Love Me: The Complete Series (23 page)

“Abby?”

“I know. I know. I’m trying. It’s just—those stupid muscles are like a fabric slide. I can’t move.”

His voice was muffled and hot against her breastplate. “Here, let me roll over.”

She put a hand to his shoulder, but it only slipped and dropped her right back into place. “Oomph. Sorry.”

“Hold still.” He murmured. “I can’t breathe.”

“’Kay.”

A loud roar ensued behind them. Abby assumed there was a show starting. She peered over a green boulder. Yep. There was a show, all right. The massive lace petticoat of her dress was hoisted up like a tent above her. She could only image what her blue and pink hearted panties looked like under all that lace as she flailed to get a balance on the green bulk of Carter’s costume.
Yikes.
Her face flushed.

“Um, Carter?” She felt a cool breeze on her backside.

“I’ve almost got it. Rock with me, okay?” He rolled to the right then shifted and rolled back. They started to tip over then fell back.
Thud
.

Abby was certain her entire chest was now slathered in green gooey makeup. “Carter, my ass is showing.”

He snorted into her cleavage. “It wouldn’t be the first time. Wish I could help you but I’m a little stuck. Rock again.” He grabbed her back with his exposed hand—only with the petticoat above her head there was only skin and panties. He clutched tight as they lurched to the side.

A scolding glare was wasted since his face was stuck underneath. She grasped the shoulders of the green costume and leaned hard to the right. Thankfully, they tipped enough to flip over.

Only she ended up under a big green cushion with dirt and grass in the crack of her butt.

Roars of laughter surrounded them. Seconds later, Carter was whisked off by some bystanders, and she looked up to blue skies and white puffy clouds. Abby blinked then wiped the green smudge from her eyes.

She glared at him, recognizing the fact his face was only green down one side—meaning she was also green down one side. “You happy now?”

He smirked, attempting to stifle the laughter. The green bulges rumbled. Then Carter lifted the remaining boulder-sized hand and slapped the green muscled leg. His body—correction, costume—rocked as he belted out a laugh equal to the size of the costume. He started to clutch his stomach, but the movement overbalanced him. He stepped back. “You look hilarious. Your face is green. Your chest is green. That petticoat thing under your dress is splayed out like a halo. And there’s—”

“I get the gist. Shut up.” She rose to a sitting position then pushed forward until she could get her feet under her. “Stupid idea.”

The crowd around them roared and … oh my God, took pictures.

“Everyone here has pictures of my underwear and butt. Thanks. You’re enjoying this waaay too much.”

There were tears in his eyes when he pulled off the green glove and rubbed them. “I’m sorry, Abs. Really. Okay, maybe not. Here, let me help you.” He grabbed a piece of fabric from the shelf and started wiping her face and neck. “Wait, I can’t move in this thing. Hold on.”

Carter stepped back, unzipped the side, and let the green bulk drop to his waist. Dammit. Just like that, heat surged through Abby. He stood naked from head to navel in front of her. Albeit, he had a stupid-looking green Hulk-like costume around his hips. But above it—above it was real muscle, real skin, and damned if it didn’t make her want him. Even with green makeup smeared all over his neck and face. How pathetic.

Abby took a piece of the fabric and started wiping him as well. He locked on her eyes as he cleared grass, makeup, and dirt from her forehead.

Her heart pounded like thunder as he rubbed the green from her chest, dragging the cloth against her skin as she gulped in air. He leaned forward and brushed his lips lightly across hers. His index finger clutched into the bodice of her dress and he stroked it against the skin underneath. Carter attempted to step back. A burst of need went straight through Abby and she reached a hand up and pulled him in before he stepped too far. “Don’t.” She met his mouth and opened to kiss him hard.

“Don’t?” He spoke against her mouth.

“Yeah, don’t go.” She kept his mouth to hers, stroking tongue against tongue. Screams, whistles, and applause brought her back solidly to the present. Wolf-whistles.

Carter wrapped an arm around her and waved. “Okay. Show’s over, folks. Go buy some quilts or something.”

Abby was thankful her face was buried in his shoulder where the crowd couldn’t see. Maybe they wouldn’t recognize her once she’d put her clothes back on.

“About that picture … ”

He snickered. “Let’s just skip it, okay? Get dressed, Abs. Just curious—weren’t there some sort of knickers or undergarment to go under that outfit?”

“I didn’t think I’d need them. Can we get out of here? I sure hope your mom doesn’t know any of these people.”

“Don’t worry. I doubt she’ll want to claim us after that. To answer the question—she’s lived here most of her life so, yes, she knows them. Just about all of them. And they know me too. I doubt I’ll live down the big green suit any time soon. Nor the makeup.”

Abby sighed and rushed into the makeshift dressing room. “Great.”

He probably should have given the
Scarlet Letter
costume a little more thought. That was a bad decision. He clenched his fist, the warmth of her skin and the silk of the panties fresh on his fingers. He grinned. Okay, maybe it was only half-bad. The green hulk costume was hot, itchy, and stupid, and he’d allowed her to talk him into it to soothe his spitefulness. That part was more than half-bad.

The booth owner had yelled at them initially, until the crowd gathered and she saw the potential for business. When they finally removed the green makeup and returned to street clothes, she offered them a coupon to visit her store in town. Carter excused his way past the line of people looking for costumes or waiting for pictures, to find Abby. It hadn’t escaped him that
all
of them shot several glances his way as he searched for her hair, face, and normal clothes among the gawkers.

It wouldn’t surprise him if she’d ditched him. It had been ugly to suggest the dress. He deserved it. Pure childish jealousy as green as the dumb costume she put him in. He frowned. He had no idea why the green monster had settled in. That wasn’t a normal feeling. So what if she was already involved when he’d met her? That happened all the time, and he had to admit he’d sampled the market himself more than a few times. She hadn’t seemed the type, though, which had been a plus. But she hadn’t just been with anyone. Jackson. She’d had a one-night stand with Carter as well. She perfected the C in casual, even more so than most of the guys he knew. Yeah, she’d probably bolted. He shrugged as if to dismiss her.

Only she hadn’t.

Abby stood in front of a booth, her back to him. Handmade bags, skirts, and tops hung before her, a myriad of colorful creations by one very creative seamstress.

“Carter!”

He turned to his mother’s call.

“We have to go.” By the way she rushed toward him, her health must have mended quite some time ago. Why had she lied about it? He started to ask then hesitated. No, not here. Not in front of the entire town. They’d already caused enough excitement for one day.

“You don’t have to tell me twice. Okay, I’m ready.” Carter turned to Abby. “What about you?”

His mom thrust a hand out. “No. Not you! Us.” She gestured between herself and Doctor Bernard. “Gavin was called to the clinic. Some sort of emergency.”

Good. Carter was ready to leave anyway. Actually, he’d been ready for a couple hours. He shrugged. “That’s fine. I don’t mind.”

Becky waggled her head and shifted a glance at Gavin, who cleared his throat and spoke. “You stay. I, um, have a ride already. Here are my keys. Just leave them at Becky’s. We’ll pick it up later.”

Carter lifted a brow. “Mom? You don’t want us to take you back? It may be a while.”

“Oh, for crying out loud, just take the damn car, okay? I’m going to visit one of the girls from church. She had surgery a couple days ago and is still recovering. Besides, the two of you need to talk. Preferably
not
in front of the entire town in green paint while airing your underwear.
Capisce
?”

Carter grunted and returned his mother’s glare. “Yeah, and you and I need to do a little talking too, before I go back. Seems like someone’s been holding out on me.”

Becky grabbed the doc’s arm and rushed toward a waiting car. “We’ll talk later. Go have fun. You know you need it—you’ve been working too much anyway. We’ll see you back at the house later. Much later.”

Just like that, they were alone. In a crowded craft fair.

Fortunately, Abby was as ready to leave as he was, so coercing her into the car wasn’t necessary. Coercing her
out
of the car when it ran out of gas eight miles from home was another story. She stared at him as if he was lying out his ass. He cursed Doctor Bernard—for the gas, and for his relationship with his mom.

Abby opened her mouth then closed it. A couple seconds ticked by before she spoke. “You really think I’m that stupid? That’s the oldest line in the book. No one ever runs out of gas anymore. Come on.”

He cursed again and stepped out of the car, slamming the door. “Yeah, well, it’s not my car so give me a break, okay?”

“Doesn’t it have one of those signals that shows it’s low?”

Carter glanced at the red light above the gauge. The car was old—maybe ten years or so. The letters by the light had long since rubbed away. “If that red light with a black dot next to it is supposed to mean something, then sure, but how the hell am I supposed to know? Besides, it’s too late now. The gas station is fifteen miles one way and the house is eight in the other.”

“We’re going for gas?” She’d stepped from the car and followed him into the road. There were no signs of traffic. Not even a dust cloud.

“Hell, no. I’m going to the house … it’s closer. He can get the gas when they come home. If you want to go, feel free.”

His shoes crunched as he marched away from the stranded car. A quick glance at his phone showed the time and he added another curse. He’d intended on spending a couple of hours or so with his mother, taking care of her meds and checking out the house, and then getting an early start home.

“Where you rushing off to?” Abby’s voice was way too cheerful. “Work?”

“No, it’s late. I was hoping to leave earlier than this. I haven’t been home in—”

“Three weeks and four days.”

She noticed? “Yeah. Something like that. Listen, Abs. I’m tired and I shouldn’t have acted like that earlier, okay? It’s just—”

She interrupted. “How close are you to Jackson? I mean, do you call him a
best
friend? Or just a so-so friend?”

He shrugged. When they were younger, it would have been best. Now? He had no idea. They hadn’t kept in touch very much in college. Then, when they both ended up in the same city after graduation, it had been easy to catch up. He’d seen Jackson’s status on Facebook and shot him a note. “We were best friends as kids. Now? I don’t know. You tell me.”

Abby’s eyes shot skyward. “Leave me out of this for now. This had—has—nothing to do with me. Let’s say you were in a bind and needed help. Like now, for instance. Let’s say you were stranded fifty miles from home instead of eight. Would you call him? Would he be there for you? Despite anything else?”

Hmmm. Good question. He considered it. A cardinal flew across the road in front of them, lighted on a fencepost and flicked its tail up and down. Abby grabbed his arm to stop his steps. It opened its wings and flitted away. “Yeah, probably.”

“Do you think he’d call you?”

“I have no idea. Why does it matter?” Aware her hand still clutched his bicep, he backed away.

She released him.

“What’s your point?”

“I don’t know. I … just wondered. I wanted to make sense of it. I mean, why would he—”

“Why would he? Are you serious? Look at yourself, Abs. Anyone can see why
he
did what he did. What about you? Why him?”

“It wasn’t him.”

“Then why me?”

“It was never him. Where’s your phone, Carter?” She stopped walking and settled her hands across her chest.

“In my pocket, why?”

“Can I see it?” Her voice was soft. He drew the phone out and handed it over when she snapped her fingers.

She opened his contacts, found Jackson’s name, and pressed Dial.

“You’re calling him? From my phone? What kind of game is this? You answer his phone when I call
him?
Now you call him from mine? You are seriously deranged.”

She groaned. “Dammit. No signal. Seriously? Where are we, Mayberry?”

He laughed. “Yeah, pretty much. So, why check in with my phone? Why not call him on yours?”

Abby ignored him and walked in silence for thirty long-as-hell minutes. The silence was killing her. “What happened to your sister?”

“She died.” His standard answer when people asked came easily. It was a good way of saying leave it alone.

“I
know
that. How? Or is that off limits?”

Off limits? No. Too close for comfort? Maybe. It happened so long ago, he really had no desire to dwell on it. Enough. “I thought I was the one that earned the right to ask the hard questions. I won, remember? All you’ve done is hammer me with one question after another since I showed up. Tell you what, let’s just leave it alone. I won’t ask anything of you, and you don’t ask anything of me either. Sound good?”

“Ooooh, sounds like someone has some pent-up issues.”

They crested a hill, then another, and his mother’s house came into view in the valley below. Thank God. “Finally.”

“Aw, a reprieve from the hard questions. Aren’t you lucky.”

“And aren’t you catty.”

Abby thrust a hand out and dug her nails into his bicep. Again. “Give me your phone again.”

“Use your own to call him. No signal, remember?” He tried to shake her loose.

“Give it to me.” She held out her other hand and snapped her fingers.

“No.”

“Okay, fine. You call him then. Right now.” She tightened her already vice-like grip.