Choices (23 page)

“Mom, after what Steve did to me, I wasn’t ready to just jump into another BIG relationship. I was thinking that we could live together for a while, get to know each other better…” her father cut her off at that, and said gruffly, “You lived with Steve for a long time Abby and that didn’t help, did it? The truth is, you have to spend a lifetime getting to know someone, because people change as the years go by. If you’re truly meant, you grow together. Only time can give you the assurance you’re looking for.”

“I know that now. I wish I had known that night, but I didn’t. I think I realized it the minute he walked away, but then damaged pride got into the picture on both our sides.” Abby said, tears gathering. She had cried more in the past month than she had in a decade and was getting damn tired of it.

“We’ve only known each other for such a short length of time, though. It took me almost all of college to feel that I wanted to marry Steve, and yet with Logan, it was a matter of seconds. I didn’t admit that to myself until later, but there it is. He won’t want me now, I’m sure, but I’ve got to try.”

“I know Logan, and he does have a lot of pride, but if he loves you, he’ll take you back. The problem is your tempers. You have to get past that.” Her mother said, nodding. “You got yours from me.”

Abby chuckled. “I’m real familiar with your temper Mama.”

“So am I.” Harmon added. Abby looked shocked for a moment. She had never seen her parents fight or even argue.

“Don’t look so shocked. Your mama has given me the blade of her tongue many times. We argue, just like any normal couple, Abby. The difference is, we don’t want to hurt one another, and we don’t let pride get in the way.”

“Life and marriage is no bed of roses, Abby, which you definitely know by now. What I want to know is this; how do you feel about Logan right now, not knowing whether or not he’ll take you back?” Lydia asked. She knew her daughter and she knew Logan. Logan had a towering pride, but she knew if he loved her daughter, he’d come to his senses and come for her.

“Mama, he’s my life. I don’t have one without him.” Abby said softly, a wistful smile on her lips.

“Well, then, go get him. I’ll get you some lunch together so you don’t have to stop.” Lydia said determinedly, getting up from the table and moving into the kitchen.

“Daddy? What do you really feel about all this?” Abby inquired. She had expected her father to say something more about the whole mess, but he had just given her advice, which was really what she needed, but she also wanted to know how he felt. He had never liked Steve and hadn’t been afraid to show it, and if she had just listened to him in the beginning…

“I like Logan, he’s a good man. I already told you that. I don’t like that he’s hurt my little girl, but things get said in anger that people don’t really mean, so if he’s willing to apologize, I’m willing to forgive him for hurting you.” Harmon answered.

“Well, Logan does know how to apologize. I think the first few days we knew each other, he said he was sorry every other word.” She laughed.

Her spirits were lifting and talking to her parents had given her the boost of strength she needed. She stood and so did he, coming together in a hug. Her father squeezed her hard, Abby feeling that he was going to break a rib, then he let her go.

“Your mother has lunch ready for you. Are you ready?” he asked, just as the doorbell rang.

“Now who could that be?” Lydia said to no one in particular as she walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish rag.

“I’ll go get it, I’m heading that way.” Abby offered, then walked down the hall leading to the front door. She opened it and Kyle was standing on the porch, baseball hat in his hands. He grinned when he saw Abby, and placed the ball cap back on his head.

“Kyle, what are you doing here?” Abby asked, stepping out onto the porch. Not that she wasn’t happy to see Kyle, but she really needed to get going.

“Word travels fast on the ranch net. I came to see if you’re okay.” He replied, shifting from foot to foot. Being around her always made him nervous.

“Your mom called you, didn’t she?” she laughed, moving to lean on the porch rail.

“Of course. You look good, better than I expected.” He said, admiring the way she filled out her low slung blue jeans.

Abby grimaced, “Did you expect to find me a puddle on the floor?”

“Something like that. He hurt you bad?” he asked, moving to stand next to her. He stretched his long legs out and crossed his arms over his chest. Abby was touched. Billings was a long way to drive to check to see if she was okay, and he had probably had to put things on hold at his studio.

“We hurt each other badly, it wasn’t just one sided. I’m on my way back down to his place.” She answered truthfully. Bad mistakes had been made on both their parts.

Kyle sighed deeply. He was always too late. But he had to give it a shot. He took her hand in his and brought it up to his mouth and kissed her fingertips. Abby was so shocked
she almost jerked her hand away.

T
his was Kyle, almost a brother to her, but Abby sensed currents radiating from him that had nothing to do with brotherly love.

“Is there anything I can do to change your mind?” He asked huskily, his deep blue eyes staring down into hers. Neither one of them heard another vehicle pulling in the driveway.

“Kyle, I love you, but like a brother. I, you…you weren’t teasing when you said I had broken your heart, were you?” she asked tenderly, tilting her head back to look at him.

“No.” he said simply. Abby slowly pulled her hand back. “I’m sorry Kyle, so sorry. I love Logan, he’s my life, and I can’t change that.”

“Now you can step back from her, or I can come up there and make you step back.”

“Logan!” Abby gasped, spinning around. He was here! Standing right below the porch rail, tall as life. She beat back the urge to fall into his arms and blubber all over him.

Logan couldn’t believe it when he pulled in the drive. There was Abby, looking stunning to his hungry eyes, and Kyle, holding her fingertips to his lips. A brief surge of anger had flowed through him, and he had gotten out of the truck, ready to do battle.

Then her words washed over him like a spring rain on a parched desert, and whatever remaining traces of anger he felt had left him.

Now he slowly walked up the steps, taking in everything about her, the way the sun shone on her hair, gilding it in fire, the way her green eyes glittered with unshed tears like emeralds. She was everything to him, and if he didn’t have her, he would be half a man, living in a shadow world.

Abby watche
d him walk towards her, watched his eyes turn to that stormy gray she loved so much, the purposeful stride that carried him to her.

Kyle stepped off the porch as Logan passed him, and walked to his truck. Neither one of them knew he left.

Logan stopped in front of her, afraid to touch her, for fear that she would reject him, despite her words to Kyle. Abby was feeling the same way. He hadn’t said a word since he had threatened Kyle, just stared down at her with those unfathomable slate eyes.

She swallowed her fear and pride, and reached a tentative hand out to touch his cheek in a feather light caress and that one graze brought down all the bridges and walls they had built.

Logan pulled her to him in a crushing embrace, burying his head in her hair, filling his senses with her. Abby clutched at his back, wanting to drown herself in him, to never let go. Pent-up emotions swirled around them, fear and anger dissipating in the brisk Montana breeze.

“Abby, I’m sorry, I should’ve known that you would never go back to him, and I should’ve never let my anger and pride get out of control.” He whispered into her hair. He didn’t want to let her go, wanted to hold her forever.

“Logan, I should have told Steve right away who you were, and I should have told you I had talked to him…”

“No more. It’s done. No more pain Abby.” he cut her off in mid-sentence, bringing his mouth down to hers in a fiery kiss that drained her senses, left her sagging in his arms. She opened her mouth and he moved his tongue inside to dance with her own, a kiss that promised paradise on earth.

Abby moaned softly, letting her head fall back as his lips caressed her jaw line, then burned a searing path down her throat.

“Ahem.”

Abby slowly opened her eyes and pushed away from Logan when she saw her parents standing there. A hot blush rose in her cheeks, embarrassment washing over her. Had they seen her and Logan practically making out on the front porch?

“Mr. and Mrs. Jennings, hello.” Logan mumbled, taking his hat off and holding it in his hands, his fingers dancing nervously on the brim. Lydia and Harmon were silent for a moment, Harmon tapping a booted foot on the floor, a steel-
gray eyebrow arched. Lydia just beamed.

“Hell, son, you’ve never called us that. Now your part of the family, would it hurt to call us Mom and Dad?” Harmon said smoothly, wrapping an arm around his wife’s shoulders.

Logan looked down at Abby and grinned foolishly. “Only if she’ll have me.”

Abby cast her parents a look, and they understood, walking quietly back into the house. She raised her face to Logan, and said as she kissed him, with all the love s
he felt for him, “All my life.”

Epilogue

Abby swung down from Ellie and stood for a moment, looking around the clearing. This would be the last time they would be here for a while, and she wanted to soak it all in. They weren’t sure if the pack was still around, but they had wanted to see before Abby was too big to ride.

She brought her hand to her stomach, laying it softly on the gentle swell there. How times changed, she thought to herself, smiling a little.

Their wedding had been a quiet affair, as far as ranch weddings went. Her parents, some close ranching friends, and of course Ben, Kassey, Jake and Joyce. Joyce had enjoyed herself immensely, easing the worries that Abby had over her thoroughly city best friend feeling welcome and comfortable at the ranch.

She saw Logan look up from where he was already laying the fire and watch
ing her, so she turned sideways, smoothing both hands over her stomach and sticking it out a little, a mock-seductive look on her face.

“You’re astonishingly sexy to me, no matter what. The baby just makes it better.” Logan said, smiling, offering his hand to her.

“You’re biased. Wait till I’m as round as a basketball, tummy poking out, belly button poking out…see if you find me sexy then.”

Logan stood up and pulled her into his arms, dipping her low, his face just inches from hers.

“I’ll always find you sexy.” He whispered, his mouth hovering a whisper away from her lips.

“Do you even have a choice in the matter? We’re married now, and I’m not letting you go.” She wiggled her ring finger in his face, la
ughing a little. The plain white gold band was getting tight already; she’d have to have it sized.

“My choice was made the minute I laid eyes on you.”

As he kissed her deeply, she heard the howl rise on the evening air, and knew that all of her choices, good and bad, had brought her right where she wanted to be.

The End

Author’s Note

Thank you for reading
Choices
, my second novel. Abby and Logan’s story was a pleasure, and a whirlwind, to write, just like their relationship. Although I originally wrote their story about 8 years ago, the epilogue is new, and I was thrilled to get a new message from them after all these years.

My next novel,
Magick
, is the second in the Immortals and Magick trilogy that started with
Eternity
.
Magick
is Noah and Teagan’s story, and they are still battling with Padraigan. Their story, along with Anna and Gareth’s from
Eternity
, is one of my favorites and I love their feisty relationship. I hope you enjoy them as well!