Erin's Fancy

Chapter Fourteen

Erin wanted to sleep. She felt tired and slightly battered from their intense lovemaking, but was unable to stop thinking about the situation with Abel. It was impossible to imagine the shock and turmoil that he must be experiencing right now. Even she was shocked by the secrets his parents had kept. They had been such a normal family and such doting parents, it was beyond belief to think that they had kept the fact that Abel was adopted from him for all those years.

On one hand, she could understand them wanting to keep his adoption from him, considering it wasn’t a legal one. Indeed, it was more of a sale than an adoption. But on the other hand, Abel had the right to know that he had a not just a brother, but a twin.

Even as a child, Abel had seemed lost sometimes, as if he was looking for some part of himself. She even remembered one occasion when Abel had been playing with Nathan and Jackson, and he’d suddenly grabbed his back and yelled. Abel had fallen to the ground, rolling around and screaming in agony. Erin remembered the incident vividly because it had scared her to death. His parents had seemed worried, but when the doctor had reassured them that nothing was wrong, they had passed it off as psychosomatic. Now Erin wondered if it might have something to do with this unknown twin of his.

So many questions and no answers. Knowing she wouldn’t sleep, Erin carefully eased her body from Abel’s grasp. It wasn’t easy, as he seemed disinclined to let go of her. His arms started to pull her back so she quickly stuffed a pillow in his arms in her place. He frowned in his sleep, and she held her breath, fearing he might wake, but he moved around for a moment before settling back to sleep. When his breathing evened out again, she scooted from the bed.

Her body ached all over, but it was no wonder considering the wild sex they’d had. Sensing that Abel had needed the physical release in order to cope with the mental turmoil within him, she was just glad that she’d been able to give him some peace from his torment. Looking down on him, she fought the urge to crawl right back in bed with him.

Plucking up her bra from where it was hanging off the corner of the bed, she went in search for the rest of her clothing. She shook her head in disbelief as she picked up her shorts and panties on the stair landing and her shirt almost at the bottom. Shaking the wrinkles out of her shirt, she draped it over her shoulder and went back upstairs to take a quick bath. The hot water would ease her sore muscles and give her time to think. There had to be some way she could help Abel find his brother, even if it was only moral support.

All while she soaked in the hot tub of water, and even now when she was fully dressed and back in the kitchen, Erin’s mind remained on Abel. She knew that finding his brother meant that he would be leaving once again. The thought almost brought her to her knees with despair, but her love for him was bigger than that.

Right now, he would need to find this unknown brother and reconcile his parents’ behavior in his own mind. She loved him enough not only to support him while he did this, but also to let him go in order to do it. That’s what real love was all about. Erin could only hope that when he was through with his quest that he might find his way back home to her.

Erin started a pot of coffee and then rummaged through the cupboards for something to eat. She was starving and knew that Abel would be too when he finally woke up. A foray into the fridge uncovered a variety of cold cuts, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. Humming while she worked, she made a large stack of sandwiches, putting some on a plate for herself and wrapping up the rest for Abel for later. Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she pulled out a chair at the table and devoured one sandwich.

The documents on the table taunted her as she ate, so when she started to nibble on her second sandwich, she pulled them over in front of her. Wiping her hands in her shorts, she took her time and studied each one carefully. It was all laid out in black and white. The stark reality of his so called adoption and the fact that he was one of a twin. Even though she was reading it, Erin could still hardly believe it was the truth.

The clock measured the passage of time as the morning disappeared. Erin was engrossed in the diary that Abel’s mother had left. There was no doubting the love she had for her son, but there was also the underlying fear that Abel would find out someday and hate her for what they had done. Sighing, she closed the book and set it aside. There really was no new information to be gained from reading anymore. The hospital in Illinois was the key to finding the Benjamin family. They would have records of the birth of the twin boys.

“Did you find anything useful?” Erin turned in her chair, glancing guiltily at the journal she’d just finished. She knew she didn’t really have the right to read it, except that she loved Abel.

Tilting her chin defiantly, she met his gaze. “No. The key is obviously the hospital records, but you already knew that.”

“Yeah.” He sauntered across the kitchen, his bare feet making no sound on the hardwood floor. “I missed you.” Bending down, he kissed the top of her head.

Erin closed her eyes and sighed in relief. He didn’t seem mad at her that she’d read his private documents. She felt slightly bereft when he moved away and headed to the counter.

“I could use a cup of coffee.” Pulling down a mug, he poured himself some of the bitter brew. Leaning against the counter, he sipped it slowly.

He hadn’t bothered to get fully dressed and had just pulled on his jeans. They were zipped but they weren’t buttoned and Erin could see the dark line of hair disappearing down into his jeans. She didn’t think he was wearing any underwear, but she couldn’t tell for sure. Just the thought was enough to make her skin flush.

Jumping out of her seat, she hurried to the refrigerator. “I made sandwiches.” Grabbing out the plate, she laid it on the table and unwrapped it.

“Thanks. I’m starved.” Carrying his coffee to the table, he pulled out the chair next to her, and sat down. Hauling the plate over in front of him, he wolfed down two sandwiches before he stopped to take another mouthful of coffee.

“I already sent out a request to the administrator of the hospital.” Abel turned the coffee mug in his hands, absently watching the remaining coffee swirl about.

Erin swallowed hard. “Already?” She knew that Abel would investigate quickly, but she’d thought she’d have a little more time.

“Yeah. I didn’t want to talk myself out of it or waste any more time. I implied that I might implicate them in an illegal adoption case if they didn’t give me the information.”

“No hospital wants that kind of publicity.” Erin knew that Abel would have answers sooner than later. She just hoped he was ready for the answers he got.

Abel was a massive man with great strength, but his physical prowess was no help to him now. His mind was his greatest asset, and he used it like the well-honed machine that it was. Erin had no doubts that he would have found his brother within a matter of days. He had always been a self-contained loner, dealing with the world on his own. But sitting there at the table with his hands clenched around his coffee mug and the furrow of worry between his brow, he needed her strength right now. She could offer him her moral support and also her body for him to lose his worries in. Both were given freely.

Scooting back her chair, she came around the table and stood next to him. He pulled her into his lap, as she’d known he would. Taking advantage of the situation, she wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and gave him a hug. “How about you check your e-mail and then come on over to the house for the rest of the day?” When he looked uncertain, she brought out the big guns. “I’ll make you an apple pie and cook you supper. It will give you an opportunity to tell Jackson and Nathan if you want to. Nathan might be able to give you some help if you need it.”

Abel hesitated for a second before nodding slowly. “Okay. Supper is good, but I’ve got to think about what I want to tell your brothers.”

“Fair enough.” She slipped from his lap and held out her hand. “Let’s check your mail and then you can come help me out in the fields for an hour or so before we head over to my place for supper.”

“I have to work for my supper, is that it?” His smile was halfhearted, but Erin was more than glad to see it.

“That’s right, buster.” Placing her hands on her hips she gave him a mock scowl.

Slinging his arm around her shoulder, he guided her towards the office. “You drive a hard bargain, but I’m up to the challenge.”

Erin leaned into him and stayed by his side as he turned on his computer. Holding her breath, she watched as his mail came in.

Looking up from the counter where she was placing the finishing touches on a large pan of lasagna, Erin watched Abel. He seemed engrossed in his conversation with Jackson and Nathan as he told them about his being adopted. She noticed that he gave them the basic facts only and kept most of the details quiet.

Both her brothers had been surprised to see Abel at the house when they got home from work, but both were quick with support when they discovered what had happened. Both had listened intently and Nathan had promised to do whatever he could to help. Jackson had been his usual solid self, offering Abel his support in whatever way he could. That had come as no surprise to Erin, but she was still pleased by her brothers’ offers of help.

Nathan had been quieter than usual and had causally mentioned that Carly was coming over for dessert. Usually Erin wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but she hadn’t talked to her friend in almost two days now. Something was definitely up, but she figured she’d find out what it was soon enough.

For now, all her attention was focused entirely on Abel. She longed to be able to walk up behind him and slip her arms around his neck and kiss him. Keeping their relationship a secret was beginning to wear on her nerves more than she’d thought it would. She had to satisfy herself with short glances every time her brothers were looking in another direction.

By the time they finished eating supper, Erin’s patience was near the breaking point. She could tell that talking about his adoption had been hard on him, and all she wanted to do was sit on his lap and wipe the look of frustration and anger from his face. Sex was exactly what he needed. Mind-blowing, hot, sweaty sex. That would certainly take his mind off his troubles and put him in a better frame of mind.

As she cleared away the dishes and poured the coffee, she plotted how she planned to sneak out of the house tonight. No way was she going to let Abel be alone right now. A bang on the door startled her, and she jerked her hand, spilling some of the coffee from the pot.

“Damn,” she swore as she replaced the pot and began mopping up the coffee spill.

Abel jumped from the table and hurried over to the counter while Nathan went to answer the back door. “Did you burn yourself?” He cradled her hand in his and bent his head over it, checking for redness.

“No.” Her voice caught on a sob as she lied. The coffee had missed her, but she had indeed been burned by their relationship. Scorched was more like it, and her heart would be left in ember when he left her. “I’m fine,” she croaked.

“Are you sure?” His eyes were soft with concern, but when he looked at her the passion flared and sizzled between them. Erin felt the moisture pool between her legs as her body made her well aware how much she wanted him.

“Hi everyone.” Carly’s cheerful voice broke the spell. Giving herself a mental shake, Erin carried filled coffee cups to the table and handed them to Carly and Nathan. Abel followed quietly behind her, carrying two more.

“Hey,” Erin said as she returned to the counter to slice the apple pie. She could hear everyone talking behind her, but she wasn’t really listening to the conversation. It was taking all her concentration to make her heart stop pounding. Right now, all she could think about was grabbing Abel by the hand and dragging him off to the nearest bedroom where they could be alone.

Erin served up huge slabs of pie and gave everyone a piece before returning to sit at the table. She sipped her own coffee and tried to catch Carly’s attention with her eyes, but the other woman was openly staring at Nathan. The look in her friend’s eye was one she recognized only because she’d seen it so often lately on her own every time she happened to glance in a mirror. Carly was obviously lusting after Nathan. And why not? They were both young and healthy.

Nathan surprised everyone when he plucked Carly right out of her chair, plunked her in his lap, and proceeded to kiss her soundly in front of them all. Like a man who had discovered water in the desert, he drank from her mouth. Erin couldn’t take her eyes off of them. Any minute now, she expected to see smoke coming out of their ears. She fanned her face with her hand, feeling slightly jealous of their obvious passion for one another. Then she felt mean and petty for begrudging them their obvious happiness.

“Enough.” Jackson’s roar made them all jump. “Just what in the hell is going on?” Resting his large hands on the table, he glared at his younger brother who ignored him. “For God’s sake, Nathan, show a little respect for the woman.” Jackson shook his head, obviously exasperated with his brother.

Nathan took his time, planting one last kiss on Carly before easing away from her. Carly had a dreamy look on her face and snuggled contentedly in his arms. Grinning like a fool, he wrapped his arms tighter around the woman in his arms before making his announcement. “Carly has agreed to marry me.”

“What!” Erin jumped out of her seat. “When? How? I mean, I didn’t think you guys had even had a date.” She was totally confused.

“It happened Wednesday night.” Nathan stared pointedly at her as he spoke, and Erin sank back into her seat again.

She fought the temptation to bury her face in her hands and hide. Nathan knew that she hadn’t been at Carly’s that night. She risked a quick look at Abel and noted that his jaw was clenched tight. Oh lord, it was obvious to her that Nathan had already talked to Abel about it. Why hadn’t he mentioned anything about it to her? She scowled at Abel, letting him see her displeasure, and not caring who saw.

“Congratulations.” Jackson reached across the table and offered his hand to his brother. “I’ll kiss the bride-to-be later,” he teased.

“Over my dead body,” Nathan retorted.

“Erin?” Carly’s soft questioning voice brought her back around. Her friend was giving her a pleading look from across the table, and Erin realized that she was frowning.

The reality of the moment washed over her. Her brother was marrying her very best friend. Squealing, she jumped from her chair and raced around the table, plucking Carly out of Nathan’s lap.

“Hey!” he protested. Both women ignored him. They were much too busy jumping up and down and hugging each other.

“This is fantastic.” Erin swiped at the tears in her eyes and laughed as her friend did the same.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.” Carly wiped her face with the back of her hand and laughed when Nathan hauled her back into his lap and dried her cheeks with the tail of his shirt.

“Congratulations to you both.” Abel offered up his own best wishes and then sat back and allowed the conversation to flow around him.

Erin was torn. She was so happy about Carly and Nathan’s news, but right now it was hard to enjoy it, knowing just what was on Abel’s mind at the moment. The evening passed quickly and, before long, Nathan was excusing himself and Carly. When he announced his plans to follow her home in his truck, Erin knew that her brother was gone for the night.

All the better for her. Nathan was the one with the good ears and would be sure to hear her when she tried to sneak out of the house to be with Abel. Not that she cared about being caught any longer. He certainly couldn’t say anything about where she was spending her nights considering where he was spending his.

Abel left soon after, but she didn’t get a chance to tell him she would be over later. Jackson had taken it upon himself to walk Abel out so that they could have a chance to talk to one another. She heard Abel’s truck pulling away about twenty minutes later. Sighing, she finished cleaning up the kitchen and headed upstairs. Jackson wouldn’t settle down for hours yet. It was going to be a long night.