Choosing the Right Man - Nice Girl to Love, Vol 3 (Can't Resist #3)

Choosing the Right Man - Nice Girl to Love, Vol 3 (Can't Resist #3)

Violet Duke



DEDICATION


To all my readers. You are just the best fans an author could ask for.





CHAPTER ONE


“CONNOR.”

Abby wasn’t sure if she’d actually said his name out loud, or if he was even standing there, really. But when a few quick blinks confirmed the latter, she repeated the former. Just in case.

“God, I’ve missed hearing you say my name in that sexy voice of yours.”

What was it with the Sullivan brothers and her voice?

She took a wary step back when he entered her office fully. “Why are you—” The rest of her words got wedged in her throat. Because he’d finally lowered that gigantic flower arrangement he was holding so she could see him now, closer than he’d been to her in months. Close enough for the full impact of his presence to hit her like a wrecking ball. Close enough for her to see his ice blue gaze darken, lock on her eyes, then dip down to her lips.

And linger. As if he just couldn’t help himself.

She’d never felt so thoroughly kissed from a single glance before.

“You defended your dissertation today,” he replied to her unfinished question. “I’ve...been having my mom keep tabs on you for me.”

He has? Well that would explain all the probing, borderline invasive discussions Helen had pulled her into over the past few months.

His eyes crinkled at the corners. “So how does it feel to be Dr. Bartlett now?” He sounded so affectionately proud, his voice just as heart-grabbingly rough and intense as she remembered. And fight it though she did, Abby found herself being transported back six months. As if he’d never left.

As if things had never ended between them.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Abby’s heart dropped down into her stomach. Guilt speared through her as she looked over Connor’s shoulder at Brian standing in the doorway looking equally angered, betrayed, and…hurt.

“This is what you do after I bare my soul to you?” growled Brian, blasting the full force of his anger over at Connor, while leaving just the raw pain for the brief look he cast Abby’s way.

Connor frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“You told me to call you when…” Brian’s eyes flickered in Abby’s direction before returning to glare back at Connor. “I couldn’t get a hold of you so I left you a voicemail.”

With another confused frown, Connor reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone. Or rather, what looked exactly like his phone, only with a small Rosie the Riveter decal on the back proudly exclaiming ‘We Can Do It!’ in all its iconic glory.

“Shit, I grabbed the wrong phone again this morning.”

An explosion of jealousy hit Abby like a sucker punch to the gut.

This time it was Brian that looked baffled, and more than a touch indignant. “You’re walking around with another woman’s phone in your pocket and you’re here giving Abby flowers? What are you, into harems now? Isn’t one woman ever going to be enough for you?”

Connor went as still as a statue, tension vibrating off of him in waves. His jaw clenched and unclenched before he replied through his teeth, “I’m not here to ruin Abby’s day.” He stepped up to Brian and ground out in a dangerously low murmur, “You and I, we’re going to have a serious talk later.” Turning back to Abby he added gently, “Us too.” His expression shuttered then, closed off a bit defensively. “…If you want to, that is.”

Honestly, Abby had no idea what she wanted right now. So she just nodded mutely.

All the while, she kept her eyes on Brian, willing him to look at her. And that’s when she saw it. A flash of white in the box he was holding. Peering down, a small gasp escaped her when she finally got a good look at the box Brian was holding.

Or rather, at the beautiful white egret orchid plant sitting inside.

It was like looking at a page straight out of her most cherished memories.

She felt more than saw Connor leaving, felt more than heard him whisper softly from the door, “Brian was always better with the gift-giving than I ever was.”

She watched him look from the massive array of flowers he’d brought, now sitting on her desk, to the delicate potted orchid Abby was already reaching for reverently. “Congratulations again, Abby,” he said in a voice stripped raw and almost palpable in its quiet envy. “I’ll call you tomorrow some time.”

Then he left.

And for one brief moment following, Abby was sure a tiny piece of her heart went with him.

Never had she seen him look or sound so vulnerable before.

It wasn’t until she felt a strong hand on her shoulder that she realized she was still staring at the closed door. Swiping her palms over her eyes, she plastered an overbright smile on her face. “And here I thought you were the dramatic Sullivan.”

A sympathetic light filtered into his gaze. “Are you okay?”

All the feral coarseness in his voice from the last few minutes had vanished. He was back to being the Brian she knew and loved. Perfect, protective Brian—her rock, her anchor.

The only one who could undo that turbulent feeling of free-falling she always got around Connor.

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