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A moan floated up from the level below, and Abigail snorted. “They’re at it again,” she said.

“They are getting married in a couple of days.”

“You know, one thing I don’t understand is why Blair is all over you when she’s about to marry your brother. Is it a kink, or something?”

I turned my head. “What do you mean, all over me?”

Abigail rolled her eyes, then propped herself up on her elbow. “Excuse me? Are you serious right now?”

“That’s just how she is,” I said with a shrug.

“So when you were dating, she’d go up to other guys and tell them how she could tell they’d been working out?”

I grimaced. “Okay, so it’s a weird dynamic.”

“That’s an understatement.”

Abigail chewed her lip and stared at a spot on the wall. I was getting to know the expressions on her face a little better these days, and I could tell she was keyed up.

“It really bothers you, huh.”

She scoffed and rolled her eyes.

A grin curled my lips. “Are you feeling possessive over your fake boyfriend, Abigail Stone?”

Her glare made my cock hard. “It’s just rude,” she said.

“Never knew you were such a little Miss Manners. I thought you were supposed to be the troublemaker.”

Abigail let out a harsh breath and fell back onto the pillows with a thump. “That’s what everyone says. They can’t help but expect the worst from me.”

The words came out casual, and she even flicked her hand as if to dismiss the statement, but I heard an edge in her voice. Itwas subtle, but it was there—and it seemed like these days, I couldn’t help but notice the little things about Abigail. The way her hair looked almost brown in low light. How she chewed the left side of her bottom lip when she focused. The shuttered look in her eyes when she was hurt.

She kept herself locked away behind a breezy, unaffected facade, but I was beginning to see the woman behind it.

And I wanted to know more.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t expect the worst from you.”

She glanced over. “Uh-huh.”

“Like I said, you’re the only one who could pull this off.”

“That’s what was going through your head when you added my name to your RSVP?” Her brow arched, the question digging somewhere I’d rather she didn’t go exploring.

“Seriously, Abigail,” I started. “You’re intelligent. You’re beautiful. You’re a successful businesswoman. Why do you let someone like Blair get to you?”

“She annoys me, is all.” Casual words said with shuttered eyes.

“That’s not it,” I said, frowning at her.

Abigail huffed. “Why do you care so much?”

“You’re the most secure, confident woman I’ve ever met. I just can’t believe that some woman takes a couple of jabs at you and you believe her.”

“Some woman? That’s your ex-girlfriend—excuse me, future sister-in-law.”

“See, you keep doing that, sweetheart. You keep going on the offensive—but it’s not going to work.”