Worth the Fall (The McKinney Brothers, #1)(77)

She stirred, blinked. Emerald eyes stared up at him like lights in the darkness.

“Sorry. I should have let you sleep.”

“It’s okay.” She turned, sliding her hands around his neck, and stopped, that emerald light dimming just a bit. “You’re dressed.”

“I have to go. I have to be at the base at 0800.” He wished he could tell her the details, but it wasn’t allowed, so he gave her what he could. “I won’t be able to talk much.”

Her smile was a little shaky, her eyes a little too bright.

“I want you and the kids to come to Virginia for Thanksgiving. I’ll work out all the details.” And he’d make an appointment to finalize his future.

“Will you come?”

The significance of bringing a woman home wasn’t lost on him, and it wouldn’t be lost on his family. The shocked look on Abby’s face told him it wasn’t lost on her either. He smiled and kissed her once more. “Stay here. It’s cold out.”

—

Abby stared at the ceiling, listening to Matt’s footsteps, her mind reeling. Go to Virginia? Meet his parents? His entire family? He loved her. He knew everything now and Matt loved her.

She’d done well not to cry. It wasn’t good for her to be bawling every time he left. She didn’t want him to worry. She wouldn’t cling to him, wouldn’t beg, but she did love him. And she hadn’t told him. Now he was leaving.

She threw back the covers, pulling the quilt with her. She hadn’t said it. She hadn’t told him. Moving as fast as she could, she went to the front door. He might have gone out the garage, but this was faster. Plus he had to drive by the front of the house to get to the street.

Her hands searched the entryway table for the key. No time to turn on the lamp. Where the hell was the key? Got it. She dropped it twice before she got to the door.

She turned the lock and flung open the door, barely remembering to grab the quilt she’d dropped from her shoulders.

The stone steps were like ice under her feet. The red taillights of his car shone at her like a big, bright NO. It wasn’t like she could run after him. Too late. She was too late.

Tears slipped from her eyes and she shook from the cold. She wrapped the quilt more securely around her and looked down the driveway. Still red lights. And a dark figure coming up the drive.

“Abby?”

At the sound of his voice, she began to cry in earnest.

“Honey, it’s freezing.”

His arms were around her and the painful squeeze on her heart made it hard to get the words out.

“Baby, go back inside.”

She shook her head.

“Honey, you’re killing me. Please don’t cry. I’m coming back. I promise.”

But she wasn’t crying because he was leaving, though it did hurt to say goodbye. She cried because she loved him, the emotion so powerful she couldn’t contain it. “I love you.”

Matt pulled back but kept his hands around her upper arms.

“I love you.” She said it over and over, making up for each time she’d held it in.

Matt stopped her with his mouth, hot and hard. She clutched at him, dueling to control their kiss. The only thing holding the quilt was Matt’s hands on her back, and when he slid them to her bottom, the quilt went too.

Standing on her front porch naked and crying, and she’d never been happier. “I love you.”

Matt lifted his head from the kisses he was raining along her shoulder. “Yeah. I got that.” He smiled that smile that had captured her heart months ago. She wanted to grab him and hold him and keep him from leaving.

“You need to get inside.”

When he had her inside the doorway, he kissed her one more time. Then, with his hand on her belly, his eyes met hers. “Take care of my baby. And her mother.”





Chapter 31


Sixteen days later Matt parked his rental in front of Abby’s house. The front door flew open before he cut the engine and it was like a replay of that day at the sitter’s. He got out, knelt down, and braced for impact. Charlie hit first, tightening his little arms in a choke hold around Matt’s neck. The others followed in a soul staggering pile.

How could he have ever thought anything was more important? Abby, the kids? There was no other choice.

He stood, munchkins hanging on his body like moss on a tree. And then he saw her. Standing in the open doorway, even more beautiful than the picture he’d carried in his mind. Sixteen f*cking days. Hadn’t held her soft body against his. Hadn’t touched her silky hair or looked into her angelic face.

“This is my brother Tony,” he told the kids without taking his eyes from hers as he set Charlie on his feet. “You can call him Uncle Tony.” Then he was walking. Every cell in his body preparing to connect with its other half, his eyes adjusting to the sight of her after being without for too damn long.

Knee-high leather boots and tights covered her legs, and a knit wrap dress hugged her curves, accentuating her pregnancy. She’d grown, or the baby had. Her dark hair blew loosely around her face and shoulders, and the closer he got, the wider her smile.

So sexy, so sweet, and so very much mine.

He took the front steps two at a time and then he had her. In his arms, in his life. Mine. Her arms came around his neck in a death grip and she trembled against him.