Penmort Castle (Ghosts and Reincarnation #1)(133)
Author: Kristen Ashley

She pulled in a deep breath and then let it out in a heavy sigh before she came up on an elbow, lifted a hand and pulled her hair from her face.

He noticed that he hadn’t thought to take her jewellery off last night and he felt a powerful sensation strike him at the vision of her in bed, hair dishevelled, face grumpy and sleepy, wearing the silk and diamonds he’d given her.

“All right,” she gave in, cutting into his thoughts.

Cash stood, she threw back the covers and he walked to the turret. He decided if she didn’t notice he’d not remind her that she was walking around barefoot in a nightgown, wearing tens of thousands of pounds worth of diamonds.

Instead he poured coffee in delicate china cups, adding milk to Abby’s, taking his black with a sugar.

She’d donned her cashmere dressing gown and had her hair pulled back in a ponytail when he turned and handed her the cup and saucer. She sipped at it as he sipped at his. Then he sat in one of the chairs. Abby began to move to the other one but he caught her wrist, leaned to the side, deposited his cup and saucer on the tray and carefully pulled her in his lap so as to not spill her coffee.

She held her body stiff, not a thing like the warm and pliant Abby who snuggled close to him two nights before.

Cash knew, instantly, even after her avowals of love in front of her husband, his family and even her f**king cat, that this conversation was not going to go as he’d hoped.

“What do we need to talk about?” she asked guardedly, keeping her eyes on her cup as she sipped again.

“Our future,” he replied and at his words she choked and spluttered.

When she got herself under control, her eyes moved to his.

He watched her breathe looking like this wasn’t an easy, natural task

Finally she whispered, “Yes, I agree. We need to talk about our future.”

“You start,” Cash demanded, wanting to hear what he was up against right away so he could tear it apart, explain the way it actually was, take her straight back to bed and f**k her so hard she’d still feel him inside her on Thursday.

Maybe Friday.

She didn’t argue as he expected.

She nodded, leaned forward, put her cup and saucer on the tray and sat back, folding her hands in her lap and continuing to hold her body stiffly.

Then her eyes turned to his. “I’m sorry I fell in love with you.”

Cash felt his lips part in surprise.

That, of all things, he did not expect to hear.

She had these last weeks, apologised for a number of bizarre things but this was by far and away the most bizarre.

“Sorry?” he asked.

She waved her hand in the air and repeated, “I’m sorry I fell in love with you. I wasn’t going to tell you but I didn’t want you to believe Vivianna. It was stupid, I should have let you believe what she was saying but I didn’t want you to. I don’t know why.”

“Abby –” he began but she talked over him.

“Jenny told me last night about your talk.” When he opened his mouth, she waved her hand in the air again and said, “It’s okay. I’m okay with it. I mean, I’m not, like, at all, but I have to be, don’t I?” She didn’t let him answer and went on. “I like what we have. No, I love what we have and I’d be really happy to stay this way for as long as you want. But Jenny reminded me I’m kind of weird in that I get attached, as in really attached, and she’s right.” She took a deep breath and Cash thought he had his chance to speak but she got there before him. “Even though, you know, I love you and everything, I think it’s best if we just move on. End it. Now. I don’t want it to be messy for you and I’m sure you don’t want that either. I mean, it’s better for you this way, trust me.”

Cash’s arms moved around her and he pulled her closer to his chest, deeper into his lap.

She didn’t notice this and kept right on talking. “And I’m being kind of selfish. I don’t want it to be messy either and I don’t want to get more attached, if you know what I mean.”

He tried to cut in. “Abby –”

He failed as she rattled on. “So a clean break now would be good. I mean, not good but better for all concerned. You’ve got your castle and Alistair got what he deserved and Vivianna is in hell so all’s well in The World of Cash. Which will make me feel a bit, you know, more okay with everything, knowing it’s all good for you.”

She stopped on a sharp breath that hitched in the middle and he realised she was close to tears, her body stiff and tight. Her eyes not meeting his were bright and she was, lastly but most importantly, completely full of shit with this whole act.

He wanted to laugh.

He didn’t.

He also wanted to kiss her.

Something else he didn’t do.

Instead, he said softly, “Darling, look at me.”

Her gaze came to his face but not to his eyes.

“Look at me, Abby,” he repeated.

He watched her teeth clench then her eyes lifted to his.

When their eyes caught, he asked, “Are you finished?”

She bit her lip, he felt his own lips twitch then she nodded and said, “I think so.”

“Good, I’m talking now,” he declared.

Her eyes went funny, guarded and surprised and something else, something he couldn’t read.

“Oh… kay,” she replied hesitantly.

Cash didn’t delay.

“I’m in love with you,” he announced and her mouth dropped open but he went on. “We’re not over. We’re never going to be over. There isn’t going to be an end. This is it, you and me, in Penmort, you wearing diamonds and silk and having coffee delivered to our bedroom every morning.”

“Cash –” she whispered, eyes wide, face pale, expressions clashing between shock and awe.

“I’m not done,” Cash stated and pressed on, “I know you still love Ben. I’m not going to pretend I like it but I will try to live with it.”

“Cash –”

“Abby, stop interrupting me.”

“Okay,” she whispered and he felt her body start to soften in his arms and he knew he was getting somewhere.

“You were right last night, it’s early. We’ll take some time, learn more about each other. Not much but we’ll do it. Then we’ll get married, have children and live happily ever after, if you don’t annoy me too much.” She gasped but he ignored it and continued. “I’ve spoken to Nicola this morning and she and her daughters are going to give us a few months. They’ll stay in Bath then move back here. I’m sure you’ll agree they’ll be welcome here for as long as they wish to stay.”