And Gage wasn’t about to tell him.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
ABBY LOOKED AT THE UNOPENED BOXES STILL SITTING IN HERliving room. She needed to finish unpacking. She needed to make the apartment a little less Tammy’s and a little more her own.
A knock sounded at her door, and her spirits lifted. A visitor, a chance to put off the inevitable a little longer.
She walked over and looked through the peephole, saw Edge Logan standing in the corridor. She unlocked the door and pulled it open.
“Edge! What a nice surprise.” Leaning over, she gave him a hug, then stepped back out of the way. “Come on in.”
Edge walked into her messy living room. She hadn’t considered how bad it must look to guests with all the unopened boxes. Of course, she hadn’t really had many guests. It occurred to her she’d better do something before the dinner she was fixing for Clay.
“You want a Coke or a beer or something?”
“I’ll take a Coke,” Edge said. He looked incredibly good. In a darker, leaner, harder way, every bit as handsome as Gage.
Abby went into the kitchen and took a Coke out of the fridge, took a Diet Coke out for herself. At least she’d unpacked in here.
Filling two glasses with ice, she poured the drinks and set them on the kitchen table, and both of them sat down.
“Has something happened?” she asked at the serious look on his face. Her heart skipped. “Is it something bad? Is Gage all right?”
Edge took a long swallow of his drink. “No, my brother is not all right. I just came from his place. Gage is in love with you, and he’s miserable.”
Abby’s eyes stung. She glanced away. “He doesn’t think it could ever work.”
“I know you love him. It’s in your face every time you look at him. Is that what you think too?”
She straightened in her chair. “I think your brother is an idiot. I think we’re perfect for each other.” Tears welled, and one slipped down her cheek. Abby brushed it away. “That’s what I think.”
Edge smiled and started nodding. “All right, then. I think he’s an idiot too. Now all we have to do is convince him.”
Abby shook her head. “First, there is no way in hell I am chasing after a man who doesn’t want me. Second, you know your brother. His mind is made up, and there is nothing anyone can do to change it.”
“Have you talked to him at all?”
“No. If he changes his mind, he knows where to find me.”
“He won’t change his mind unless you tell him how you feel. Explain things.”
“Explain things,” she repeated, her irritation growing.
“That’s right. He’s got this idea in his head. You know what happened to Cassandra, right? I figure someone’s told you by now.”
“I know they were involved. I know she died on one of Gage’s expeditions, if that’s what you mean.”
“Talk to him about it. Maybe you can make him see it’s no good to keep living in the past.”
“No.”
“Come on, Abby. You said you loved him.”
She just shook her head.
“If you won’t do it for you, do it for Gage. He needs you, Abby.”
She started to say no—she wouldn’t humiliate herself that way. She felt Edge’s hand cover hers where it rested on the table.
