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He turned slightly, tilting his head toward the house. “You want to give them all something to talk about?”

“Like what?”

He stepped closer, his hand sliding against my jaw while his other hand curved around my waist. Our chests pressed together, and Rex’s eyes danced. “Like this,” he said—and he kissed me.

And I meanreallykissed me.

FIFTEEN

REX

I’d spentthe whole night twisting and turning beside Abigail, receiving the message loud and clear that she wanted nothing to do with me.

It made me realize how much I’d enjoyed the camaraderie she and I shared. She’d always been Gabe’s sister, but she’d never treated me like I was an outsider. I’d never hurt her feelings.

Until now.

Mowing her lawn was an easy way of apologizing. Abigail obviously hated yardwork, so I’d woken up early and figured I could try to make up for hurting her. Because the truth was, I respected the hell out of her. She’d left that spineless piece of wilted lettuce she’d called a husband and marched out of her divorce looking stronger and surer of herself. She always laughed off her brother’s jokes and made light of the way she always got in trouble.

But I’d misread her. Just like so many people misread me,thinking that I enjoyed being the self-sacrificing guy who would do anything for the people around him. The truth was, I didn’t know how else to be. I didn’t think anyone would care about me unless I put them first, always.

What if Abigail didn’t know how else to be? What if she needed someone toseeher, the way I craved for myself?

The warmth of her in my arms was sweet bliss. The press of her against my front felt right in a way I couldn’t put into words. And the taste of her lips made me forget all the reasons we weren’t supposed to do this.

Abigail let out a soft noise of surprise and then almost immediately surrendered. She parted her lips and let me in, and a wave of satisfaction coursed through me. I clasped her tighter, my arm around her waist, the other stroking her cheek and jaw. Flyaway hairs tickled the tips of my fingers near her ear as I angled her head to deepen the kiss.

Slowly, I released her lips from mine. “How’s that for not keeping my hands to myself?” I asked, wanting to see the playful look of surprise in her eyes that I’d seen yesterday morning in bed. I wanted her to look at me and not see the fire marshal and volunteer firefighter, the good guy that everyone could rely on.

Instead, I wanted her to see me. The guy who ached for her, who wanted to touch and tease and torment until she finally let go.

Abigail brushed her mouth with her thumb. “Not bad.” Her eyes were glassy and wide, her mouth kiss-bruised.

I brushed flyaways behind her ear. “I can do better than ‘not bad.’” My words slipped through between pants, my left arm still banded around her.

Surrounded by the smell of cut grass, with the wind pressing my sweat-dampened shirt against my body, I pulled her in and pressed my mouth to her, forgetting about our audience. All that existed was Abigail, the tug of her fingers in my hair, the stroke of her hand against my neck. I was hard as stone for her, and none of it was fake.

Until the porch door banged, and Abigail sprang away from me. Flushed, she looked at Blair in the doorway. Her eyes sharpened slightly, and I remembered that we’d supposedly been performing for our audience.

Blair walked toward us with a smile that was a little forced, but she just shifted her gaze to me and asked, “Donny just got back from the store with a new bag of limes. We’ve made another batch of cocktails if you want one, Rex.”

The world was still a little unsteady under my feet, so I just lifted my palm and shook my head. “No, thanks.”

Blair tucked her hands in her back pockets, sticking her chest out. “You sure, T?”

I nodded. “Yeah, you go enjoy your party. I’m going to finish up here.”

Blair seemed to gulp back something. Pride, maybe? She turned back and disappeared into the house. Abigail seemed to wait for my attention, and I wanted to give it to her. All of it.

“You’re full of surprises, you know that?” she said.

“I’m not the only one.”

Abigail smiled and pulled away. “I’ve got to tour some houses for a client of mine soon.”

“Well, don’t worry. I’ll look after things around here.” I grabbed the bag that Abigail had dropped by our feet and got to work picking up the grass clippings. Abigail bumped her hipagainst mine, then proceeded back inside, swaying her hips with every step.

There was plenty to keep me busy with the yard, and I spent the remainder of the morning pulling weeds and trimming the bushes.