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Chapter 9
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If I Can’t Have You: The Thorntons Book 3 Chapter 10
Spending a week in Mark's company, Abby somewhat understood his moods and personality. He had never been chatty, but tonight, he was downright surly. He barely spoke more than five words to her all evening, although he did thank her for dinner."I just ordered pizza," she said, trying to lighten the mood.He shrugged.She sighed. She wanted to shake him until his teeth rattled. At least it would make her feel better, if it didn't get him to talk. They'd gotten so close yesterday afternoon, and now he was acting like she was some kind of stranger.After they finished eating, Mark said something about finishing up some work outside. Abby squinted, looking at the growing dusk outside."What do you have to do right now?" she asked.She had a feeling he wanted to avoid her. Can this guy make up his mind already?Then again, they weren't in a real relationship. They were...well, Abby didn't know. They were attracted to each other; that wasn't in doubt. This "relationship" was a tangle
If I Can’t Have You: The Thorntons Book 3 Chapter 11
Mark awoke right as dawn stretched its fingers through the curtains, coating his room in golden light. It took him a moment to orient himself: he was in his room, yes, but there was a warm weight snuggled next to him.He looked down to see Abby fast asleep with her head on his shoulder. She made a noise and turned over, giving him a magnificent view of her backside.Biting back a groan, he moved her fully off of his shoulder as gently as he could and rose from the bed. He knew she needed to get up for work soon. He got her phone from her room, knowing it had her alarm programed; he set it on the nightstand, watching her sleep for a moment.They'd had sex last night. He almost wondered if it had been a dream, but no, his body was too satisfied for it to have been a dream. Closing his eyes, he remembered Abby's face as she came, how she felt when she rode him. It had been a while since he'd slept with a woman, but this?This couldn't compare. And now all he wanted was to have her—aga
If I Can’t Have You: The Thorntons Book 3 Chapter 12
Abby's mouth fell open as she took in the Thornton mansion. And it was definitely a mansion, with its endless driveway leading up to a house that could be photographed for some magazine. How many rooms did this place have? She almost didn't want to know.When Abby had mentioned going to the Thornton Thanksgiving, Fiona had been adamant that her daughter not get cold feet."I'm going to my sister's, anyway," she'd said, "so you have no excuse. But you have to tell me all about those Thorntons afterward!"So this is how rich people live. She couldn't help but compare this palace with her own small apartment.Mark escorted her inside, and Abby clutched her purse. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, although whether they were from Mark's touch or from the wealth surrounding her, she wasn't sure."Oh good, you're here!" Megan rushed toward Abby and enveloped her in a fierce hug. "Sara and Harrison aren't here yet, and I was going to have to talk to Lisa alone because Caleb is the wor
If I Can’t Have You: The Thorntons Book 3 Chapter 13
The Sunday following Thanksgiving, Mark came inside the house to tell Abby that he thought that Delilah was in labor. Excitement laced his voice, and Abby couldn't help but get excited, too."Should we do anything? Call the vet?" she asked."No, her pregnancy has been healthy. The best thing we can do is leave her alone. Horses don't like to be disturbed when giving birth."Abby smiled wryly. "Can't say that I blame her."Mark stayed outside, working with Charlie as the day passed, trying his best not to hover over Delilah. He'd check on her and then give Abby updates.After Abby had gotten the last update from Mark, she decided to go to bed, hopeful that in the morning, there'd be an adorable new foal to coo over.When she heard the knock on her bedroom door, she had to rub the edges of sleep from her eyes. She looked at the clock, which said three-thirty am."Abby? I need your help," Mark said from the doorway.She turned on a lamp, blinking at the sudden wash of light. "What
If I Can’t Have You: The Thorntons Book 3 Chapter 14
Although Abby usually worked days, sometimes she had to work evenings. The day after Delilah gave birth, Abby spent it relaxing and watching the foal tottering around on her long legs. Although Abby and Mark had worried that she might have complications from the difficult birth, as far as they could tell, she was totally healthy."I thought you should name her," Mark said that afternoon. The foal nursed with gusto, and based on her already gleaming coat, she'd rival her mother for beauty.Abby's heart caught in her throat. She had a feeling this was an honor Mark wouldn't bestow on just anyone. Swallowing against the lump in her throat, she replied, "I'll have to think of a good name then."He put an arm around her waist, kissing her temple. "I know you will."When Abby arrived at work later that evening, she found Janine in a tizzy. Two other nurses had called in sick with the flu, and now they were short-staffed.Janine threw her hands up in the air. "And I just got another kid
If I Can’t Have You: The Thorntons Book 3 Chapter 15
Mark was awake when he heard Abby return from work around seven AM. Yawning and stretching, he rose from the bed, a smile tugging at his lips when he saw the two cats curled up at the end of his bed.He'd tossed and turned for hours after getting home last night. He'd wanted to tell Abby everything about Tina, and yet the last thing he wanted was her pity. His pride had forbidden him from talking about how the woman he'd once loved had betrayed him with another man. So why the sudden need to confess all?What did it say about Mark himself, that his former girlfriend had thrown him over for his best friend? He wondered sometimes if he hadn't caused Tina to stray. If he'd paid more attention to her, if he'd told her how much he'd loved her, if he'd been charming and funny and everything Aaron had been, maybe things would've been different.He wondered if he could expect love from any woman when he felt like he was damaged goods.He heard Abby go to her room. He went to the kitchen to
If I Can’t Have You: The Thorntons Book 3 Chapter 16
After a long day at the local courthouse to obtain a restraining order, Abby left with a temporary order in hand. Her heart felt a little lighter, although both she and Mark knew that a restraining order was just a piece of paper. It helped, but it wasn't going to stop Derek if he wanted to hurt Abby, unfortunately.Caleb had told them he would do everything in his power as a police officer to assist her. Based on the evidence provided and with Caleb's help, the judge had agreed to issue an immediate restraining order. The court would notify Derek, and another hearing would be held at a later date.Abby was quiet as she walked with Mark back to his truck. This hadn't been what she'd imagined doing on her day off. She got spooked by random noises, afraid that it was Derek returning to finish what he'd started.Sometimes she had a hard time believing he would hurt her—at least physically. Hurt her with words? Absolutely. But he'd never threatened her like this when they'd been dating.
If I Can’t Have You: The Thorntons Book 3 Chapter 17
"We'll be fine. Seriously." Abby tried not to sound exasperated, but she couldn't stand it when people hovered."You're sure?" Megan pressed.Caleb stood behind Megan. After Abby had arrived at her apartment, she hadn't been home longer than a few hours when Megan had come knocking. "Mark called us," she'd explained. "He wanted you to stay with me and Caleb for now just to be safe."Although the last thing Abby had wanted was to be around other people—and especially Mark's brother—she'd agreed because it was a wise thing to do. Megan had assured her that she'd come by to see to the cats while Abby was at work.Now, though, Caleb and Megan were about to skip out on their date because of her."My mom will be here, and you're just a phone call away," Abby assured them. She started to push them out the door.This made Megan laugh. "Fine! Fine! We'll leave you alone.""I'll have my radio with me," Caleb said. "And you have Gonzalez's number, right?"Officer Gonzalez was Caleb's boss
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- If I Can’t Have You: The Thorntons Book 3 Epilogue
- If I Can’t Have You: The Thorntons Book 3 Chapter 19
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