“Nah, don’t make him feel more important than he already thinks he is. The kids are used to him being called Reid outside of school.”
“Save themisterstuff for the bedroom,” Serena chimes in and I see Abby blush furiously. Damn women just can’t keep their mouths shut. I shoot them both a glare before I respond to Abby.
“Reid is fine. I don’t worry too much about formalities outside of school.” Abby nods, and relief covers her beautiful face. I move in a little closer, but still far enough away to be respectable. “And don’t worry about Mila and Serena. They’re just teasing, but they won’t say anything inappropriate if Layla is around.” This time when I look back at my friends they appear suitably remorseful.
“He’s right. Sorry Abby, we’re just so excited to get to know you, and Reid has been so adorable mooning about you.”
“Oh my God, Serena, shut up,” Mila squeals, smacking her friend on the shoulder. “You’re going to embarrass him.”
I wince, because she’s not wrong. I don’t exactly need Abby to know how obvious it has been to my friends that I can’t stop thinking or talking about her. Thankfully, my best friend has perfect timing.
“Alright, time to mayor up and get this tree lit,” Ethan says. He holds out his hand to Summer, who takes it and tucks herself into his side.I want that.With Abby, not Summer, of course. “See you guys in a bit. Abby, thanks for handling the animals.” Ethan gives Abby a warm smile before walking over to the tree.
A few minutes later and the crowd around Abby and the animals dissipates. I hang back, waiting until it’s clear that everyone’s attention is on the massive tree in the center of the square, then I close the distance between us and come to a stop inches behind her where she’s focused on Betty the cow.
“What is it with us and cows? Isn’t there a Christmas song with lyrics about maids a-milking?” I murmur in her ear, earning a throaty chuckle.
“Yeah, except I’m no maid.”
I lean in closer and run my nose up the column of her neck. “No, you’re not.”
She turns around slowly, her eyes dancing. “Hi.”
I bend down and kiss her softly, once, then harder. “Hi. I missed you.”
“Yeah, I gathered that from what your friends said.” She giggles, and I’ll be damned if the sound of her happiness doesn’t make my cock stir. Making Abby happy is becoming the most important thing to me.
Abby’s eyes dart around quickly and I hold back, knowing she’s making sure the coast is clear. Fuck, I cannot wait until I can kiss her properly, in public, and not worry about Layla or anyone else seeing. I want to claim her as mine. I want to claim both of them as mine.
Her hands thread their way into my hair, and I’m glad I didn’t bother with a toque tonight. She tugs her lower lip in between her teeth again and I’m powerless to resist the temptation. My thumb comes up and gently frees her lip before I cover it with my own. Our tongues dance together, our breaths become one, and the rest of the world fades away until the only thing that exists for me is Abby.
But a kiss isn’t enough. Nothing will ever be enough, I’m coming to realize. My hands drift down to palm her ass and then I’m lifting her into my arms. Her mouth tears away from mine.
“Reid, what are you doing?” she asks, panting heavily. Fuck, I’m so hard my dick is throbbing against my jeans. It’s painful, but it’s the best kind of pain.
“I’m moving us somewhere a little more private.”
I make quick work of the short distance to the truck and trailer that Abby obviously used to transport the animals. The farm smell doesn’t make for the best ambiance, but we’re even more secluded back here. When we get to the truck, the front door is ajar, which seems odd, but Abby doesn’t even notice. I set her down on the hood of the truck and tug her forward. Her legs wrap around my waist, and she grinds into me as we kiss. Her hands sneak under my jacket, finding bare skin. I’m too busy squeezing her luscious ass to even notice what she’s doing, but based on the moans coming from her, it’s good.
Time stands still and it isn’t until a cheer goes up from somewhere behind us that I realize the tree is lit and people will be heading this way soon. It takes an immense about of strength to pull back, but I somehow do. The sight of Abby, with her cheeks flushed and her hair mussed is pure sinful temptation, but it’s the words she says that just about do me in.
“Layla’s at a sleepover tonight,” she whispers. “I could…I could come over. And stay?”
The very fact that she says it like it’s a question makes me growl. My tongue dives into her mouth and tangles with hers again before I pull back. My heart is beating wildly as I look into the eyes of the woman I’m falling in love with and say the one word that will seal our fate.
“Yes.”
Chapter seven
Abby
You are a grown ass woman. You are a mom. You have had sex before. This is not a big deal.
My inner monologue is doing absolutely nothing to calm my nerves as I finish loading up the animals, say goodbye to Layla and confirm plans to pick her up in the morning from her friend’s house, and make the drive back to the farm. Uncle Steve said he’d get a ride from a friend, wanting to stay a while longer and have a drink at the pub. His questioning gaze when I said I was going out with a friend made me blush, but thankfully he didn’t push for any more details.
Which brings me to this moment, driving toward Reid’s apartment. I know what is going to happen. This is essentially a booty call. My first one, I might add. But it feels like more than that; we’re in a relationship. Sort of? Truthfully, I don’t know what Reid and I are doing, but I like it, even as I’m afraid of it.
I have to talk to Layla. But how do you ask a seven-year-old her opinion on her mother dating her school principal? She doesn’t even know what dating is — thank God — and she’s never seen me in a relationship. The truth is, she has never even met a man that I’ve been with because none of them were ever important enough to get that far. But Reid…not only does she already know him, he already feels important enough to know her outside of school.
