Our Kind of Love by Kait Nolan

Chapter 14

Explain? Kyle struggled not to gawk himself. What exactly was she going to explain?

How he was only here because of an accidental fake engagement? How they were really together despite that? How his very presence had drawn back one of the people who’d nearly ruined their lives and livelihood?

She’d said she’d told no one about their near elopement all those years ago. Did that include her parents? If not, what had they thought of his silence and distance all these years? Had they thought he’d thrown away and abandoned the gift of family, too?

“So... um... engaged?” Faye asked carefully, gaze automatically going to the ring on Abbey’s left hand.

How had they not gotten around to discussing what they were going to tell her parents?

“It’s complicated.”

Kyle wanted to laugh, though there was nothing funny about the situation. Was there any version of this that didn’t make them look insane? He should probably say… something. But what? He’d been out of their lives for even longer than he’d been out of Abbey’s. Best to let her take the lead.

“Kyle’s been here helping me with Granddaddy.”

Really? She was starting with that?

Mark frowned. “When you told us you’d lined up help, I never imagined... this.”

Kyle’s mind filled that hesitation with a multitude of other descriptors. None of them good or flattering. Good Lord. Did Mark think Abbey had shipped them off so that she could sneak him back onto the farm for… Yeah, Kyle couldn’t even allow himself to consider that one or he’d start worrying Mark would grab the nearest shotgun.

Abbey laughed, but there was a faint edge to it. “Oh no. He wasn’t part of the plan. But there was a... miscommunication on an interview, where the host announced we were engaged. Kyle came home to tell me and...”

“One thing led to another?” Faye suggested.

As his brain conjured flashes of bare skin and ragged breaths, Kyle wished the floor would just open up and swallow him.

“We had a long overdue clearing of the air. And he stayed.”

Kyle tensed, waiting for their disapproval and outrage. He deserved it. But they only stood where they were, looking confused.

“And you got actually engaged?” Mark asked.

“No. We put on a show for the paparazzi. But we are together.” As if she sensed his need for reassurance, Abbey squeezed his hand.

Faye closed her eyes, and the bottom dropped out of Kyle’s stomach. This was it. The incredulity and recriminations for dragging Abbey into all this. The disbelief that they’d be so foolish. The what the actual hell are y’all thinking?

When she opened her eyes again, they shone with tears, and he felt about two feet tall.

“Oh, thank God.”

Huh?

Before Kyle could process her words, Faye rushed across the room to pull him into a firm, gardenia-scented hug. “Welcome home, honey.”

The unrestrained warmth in her tone and the fierceness with which she hung on stunned and humbled him. And the little boy he’d been, who’d idolized her and endured the mom hugs and discipline with equal parts squirming discomfort and yearning, wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair. His voice cracked when he murmured, “Missed you.” And, God, he had. More than he’d let himself think about for years.

Mark was waiting when she finally let him go. He was less effusive, but his handshake was just as warm. “About time.”

Kyle wasn’t sure if he meant the coming home or being with Abbey, and he wasn’t about to ask. He was too busy reeling at this unexpected and unquestioning welcome back into the fold.

“Thank you.” His hand found Abbey’s again, needing her as an anchor. “I’m afraid it’s not all good news.”

Faye’s face froze. “Roy?”

“No, no. Granddaddy’s fine,” Abbey assured them. “He sprained his ankle the day you left for your trip, but he’s already bouncing back.”

“Then what?” Mark asked.

“Maybe we should all sit down.” Abbey led by example, tugging him down onto the sofa beside her.

Her parents found their own seats, and Kyle tried to find the words. Might as well rip the Band-Aid off. “My mother is out of prison. She showed up here this morning.”

Faye’s eyes, so like Abbey’s, went fierce. “She can’t have you.”

The thickening in Kyle’s throat kept him from answering immediately. With another squeeze of his hand, Abbey stepped in.

“That’s not what she’s about. Never has been. She’s trying to blackmail Kyle, threatening to go to the press about everything that happened if he doesn’t pay her.”

Mark frowned, leaning forward. “What does she think that’s gonna do? The evidence was iron clad.”

“There’s no telling what version of the story she’d spin up. Not one resembling the truth beyond one salient point—that my testimony sent them to prison. I know she’ll concoct some kind of story that makes them look like the victims. And, yeah, the actual evidence is clear-cut, but the gossip rags won’t care about that. They care about what sells. Scandal—even old scandal—sells. My entire reputation is as the good guy, the nice guy, who never does anything wrong.”

“You didn’t. You found out what was happening and turned them in. That’s the right thing. The hard thing. And you were only a child,” Faye insisted.

“You know that, and I know that. But the media isn’t likely to dig deep enough for it to matter.” Dropping his head, Kyle sucked in a bracing breath. “She’s going to keep coming. Going to keep pressing. I wouldn’t put it past her to try to do something to upset all of you because you matter to me, and she’s always resented that I chose you over them. The only answer, as I can see, is to tell the story first. The problem with that is that it’s going to stir everything back up again, and because of the celebrity I’ve earned, y’all are bound to have to deal with the press all over again.”

“Then we deal with the press.” Mark shrugged. “We have nothing to hide, and we’ve got no compunction sharing the absolute truth. Your testimony saved our family business.”

“You have our support in this. You always have,” Faye assured him. “So do what you need to do.”

They meant it.

Kyle didn’t understand it. Didn’t feel as if he deserved it, but he recognized the gift as what it was.

He’d do anything to protect this. Anything to protect them. If that meant baring his most deeply held secrets—so be it.

As long as he had Abbey to come home to in the end, nothing else mattered. And as he took in her soft smile, he thought about what Granddaddy had said before his mother showed up and ruined the morning. Maybe the old man was right, and he’d waited long enough.

* * *

“You two have been manningthe ship for nearly two weeks. Go take some time for yourselves,” Faye urged. “Have fun.”

Abbey hardly knew what to do with herself not having to think about Granddaddy. Kyle had other ideas. “Let’s go take a walk in the orchard. I’m feeling nostalgic, and with everything going on, I haven’t had the chance to do that since I came home.”

Abbey’s heart warmed at hearing him slide back into calling this home. Was he aware of it? She let it ride as he took her hand and tugged her toward the trees. There was too much to think about and process. At the end of the day, her parents were supportive, and despite the threat from Twyla, she was feeling good about where she and Kyle stood. Maybe with their immediate responsibilities relieved, they’d have a chance to think about them and where they wanted to go next.

His long, strong fingers felt so good wrapped around hers, like a puzzle piece snapping into place.

“I used to wish you’d do this when we were younger.”

“Do what?”

“Hold my hand.”

Kyle glanced over in surprise. “Really?”

“I don’t know when holding hands with you started to mean something more. Obviously we did it all the time when we were little. But later… I used to angst about it, wonder if I could sort of nudge you into it without it being weird.”

His laugh rolled out. “Nudging isn’t your way. You’re bold, saying exactly what you think, regardless of consequences. I always loved that about you. That fearlessness was so damned appealing. I always wished it would rub off on me.”

Abbey rolled her eyes. “You’re plenty fearless. You perform in front of thousands of people. I can’t even squeak in front of anyone but you.”

“That’s different. You’re brave in everyday ways.”

“I don’t know that it’s bravery so much as lack of patience for talking around things. The world would run smoother if more people said what they think instead of beating around the bush.”

“Probably.” He swung their hands in a wide arc. “Know what I think?”

“What?”

“That I’m glad to finally have some time alone with you.” The teasing promise in his tone had her blood heating.

“Why, Kyle Keenan, do you have plans out in this orchard?”

“As a matter of fact, I do.”

Abbey hoped they were naked plans. She’d had her share of those fantasies over the years as they’d gotten older. Although, with the sun going down, it would get a little cold for that. Still, a girl could dream.

He led her down the rows, way out to the back, far, far from the house. She knew his destination before he cut across the neat lanes toward the oldest trees in the orchard.

Their tree. He was taking her to their tree.

Nothing in his easy gait gave anything away, but Abbey’s heart began to pound nonetheless. It didn’t necessarily mean anything. This place was important to them for lots of reasons. But as they approached, lights winked on, and she gasped.

Fairy lights were woven throughout the boughs, casting a magical glow over the blanket spread out beneath. A fat picnic basket sat in one corner.

He held up his hand with a tiny remote. “Surprise.”

She thought of the story he’d spun for their interview, about how he’d proposed the second time. Was this...? “Kyle?”

His lips curved in a secret smile as he drew her in, close enough to curve a hand around her waist. “Because of how everything went down, I never got to give you the romance you deserve. Let me give you tonight.”

She’d give him forever, if only he’d ask. But she only nodded and let him lead her to the blanket.

“Hungry?”

How could she be hungry when he’d done all this? She hummed a noncommittal note he apparently took as a yes.

“We’ve got fried chicken from the diner and some of Crystal’s mac and cheese. Pie, too, although that wasn’t my first choice of dessert.” His heated, impish look told Abbey he’d meant her.

So maybe this was a seduction, not a proposal? She could absolutely get behind that. Still, he had to know where her mind was going with this. If she was going to relax enough to enjoy what he’d created, she was going to need a confirmation of expectation so her brain didn’t keep spinning. “Kyle?”

He lifted his head from the basket. “Hm?”

“Is this just about romancing me or is it something else?”

His mouth opened, then closed again on a huff of a laugh. One hand scooped through his hair. “I had a plan. I was going to ply you with champagne and good food, then make love to you while the stars came out. And when you were limp and sated, I was going to do what I didn’t have the chance at ten years ago.”

Heart thrumming, Abbey could barely breathe, but she forced out her words. “And that is?”

Kyle shifted onto one knee, reaching into his pocket to bring out the bubble gum ring.

“Oh my God.” She covered her mouth, as much to hold in a scream as a squee.

“You’re in it now, Abs,” he warned. “We’re officially reversing the order of the evening.” He reached to take her hand, and his trembled faintly. “I love you. I’ve loved you since we were practically in diapers. The last time I did this, I told instead of asking. This time I want to do it right—or as close to right as I can get, since you’re already wearing my ring. You can choose that one or this one, or we can find something entirely new. You can have whatever you want. But I need to know, Abbey Rhodes Whittaker, if you’ll marry me for real. If you’ll build a life with me. A home with me. What do you say?”

She’d given up on this dream a long, long time ago. Yet here he knelt, ring in hand, heart on his sleeve, offering the promise and the life they’d both wanted for twenty-five years. In answer, she launched herself at him, catching him around the shoulders and bowling him backward until she sprawled atop him, and he was laughing.

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes.” She pressed a kiss to his mouth. “Yes, to all of it.” His cheeks. “Also, yes to reversing the order of your plan.”

Those beloved blue eyes went dark. “I can get behind that.”

She lowered her lips to his again, her fingers already skating beneath his shirt to find warm skin beneath. They rolled, hands touching, taking as they shed layer after layer, until they were naked, and she rose over him.

His eyes were molten as he gripped her hips. “Mine. My Abbey.”

“Mine,” she agreed, and sank down, taking him into her body.

They both groaned as he filled and stretched her. Bending low, she captured his mouth and began to move. And beneath the branches of the old apple tree where she’d first said yes, she rode him until they both shouted yes again as they shot over the edge.

A long time later, she roused herself to reach for the picnic basket. “I’m starving.”

“I will endeavor to keep you fed for the rest of our lives.” It was a lazy promise, but Abbey couldn’t help but think about the future.

Container of chicken in hand, she came back to kiss him. “I like the sound of that. How does Monday sound?”

“For what?”

“To start the rest of our lives.”

Kyle blinked at her and sat up on one elbow. “You want to get married on Monday?”

She wanted to get married right now, to seal the deal so life didn’t have a chance to intervene. But Monday was as early as they could get a license. “Yes.”

“You still want to elope?”

How could she explain the depth of her fear that this would get taken away from her again? She didn’t want a chance for either of them to think or second guess. She just wanted to be his wife. “Yeah. The end result has always been a lot more important to me than the pomp and circumstance.”

His eyes searched hers. Abbey hoped the faint tinge of panic didn’t show. At last, he took her ring hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

“As you wish.”