A half hour later, she came back into the room. He noticed that she’d changed her clothes and the scent in the air spoke of a shower and shampoo. She gave him an unfathomable look as she checked his arm. “Does it feel better?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

“Good.” She leaned down and kissed him. In the same motion her arms slid around his middle and he felt her nails dig lightly into his back. Before he realized it, Stone felt himself kiss her in return. Abby’s lips tasted sweet.

Stone felt his hand slide to her back and squeeze but then he pulled back.

“Abby, I don’t think—”

She put a hand against his mouth. “That’s right. You don’t have to think at all. Come on.”

Abby took his hand and led him up the stairs to her bedroom. She closed the door and motioned for him to sit on the bed. She stood in front of him and undressed.

She was fit and fleshy in all the right places and Stone felt a small gasp jump from his throat as he took all of her in. He noted that she had a small tattoo of a cross near her left hip bone. She pressed against him, her warm breasts pushed flat against his own hard chest; her hands began massaging his shoulders and back even as she made soft moaning sounds in his ear. She nimbly worked his pants off. A minute later he lay down beside her on the bed.

Later, they lay back, side to side, her hand clasping his arm, lightly rubbing the hairs.

“I haven’t been with anyone since Sam died.” She rolled over on her stomach, her arms supporting her chin. “Not once.”

“There must’ve been opportunities, Abby. You’re . . . beautiful.”

She kissed him on the cheek and smiled. “Opportunities, yes, desire on my part, no.”

“Not even Tyree?”

“It’s not like that with us. We’ve known each other since we were little kids. Went on exactly one date in high school and we didn’t really click. I think he might want more now. He never married, but I don’t feel the same way.”

“It’s been a long time for me too. A long time.” He wondered if Claire would have disapproved of what he had just done. After decades of loneliness for him, perhaps she would have understood.

“Opportunities or desire lacking?”

“Both.”

He rolled over on his side and rubbed her back. She stretched and smiled and Stone smiled back as he watched her do this. The braids in her hair had come out and several tresses dangled in her eyes. He carefully moved one away, revealing a green pupil looking at him.

“You ever think about leaving Divine?” he said.

“All the time.”

“Why’d you never do it?”