Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
My God, I think as I watch him carry her into the building, with my mother by his side. I’m going to fall in love with this man if I’m not careful. I hurry behind them and watch as my mother finds the broken bone in her leg. Gabe helps her set Ella up in a well-padded cage, and then she prepares for surgery. When it’s all said and done, Ella has a cast on her leg and I’m in awe of Gabe. So is my mother.
It’s a long time later when we leave behind the operating room and step outside, heading to the stables, when I turn to Gabe, push to my toes and kiss him. “You were incredible. And real men help animals. It was also sexy as hell.”
He folds me close. “Is that right?”
“Yes. Very right.”
He cups my head and kisses me and I don’t hold back or care who might see us. I kiss the hell out of that man, and he smiles against my lips. “I look forward to more of that later tonight.”
“Good. So do I.”
It’s a long time later when we’re in the stables with Gabbie and the puppies. Gabe and I are sitting next to each other while Gabbie and her pups are now sound asleep. “I hate that I have to tell her what I have to tell her.”
“You don’t. I told you. I have this handled.”
“I have to tell her, Gabe. My mother has too much on her to be sideswiped.”
“Tell me what? Get sideswiped with what?”
My throat goes dry with the appearance of my mother in the stable.
Gabe’s hand comes down on my leg. “Abbie’s ex is throwing around a lot of fake legal threats that are easy to see through. They won’t go anywhere. You have my word.”
“What kind of legal threats?” she asks, and I don’t miss the way her face pales.
“Those men that showed up at the shelter said we were doing funny things with the books,” I force myself to admit. “It was just to scare us into giving up the property.”
“It’s nothing but talk,” Gabe assures her. “I’ve got this and you and Abbie.”
But my mother is already squatting down, her chin on her chest, as if she’s going to be sick. As if it’s all too much. “Mom—”
She looks up at me. “That man is evil. I can’t believe you stayed married to him for so long, but I know why. Because you were afraid of him. You were afraid and yet you tell me everything is fine. It’s not fine. We have reason to be afraid.”
“You and Abbie didn’t have me back then,” Gabe says. “You do now.”
“He’ll just go after you, too,” my mother says, looking at me. “You’re making him a target. It’s time to give up. We have to sell out. Give him what he wants.”
“No, mom. We—”
“Give him what he wants,” she says, standing up and disappearing.
Gabe’s hand comes down on my shoulders and he turns me to face him. “I got this. I got you and your mother. Trust me. Trust me and give me a week. This will be over.”
He’s right. It will be. Because my mother was right. I’m putting Gabe in danger. I’m putting all of us in danger by fighting like this. I just don’t know that selling ends this because I don’t know exactly what Kenneth wants. I just know that I no longer need liquid courage to do what I need to do. My mother and Gabe are enough. The minute I’m alone, I’ll make the call that will be the game changer.
Chapter forty-four
Abbie
Abbie
The minute my mother leaves Gabe and I alone with Gabbie and her pups, I’m on my feet to follow. Gabe is faster though, quick to step in front of me, his hands settling on my shoulders, his big body planted between me and the door. “Stop. Let her go. Let her breathe. I’ll handle this. Abbie, you have my word. This will end and end in your favor.”
My hand presses to his chest and God, it’s solid. He’s solid and strong and everything I have ever wanted in a man and that’s why I have to protect him. “I’m so selfish to let you stay in the middle of this. I can’t be that selfish.”
“You’re not selfish, but I am. I’m not willing to share you with your bastard ex. I’ll deal with him. Now, you and I are going to give your mom an hour to chill. Then I’m going to go talk to Brandon while you talk to her. I’ll make sure the shelter stays here as long as necessary. But don’t promise to sell. You aren’t going to have to do that.” He kisses me. “Promise me you won’t tell her you’ll sell.”
“Gabe—”
“I got you and I got this. Okay?”