“I told you,” he grinned, swaying his hips and rubbing his already full-blown erection against her. “She told me to use protection.”

“Not about that,” she laughed then closed her eyes, the mortification inundating her again. “I cannot believe you did that.” She opened her eyes, loving the way he was looking at her in that profound way he did so often. “I meant about us being together.”

“I love the way that sounds,” he said, kissing her softly. “She’s already making plans to have you over for dinner. And,” he looked at her a little apprehensively, suddenly finally letting her hands loose. He rolled off lying next to her instead but picked up her hand and brought it to his mouth kissing it. “I was gonna talk to you about something once we were back home, but as long as we’re on the subject of my mom, I figure now’s as good a time as any.”

Nellie stared at him curiously, her eyes going from his intense eyes to his lips on her hand. “I promised my mom after all this was over I’d either take her on a cruise of the Mexican Riviera or I’d send her on one with my aunt—her sister who’s also widowed and alone. But I was thinking, since things have changed now, any vacation I take you’re coming with me.”

Nellie smiled, and the reality of this was finally starting to sink in. This incredible man was hers now—it was almost impossible to wrap her head around that.

“So I wanted to ask you. Would you be willing to do a cruise with my mom? Hector and Charlee would be there too. Or,” he said quickly, as if she would really protest, “I could send her on one with my aunt by themselves, and we could go on one alone if you prefer. It doesn’t even have to be the Mexican Riviera or even a cruise. That’s just what she wanted to do.”

Nellie smiled, taken by the adorable way he stared at her now as if he were worried that he’d just freaked her out or something. “I wouldn’t mind your family there as long as you behave and don’t say anything like you just did on the phone to embarrass me.”

“Oh,” he shook his head immediately, “I could never promise you that. Are you kidding me? That’s gonna be the best part about having you around my mom.”

Her mouth fell open again, but she smiled at him hopefully. “You better be kidding!”

“No way!” He said, pulling her into an embrace and kissing her playfully. “This is gonna be a blast. Hector’s been having all the fun, embarrassing sweet little Charlee, whose face goes bright red every time. It’s my turn now.”

Nellie’s eyes went wide, remembering some of the stories Charlee had shared with them. The way Charlee told it, the stories always came across as Hector trying to razz his mom. She never thought of how embarrassing it would be to be on the other end.

Before she could begin to protest, Abel’s tongue was doing that wonderful thing it always did to her neck, making her quiver all over. As he moved his mouth up onto hers and his tongue dove into her mouth, Nellie decided that they could discuss his behavior around his mom later. Feeling how ready he was pressed firmly against her, she was already gasping in anticipation.

***

“All right,” Abel said, slipping on his dark shades on. “Show time. My entourage awaits me downstairs.”

Pulling his gym bag over his shoulder and slipping his wallet in his back pocket, he opened his arms, welcoming Nellie into them. “You nervous?” she asked, slipping her arms around his hard body and resting her face against his chest.

“Umm,” he squeezed her. “Not yet. But I’m sure as the time gets closer I’ll get there. That’s why I need you there, baby. Try to get there early.” He stopped and frowned. “You sure you won’t reconsider just coming with me now? I’d hate to think of you having another attack and—”

“Stop,” she said, kissing him softly. “I’ll be fine.” His needing her like he said warmed her insides, chasing away some of the anxiety she’d begun to feel again over the texts she’d read that morning. She looked up at him with a reassuring smile. “I’ll be out of here in less than hour. I promise.”

He kissed her softly at first then a little deeper, backing her up slowly against the wall. The deeper and more passionately he kissed her, the sooner she’d be moaning, which would lead to other things. As much as she felt as though she could kiss him forever, she knew she needed to stop this. The last thing he needed was to exert himself just hours before his big fight. That’s exactly where this felt like it was headed, so she pulled away breathlessly. “You need to go,” she smiled, chewing her bottom lip.

Groaning, he leaned into her, and she felt the proof of what she’d been afraid this might lead to against her upper thigh. Burying his face in her neck, he kissed it softly. “I can’t believe I waited so long to tell you.” Inhaling deeply, he kissed her neck again. “I love you, Nellie.”

Feeling her heart swell, she smiled big, almost choking up. “I love you, too, Abel.”

He pulled away to look at her. “Don’t be long.”

“I won’t,” she promised again with what felt like a lovesick smile.

As soon as he was out the door, she hurried to her phone, her heart already pounding. Before hitting the voicemail button, she wondered whether it would be better to listen to it or to turn on the television and see for herself what Emily was talking about. With her stomach suddenly taking a dive, she wondered what would be worse?