Beautiful Abyss (California Dreamers #3) Read Free Page A

from my lungs.
    “I have some work to do in the back,” she tells me. But she makes no move to leave.
    “I just thought since you like plants that maybe we could go for a walk in the park.”
    “My aunt and uncle own this place and they gave me a job. I don’t have any sort of affinity for plants.”
    I’m not sure what affinity means, but it sounds like she cares about plants as much as I do, which isn’t that much at all.
    “Plus I don’t know really know you, so I’m a little hesitant to go to the park.”
    “I never thought about that.” I hope she doesn’t think I’m some kind of mugger or rapist who wants to get her alone in the woods. Suggesting the park was another stupid idea. Too bad they don’t give prizes for saying stupid things. I’d take first place every day of my life. “Sorry.”
    She shrugs. “It’s okay.”
    I don’t want to blow my chances with her, but I’m not sure what else to say.
    “Do you want to go out for a snow cone?” I ask. I know there’s a vendor down the block who sells them for two bucks. It’s my last shot, so I throw it out there.
    “That’s unusual,” she says. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a snow cone before. And I’ve definitely never been invited to have one.”
    “They’re good,” I assure her.
    When she bites her bottom lip, I think about kissing her. And that starts some action downstairs that I wasn’t expecting.
    I push my hands deep into my pockets so hopefully it’s not too obvious that I’m getting hard.
    “I’ve really got to get back to what I was doing.” She points to the door behind her.
    “You must get a lunch hour,” I say trying not to sound as desperate as I feel.
    She smiles. “I don’t think I want a snow cone for lunch.”
    I glance down at my phone. It’s only eleven. I have plenty of time to go back to the condo and borrow money from Roscoe to take her on a real date. I know he wouldn’t mind.
    “I could take you out for Chinese food. There’s a place right around the corner…”
    “China Moon,” we both say at the same time. “I love that place.”
    “Then it settled,” I tell her. “We both love it. We have to go.”
    She scrunches up her cute little nose as if she’s giving the suggestion some thought. “I don’t date.”
    “Why not?” Abby is young and gorgeous. She probably has lots of guys asking her out. Why wouldn’t she go out with them?
    She gulps. “I can’t.”
    That seems like an odd thing to say. I don’t think it’s a religious thing. She’s wearing short shorts and a pretty tight top. From what I’ve seen most of the religious girls keep a lot more hidden. 
    Of course now that her shorts and top have my attention I can’t seem to keep my eyes off her lovely little curves.
    Then it occurs to me that maybe it’s just her way of telling me that she just doesn’t want to go out with me.
    I have to know the truth, even if it hurts. It’s supposed to be like ripping off a bandage, right? Just get it over with as fast as possible.
    “Do you not date at all, or do you just not want to date me?”
    “It’s not you,” she says quickly. It should be a relief, but there’s still so much hesitancy in her eyes. There’s definitely something else going on. Something she’s not telling me.
    “Then what is it?” I search her face looking for clues.
    She presses her lips together. “I’ve actually been hoping I’d see you again. I noticed you walking by one day a few weeks ago. I was watering some plants outside.”
    That’s the same day I first saw her. From the moment I laid eyes on her I had a feeling my life would never be the same again.
    “Go out with me,” I press. “I’d really like to get to know you better.”
    She glances behind her at the door then turns back to me. “I don’t know if I can. I’ll have to ask my aunt.”
    That seems like such a strange thing to say. Does she have to ask for permission to go out for lunch?
    “I have to take care of a few