“She’s afraid of a lot of things, Abby, but mainly, I think she’s afraid of getting hurt. She told us that if she were ever going to let someone in her life, it would be you. Only I don’t think she can bring herself to admit that you’d already gotten inside. She thinks she’s still in control.”

Abby smiled at that but said nothing.

“I told her to call you. She said you were out of her league. The attorney. Now a doctor.” Addison looked at her pointedly. “I hope you’re not seeing someone now. I guess that should have been my first question when I got here.”

Abby shook her head. “No. I’ve been out with Kate a couple of times, but no, there’s nothing there. In fact, I found myself comparing her to Nic and…”

“Why don’t you call her? Please?”

“I don’t know, Addison. I don’t know if she’d be receptive to it. She thinks she’s damaged and has nothing to offer. Her words, not mine.”

“Yes, damaged and she has baggage and all that,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Yes, she said those very words to me too. That’s why I thought it was time to intervene.” Addison smiled at her. “What are you doing Saturday night?”

Abby’s eyebrows shot up. “Umm, I don’t have any plans.”

“Good. Because she’s going out to the bar. Outlaws. It would be such a coincidence if you ran into her there, wouldn’t it?”

Abby smiled at her. “Yes. Yes, it would.”

Chapter Forty-three

Nic almost turned around and left. Almost. A part of her wanted so badly to get Abby out of her mind—and sleeping with a stranger would hopefully do that. But another part wanted no such thing. She didn’t want Abby gone. She held on to those precious moments, reliving them one at a time—each touch, each kiss, each look. She didn’t know how or when, but Abby had gotten inside her heart. Hell, she’d gotten inside without even trying. She’d knocked down walls and climbed right over them as if they’d never been there.

So, she didn’t want her gone. She’d become a friend—or at least her memory had. She remembered bits of conversation and it made her smile. She remembered the secret looks that they shared whenever Holly said something ridiculous, and she smiled even more. She remembered laughing with her as they’d tumbled down the slope, the newly fallen snow nearly swallowing them. All memories that remained fresh in her mind, not fading in the least.