Love Me: The Complete Series Read Free Page A

gone.
    Badeep deep.
    Abby’s phone signaled a text message from the depths of her purse, lodged under the sales area. She reached behind the ornate filigreed wood of the counter and pulled the phone up to view the message.
    She broke up, idiot. Tickets shit idea.
    “What is it?” Caroline asked.
    Abby shook her head. “Someone apparently has the wrong number.” She held up the screen for her to read.
    “So, it’s a text message, not that Justchat app? Jesus, Abby, you need to cut back on the social media.”
    “I know, I know. Yes, it’s a text message.”
    Caroline squinted at the display. “Oh! Poor guy. He should have bought her flowers.”
    Abby grinned. “Yeah, flowers from us. Wait! He still could.”
    Caroline flipped a light switch near the door. “Do you even know who that is?”
    “No, but judging by the area code, he’s local.” She held the phone up and tapped in a message.
    Sorry. U should have bought flowers.
    She hovered a finger over the send button, hesitant to deceive the poor guy.
    Caroline pressed a finger over hers and the message was gone, sent over the airwaves to a poor schmuck that needed to make good with his girl.
    Badeep deep .
    Right. What w
as I thinking
? Listened to u, so obviously I wasn’t. Guess I’m still a little chapped about the work thing.
    Caroline peered over Abby’s shoulder then yanked the phone away and tapped in a response before handing it back.
    Har Har. Still could. New flower shop on main by PD
    Abby punched Caroline on the arm and grabbed her purse. “You’re shameless.” She dropped the phone into it and pushed Caroline toward the door. “Let’s get out of here. We’ve got a big day ahead tomorrow, and I really need a shower.”
    Caroline pinched her nose. “You
are
a little ripe. Have you told your family about the store opening? Are they coming?”
    “I sent them one of the flyers we mailed out. They know, but they don’t usually have time for these shindigs.”
    Abby had managed to hide the disappointment all day, but if they stayed much longer, she was sure to break down. The pain in her leg from her encounter with Ruckus served to muffle the more intense pain in her ego. None of her family had called with well wishes. Not one out of the six. Her new business—her new world—meant nothing to them. They were probably all still mad at her for quitting.
    Her purse beeped several times on the drive home, but she ignored it. She should stop pretending with this guy. It was cruel. Whoever he thought she was, she needed to set him straight when she got out of the car.
    But there were three more messages. Reading through them, her stomach clenched.
    First message:
    What’s a PD?
    Second message:
    U have to go to games with me. She probably hated Astros. Should have seen it coming.
    Third message:
    The real pisser. I made reservs at 8 for Sotby’s. U know how hard to get? Screw her, I’m going. Wanna go?
    Uh-oh. Now what? Abby wiped her thumb across the screen, as if to clear the message, or perhaps clarify it. Should she answer? He was going to expect someone to show up. It would be unconscionable not to set the poor guy straight. He’d sit there alone at that nice, expensive restaurant, the restaurant she’d never been to and probably never would because she couldn’t afford it.
She
had no boyfriend to buy her tickets and take her there.
    She’d regret her next step … but she took it anyway.
    PD = Police Department. Sure. Meet you there.
    She had lost her mind.

Chapter Three
    “Now what?” Carter growled as his phone started ringing. He glanced at the display on his new phone and cursed himself for not backing up his contacts the past several months. Not only was he now
sans girlfriend
but he had lost every phone number he’d accumulated. Business
and
personal. He’d managed to copy the numbers for Jackson and a few others from his buddy Roger while at the office, but the number displayed matched none of those. “Thanks, Amanda.”
    He