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“Carmen and I are fine. We’re living normal lives. Carmen is married, and now I think I’m seeing Michael, and the both of us are great. So all you need to do is live your life and follow your heart. Be bold. You deserve love as much as anyone, Tiffy, and you can’t let what happened to Derek stand in the way of that.”
There was a pause before Tiffany smiled, but when she did, it was sincere and vibrant and filled with joy. Abby knew just by looking at it that what she’d said had hit the mark.
“Whoa, listen to me talking. It wasn’t too long ago that you were the one who dragged me out of my pajamas to conquer new love. ‘It’s Raining Men’ didn’t exist, you said. Well, the two of us got hot guys and now you’re chickening out. I think you just got a jitterbug. You’ll be fine and everything is going to be all right.”
“You think so?” Tiffany asked.
“I know so.” Abby patted her knee. “Why don’t you and Jason join us for dinner, and you can get your head on straight, and from there you can decide what you want to do.”
“Thanks, Abby. You’re a good friend,” Tiffany said with a smile. She hugged Abby one last time, and Abby returned it just as fiercely. “Thanks for talking me through that.”
“You’re welcome,” Abby said. “So let’s go get dinner served? I made pot roast. There’s plenty.”
The two women left Abby’s room together, hand in hand, and went downstairs to invite the men for dinner. A double date wasn’t what Abby had been anticipating, but she couldn’t turn Tiffany away.
And if Michael was right for her, he’d understand that she needed to be there for Tiffany.
Right for her. Geez. Abby blushed as she made her way down the stairs.
All they’d done was kiss, and she was already thinking about the long term? It was crazy.
But with a man like Michael, crazy felt right.
Chapter Ten
Time slipped away from the dinner, and every time Michael tried to redirect anyone’s attention to it, no one took the hint.
The beast inside him had never felt more caged.
Abby, beautiful in the same yellow summer dress she’d worn on their first breakfast date, sat at his side and stroked his thigh beneath the table. The touch of her fingers drove him insane with desire, and Mi
chael almost wanted her to stop. If she kept it up, he wouldn’t know how to contain his alter-beast.
That couldn’t happen.
“So what were you planning on doing this weekend?” Abby asked their guests. Her attention was focused on Jason, but Michael saw how she looked at Tiffany out of the corner of her eye, as if she was encouraging her to say something.
“Well,” James looked over to Tiffany, as though asking for guidance. “I asked Tiffany if she wanted to come out with me this weekend to my folks’ cabin about two hours east of here. It’s by a lake, a real pretty little place.”
“And I said of course,” Tiffany smiled. Something passed between her and Abby that Michael couldn’t figure out. “And it’s a long drive, so maybe it’s better we get going now. Isn’t that right, hon?”
Dinner was finished, but they’d been chatting for hours. It was dark outside.
“Oh, I guess you’re right.” Jason glanced out the window, startled. “Good lord, time does fly by, doesn’t it?”
“Mmm hmm.” Tiffany took him by the arm. “Thanks for dinner, Abby, and it was nice to see you again, Michael. I’ll always remember our little chat.”
How could Michael forget a threat like that? Michael managed a smile. “Of course. Me, neither.”
“I’m glad you stopped by, Tiff,” Abby said. She rose as well, and Michael followed her lead. As a group, the four of them walked to the door. “Have fun this weekend, okay?”
“I will.” Tiffany kissed her cheek, then pressed herself up against Jason’s side. “Talk to you later!”
“Goodnight,” Abby and Michael bade them.
Jesus Christ. They were finally alone. An immense relief washed over him.
“Whew. They came unexpectedly,” Abby said. She locked the door and leaned back against it, looking straight into Michael’s eyes. “I’m sorry about that. Tiffy needed my advice.”
