Justice For Abby Read Online Free Page A

Year, by the way.”
    “Happy New Year.” He gave her a rare wink.
    She smiled, treasuring the small gesture. Jerrod was friendly and kind but a constant professional. They’d lived together for months, yet she’d never seen him fully relaxed. Sipping her drink, she studied his strong jaw and firm lips complementing a spectacular face, eyeing him as he watched her.
    “So, that guy, Darren, he’s pretty harmless. He does PI work for Ethan.”
    Jerrod had seen her shove the PI away. Great. She wrinkled her nose, barely suppressing the need to close her eyes in humiliation. Jerrod had seen her at her worst, but every display of her inner turmoil was a step in the wrong direction. “He surprised me, that’s all.”
    He nodded. “Just thought I’d let you know.”
    She sipped again and looked down. “Thanks.”
    “So,” he reversed his arms, still resting against his chest, “have you changed our plans for tomorrow yet, or are you going surprise me at the last minute like usual?”
    She grinned. “You can relax, big guy. No changes. I’m working from home until two, just like we planned. You can lay around in your boxers and watch football.” Not that he would. He would appear from his room clean-shaven and properly dressed in slacks or jeans as he did everyday. In the five months they’d shared her downtown condo, she’d never seen him any other way—except for the rare occasion he wore gym shorts and a t-shirt to the breakfast table. “Is there something else you need to do?”
    “Nothing that can’t wait.”
    Relaxed again, she rested against the railing, her arm brushing his.
    “Are you ready to head home?”
    “Yeah. I need to say goodbye to Lex and Sarah, who didn’t drink a drop of champagne tonight, in case you didn’t notice.” She wiggled her brows.
    “I can’t say I did.”
    She raised her brow at him. Jerrod had eyes like a hawk. He saw everything, watched constantly. She pushed herself closer to the man who easily had six inches on her short frame, even when she was in heels, absorbing the warmth of his body, staring into his eyes. “I think Sarah’s pregnant.”
    He blinked, unfazed. “Cool.”
    She sighed. “Do you ever gossip, speculate, have any fun?”
    He shrugged. “I guess it depends on what your definition of ‘fun’ is. Wondering about things that are none of my business doesn’t top my list.”
    A bouncy pop song played through the outdoor speakers. “What about dancing? Is dancing fun?” She wiggled her shoulders and hips in time with the catchy beat, enjoying herself immensely as she pulled him away from the railing. Teasing Mr. Serious was definitely fun.
    He stood still. “Abigail, you know I don’t dance. And I’m on duty.”
    “Uh oh, he’s breaking out the ‘formal.’” She raised his hand above her head and spun. “Why do I always feel like I’m in trouble when you call me Abigail?” She continued her dance, grinning when he did. “Loosen up. We’re at a party.”
    “ You’re at a party. I’m working.”
    She shimmied to the left of his solid chest, then to the right. “We’re at Fort Cooke. I don’t see any evildoers scaling the cliffs.” She moved in and bumped her hip to his, looking up into his pretty baby blues, batting her lashes and was rewarded with a chuckle. “Oh. Oh. There it is.” She poked him dead center in his firm stomach. “You make me work too hard for those.” She tugged on his hand. “Come on, bodyguard. Let’s go home.”
     
    ~~~~
     
    “Abby.”
    She opened her eyes as Jerrod’s voice penetrated her foggy brain. “Hmm?”
    “We’re here.”
    She glanced toward the bluish glow on the dashboard, surprised Jerrod was turning into the entrance of the underground garage. “It’s already two?”
    “We made good time. Traffic wasn’t bad.”
    She sat up in her seat, fixing the cashmere wrap around her shoulders. “I didn’t realize I fell asleep.”
    “You were out before we made it to the