Total pages in book: 11
Estimated words: 10287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 51(@200wpm)___ 41(@250wpm)___ 34(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 10287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 51(@200wpm)___ 41(@250wpm)___ 34(@300wpm)
“Abby,” Sarah said again.
“Hang on!” Abby called back.
“Vegas!” Sarah yelled.
Abby finally turned to face Sarah. “What?”
Sarah held up the strip of photos.
A piercing scream rang out in the bar. Abby launched herself at Sarah.
“Oh, my GOD!”
Sarah caught her, gripped her around the waist, and both women devolved into bouts of hysterical laughter.
“I knew it!” Abby proclaimed. She took Sarah’s face in her hands, beaming at her. “I knew it would happen for you guys. No one deserves it more. I need some champagne!” Abby announced. “And I’m in an empty bar! Ugh. We have to go out for lunch.”
Sarah grinned at her. “How about some shopping?”
“Oh, God yes! She needs her first dress. Her first shoes. Do they make high heels for babies? What about cowboy boots?” Abby squealed. “Oh, she’s going to look so cute in boots!”
Sarah laughed. “How do you know it’s a girl?”
“Because I’m the aunt and I say so! Oh! Baby’s first jewelry!”
Sarah smiled and shook her head. She looked at the flower made of rubies and diamonds that was always nestled in the hollow of Abby’s throat. To the outside world it looked like a beautiful vintage necklace. But only Abby and her boyfriend Tex and their friends knew its real meaning. Abby Raines was used to getting her way. Except in the bedroom, where she submitted to the, probably slightly depraved, desires of the man she loved.
Sarah didn’t know exactly what went on between Mark and Abby in the bedroom. She suspected she didn’t want to know. But they were both happy and Sarah was happy for them.
But Sarah had her own ideas about bedroom sass. And right now she wanted to shop for some things that would make tonight special. It was Poker Night (ha) but that was the only appointment Sarah could get on such short notice. She wanted to call the guys and cancel, but then they’d want to know why. And she didn’t want to alert Chris to anything suspicious.
She’d already told him she was headed to Maria’s bar to work the lunch shift, as she often did on Thursdays. Instead she’d called out, telling Maria everything. She knew she could trust the older woman to keep it quiet.
A year ago when Sarah had been attacked, for the second time, she’d fled South Dakota to her native North Carolina to deal with the aftermath. After deciding that her life and her future lay with the second family she’d created here, she’d returned.
Even though Sarah’s life story was the talk of the town, it wasn’t the talk of Maria’s bar where Sarah had worked before the kidnapping and where she worked again upon return to Rapid City.
Maria was nice enough. But it was her place and her rules and she’d laid down the law when Sarah returned. Any gossip about Sarah Sullivan and you were out on your ass. Permanently.
Maria was overjoyed that Sarah and Shooter had been trying for a baby. She’d waxed poetic a few times that it was going to be hard to lose Sarah, the best waitress Maria had ever had. But Shooter and Slick, Maria said, had been through hell and back, had found each other, and were then dragged right back into the flames.
If anybody needed a quiet family life to heal their souls it was Shooter and Slick, Maria said.
“Not shopping for baby today,” Sarah informed Abby.
Abby frowned. “Aw. Come on. You need to start looking at cribs. And paint colors. You know how much you love painting.”
But Sarah shook her head. “First things first.”
“So what’s first?”
“New panties.”
Abby grinned. “Oh, yeah. I’m always up for new panties.”
Several of the workmen chuckled. Abby waved her hand dismissively. “Drinks. For me, anyway. Lunch for both of us. And panties for the boys. Let’s go.”
Chapter 3
At their favorite lingerie shop, Sarah picked up a corset off a display table. Abby wore a lot of them. Mostly under her tailored blazers when she was at work. Sarah had always liked them. And, in truth, a year ago they would’ve suited Sarah better than bras, but they were quite a bit more expensive and up until she’d gotten married, Sarah hadn’t been able to justify spending that much money.
“What about this?” she asked Abby, holding it up.
It was black with small white polka dots and a tiny strip of white lace trim along the bust line. It also had a cute little red bow at the cleavage.
Abby looked at it. “I love it,” she declared. “But you’re not going backwards, are you?”
Sarah shook her head. “No. Just this one, because it’s so cute.”
“Try it on,” Abby suggested, nodding toward the fitting room located behind the sales counter. Megan, the woman who owned the shop, and who also made many of the pieces, smiled at them and led the way.
When Sarah had first discovered the place, she’d been on a mission to repair her damaged relationship with Chris. They’d been having problems and their sex life had been the first casualty.