NICE GIRL TO LOVE (THE COMPLETE THREE-BOOK COLLECTION)(6)

“What are you doing?”

“I have way more padding than you, hon. You need this more than I do to stay warm.” While Skylar was busy trying to find the poncho’s elusive armholes, Abby rustled around in her bag for one of the plastic bags she usually kept in case she needed to carry library books when she was doing research. Finding one, she wrapped up her book bag to protect it from the rain. “Okay, there are no two ways about it, we just have to make a mad dash for your uncle’s house.” She gripped Skylar’s hand. “Ready?”

Skylar’s wary ‘not really’ was still hanging in the air under the tree when Abby yanked her out into the rain and started them on a frantic six-block sprint uphill in the opposite direction of her own home.

By the time they got to Connor’s mini McMansion, Abby was sure she looked like a drowned stray cat. She certainly felt like one. Racing up his absurdly long driveway, she wordlessly pointed to the side yard, knowing she’d never be heard over the drumming rain. Skylar just nodded and followed her around the house to the back porch. The night of the party, Abby remembered seeing a mudroom of sorts at that entrance. As waterlogged as they were, she didn’t want to go near the grand front entry.

“OMG! That was insane!” screeched Skylar when they finally managed to dive under cover.

Chortling in agreement, Abby clutched her side and tried to catch her breath. A long distance sprinter she was not.

As soon as she was physically able to speak without gasping, she pushed Skylar into the house. “Go in and get warmed up. I’m sure your uncle has an old t-shirt and drawstring swim trunks you can borrow while you throw your wet clothes in the dryer. If he doesn’t, or if they look to be made out of some fancy materials worth more than your iPod, text me and I’ll drive back over here with some spare clothes.”

“Wait, you’re going? You can’t walk back to your house in all this rain. Come in and wait it out.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think it’s going to let up, kiddo. I’ll be fine. A few more minutes of rain won’t kill me.”

“Well at least let me find you an umbrella. I’ll go check the closets.” Skylar bounded down the hall, clearly knowing where she was going in this museum of a home.

“Don’t track water onto the carpet!” Abby hollered after her, marveling over the echo that bounced off the crown molding and pristine marble floors. Why a hardcore bachelor like Connor needed such a huge, extravagant house was beyond her.

Realizing that she was dripping all over the nice flagstone porch, she went over to the covered walkway near the garage to wring out about a gallon of desert rain from her hair. Normally, she loved having long, thick hair that could knock out an innocent bystander if she attempted to do a shampoo commercial hair flip. Today was not one of those days.

Bent over and focused entirely on squeeze-drying the wet blanket of hair cloaking her face, Abby almost toppled onto her head when a voice sounded out from above, “What are YOU doing here?”

Abby shut her eyes and shivered. Not because she was soaked and freezing her ass off. But because she was suddenly hot. Very hot. Tear-your-clothes-off broiling. And the dangerous spike in her temperature had everything to do with that low, raspy growl. Or rather, the man behind the growl.

Connor.

She dragged in a slow breath and let the heat of his deep voice warm her like a luxurious fire for a beat…until it occurred to her—a few brain-foggy seconds later—that his clipped question earlier had been absolutely dripping with disdain.

Startled, she looked up to confirm her suspicions.

Sure enough, Connor was standing there positively glaring at her, his lips curled in a contemptuous sneer, well into the territory of hostile.

“Don’t worry, Abby, I’m not going to introduce myself to you again today.” He eyed her up and down. “So what’s the story behind all this? Did you somehow get lost on the way to Brian’s? Or did you perhaps follow the yellow brick road here thinking it was paved with gold?”

Her jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”

“Honestly, after how Brian’s gone on and on about you over the years, I never figured you for a brother-hopper. I can’t believe you’d do this to him. What was the big plan? Sneak back onto my property and attempt to seduce me in that trampy get-up?” His eyes dropped mockingly to her drenched chest, which was basically naked under the now transparent fabric plastered to her body like shrink-wrap. “Did you really think that was going to tempt me enough that I’d forget you’re dating my brother?” He scoffed coldly and drilled her with a glower. “Let’s face it, honey, you’re not exactly the wet t-shirt type.”

Trembling with an equal amount of outrage and hurt, Abby shot him with the most lethal look she could muster before scrambling back to the porch and grabbing her book bag on the fly. Without another word—though she had a few choice ones in mind—she turned and took off down the driveway.

Away from that colossal *.





CHAPTER TWO


As CONNOR WATCHED ABBY flee his lot, upset and clearly mortified, he wondered why the sight of her tears was having such an effect on him. It’s not as if she was the first woman he’d shot down for showing up at his house half-dressed and looking for a good time. She was, however, the only one he’d ever had to turn away because of his brother.