Summer Love_ A Steamy Small Town Romance Anthology - Piper Rayne Page 0,103

her scandalously close. For the next few songs, I spun, dipped, and moved my gorgeous date all around the dance floor, until I was certain every person in the place was watching us. Not that I knew for sure, because I never once took my eyes off hers.

When the band started to play a slow song, I pulled Abigail even closer, and slid my hand lower down her back until it rested just over the swell of her ass. “Feel better?”

She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “A little.”

“Do I have more work to do?” I teased. “I could spin you—”

“Why are we here, Phillip?”

Her question caught me off guard and I stumbled. But only a little.

I had a choice. I could give her the glib response. The easy answer. The one that suggested she was here because she owed me. But we both knew that wasn’t true.

We both knew it last night in my office when my lips were on hers, my hands all over her, my need for her almost completely out of control. There was no more pretending.

No more hiding.

“Why do you think you’re here?”

Abigail pulled away a little, but didn’t hesitate with her answer. “Honestly? I don’t know anymore.” For the first time that I could remember, Abigail looked vulnerable and unsure. It took the breath from my lungs. “I thought I knew, but…I’m so confused, Phillip.” Her feet stopped moving and we stood, unmoving on the dance floor. “I thought maybe…but last night, you—”

“Deserved so much more.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“It makes perfect sense, Abigail,” I murmured in her ear as I pulled her close to me again. With my other hand, I tilted her chin up to look at me. “You deserve so much more than a quick fuck on top of my desk.” She startled in my arms at my brash language. Good. I liked to keep her guessing. “So much. You deserve to be loved and cherished and…” I swallowed hard and made sure she was listening carefully, because I could only say it once. “You deserve the truth, Abigail.”

“The truth?”

I nodded slightly, but didn’t hesitate or stumble over the words I’d been waiting far too long to say. “The truth is, I love you, Abigail. I always have.” And then I kissed her. Because it was the only thing I could think to do.

He loved me.

Always had.

And he was kissing me. Right there in the middle of the ballroom, with everyone watching. Right out in the open. Like it didn’t matter.

Like they didn’t matter.

Like I was the only one who mattered. Because he loved me.

He. Loved. Me.

Hearing the words filled empty spaces in me I didn’t even know existed. It took me a few seconds to catch up to what was happening, but when I did, my entire body responded to him. I pressed closer to him, and let his mouth consume mine. His hand left my chin and twisted through my hair, holding my head in place—as if I would go anywhere.

Never again.

I pulled away from the kiss, but just a little. “Why?” It was an incomplete question. I swallowed hard, and tried again. “All those years ago,” I started and saw the realization flash in his eyes, “why did you walk away?”

He squeezed his eyes shut for a second, but he was still listening.

“Why didn’t you fight for me?”

I don’t think I realized how much I needed the answer. But when Phillip opened his eyes and looked at me, I knew how badly I needed to hear his explanation.

His arms remained wrapped tight around me. “It was the biggest mistake of my life, Abigail. I’ve regretted it every single day since.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“I don’t have an answer that is worthy of you.” His head dipped. “Because I wasn’t worthy of you.” His words caused a stab of physical pain, but I forced myself to hear him out. “Daniel always got what he wanted. Ever since we were boys. And he wanted you.” He shook his head a little. “So, I just assumed he’d get you, too. Once he set his sights on you, I knew it was only a matter of time, so I backed off. By the time I realized how much I loved you, and that I should have fought for you, I wanted more than anything to race to the ends of the earth to win you back, but I couldn’t.”

I could see the pain in his eyes, but it didn’t make any sense.