It All Started With a Lima Bean (41 page)

“Yep, apparently when he changed her diaper as a baby, she wet him, so he calls her squirt.”

“She lets him call her that? I swear that man can get away with anything. All he has to do is flash those damn hazel eyes and offer up a grin with his perfect lips.” Leah’s surprised reaction to her own words made Abby snort.

“I think I have to agree with you about Stefen; he does seem to get whatever he wants. You know, Lisa, that girl I told you about at Caleb’s parent’s house?”

“The one that needs a good bitch slap?” Leave it to Leah not to sugar coat her feelings.

“Yeah, well, she and Stefen have this weird vibe going on. It’s like if he tells her to jump, she doesn’t even ask how high. She just knows, but there is no affection with them at all. Caleb told me that she’s been after both of them since they were teenagers, but she seems to have a little unhealthy obsession with Stefen.”

“Doesn’t surprise me; he is honestly the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, BUT he is a player too. He knows he is good-looking, and I’m sure he uses it to his advantage anytime he can. No matter how big of a major turn off that is, it’s also a damn shame.” She pursed her lips but her bogus look of disgust wasn’t quite convincing.

“He’s going to be here for the wedding, you know. He is Caleb’s closest friend and will be the best man. So, you guys will be walking up the aisle together at the end of the ceremony. Are you okay with that?” Abby eyed her friend to measure her sincere reaction, not just the words that came out of her mouth.

“Of course.” She responded a little too enthusiastically. “Just because I wouldn’t date him doesn’t mean that I won’t enjoy gawking at him.”

“Apparently he will be staying here the week before the wedding and three weeks after. He’s using the time as a vacation from work. I guess Stefen, his dad, and his uncle have been working on this high profile case, and Caleb is really excited that Stefen will be getting away from it all for a bit.” Abby had mixed feelings about Stefen being there when they came back from their honeymoon. However, she didn’t want to be a brat about it. Caleb was so at peace with his cousin staying, but they were also starting their lives together. No matter, by the time the wedding and their two-week honeymoon came and went, he would only be there for another week.

She felt conflicted about some of the things Caleb had shared about him. Leah nudged her. She must have seen it on Abby’s face. “Caleb has mentioned how worried he gets about Stefen because he is sucked in to the superficial life the rest of the family is in. Caleb sees the potential in him and wants so much more for his life. He’s tried to get both Bri and Stefen to move to Santa Barbara for years apparently. He’s even busted out the Madison guilt card.” They both laughed knowing darn well that particular card was a difficult one to resist. “He says Stefen isn’t like that deep down. If you were to see him with Madison, you’d believe it too. I saw the man sporting some little piggy tails when we visited Chicago. Maybe if he had some spicy Latina in this city, he may consider relocating.”

“Pig tails? Oh man, I wish I had seen that. You are sneaky my friend, I knew you had an ulterior motive for talking about him. If he was anything like Caleb I might have fallen head over heels in love, but he’s not. I will enjoy the view while he visits, but ain’t nobody got time for a playa.” Leah’s sassiness could bring Abby out of a slump any day.

“I don’t know if I should be concerned by that statement about my fiancé or happy. Because it’s you, I’ll go for happy.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Caleb walked in the bedroom, stepped behind Abby, and gave her a kiss on the neck.

“Boyfriend-less envious girl standing right here guys. Wait for me to leave before getting all touchy feely please.” Caleb always laughed at Leah’s comments, but Abby knew what she said wasn’t far from the truth. She’d been so wrapped up in him and the wedding that she hadn’t taken too much time for the two of them. She would have to be mindful of that after the honeymoon. “I need to head out now anyway. I’ll have Madison back tonight after dinner. She is going to be my dinner date at that new steakhouse since my vegetarian friend here would never go with me.”

“Thanks again. I can’t wait to finish her gift and see her expression.” Abby was overjoyed about her present.

Leah waved as she walked out of the room, down the stairs and by the sound of the front door opening then closing, out of the house.

“I know you are busy working in here and all but do you mind keeping me company while I put my laundry away in the other room?” Caleb pulled on the bottom of her oversized button up shirt directing her out of the room. “By the way, I love my shirts on you.” He smirked.

She tried to ignore his smile, but it was nearly impossible. “I’m sure I can tear myself away for a bit, but then I need to head to the backyard to finish up.”

He walked behind her, and she knew exactly where his eyes were. They were burning a hole in her thin cotton pant-covered bottom. She wiggled her hips then said, “Mr. Hunter, please take your eyes off of my behind.” She twirled around as his eyes quickly flew up to meet hers. They both laughed.

His left eyebrow cocked. “How did you know?”

“A girl always knows when her butt is being stared at; it’s an instinct. Even if we don’t tell guys that we feel it, we totally do.”

“I don’t expect you to feel it from anyone but me, and if you do, I suggest you tell me about it.”
Where did that come from?

“Caleb Hunter, I am not going to tell you about every guy that plants his eyes on my behind. They just can’t help but look. I don’t exactly have a tiny unnoticeable tush, you know.”

“Believe me; I know your behind is noticeable.” He chuckled but in a sexy way. “It was one of the first things that drew me to you physically, on the first day of school.”

“You were drawn to me way back then?”

“Of course I was; just being in your presence was overwhelming to me. I hadn’t felt a pull to anyone like that ever before. I know this is totally girlie, but it was almost as though my soul just knew. It wanted to be with you way before my brain would accept that it was an okay thing to desire.”

Her heart pulsated, and her belly fluttered. “You can’t say stuff like that Caleb; you make me want to break down and cry. You are my dream come true.” She had to bite her lip to keep it from trembling.

“I don’t say those things to make you cry, love. I never want to be the cause of your tears.” Holding her close to his body, he placed a soft, tender kiss on her temple. Those had become her favorite kisses.

“They would be happy tears, and I’m more than happy to shed those.” Returning the favor, she kissed him on his favorite spot, his lips.

“Enough with the mushy, we’ve got work to do today.” He popped her on the behind. He’d never done that before.

They entered one of the upstairs guest rooms located at the end of the hall. Caleb motioned for Abby to sit on the bed he’d slept in for a few months. Insistent, he moved out of the master bedroom right after their engagement so she could make it their space. He wanted them to share the new room from day one, as man and wife. She’d been working hard transforming it to a completely different style, their style. His manly somewhat modern and her shabby chic vintage styles were intertwined not only in their home but also their wedding that was around the corner.

Caleb slid the heavy mirrored closet door to the side while Abby sat at the foot of the bed, watching his every move, confident that she could stare at him the rest of her life and be a happy woman.

“Oh wow. I forgot these were in here.” Frozen, he stared into the closet.

“What is it?” She questioned and got up to stand behind him. Peering over his shoulder, Abby noticed a few paintings leaning against the wall inside of the dark closet.

“Rene painted those.” He still hadn’t moved a muscle.

“Really? Can I see them?” Grace had told her about Rene’s passion for art but Abby didn’t realize she painted, as well.

Peaking over his shoulder, Caleb spoke softly. “Are you sure?”

“Of course! Stop being so silly.” Stepping around his tall frame, she wrapped her arms around his waist while looking up at him. “Your memories of her don’t bother me, Babe. I really wish you would understand that. At one time, she was an important part of your life. I want to celebrate with you my love.”

His hesitation was replaced with an awe inspiring, heartwarming smile. The things she wanted to do to him when he looked at her like that. Instead, she turned so that her back pressed against his chest and she insisted. “Show me which one is your favorite.”

Letting out a puff of air, he reached around and selected a captivating painting of a woman cradling a baby in her arms as she walked along the shore. “This one.” Moving to her side, he held the canvas in front of them. “She duplicated a photo that I’d taken of her carrying Madison at the beach, right before her chemo treatment started. Madison was only six weeks old there.”

Abby ran her hand up and down his back. “It’s beautiful.”

“It is, Rene loved art but didn’t get into painting her own work until she got sick. It was an outlet for her. She only painted a handful of pictures, but they are all right there.” Abby glanced back to the pile. It looked like there were about five unframed images propped against each other. “She said they were for Madison, so she would always have a piece of her mommy’s heart.” He started to choke up. “I should have these professionally framed and wrapped up for Madison.”

“Would you allow me to do that for you Babe?” Abby wanted to do this for him. He was obviously struggling with having to deal with these pictures. “I would love to do that for Madison.” She figured it was better to say she was doing something for his daughter rather than pointing out that he was the one having a hard time with them.

“What did I ever do to deserve you? You take such good care of me.” Feeling his lips on her neck, she shivered which rewarded her with a low sexy chuckle from Caleb. She knew how much he loved that her body instinctively reacted to his touch.

“We are not in an appropriate room for you to be doing things like that to me.” Spinning to face him, she eyed the bed behind him. Using the sultry voice she’d only recently discovered, Abby added, “If you don’t stop, I’m going to show you everything I’m willing to do for you.”

The stunned gaze on his face was almost comical. “Well then, I think I can work on putting my laundry away later. Let’s go work on some other project.” Leaning the picture against the wall, Caleb pulled her by the hand and added, “Time to leave this room.” Laughing internally, Abby loved being the fuel for Caleb’s flame.

Heading down the stairs, Abby’s brain was going a hundred miles a minute. She couldn’t wait to execute the plan unfolding in her mind that had nothing to do with the warmth her body was fighting to cool.

The last day of school was finally over, and although one of the most challenging years she’d had to date, Abby was sad to have to leave her fifth-grade students. Plans were still up in the air for the following year as far as which grade she would be teaching, but she was confident that she’d love any grade she was placed with.

Sitting on her couch, she looked around at her closest friends and couldn’t help but feel sentimental. Leah, Dani, and Bri had all stopped their lives for the next week so they could be at her disposal.

“I’m so glad you guys are both in town already so we can do this girl’s night in before the madness starts this week. By the way, you guys are amazing for taking the time off to help out. I can’t thank you enough.” Abby spoke to Bri and Dani while Leah looked on. “And you know how crazy amazing you are, my friends. I don’t even need to tell you.” Abby patted her best friend’s thigh as she sat next to her on the couch.

“Are you kidding, I’ve never seen my cousin happier than he is right now and I do mean never. I wouldn’t miss helping out for anything in the world.” Her new cousin said without missing a beat.
Hmmm. What did she mean by never?

“Okay enough of the sappy talking. Where is the vino?” Getting up from the sofa, Dani clapped her hands then rubbed them together.

“Ah, a girl after my own heart.” Bri put her arm around Dani’s shoulder and led her to the kitchen.

Abby yelled after them, “Not too much though, we have to meet the guys tomorrow for breakfast to finalize a few things.” Not wanting to sound like a stick in the mud, Abby just didn’t need them all getting drunk and unable to function the next day.

“When have you known me to go overboard?” Dani questioned as they returned with four glasses, two bottles and a wine bottle opener Abby had never seen before.

“Don’t answer that Abby. She knows you have almost as many stories in your file cabinet as I do and look, she even brings her own bottle opener with her.” Leah teased her older sister.

“I just know how to have a good time, that’s all. Like Marilyn Monroe said, ‘Well behaved women rarely make history’ and I plan on everyone remembering me.” Dani winked and slapped her voluptuous behind. “Let’s get the pretty part of this party done first.” Dani grabbed a large suitcase looking thing out and brought out an arsenal of nail care products as she plopped off her shoes and sat on the floor by the table. “Everyone, pick out your color first.”