What Might Have Been: Daniels Brother #4 (Daniels Brothers) (33 page)

“Ma? Dad?” It wasn’t the voice she’d wanted to hear. When she looked up, Chris and Elizabeth were headed their way.

Mike stood. “Did Paul call you?”

Chris nodded. “We came as quick as we could. Is Trent still in there?”

“Yes. It’s been over an hour, so I’m hoping it won’t be much longer.”

Chris gave his mom a hug and then took a seat next to them.

Abby got up. She had the sudden need to move around. Sitting still was slowly driving her insane.

She’d made it down to the end of the hall when Trent came around the corner. Detective Kent was with him, but she barely spared him a glance before she shot down the hall and ran into Trent’s arms.

“Hey,” he whispered into her hair as he wrapped her in his warm embrace.

She glided her fingers over his head and down the side of his face as she held his gaze.

The detective cleared his throat. “You’re free to go, Mr. Daniels. We’ll be in contact with you if we have any more questions.”

Trent nodded.

As soon as the detective walked away, the rest of his family descended. They all hugged him. Trent returned the show of affection, but kept one arm firmly around Abby’s waist at all times.

“Let’s get out of here,” Mike said. “I’m starving. What do you all say we blow this joint and go grab a bite to eat?”

There were a few chuckles, and then everyone was moving. She went along even though she wasn’t sure she would be able to eat anything.

Trent and Abby slid into the backseat of his parents’ vehicle. He pulled her close to his side and she snuggled into him.

“What are you in the mood for, son? I’d say after the day you’ve had, the choice is yours.”

“Anywhere’s fine, Dad.” Trent answered his father, but he never took his gaze from Abby. He kept stroking her hair and brushing his lips against hers.

Mike drove to a steak house a few miles away and they all piled out of the car.

Dinner wasn’t bad. Abby ate more than she thought she would. Now that she could see that Trent really was safe, her appetite returned.

Everyone had questions. They wanted to know what had happened, who the guy was, and why he’d targeted them. When it came out that Paul had stayed on the phone with her through the whole thing, Trent commented that he was going to owe his big brother an extra Christmas present this year.

Abby was just glad Trent was all right. He’d sworn to her and his mother that there wasn’t a scratch on him. While she believed that he was physically unharmed, she had to wonder how he was doing with the rest of it. Trent had killed a man. Even though his life and those of his employees had been in danger, she couldn’t imagine what that would be like.

His main concern seemed to be for Trinity. She’d been taken to the hospital to make sure nothing was broken and that there was no internal bleeding. Trent had called her on the way to the restaurant. The doctors had bandaged her up and sent her home with some medicine for the pain. It would take a little while for her to heal, but she was going to be okay.

On the way back out to the car, Chris walked over to them. “We’re going to head home.”

Trent embraced his brother. “Thanks for coming down.”

“Anytime.” Chris looked over at Abby. “Take care of him.”

Abby grinned. “I will.”

Chris smiled back and waved goodbye. It was the first time Abby felt as if maybe, one day, things would be back to normal between them.

Mike and Marilyn drove Abby and Trent back to his office so they could get their vehicles. Trent stood off to the side as Abby opened the door to her car.

“Follow me home?” he asked.

She looked him dead in the eye before lowering herself into her seat. “If you think I’m letting you out of my sight, Trent Daniels . . .”

He gave her one of those smiles of his that had her heart racing. She wanted to rip off his clothes right then and there.

Trent leaned down and gave her a lingering kiss. “I’ll see you at the house.”

The drive back to his place—which would soon be her place, she reminded herself—only took a few minutes. It was late and most people were already home for the evening.

She parked her car in the garage beside his and followed him inside. They made their way down the hall to his bedroom. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it into the hamper. “I need to take a shower. Do you want to join me?”

Abby tilted her head to the side. “Did you miss what I said earlier about not letting you out of my sight?”

She hummed when he bent down to nuzzle her neck.

“I didn’t forget.” He placed one arm under her legs and lifted her into his arms. His mouth found hers once more as he strolled into the bathroom.

Trent lowered her feet to the floor again outside the shower. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before reaching to turn on the water.

All the love she felt for him surged through her with an undeniable force. He had changed her life in more ways than one. Trent had given her back the family she thought she’d lost because of a stupid decision she’d made. He’d shown her that she didn’t have to give up on love—that she deserved it.

She took a step forward, closing the distance between them, and caressed the side of his face. “I love you.”

Trent kissed the inside of her palm. “I love you too, baby. Always.”

“Did you mean what you said last night? About us living together, I mean?” she asked.

“You know I did.” He placed a kiss on her wrist and then continued down the length of her arm. It was hard to remember what she’d been about to say.

“I think I want to.”

Trent halted his movement and met her gaze.

“I want to move in here with you. That’s . . . that’s what I was coming to tell you today.” She swallowed. “And then we can talk about the other.”

He dropped her arm and cradled her face between both his hands. “You won’t regret it, Abby. I promise.”

Abby didn’t think she would either. Trent made her feel as if the future was full of possibilities and she never wanted to let that go. Not ever.

Epilogue

Abby stood at the railing of the paddleboat, looking out at the Ohio River. The wind whipped her hair around her face as they made their way along the water, but she didn’t care. Today she was officially becoming a member of the Daniels family.

It was hard to believe that less than a year ago she’d been living in New York. The life she’d had there seemed a world away. Ohio was her home now. Trent was her home.

Max leaned against the railing beside her, squinting against the sun. “You ready for this?”

She smiled. “More than ready.”

“No cold feet?” he asked, giving her shoulder a bump. Max had softened considerably toward Trent and the Daniels family in general. He still wasn’t a big fan of Chris, but Abby wasn’t sure that was ever going to change.

“Nope. Not even a little.”

Max placed his hand over hers and squeezed. “I’m glad you’re happy. Trent . . . he’s . . . he’s a good guy.”

Abby narrowed her eyes a little. “Are you feeling okay? I mean, you don’t have a fever or anything?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “I just want you to be happy, Abby.”

“What about you?” She leaned into his side and wrapped her hand around his bicep. “When are you going to find some nice girl to settle down with? Maybe that new assistant of yours?”

Max rolled his eyes. “You need to stop playing matchmaker.”

“I like Amber.”

“Considering you’re the one who picked her out, I would hope so,” he commented.

“Yes, but you hired her. You could have rejected my recommendation.” She looked up at him with mischief in her eyes. It was one of the things she missed about not being Max’s assistant. She couldn’t tease him like she used to.

“While that might be true, today isn’t about me. It’s about you.” He glanced down the walkway that led to the back of the boat. The captain, who was performing the ceremony, stepped into view, catching Max’s gaze. “I think that’s our cue. Last chance to back out.”

Abby nodded to the captain and ran her hands down the front of her white dress. She’d picked a lightweight dress that came down to her ankles. It reminded her of the beach. All she needed was one of those large-brimmed hats. “I’m not backing out.”

Max grinned and offered her his arm. “Let’s get you to your groom, then.”

Threading her hand through his arm, she let him lead her down the walkway that ran along the side of the paddleboat. Abby and Trent had decided that instead of a church wedding, they would have the ceremony on the same paddleboat where they’d spent their first official date. It had been the beginning of their romantic relationship. Why not have it be the place where they began their marriage as well?

Everyone who meant something to Trent and Abby were waiting at the back of the boat. They turned as she and Max came into view, their faces lit with happiness.

Abby looked through their friends and family until she found Trent. He was standing to the right of the big paddle wheel, next to the captain. When their gazes met, his smile widened. She still had to pinch herself some days to believe he was really hers.

As she took those final steps toward him, she thought back to the conversation they’d had two nights ago. They’d gone to one of their favorite restaurants and had sat next to a young family. The couple looked to be around their age and they had two kids under the age of two. For the first time since Kaylee’s death, Abby felt something more than the loss of her baby when she saw the happy family. She’d laced her fingers with Trent’s across the table and asked him if he was ready to start trying for a little one of their own.

He responded by bringing her hand to his lips and placing a tender kiss on it. “We can start tonight, if you want.”

They didn’t, of course, because she was still on birth control, but they both agreed that she wouldn’t be refilling her prescription. She couldn’t wait to see Trent hold their baby in his arms. He’d be a wonderful father.

Trent reached for her as she drew near, not waiting for Max to place her hand in his.

“Impatient?” she asked.

Trent rubbed his thumb over her ring finger. “Very.”

The captain chuckled. “If you’re ready to begin . . .”

Everything else seemed to fade away as they said their vows and before she knew it, they were being pronounced husband and wife. He pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss that wasn’t entirely chaste. Laughter bubbled up from deep inside as they both came up for air. She couldn’t remember the last time she was so happy.

***

Trent stood near the dock. Abby had gone to find Max so she could say goodbye. They’d socialized with their friends and family for close to four hours as the boat cruised along the Ohio River, but he was ready to get her alone. They were spending the night at a hotel in Covington, and then catching a flight tomorrow morning for St. Thomas. He couldn’t wait.

Gage snuck up behind Trent and slapped a hand on his back. He turned to face his youngest brother, but found himself surrounded. Gage wasn’t alone. Chris and Paul were with him.

“You guys going to jump me or something?” Trent asked with a smirk.

“Not at all,” Gage said. “Just thought we could impart some brotherly advice before you head off on your honeymoon. You know, since we all have the marriage thing down pat.”

Trent laughed. “Oh really? Is that why I saw Rebecca giving you the stinkeye earlier?”

Gage shrugged, unfazed. “Foreplay, man. Foreplay.”

Paul rolled his eyes. “More than we needed to know.”

“Hey. What can I say? I know how to keep her satisfied.”

“Do you two need a time-out?” Chris asked with amusement.

Trent caught sight of Abby. “You’ll have to excuse me. I need to get my bride alone and away from you yahoos.”

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Gage shouted as Trent helped Abby off the boat and back onto dry land.

“
Is
there anything you won’t do?” Paul asked Gage.

Trent didn’t hear Gage’s response. He was too busy trying to get Abby to the parking lot and his truck.

“In a hurry?” she asked.

“The sooner we get to the hotel, the sooner we’re alone, so yes.”

It only took them ten minutes to get to the hotel, which in his way of thinking was still too long. He found a spot in the parking garage, and went to help her out of the vehicle. Luckily, he’d checked them in and dropped their bags off in their room before heading over to the boat. All they had to do was go to their suite.

Abby’s eyes lit up when she walked into their room. There was a nice-sized sitting area, a table big enough for four, and a view of the Cincinnati skyline.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, making her way over to the window. It was dusk and the city was starting to light up.

He strolled up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m glad you like it, but you haven’t even seen the bedroom yet.”

She laughed.

“What can I say, baby? I’m unable to resist you.” He placed a kiss on her neck.

Abby leaned into him. “Do you ever think how things might have been if you’d said something back in high school? I keep thinking that I’m so happy right now. What if I could have had that for the last fifteen years?”

He knew he could brush her question off, distract her, but he knew Abby. If he did that, she’d let it eat at her. “I don’t know. Maybe. We were young. Now we’ve grown up. We know what we want.” Trent turned her around to face him. “All I know is that I have you now and I don’t intend to ever let you go, Mrs. Daniels.”

She grinned. “I love the sound of that.”

“So do I.” Trent stepped back, taking hold of both her hands. “What do you say we do a little celebrating? I think maybe I need a little practice on the baby making. You know, just so we do it right when the time comes.”

“You don’t think we’ve had enough practice yet? We’ve been practicing a lot.” She followed him toward the bedroom, despite giving him sass.

“There’s no such thing as too much practice.”

“Oh, really?” she asked.

To prove his point, Trent bent down, tossed her over his shoulder, and marched toward the bedroom.