But Brad had broken through her defenses.He’d gotten her to confide in him and care about him.Even though her better judgement told her to hold back—not to let her heart take the lead—she found herself falling in love with him.
And she’d made the decision to tell him how she felt about him.The thought of making the decision scared her, but it also scared her to think she might lose him because she didn’t have the courage to tell him the truth about her feelings.
“Brad?”The female voice had a disapproving tone.
Abby jerked out of his embrace.She turned around to find an older woman with a frown on her face.
The woman was short with gray hair that was trimmed short.Every strand was in place, as though it wouldn’t dare curl in the wrong direction like Abby’s did from time to time.Her ivory face was powered with a minimal amount of makeup.
But it was her eyes that caught and held Abby’s attention.They were the exact same shade of blue as Brad’s.
Abby stood there, silently.Her stomach knotted up, and her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.She certainly didn’t want to meet his mother this way.Heat rushed to her already warm cheeks as she thought about the way Brad had been kissing her—like they hadn’t seen each other in a year.And she’d been kissing him back the same way.
“Mom, I told you that I’d come back for you.”Brad stepped around Abby to go to his mother.
“And I told you not to worry.I can take care of myself.”Her frown was replaced with a tentative smile as she patted his arm.
“But how did you find this place?”Brad asked.
“The really nice lady at the B&B gave me good instructions.”
“Oh.”He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.“The party doesn’t start for another hour.Why don’t we go get a cup of coffee or tea?”
Wait.He was leaving with his mother without introducing them?Then it dawned on her.He didn’t want to introduce her to his mother.The acknowledgment hurt—a lot.With her pride and her heart hurting in equal portions, she turned and headed toward the kitchen.
“Wait.”It was his mother’s voice.
Abby assumed the woman was speaking to her son, so she kept walking.She couldn’t wait to get out of there.The sooner, the better.
“Young woman?”His mother’s voice called out to her.“Please wait.”
Abby stopped.She kept her back to the two of them while she pulled herself together.After all, she was upset with Brad, not his mother.
She straightened her shoulders and turned.She plastered a smile on her face.After retracing her steps, she came to a stop in front of Brad and his mother.
Brad cleared his throat.His gaze didn’t meet either of theirs.“Mom, this is Abby.Abby, this is my mother.”
Ignoring Brad’s strange reaction, Abby briefly smiled at his mother.“Hello, Mrs.Pearson.Welcome to Bayberry.”
His mother held out her hand to Abby.“Please, call me Linda.”
Abby was surprised.After their initial meeting, she was expecting his mother to dislike her.
Abby shook his mother’s hand.“It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
“Finally?”The woman’s brows rose.“It appears my son has mentioned me to you, but he hasn’t spoken of you.”
He hasn’t?Her gaze moved past his mother to Brad, who was busy studying the pattern on the floor.
Abby’s gaze returned to his mother.A change of subject was in order.“I know Reed is going to be so excited to have you here for the shower.”
“In my day, the men didn’t go to the bridal shower.”
Abby nodded.“I understand.Things are always changing.”
Linda leaned toward her, as though to confide in her, but she failed to lower her voice.“I wonder why my son hasn’t told me about you.”
Once more Abby’s gaze moved to him.He was still focused on the floor.When she turned back to his mother, she forced another smile to her lips.“I… I don’t know.”
