“Tequila it is, then,” Cait said.
“I like a confident man,” Deirdra said.
“He’s taken. Claws off,” Abby said as she took three shot glasses out of a cabinet and set them on the counter.
Aiden put his arm around Abby and said, “Happily taken, babes.” He kissed her temple.
As Cait poured the shots, Abby set the phone on the counter where Deirdra could see them.
Cait handed them each a glass and said, “What are we toasting?”
“I think we should toast our mother for bringing us all together,” Deirdra said.
“Hear, hear,” Aiden said.
They cheered, tapped their glasses, and drank their shots, while Deirdra sipped her wine.
“Woo-hoo!” Abby shouted. “Fill ’er up. We need to toast Aiden’s mom.”
“Oh boy, here we go. Aiden, I hope you have strong arms,” Deirdra said as Cait refilled their glasses. “You might need to carry Abby to bed tonight. She’s a total lightweight.”
Abby glowered at her.
Aiden hugged her and said, “I’ll gladly carry you anyway, sweetheart.” Abby snuggled closer, turning soft green eyes on him, and he felt something inside him click into place—as if he’d always been slightly off-kilter, and she’d finally set him right.
Abby raised her glass and said, “To Aiden’s mom for bringing him into this world, and to his parents for raising such an amazing man.”
The girls cheered, and they all drank.
The rest of the night passed with sisterly banter and stolen kisses. Abby was tipsy when they finally ended the FaceTime call and Cait headed up to the apartment.
Abby hung on to Aiden as they made their way upstairs and said, “You’re really handsome. Have I told you that? Like, super-duper handsome.”
“Thank you, beautiful.”
“And sweet. I know guys don’t like to be called sweet, but it’s true. I mean, you’re manly and incredibly strong. But you’re also sweet to your sister, the girls, my sisters. You’re sweet to me,” she said as they headed down the hall to the bedroom.
“You’re so damn cute, you make me crazy.”
She stepped in front of him, walking backward into the bedroom as she worked the buttons on his shirt open. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glittering flirtatiously.
Aiden worried she’d had too much to drink and put his hand over hers, pressing it to his chest. “Babes . . .”
Her eyes narrowed seductively. “Aiden Aldridge, I know you are a gentleman, but I promise you, I am not drunk, and this is our last night together until Friday. You’d better let me get you naked.”
“God, I adore you.”
He lowered his lips to hers, savoring the taste of desire and happiness all wrapped up into one enchanting woman. They kissed as they stripped each other bare, touching and tasting each other’s bodies. How would he go almost a week without holding her in his arms? He laid her on the bed and sheathed himself, gazing into her eyes as he came down over her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hooked her heels around the backs of his thighs as their bodies slowly and perfectly became one. Another shift took place inside him, and she sighed, as if she’d felt it, too.
“Jesus, Abby.” He cradled her face between his hands, overwhelmed by the feelings consuming him. She whispered his name, so full of emotions he wanted to drench himself in them and hear her say it every day for the rest of his life. He touched his forehead to hers, and his heart slipped out. “I’m falling so hard for you, Abby, and I don’t want to stop.”
She put her hand on his cheek, and he leaned into it, soaking in the feel of her as she said, “You were so unexpected. I think I tripped on day one and have been rolling ever since.”
He lifted his head so he could see her face, and the emotions gazing back at him brought a thrust of his hips. Fuuck. He wanted to be so deep inside her, he didn’t know where she ended and he began. He’d never felt so in and so out of control, but there was no stopping it now.
“You probably won’t remember saying that in the morning, but I sure hope you do.”
Her eyes sparked with something even more intense than before as she said, “I haven’t forgotten a single moment we’ve shared or a single word we’ve said.” Her lips curved up. “Not since the first time I saw you sitting on the patio of the Bistro in your fancy clothes and those sexy loafers, reading the newspaper.”
Man, she made him smile. “Why does everyone hate my loafers?”
“It turns out, I have quite a thing for a particular guy in loafers.” She lifted her head off the pillow and kissed him. “And an even bigger thing for that same guy naked.”
“Abigail de Messiéres,” he whispered against her cheek, “you have stolen my heart, and every other piece of me. I’m going to miss you.” He lowered his lips to hers and spent half the night showing her just how much.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ROAD SHOWS WERE grueling, though imperative, for companies such as Pennington Development Group, which had enormous potential but lacked capital. Aiden was normally laser focused during the presentation and investor Q and A, but today his thoughts were back on Silver Island with the sexy brunette he’d poured his heart out to last night and had reluctantly left in bed this morning. Abby had put on a brave face when he’d kissed her goodbye, but there was no masking the longing in her eyes or the ache in his heart as he’d walked out that door. He’d texted her on his way into the city, but he hadn’t had a break since. The presentation lasted all day, as underwriters and members of the management team, including Aiden, as a representative of the company, introduced the opportunity to potential investors, analysts, and fund managers in an effort to interest them in investing. They covered the history, vision, and goals of the company, as well as its financial performance, projected growth, and earnings forecasts. When the presentations were over, he and the team went to dinner, and then they headed to the airport—next stop, Chicago, where they’d do it all over again.
After going through airport security, Aiden excused himself from the group to call Abby. It was already eleven o’clock. He hoped she was still up. She answered on the first ring, and he swore his entire body exhaled at the sound of her voice.
“Hi, Abs. Sorry to call so late.”
“That’s okay. How are you? How are your meetings going?”
“They’re long, but they’re going well. How are you, babe?”
“I’m good. It’s been a crazy day here, too. I got approved for the line of credit, which is a huge relief.”
“Awesome. I knew you would.” He was proud of her for doing it on her own, but he gritted his teeth at the idea of Abby accumulating debt when he could write a check and give her everything she needed.
“Thanks. I’m thrilled. Justin and Blaine Wicked, from Cape Stone, worked all day and finished the patio and the flooring. They’re incredible. Tomorrow their father, Rob Wicked, the owner of Cape Renovations, is coming with his guys to do the inspection and then start the ordering window and . . .”
She continued telling him about the renovations and the work she and Cait were doing, but the more she talked, the more he missed her, and if he didn’t let that out, he was going to lose his mind.