Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Rafe

I t took every bit of restraint I had not to rush out the door, find this Travis ex of hers, and beat the shit out of him.

Just thinking about Abby receiving threats from some man who’d manipulated her, used her, and discarded her made me want to kill him.

And with her revelations, any thoughts of letting Abby refuse my offer had gone up in smoke. She needed protection, and I would be the man to give it to her. However, the hard part was convincing her to let me take care of her for a year.

So I gave her choices and did my best to let the truth shine in my eyes and ring in my voice. Although after what that bastard had done to her, I wasn’t sure how she could trust any man ever again, except for maybe her family.

I waited as she stared at my hand, wanting to say more but knowing I had to be careful with this woman. She’d been hurt, badly, and she needed to have choices and control. Maybe I could’ve convinced her with arguments or made her feel guilty about embarrassing her family or any of the similar shit her ex probably would’ve done.

But while I was far from perfect, I wasn’t someone who used and abused women, be it with words or fists. And so I waited.

When Abby finally walked forward, I held my breath. But instead of heading toward the door, she gingerly placed her hand in mine. I curled my fingers around hers and asked, “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “As long as you know the risks and won’t blame me for them later.”

“I won’t fucking blame you, Abigail. I blame the ex. What’s his last name?”

“I’ll tell you later, maybe once you’ve cooled down and we’ve set up a routine. But not now. I’m tired of talking about him.”

I squeezed her hand. “Then we’ll table it for the moment. Besides, we have more important things, anyway, like moving you into my place as soon as possible and telling our families.”

She groaned. “That’s the part I dread the most—telling my family.”

“Because I’m not the catch they were hoping for? Were they waiting for a billionaire philanthropist instead? Hmm?”

She rolled her eyes, and I nearly smiled since it meant the fun, more confident version of Abby was returning. She replied, “Being rich and sexy, of course you’re a catch, even if you’re not a billionaire philanthropist. However, you’re also Emmy’s brother, and West kind of doesn’t like you right now.”

“You think I’m sexy?”

“Really? That’s what you focus on?”

I tugged her closer, and she came, but stopped about six inches away from me. “We’ll talk about how you think I’m dead gorgeous later. For now, we need to decide when to tell our families and also practice being a couple.”

“Dead gorgeous? Is that more Brit speak?” I narrowed my eyes, and she laughed. “Fine. I’ll stop pointing it out unless it’s really funny. As for our families, you’re going to Emmy and West’s upcoming dinner, aren’t you?”

“You want to tell everyone at their first dinner after getting married?”

“Well, it has to be soon. Unless you want to wait to have me move in here.”

“No.”

She blinked. “Um, that was growly and quick.”

Shit, she was right. But for some reason, I craved her being around me. I wanted her close, both to talk with her and to protect her.

Yes, to protect her. That was the reason.

Liar.

I focused on the topic at hand. “It’ll look better, from a PR perspective, if the news of our Vegas wedding slips out.”

“True. Well, then Emmy and West’s dinner is probably the best time since everyone will be there. However, that means we have a lot to do in the next few days, and not just me packing everything up in secret. We need to decide what kind of married couple we’re going to be.”

She tugged, and I reluctantly released her hand. After sitting on a stool, she peered into her empty mug and sighed. “Oh, caffeine, you would’ve made this easier.”

I went to the espresso machine. “You just have to ask, Abigail. I won’t say yes to everything, but at least ask me. For the next year, you’re not on your own. We’re a team.”

“Sorry, I’ll try. But I’m not very good at directly asking for things. Well, since him. ”

I turned and leaned on the island, so I could be at her eye level. “That’s one of my requirements for this marriage then: you have to ask me for what you want. I might say no, but I will give you a straight answer.”

“That’s going to be hard. But that means you have to do it too.”

I put out a hand to shake. “Let’s seal our deal, shall we?”

“Shall we?” I opened my mouth to stop her mocking, but she placed her hand in mine and shook. “We shall.”

Her soft, warm hand fit perfectly in mine. She wasn’t tiny and delicate and someone who’d break if I fucked her too hard.

Not that I was going to fuck her at all.

I quickly released her hand and turned to make her another latte. “As for the type of marriage we’re going to have, I think we should stick to the truth as closely as possible.”

“Hmm, but waking up married in Vegas, with no memory of how, isn’t really going to endear you to my family, Rafe.”

After turning on the machine, I decided to test the truth with her. “You’ve fancied me for a long time, Abigail. I’m sure your family won’t be too surprised at what happened.”

For a few seconds, only the hum of the espresso machine filled the room. Then Abby appeared at my side, leaned against the counter, and crossed her arms over her chest. It took everything I had not to stare at her plumped up breasts.

She said, “Explain yourself, Rafael Mendoza.”

“You had a crush on me as a kid, right?”

“Er, yes, but?—”

“And Emmy let slip that you’ve followed my career all these years.”

“Maybe, but?—”

“And we had a moment, right after I was pulled over for driving on the wrong side of the road and the cop let us off with a warning. You remember the one.”

Her cheeks heated. “It wasn’t a moment. We were arguing, and you kept staring at my mouth. You’re the one who leaned in, not me.”

I faced her and raised an eyebrow. “The truth, remember? You leaned in, too.”

“So, I’m attracted to you. I can’t control it. However, it doesn’t mean I want to kiss you and make love to you and have your babies.”

For a split second, I imagined Abby round with my child, my hand over her belly as our baby kicked.

Then I pushed it away. I wasn’t going to have kids. I’d fucked up too many lives already in the past. I didn’t need to hurt anyone else.

Because even though I didn’t want to, I seemed to hurt everyone I’d ever loved.

Abby’s voice softened. “What were you thinking about just then?”

As I tried to think of how to reply, something vibrated in Abby’s purse. Then again. And again.

She sighed. “If that’s another group chat this early in the morning, I’m going to murder whoever started it.”

I watched her walk over to her purse, unable to take my eyes from her hips. What would it be like to hold them as I fucked her from behind?

Stop it, Mendoza. You can’t touch.

But Abby’s next words cooled my lust. “She knows about our wedding.”