And he let her.
And he enjoyed it.
A lot.
After she was finished with him, he kissed her with residual passion mixed with sweet gratitude and left the bed.
Abby curled around his pillow and her last thought before falling back to sleep was, That was brilliant.
* * * * *
“Do you want to tell me what’s bothering you?” Kieran Kane was standing in his kitchen with his wife who was wiping down the counters like she was preparing to perform surgery on them.
Jenny glanced at him. “Nothing’s the matter.”
He grinned. “Right.”
She stopped wiping, straightened to look at him and repeated, “Nothing’s the matter.”
Kieran ignored this out-and-out lie and asked, “Is it Abby?”
She put a hand to her hip. “And why would you think it was Abby?”
“Partly because you got a phone call at midnight from her communicating Lord Fraser’s demands that you appear in his offices today. And partly because it’s always Abby.”
Jenny threw the sponge in the sink and snapped, “It’s not always Abby.”
At her answer, Kieran felt the usual gut clench when the topic came up and he asked gently, “Is it our appointment at the fertility clinic on Monday?”
He watched her face pale but she said, “No.”
He put his coffee cup down and got close, sliding his hands around her waist. His face chased hers as her eyes moved anywhere but to him until she finally gave in on a sigh and looked at him.
“Whatever happens, happens, pumpkin,” Kieran murmured. “I’m happy to adopt and I’m happy for it just to be the two of us for the rest of our lives. You know that.”
Jenny sighed again. “I know it.”
He touched his forehead to hers. “Don’t let it worry you.”
Her eyes slid away and she whispered, “You always talked about wanting a son to go out and –”
His mouth hit hers, effectively silencing her, a trick he’d learned years ago and one he utilised more than occasionally.
When he lifted his head, he said, “I want you. All the rest is just icing. You know that too.”
Jenny’s lips tipped up at the ends and she replied quietly, “I know it.”
“Stop worrying,” Kieran demanded.
“Okay,” Jenny lied.
Kieran grinned then muttered, “Liar.”
Before the glittering spark in her eye could be translated verbally, he kissed her, far deeper this time.
Then he went to work.
* * * * *
Kieran was barely out the door when Jenny’s mobile rang.
She was glad of it. Anything to keep her mind off the appointment Monday, even if it had to do with Abby, her new boyfriend (who Jenny didn’t know whether to love or hate) and the ghost that wanted Abby dead.
Regardless of what Kieran said, Jenny wanted a baby and she wanted to give him a son. She wouldn’t plunge into a suicidal depression if she couldn’t, but she would still be devastated. They’d been trying to get pregnant for ages (and working hard at it), so she didn’t think the news would be good.
She was not looking forward to Monday in any way.
So she resolutely set these thoughts aside and grabbed her mobile.
The display said, “Cassandra Calling”.
Jenny flipped it open and put it to her ear.
“Hey girl,” she said by way of greeting, as usual hiding her dark thoughts of moments before.
“Hey mate,” Cassandra replied. “Listen, can you talk?”
Jenny thought Cassandra had called for a gossip session and asked, “Is this about our summons to Cash’s offices today?”
“No,” Cassandra answered. “Though, gotta admit, I was surprised. And pleased. It’ll help, him being in the know.” She hesitated and went on with a smile in her voice. “And I wouldn’t mind seeing where he works, see if it’s like in the movie.”
“I’m noticing not a lot about Cash is like that movie,” Jenny replied and heard Cassandra chuckle.
“Yeah, that actor, whatever-his-name-is, was fit, but I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who can suck the entire life force out of the room like Cash can. He’s a powerhouse. I can see why they wanted to make a movie about him but there’s no way you could capture something like that on film,” Cassandra noted.
Jenny didn’t want to talk about what a powerhouse Cash was because she thought it sucked that practically everything about him seemed wonderful but he was, if their secret conversation was anything to go by, not.
Jenny changed the subject. “Why’d you call?”
Cassandra took a moment before answering, “Are you sitting down?”
Jenny felt her heart lurch and lied, “Yes.”
“Okay, mate, take a breath,” Cassandra advised and Jenny did as she was told then heard Cassandra say, “My friends in Virginia, they made contact.”
Jenny knew what she was saying. In desperation, she, Mrs. Truman and Cassandra had come up with the idea days ago.
Jenny stumbled to a chair at the kitchen table and sat.
“Ben?” she whispered.
“Yes,” Cassandra answered.
Jenny closed her eyes and felt tears prickling the backs of them at the very thought of what this might mean when she asked, “He didn’t go to, um… the other plane?”
“He did. They used the entire coven to pull him out,” Cassandra told her.
Jenny’s eyes opened but only to blink in shocked surprise. “You can do that?”
“In life and death circumstances and if the coven is powerful, yes.”
“My God,” Jenny breathed.
Cassandra went on. “They’re un-tethering him. He’ll be at the castle Saturday night.”
“My God,” Jenny repeated.
“Are you okay?” Cassandra asked.
“No,” Jenny told her in all honesty. “You’re telling me the ghost of my good friend is going to fight the ghost who wants to kill my best friend. A ghost who happens to be under the mistaken impression that Cash Fraser is in love with my good friend ghost’s wife.” Jenny wasn’t making much sense but didn’t care.
Ben was going to be at the castle.
With Abby.
And Cash!
“Widow,” Cassandra said softly, taking Jenny out of her thoughts.
“What?” Jenny asked.
“Widow. Abby’s his widow, no longer his wife,” Cassandra replied.
“She’ll always be Ben’s wife,” Jenny retorted.
“She stopped being his wife a long time ago, Jenny,” Cassandra returned gently.
Jenny shook her head sharply, not about to fight this point, not wanting even to think about this point, so she said, “Whatever. Ben has got to know, your coven friends have got to tell him that Abby can’t see him. She’ll freak.”
“He’ll do what he has to do,” Cassandra said.
“Cassandra, you don’t know how it is. Abby can’t see him, she’ll freak,” Jenny repeated.
“He’ll do what he has to do or she’ll die,” Cassandra noted firmly.
Jenny hated to admit it, but she had a point.
Jenny thought it was time to move on to the next subject. “Are we carpooling to Cash’s offices?”
“I’ll drive,” Cassandra offered.
“All right then, see you soon,” Jenny said and they rang off.
Jenny flipped her phone shut and put it on the table.
“Well, one thing’s certain,” she told her phone. “I’m not worried about the fertility clinic anymore.”
Jenny’s phone had no response.
* * * * *
Abby walked into Cash’s offices and saw him immediately.
He was behind a glass wall in a conference room with at least a dozen other people. He was sitting at the head of the table wearing one of his impeccably tailored suits, this one black with a shirt of deep grey and a fantastic black tie with a grey and red pattern on it. He ha
d a heavy, expensive-looking black pen with gold accents in his fingers. He was upending it, the pen sliding through his fingers, only for him to catch it at the tip and upend it again.
Someone was standing at the foot of the table speaking to the group and there were charts projected on the wall behind him. Cash’s attention was focused on the speaker but Abby had only taken a few steps into the reception area when Cash’s head turned and his black eyes hit her.
She’d been in a clothing crisis all morning not knowing what to wear to this meeting, especially since it was at Cash’s office.
It was one thing when she was getting paid to be his girlfriend and going out to dinner at restaurants surrounded by people they didn’t know. It was another to be his girlfriend and go to his office where all his staff could see (and judge) her.
She’d decided professional class was her best bet. But even when she was working she rarely wore traditional suits. Instead, she dressed, as Ben used to say, like Princess Diana with attitude (but without the hats).
That day she chose one of her old work suits. A soft fawn colour with a fitted skirt, the hem brushed her knees and it had slits up each side. One of the reasons she bought the suit was that the jacket fit like it was made for her, had a nipped-in waist and a succession of smart, intricate pleats falling from her waist at the back. She wore this with a shiny, cream satin blouse that she always unbuttoned just one button below professional, as she did today. She’d put on her mocha suede high-heeled boots, matching wide belt and you could see a hint of flesh-coloured fishnet stockings covering her knees between the top of the boots and the hem of the skirt. She wore her pearl earrings and choker her parents gave her for her wedding and her gold watch. She had blown her hair dry sleek, left it long and did her makeup in her “Edgy Professional” look. Lastly, she’d worn her mother’s taupe coat but had taken it off on the way up in the elevator and now it was over her forearm, her mocha, patent-leather clutch shoved under her arm.
She held her breath as Cash’s eyes did a sweep of her finally coming to rest on her face.
Then she watched him smile a slow, lazy, gorgeous smile and she felt that smile shoot straight from her heart, through her belly, right between her legs.
Then Abby heard, “Can I help you?”
Tearing her gaze with some difficulty from Cash’s smile, Abby turned her head to the young, attractive, very professionally dressed woman seated behind the reception desk and Abby moved toward her.
“I’m Abigail Butler. I’m here –” Abby started but the girl shot out of her seat.
“Abby. Right,” she said, rounding her desk, “Cash said you were coming.” Her head tilted to the conference room and she continued. “As you can see, he’s in a meeting but he’ll be out in a minute.” She motioned toward a hallway, walking ahead, obviously expecting Abby to follow (which she did) and went on. “I’ll take you to his office. Can I get you a coffee? We have an espresso machine. I can make you a latte or cappuccino.”
“Just a regular coffee, white and strong, if you don’t mind,” Abby replied as the woman turned to a door, opened it and led Abby in.
Abby took two steps in and halted.
It was an enormous corner office with a stunning view of Bath afforded from all of its many windows. The desk was huge, messy, covered in papers, file folders, some opened, some stacked, two phones (who needed two phones?) and Cash’s laptop.
Outside the messy desk, the rest of the office was immaculate. Just as she’d noticed in the reception area and hall, the décor was a successful mixture of traditional and modern. Wood panelled walls, heavy, elegant furniture but with modern art, fixtures and fittings.
His office not only held his desk but two large, black leather chairs facing it. There was a stylish but comfortable-looking couch with a low table in front of it against one wall as well as a smaller conference table that accommodated six to the other side. One entire wall was taken up with a built-in unit with illuminated shelves, one containing glasses, a wider one containing decanters of liquor, still others containing interesting bronze sculptures and there was even a counter with a sink as well as several spaces covered with doors and all the doors had locks.
“White coffee. Strong,” the woman said, “be right back.” And Abby turned to see her rushing out.
“Wait,” Abby called.
The woman stopped and looked back at Abby.
Abby smiled. “I didn’t get your name.”
The woman blinked at her then said, “Emma.”
At this news, Abby winced and muttered, “Oh dear,” and watched Emma blink again as Abby moved to her, “I think I might need to apologise.”
Emma was looking at her as if a spaceship was hovering outside Cash’s windows and Abby had just stepped off of it.
“Sorry?” Emma asked.
“The other day, when Moira got in an accident, you called and I didn’t let you finish. I think Cash got a little –” Abby explained and Emma cut her off.
“It’s okay,” she said quickly but shutters had come down over her eyes telling Abby that she did, indeed, get into trouble and it was anything but okay.
Therefore, Abby blurted, “My husband was killed in a car accident.” She watched Emma give a start and Abby went on. “Four years ago. I overreacted when you called. Panicked really. I tried to explain that to Cash and that I hadn’t let you finish but he was a bit, um…” How could she explain it? She tried to be tactful. “Put out that I was in that state.”
Emma regarded her for a moment then Abby watched as her gaze unshuttered and her eyes went soft. “I get it now and that’s understandable.”
“Still, I’m sorry,” Abby pressed and Emma smiled at her.
“That’s okay,” she nodded, meaning it this time, then turned saying, “I’ll just get your coffee.”
Emma left and Abby threw her coat and bag on Cash’s couch, went to the windows and looked at Bath.
Cash had asked her to arrive half an hour earlier than the others, he hadn’t explained why and she hadn’t asked. Now, clothing crisis averted, the Emma apology over, she had time to wonder why.
As she contemplated this, Abby had no idea what was going on outside Cash’s door.
She had no idea that Cash Fraser had many women come to his office. However, they were there briefly, so briefly they waited in the reception area and they were rarely offered coffee.
She also had no idea that Cash had not taken a single one of them on a business trip.
She also had no idea that his expense report for Germany had been gossiped about at length by a motor mouth in the finance department. Fuelled as well by the pictures in the papers, interest about Cash and Abby was running rampant.
Therefore, she had no idea that the traffic in the hall outside Cash’s open office door while she stood pondering his desire to have her there early was far heavier than normal.
Emma brought her coffee, chit chatted with Abby for a few minutes and then explained she had to get to her desk.
She had to do this because Emma knew that Cash would not be pleased if she chit chatted with his glamorous new girlfriend in his office instead of doing the work he paid her to do. She also did this because she could not wait to call motor mouth Jade in the finance department and tell her that this one was actually nice.
Abby had taken a few sips of coffee and had come to no conclusions why Cash would want her there early when Cash walked in.
His eyes never leaving her, he went straight to his desk, tossed a file and his pen on it and both skidded several inches across the mess before coming to a stop.
Abby watched this and her gaze went back to Cash. “You’re fond of throwing things, aren’t you?”
He didn’t answer but she watched him grin as he came to the side of the desk and rested a thigh against it, crossing his arms on his chest.
She walked to him, putting her coffee cup on a coaster she could just see from under some papers.
She motioned to his desk and remarked, ?
??I’m surprised. You aren’t very organised.”
“Moira has a dislocated shoulder and a broken wrist,” he replied and, as she was now within reaching distance, his hands came to her waist and he pulled her closer, his arms circling her. “I made her stay home until Monday.”
Abby’s head tilted to the side. “Made her?”
“She wanted to come back to work yesterday.”
Abby was surprised at this news. Moira had only just had her accident.
She lifted her hands and rested them on his chest, leaning into his strong body and tilting her head back further to look up at him.
“She’s a workaholic, like you,” Abby guessed.
“She gets off on the hunt, like me,” Cash returned.
A weird thrill shot through her at his words.
“The hunt?” Abby asked, not quite able to hide her curiosity and his head dipped down so he could touch his mouth to hers.
Then he offered, “I’ll tell you about my work sometime.”
She was surprised at this offer. She had asked him once about his work and he’d told her it was confidential.
She wasn’t certain but she had the feeling that his offer signified something huge.
Instead of making a big deal of it, Abby teased, “If you tell me, will you have to kill me?”
“God, I hope not,” he replied on a grin, then his arms tightened, bringing her even closer and he kissed her, hard, wet and open-mouthed.
When he was done, Abby’s fingers had curled into his lapels to hold herself upright and Cash did something new. He slid his nose along the side of hers and the tenderness she felt from this was playing havoc with her heart.
She swallowed and asked, “Why did you want me to come early?”
His head moved away and she saw he was still grinning but this one was wicked.
He answered without delay, “I wanted to make out with you before they arrived.”
His intent, and the honesty with which he shared it, made her laugh. Throwing her head back, her hands slid up his chest to rest around his neck, the tips of the fingers of one hand going into his thick hair.
When she stopped laughing, her eyes caught movement, she looked around his arm and saw the door was open and someone was walking passed.