her, but I also couldn’t find it in myself to break the promise I made to her.
I didn’t think Nicole was going to be a problem. If anything, her unexpected visit had been eye opening. I needed to tell Colton how I felt. It could be risky. Hell, it could scare him off, but the words were burning the tip of my tongue and twisting up my heart.
And I wasn’t a coward.
Worst-case scenario, it was too soon and Colton ran for the hills, but if he didn’t feel the same way now, would it really change later? It wasn’t like people couldn’t grow to love one another, but I was a firm believer that you knew pretty quickly if love was in the cards.
I drew in a deep breath. “Colton?”
“Hmm?” he murmured.
“You’re still awake, right?”
His chuckle rumbled through me. “Yes.”
“Good. I need to tell you something.”
Colton’s hand stilled along the center of my back. “You have my attention.”
I closed the hand that rested on his chest because it was starting to shake. “I…I really loved Kevin. He was more than my husband. He was my closest friend too, and when he died, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever feel that way about someone else. I wanted to, but I…I just wasn’t sure.”
He didn’t move. There was a good chance he wasn’t breathing.
“Even though I was with Kevin in high school, I still noticed you and I still…God forgive me, had a crush on you.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “And well, what I’m trying to tell you is that I…I love you.”
He still didn’t move. Or breathe.
My eyes opened and I added in a rush, “And I know it’s soon and it’s probably too soon for me to be saying that to you, but I wanted you to know that I do. I do love you, and I know you probably are seconds from freaking and—”
“I am freaking out.”
Oh dear.
Colton rolled onto his side and suddenly we were eye to eye. “I’m freaking out in a good way.”
“Oh,” I whispered.
His hand curled around my cheek. “It’s not too soon. Or if it is, we’re both feeling it too soon.”
My breath caught. “You…you love me?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I do.” His lips brushed over mine. “I think I fell in love with you the moment you said you thoroughly enjoyed crepes.”
I laughed as tears, the good kind, filled my eyes. “Really? It was the crepes that made you fall in love with me?”
“They had something to do with it.” He kissed me softly. “And so did your sweet ass,” he added, and then I laughed again. “Your smile had a lot to do with it. So did your strength. And your kindness. Everything about you actually.”
“Wow,” I whispered, resting my forehead against his. “That’s all very sweet.”
“It’s the truth.” His hand slid into my hair, holding it back from my face. “I love you, Abby.”
With my heart full of love and my mind empty of all fears and concerns, I threw the sheet back, pushed him over, and climbed onto him, straddling his hips.
Colton grinned widely. “I like where this is heading.”
Laughing, I placed my hands on his chest. “You know what?”
“What?” His fingers skimmed my sides.
I leaned down and kissed him. There was barely a space between our lips when I spoke. “I’ve dreamed of you for so long.”
Colton picked up my hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing my palm. “You don’t have to dream anymore.”
My lips curved into a smile.
He was right. I didn’t have to dream anymore.
Sign up for the 1001 Dark Nights Newsletter
and be entered to win a Tiffany Key necklace.
There's a contest every month!
Click here to subscribe.
As a bonus, all newsletter subscribers will receive a free
1001 Dark Nights story
The First Night
by Lexi Blake & M.J. Rose
Turn the page for a full list of the
1001 Dark Nights fabulous novellas...
1001 DARK NIGHTS
Click to purchase
WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan
A Redwood Pack Novella
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham
A Krewe of Hunters Novella
EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby
A With Me In Seattle Novella
MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair
A Mountain Masters Novella
CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner
A Dark Pleasures Novella
ADORED by Lexi Blake
A Masters and Mercenaries Novella
HADES by Larissa Ione
A Demonica Novella
RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton
An Eternal Guardians Novella
DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A Wait For You Novella
STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James
A Blacktop Cowboys ® Novella
RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
Bayou Heat Novellas
DRAGON KING by Donna Grant
A Dark Kings Novella
PURE WICKED by Shayla Black
A Wicked Lovers Novella
HARD AS STEEL by