See Me .(65)

The sun drifted through the sky, occasionally getting blindsided by a rogue cloud as Abigail set the pitcher of tea on the table and finished up the last-minute touches to the potato salad. When Eric opened the lid on the grill, Ron gathered around to fill their plates. Abigail sat down on the porch steps with Penelope and patiently waited for the others to get their share. Penelope whimpered. “It’s okay, girl. We’ll get our turn in a minute.”

From the edge of the porch, Sean appeared, balancing two paper plates in one hand, a wine cooler and bottle of water in the other. The sweet smell of the ribs hit her nose before he took his last step toward her.

“Oh my God, that smells divine.”

“Hurry and take one before I drop them both.”

Abigail leaped off the step and grabbed one heavy plate.

“I got one for you and a hamburger for her.”

“Oh, Sean! You’re the best. Come on, girl, let’s eat!” She tipped the plate toward the Fuzzy Navel wine cooler dangling between his fingers. “Is that for me?”

“Yes. I got the mutt some water.”

“Where’s your plate?” Abigail asked as she took the misty bottle from his hand.

“I’m going to go grab one, and I’ll be right back. Save me a spot on the porch swing with you.”

Abigail looked over her shoulder at the empty porch swing. Nothing sounded more perfect. As she got comfy on the swing, she stuffed a spoonful of potato salad into her mouth. The sun was over halfway down the horizon, leaving behind a warm breeze in its wake. Sean came back with a plate loaded with everything the buffet had to offer.

“Good God! Did you miss anything?” Abigail laughed and licked the barbecue sauce off her thumb.

The swing jerked as he sat down. “Eric brought some kind of iced brownie thing. I’m going to need another plate for that, though. How are the ribs?”

“Wonderful, of course. Seriously, where do you put all that food? You’re so fit, but you eat like a million calories a day.”

He leaned back in the swing and popped a deviled egg in his mouth. “I…I just really like food. Growing up, I didn’t get to eat what I wanted. I used to save up my money to buy candy and those little snack cakes. Oatmeal cream pies were my favorite. Still are.”

Abigail swallowed. Her mother had always hid the sweets when she was growing up. There was more than one occasion where her mother had caught her sneaking a cookie from the pantry. Thank God for her younger brother. He could always reach the top shelf and kept the stash in her room full.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked before taking a bite of hamburger.

“I’m not looking at you like anything. I’m just admiring your mouth.” He did possess the most perfectly kissable lips. “I like your lips.”

“I like yours too. Both sets.”

God, she had to have turned three shades of red. The heat in her cheeks was enough to warm the Sahara. Instead of commenting and further embarrassing herself, she nibbled on the ear of corn.

They shared the wonderful meal, with laughter and Penelope as their constant companions. Abigail finished the last bite of watermelon while Sean enjoyed the mountain of brownies piled on his plate.

“So what should I do on Monday?” She really didn’t want to face the reality that she was being hunted like a doe in the woods, but she had to deal with it sometime. “I need to do something, don’t I?”

“First, we’ll go to the police station so you can file a restraining order. Then we need to make your place safer. Have you thought about moving? Maybe across town…or in with me for a little while?”

Abigail choked on a swig of wine cooler. “What? I can’t just move in with you. Besides, I come with baggage.” She looked down where Penelope was munching on a piece of angel food cake Sean had given her. “You’re going to fatten up my dog.”

“She looks fine. I mean it, you can stay with me. I know my place isn’t… I know it’s not the greatest, but it’s safe.”

She gave the porch floor a nudge with her foot to get the swing going. “Your place is fine. I just couldn’t impose like that, and besides, I’m not going to let him run me out of another place. It’s time I stop letting him take from me. He’s had enough of my life. It’s time I start thinking about me and not him.”

“I agree, but I want you safe. He’s a nutcase, and I don’t want you in harm’s way.”

“Yes, he’s a psychopath…an asshole and a killer. Maybe I could rent the guest suite from Eric.”

The swing suddenly stopped. “No. You two can stay with me.”