the block. This is the best time for us to leave.”
“Let’s go then.”
Chapter 9
Abe glanced over at Roxanne sitting in the passenger side of the black SUV. She was biting her lower lip nervously. He could sense that she was ready to flee with Cici at the drop of a hat. He wanted to reach over and comfort her, let her know everything was going to be okay. He hesitated, not sure if she would accept his comfort. She was a strong woman and she wanted to find a way to protect her daughter on her own. She had done an incredible job of hiding them for years. Now, he was determined she would not have to do it alone any longer.
Going with his instinct, he reached over and took her hand in his. She glanced up at him with those beautiful big eyes of hers.
“Abe, thank you for doing this. I know it must be a big inconvenience for a bachelor to have his place invaded by a bunch of girls.”
“It’s my pleasure. Besides, I get to live with three bonnie lasses. That’s got to be every bachelor’s dream right?”
She laughed and some of her tension left her. “You’re going to go crazy if you only have one bathroom.”
He smiled as he winked at her. “Good thing I have two and a half baths then.”
“How big is your place?”
“I have a two-story log cabin. Three bedrooms, with an open floor plan including the kitchen and main living space. In the basement, I have an office.”
“Wow, sounds pretty big for just one person.”
“I bought the property from an old friend of mine who wanted to move closer to his family. The original one-story cabin is still on the property and I rent it out to hunters sometimes. I looked for a different location to build my own place. I wanted it higher on the mountain with a view of the lake. There’s only one way on and off the property when you’re traveling by vehicle. It’s kind of off the grid but I do have solar power and running water.”
“Why so remote?
“I deal with a lot of bad people, and sometimes I have to travel to pretty seedy places. When I come home, I like to smell fresh air and hear the sound of nature. I’m part Bazinoid so I long to be near large bodies of water. The lake is the closest I could find. At my cabin, I am able to distance myself from others and relax.”
She frowned. “Now you’re having to bring people into your home, disturbing your peace. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I admit I have enjoyed my solitude, but I look forward to sharing my mountain and my home with someone else.” Someone he hoped would stay a while. What was he thinking? He couldn’t really want to keep them permanently. Or did he? It was true that he had always enjoyed being a bachelor living a secluded life, but the idea of having someone to share it with, someone to come home to was very appealing. Especially if that someone was Roxanne.
“Look Cici, there’s the lake. The cabin is on the other side.” He pointed to the large body of water ahead of them as they traveled on the rough dirt road around the lake.
“It looks so pretty, doesn’t it, Mama?”
“It’s breathtaking.” Roxanne gave him a bright smile and he felt like he had been punched in the gut with strong emotions. When she smiled, he felt like she was the sun — she was so bright and warm it hurt to look straight at her, but if he turned away, he would miss her warmth.
*****
Roxanne started to open the SUV door but Abe told her to wait. He got out first and circled around the vehicle, checking the perimeter of the yard as he walked. Then, he opened her door for her. A man with manners was so fucking hot. He did the same with Cici and gave her his hand to help her down. Cici beamed from all the attention.
Roxanne looked up at the front porch of the cabin and a tall man walked out and stood by the top of the stairs. It was Vic, Lexi’s boyfriend and the co-owner of the bail bonds business that Abe worked for.
“It’s about time you got here. I thought you left the office
“Let’s go then.”
Chapter 9
Abe glanced over at Roxanne sitting in the passenger side of the black SUV. She was biting her lower lip nervously. He could sense that she was ready to flee with Cici at the drop of a hat. He wanted to reach over and comfort her, let her know everything was going to be okay. He hesitated, not sure if she would accept his comfort. She was a strong woman and she wanted to find a way to protect her daughter on her own. She had done an incredible job of hiding them for years. Now, he was determined she would not have to do it alone any longer.
Going with his instinct, he reached over and took her hand in his. She glanced up at him with those beautiful big eyes of hers.
“Abe, thank you for doing this. I know it must be a big inconvenience for a bachelor to have his place invaded by a bunch of girls.”
“It’s my pleasure. Besides, I get to live with three bonnie lasses. That’s got to be every bachelor’s dream right?”
She laughed and some of her tension left her. “You’re going to go crazy if you only have one bathroom.”
He smiled as he winked at her. “Good thing I have two and a half baths then.”
“How big is your place?”
“I have a two-story log cabin. Three bedrooms, with an open floor plan including the kitchen and main living space. In the basement, I have an office.”
“Wow, sounds pretty big for just one person.”
“I bought the property from an old friend of mine who wanted to move closer to his family. The original one-story cabin is still on the property and I rent it out to hunters sometimes. I looked for a different location to build my own place. I wanted it higher on the mountain with a view of the lake. There’s only one way on and off the property when you’re traveling by vehicle. It’s kind of off the grid but I do have solar power and running water.”
“Why so remote?
“I deal with a lot of bad people, and sometimes I have to travel to pretty seedy places. When I come home, I like to smell fresh air and hear the sound of nature. I’m part Bazinoid so I long to be near large bodies of water. The lake is the closest I could find. At my cabin, I am able to distance myself from others and relax.”
She frowned. “Now you’re having to bring people into your home, disturbing your peace. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I admit I have enjoyed my solitude, but I look forward to sharing my mountain and my home with someone else.” Someone he hoped would stay a while. What was he thinking? He couldn’t really want to keep them permanently. Or did he? It was true that he had always enjoyed being a bachelor living a secluded life, but the idea of having someone to share it with, someone to come home to was very appealing. Especially if that someone was Roxanne.
“Look Cici, there’s the lake. The cabin is on the other side.” He pointed to the large body of water ahead of them as they traveled on the rough dirt road around the lake.
“It looks so pretty, doesn’t it, Mama?”
“It’s breathtaking.” Roxanne gave him a bright smile and he felt like he had been punched in the gut with strong emotions. When she smiled, he felt like she was the sun — she was so bright and warm it hurt to look straight at her, but if he turned away, he would miss her warmth.
*****
Roxanne started to open the SUV door but Abe told her to wait. He got out first and circled around the vehicle, checking the perimeter of the yard as he walked. Then, he opened her door for her. A man with manners was so fucking hot. He did the same with Cici and gave her his hand to help her down. Cici beamed from all the attention.
Roxanne looked up at the front porch of the cabin and a tall man walked out and stood by the top of the stairs. It was Vic, Lexi’s boyfriend and the co-owner of the bail bonds business that Abe worked for.
“It’s about time you got here. I thought you left the office
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