literal genius. She graduated summa cum laude. Three times. She has master’s degrees in biology and conservation ecology, and a doctorate in agricultural engineering. She’s only twenty-three, which means she got through college, possibly high school, far ahead of schedule. She’s clearly brilliant.
She now works for IAS, a Nebraska-based company that is internationally renowned for pioneering agricultural solutions to food crises around the globe.
And now I’m with her again, and I’m even more attracted to her now than I was before, and I need a princess.
I won’t let her walk away from me again.
In fact, I’m ninety-nine percent sure I’m going to propose to her tonight.
“Owen!” I greet Abigail’s cousin with a big smile and a handshake as she makes her way to the head table.
“Hey, Torin.” The other man gives me a friendly grin.
Owen Landry is a great guy. Fun-loving and a well-known troublemaker, for sure, but kind-hearted, family-oriented, hard-working, and loyal. He and his wife Maddie own part of the swamp boat tour company in town and they’ve adopted three boys who were in their home as foster kids first.
But he makes Abigail uncomfortable when she has to give a speech in front of everyone, so he has to go. Temporarily, of course.
“Hey, I wasn’t sure who to tell,” I say, “but I was just outside, and I heard some kids, teenagers, talking about heading down to the docks and checking out the airboats. Maybe they’re just taking a look, but I thought I’d let you know.”
Owen frowns. “Dammit.” He looks around, probably searching for one of his cousins who owns the company with him. “Thanks. I’ll sneak out and check on things.”
“It’s probably nothing, but I thought I’d let someone know,” I tell him.
“Yeah, thanks. Better to just check it out.”
I watch him get up and say something to his cousin, Zander, who’s one of the local cops. Zander gets up and follows Owen out.
Damn. I’d hoped Owen would take Zeke, the other cousin Abigail specifically named as someone who makes her nervous.
I see Charlie pick up the microphone, clearly preparing for her toast, so I head toward Zeke. I exchange pleasantries with the big man, then get him out of the building with a made-up story about overhearing some teenagers talking about sneaking around the barn at the petting zoo. It’s not unique from the teenagers-and-boat story, but I didn’t have much time to prep. And it will work. His wife, Jill, is one of the vets at the animal park and is very protective of the animals, so I know Zeke will want to go handle any potential trouble without her finding out.
By the time Owen, Zander, and Zeke realize there are no teenagers causing trouble, hopefully Abigail will be finished with her speech.
But when I glance at Abigail, she's noticed that not only have both Owen and Zeke left the room, but I can tell that she knows I had something to do with it. She gives me a questioning look. I just wink at her. Which causes both of her eyebrows to arch.
My first priority was getting anyone out of the room that made her uncomfortable, but if she knows I had something to do with it, and it makes her happy, all the better. Do I want to be on this woman's good side? No question about it.
Maybe that will help me get my fifth dance.
Or better yet, everything else I want from Abigail Landry.
