Abigail

It takes three months for me to meet Cameron.

Three months of Leo dropping my name into conversations. Three months until Abigail becomes a normal word around the house.

I watch Cam often, snippets of videos here and there from Leo’s phone. Getting to know him slowly, even though we’ve never been in the same room.

I almost feel like I know him already. Almost.

But my belly is still thick with nerves as I pull my coat a little bit tighter against the chill and walk up to the duck pond.

I see them in the distance. Leo crouching up ahead as Cameron points at something on the water.

Our eyes meet over the boy’s head and Leo nods. So far so good. Everything going to plan.

Leo’s smile makes my soul sing, more now than ever. More and more each day.

I just pray his son likes me half as much as he does.

“Hey, champ,” he says as I get a little closer. “Look who it is, bud. This is Abigail.”

I hope my smile is bright enough as I look down at the little guy with the biggest brown eyes in the universe. I hope he likes my silly wave as I say hello.

Oh God, I hope he fucking likes me.

Please, please fucking like me.

My prayer is a grimace inside, but outside I think I keep on rocking it.

I’ve been planning this. Hoping for this. Dreading this at the same time.

But as Cameron waves up at me with his sweet little fingers, I know it’ll all be worth it. Whatever the cost.

The kid is totally adorable, just like his daddy.

“Abigail,” he says, and grins.

Leo smiles at him. “That’s right, Cam. You’ve heard all about Abigail, right?” Cam nods. Looks so proud of himself. “We’ve seen her pictures too, haven’t we?” Another nod.

I keep on smiling as Leo keeps on talking.

“And what did we bring for Abigail, just in case we got to see her today? Can you remember?”

Cam’s eyes light up so bright. He’s digging in his dad’s pocket with glee as Daddy gives me a wink.

“That’s it, you got it, champ!”

It takes my breath to see the folded piece of coloured card in Cameron’s hand.

There’s a stick picture of me. It’s definitely me. I’d recognise myself even in wax crayon. Also, I recognise the colour of my dress from the summer barbecue. Plus, the stick figure at my side on the drawing is a real giveaway.

Leo even looks hot as a stick man. I flash him the eye as I point to the drawing.

He raises an eyebrow, and I know he’s digging it, too.

“Did you do this?” I ask, and Cameron nods.

“Daddy,” he says and points to the tall brooding one. “Abigail,” he says after.

My heart soars. Bursts.

My heart belongs to that little boy just as soon as he’s uttered those words.

“Told you he was cute, didn’t I?” Leo breathes, and I nod. Oh hell, how I know.

I thank Cameron for my picture, and I guess I really do okay at this introduction crap, because no sooner have I thanked him than he’s holding his little hand up for mine and pulling me along to feed the ducks with him.

“He likes you,” Leo whispers as Cameron tosses bird seed onto the grass. “I think he might even be as big a fan of you as his old man is, given a bit of time.”

My smile is bright. “You think?”

“I know.”

I clap as Cam tosses a handful of seed particularly high. I’m not sure what the etiquette on encouraging small kids with an air-punch really is, but I’m going for it.

“I’m pretty sure I’m going to be a big fan of his, too,” I tell Leo.

He takes my hands in mine. They’re warm against the chill. “Yeah?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

And it’s just as well really, seeing as we’re technically three months away from our six-month wedding date.

We haven’t booked it yet, it’s all in theory.

But soon.

As soon as we can.

Serena is moving out at the end of the year, down into Jake’s place to get it in order before his psychiatric hearing in the spring. I’m supposed to be moving in in her stead.

And it’s stressful, and complicated, and intense, and wonderful, and fast, and scary and…

Everything.

It’s everything.

“Breathe,” Leo says on instinct. “It’s going well.”

And it is going well. Cameron waves again before he tosses another handful to the birds.

Leo moves in close, his lips a ghost on my ear. “Have you given it any thought yet?”

I play dumb. “Given what any thought?”

But he sees right through me. His fingers slip through mine and squeeze.

“Don’t be a tease. You know you’ll have it coming to you later if you don’t watch it.”

I’m counting on it.

“I need someone,” he continues. “You know it’s a good move, for both of us.”

And I do know it’s a good move. Even though it’s a big one.

The guys at work have been so good to me for months. I’m going to miss the holy shit out of them when I leave.

Still, at least now Sarah’s finally managed to sink her sexy minx claws into pink-shirted Jack, there should be some double dates on the cards.

And Diva’s. We can still do Diva’s.

“I mean it,” Leo whispers. “We need someone. I’ll have to recruit if you don’t want it.”

But I do.

I really do.

“I want thirty days holiday, minimum,” I say and he rolls his eyes.

“You do, do you?”

I nod. “And lunch at my desk, courtesy of my hot new boss every lunchtime.”

He smirks. “I’ll see what he can rustle up.”

“And I want him to wear a tux, every day. Every. Day. Except maybe Christmas Eve where he can dress up as Santa.” I laugh to myself. “You’ll have to get some of that silly white spray for your beard.”

He tips his head. His eyes glint at me. “You wanna watch it with these requests, Abigail. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up naked in the middle of the office when you least expect it. Regularly.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Is that a threat?”

“It’s a promise.”

I laugh as I hold out my hand. “Then you have yourself a deal, partner.”

He grabs it in his, and as always the rose on his hand takes my breath. Just like it did that day in the petrol station. “Welcome to your new job, Miss Summers.”

His breath is warm on my mouth, his forehead on mine as Cam waves to the ducks on the pond.

“Tonight,” he says, and my skin prickles.

“The hills?”

He nods.

My cheeks burn.

And then Cam comes running back over to us. I’m grinning as Leo scoops him up high.

“Say, champ,” he says, and his eyes are twinkling. “How about we invite Abigail along with us for dinner? You can show her your turtle, right? She likes turtles.”

Please say yes. Please, please say yes.

I feel like I’m a gladiator in front of a tiny emperor, my fate balanced in his hand as he decides if he wants to see me fight again.

Cameron nods.

I grin like a lunatic.

And as he tells me about his turtle, in the sweetest little voice I’ve ever heard, I know I’m going to love him forever.

Just like his dad.

Tonight’s the first night I don’t have to drive over from Hereford when Cam’s long in bed.

The promise of the chase thrums in my belly right through dinner.

I see it reflected right back at me in Leo’s eyes.

He’s waiting outside once I’ve changed my shoes into more sensible heels. He takes my hand as he leads me through the darkness and all the way up to the top of the ridge.

I’m smiling into the darkness even as the wind whips my face.

I feel him at my back. Feel the swell of him against my ass.

This shit never gets old.

My monster is magnificent, hot as hell and as vicious as he’s ever been.

His voice is liquid satin, dripping with nightmares and virgin tears.

My heart is thumping like crazy.

I feel crazy.

And I love him for it.

He presses his mouth to my ear.

I hold my breath.

Wait.

Every muscle holding tight for the moment.

Until it comes.

And in that moment I’m alive.

“Run,” the monster says.

And, fuck, how I do.