Brad:Looking forward to seeing you.
Abby:I’ll let you know when I have the reservations.
Brad:*smiley emoji*
Chapter Twenty-Three
The following weekend…
Thisfeltlikesomesort of test.
Brad had been distracted ever since Abby had told him she was planning to visit him.And though he tried to act normal, his assistant noticed something was off when he’d sent her an email meant for Reed.Then his best friend noticed when he sent him an email meant for their website administrator.There were other instances of his distraction that had people questioning him for the past week.
He wanted to pretend he wasn’t anxious to see Abby, but he wasn’t that good of a liar.If he were truthful, he was crazy about her.
And the acknowledgment worried him.Was it possible to take this small town woman and have her fall in love with his city life?The question weighed heavy on his mind.
Because if this relationship continued to progress, he wasn’t moving to Bayberry.No way.He’d sworn he’d never live in a small town again.
He pushed the troubling thoughts to the back of his mind.Abby was arriving shortly.He’d wanted to pick her up at the airport, but she insisted she could get to her hotel on her own.She wanted to clean up before she saw him.
So, after getting very little sleep, he was up at 5:00 a.m., pacing in his condo.He kept glancing at the clock.They were supposed to meet up at eleven o’clock.It felt like a lifetime away.
After practically wearing a hole in the carpeting, he went to the office.He figured he could get in a little work because there was always something that needed his attention.
But after he got to the office, he found he couldn’t concentrate on business either.So, he returned a few phone calls and drank a bunch of coffee and watched the clock.
At precisely ten thirty, he was out the door.He couldn’t remember ever being this nervous about a date.In fact, he was rarely nervous.He liked to pride himself on his ability to remain cool and detached in stressful situations.
And yet when Abby stepped off the elevator in a pair of dark jeans, fur-trimmed boots, and a white sweater, he swallowed hard.How was it possible she got more beautiful every time he saw her?
When she approached him, he didn’t know if he should shake her hand or hug her.So, he did neither.
“It’s good to see you.”He sent her a reassuring smile.“How was your flight?”
“It was quiet.I was able to read most of the way.”
He wasn’t sure how he should take the fact that she was able to relax and read while he’d nearly worn a hole in his carpet.Maybe she wasn’t as into him as he was in her.The thought slowed his thumping heart.
Less enthused, he was still intent on showing her a good time.After taking her to lunch, he had a surprise for her.
“Where are we going?”She seemed genuinely intrigued.
“You’ll see.”
“At least give me a hint,” she said as they sat in the back of the car he’d hired for the day.
He thought for a moment and then said, “We’re going to the Ribbon.”
“The Ribbon?What’s that?”
He smiled.“I think you’ll like it.”
“I like the name.”She stared out the window at the city passing by.Traffic was heavy so it was taking time to get across town.
He tried to think of something to talk about.When they messaged each other every day, he was always able to think of little things to say.But now that she was there in person, he felt tongue-tied.It was strange how that worked.
At last, the car pulled to a stop at their destination.The driver opened Abby’s door before Brad was able to make it around the car.Then, taking a little liberty, he took her hand in his as they walked.
