The Ashtons - Cole, Abigail & Megan

can’t believe you said that,” Mercedes said, laughing so hard, several people turned to see what was so humorous. “You are so bad.”
    “I know. But don’t you think it would have been interesting?”
    “Right up until the paramedics hauled her away, after she had a stroke.” Her laughter fading, Mercedes hugged Abby. “Thanks for being here with me. I wouldn’t have had the courage to do this without you.”
    Abby hugged her back. “I just wish Spencer had been here.”
    “Maybe another time,” Mercedes said, looking resigned.
    As she watched Russ and Craig cross the room, Abby hoped for all their sakes that there was a next time, and that Spencer came to his senses. Otherwise, all hell was going to break loose when Uncle Grant went to the press with the story of Spencer’s transgressions.
    Russ focused on Abby as he and Craig walked over to where she and Mercedes stood by the door of the reception hall. He couldn’t believe how well she’d handled the situation with Lilah and Megan Ashton. She hadn’t said much, but she’d clearly been the quiet strength that had allowed Mercedes to face the Dragon Lady and come out the winner.
    His chest swelled with an emotion he didn’t dare put a name to. Abby was amazing in so many ways. She could heal an animal’s wound with her gentle touch, dress up and circulate among the social elite like she was born to it, and she had more courage in her little finger than most people had in their whole damnedbody. Was it any wonder that he was close to falling for her?
    But as he thought of how special Abby was, he also thought of how little he had to offer her, and of how one day she’d get tired and move on to some guy who was more her equal. She was as comfortable in an evening dress as she was in jeans and boots, while he felt like a fish out of water when he had to get dressed up and hobnob with the social set. She’d graduated from veterinary school with honors, and in record time. He, on the other hand, was still enrolled in the school of hard knocks. What kind of a future could they possibly build together with differences like those?
    A sinking feeling chilled him all the way to his soul. If he hadn’t realized it before, he sure as hell had it figured out now. He had no other choice but to break things off between them before he got in any deeper. Otherwise, he didn’t think he’d be able to survive when the time came to let her go.
    “I don’t know why we have to leave now, Mercedes,” Craig complained. “We only arrived a half hour ago. I was in the process of making several useful contacts.”
    “I just don’t feel like staying any longer,” Mercedes answered.
    As they walked out onto the veranda and Russ handed the ticket for his truck to one of the parking attendants, he had an almost uncontrollable urge to planthis fist in Craig’s nose. Russ never had cared for the man and now he knew why. Besides his blond surfer-boy good looks and slick charm, there was very little to Craig Bradford. He had all the sensitivity, and about as much of the ambition of a damned garden slug.
    “Well, just because you’re ready to leave doesn’t mean that I am,” Craig said petulantly.
    Russ watched Mercedes rub her temples as she shook her head. “I’m not really up to arguing about this right now, Craig.”
    Having heard enough, Russ asked, “Will you excuse me and Craig for a minute?”
    Abby shot him a questioning look. “Sure.”
    “Come on, Craig,” Russ said, taking the man by the arm. “We have something we need to talk over.”
    Craig looked apprehensive. “Wh-what’s that, Gannon?”
    When he was certain the women couldn’t hear what he had to say, Russ lowered his voice to a menacing growl. “Shut the hell up about your damned contacts and think about someone besides yourself for a change. If you’d stuck around instead of going off to rub elbows with people who don’t give a rat’s ass about you or what you’re selling this week, you’d know that Mercedes just had a stressful encounter with Spencer Ashton’s wife. She doesn’t need to listen to your bitching, pal.”
    “I don’t need you telling me—”
    “Save it, Bradford,” Russ said tightly. “Just show a little compassion.”
    Before Craig could protest further, Russ walked back to where the women stood. To his satisfaction, Craig returned to Mercedes’ side and, although it wasn’t the most sensitive of gestures, reached out to take her hand in his. Maybe