Free Tainted Love by Cate Lockhart

hair, glasses and a slight paunch. They don’t imagine an accountant as the centerfold of GQ magazine.
    Even so, Abbi had never given Ben any reason to not trust her. Even when they had their little break ups here and there before they were engaged, she had never got serious with anyone else. Not even close. It had just always seemed like her and Ben were going to be together. That was certainly what her parents had wanted. Somehow, it had just become expected that she and Ben would eventually get married by everyone, herself included.
    ‘How about you?’ she asked. She was dying to know the background story on Taylor. No not wanted, needed! She prayed he was going to say he had a girlfriend who he was planning on marrying, better yet, that he was gay!
    ‘Me? Nothing to tell. I was engaged a few years back for about six months. She got cold feet, and called it off. I guess I just haven’t wanted to put myself back out there after that.’
    She called it off? Was she insane! ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
    ‘Well, it’s all water under the bridge now, but thanks all the same. Honestly, I appreciate her telling me she was a lesbian before we got married.’
    ‘A lesbian!’
    ‘Yeah I was shocked myself. You’d never have known. That’s the problem, you never know what anyone’s really thinking, do you.’ He took a step towards her, closing the gap between them until he was inches away from her.
    ‘No. No I suppose you don’t,’ she stammered.
    ‘I mean if I was to ask you what you were thinking about right now what would you say?’
    The sweet scent of his aftershave filled her senses, making her feel delirious. That I want you more than I’ve wanted any man before. That I’m desperate to feel you inside me! Abbi could feel the heat rise to her cheeks. They felt as if they were on fire. She took a step back and lowered her gaze. She didn’t dare make eye contact with him. As soon as he saw the look in her eyes the game would be over. Taylor would know everything. That was something she wasn’t about to let happen. When she spoke her voice quivered. ‘That, I um…have a lot of work to be getting on with.’
    He reached out and gently stroked her cheek. ‘Are you sure that’s all?’
    ‘Taylor…’
    The front door chimed and Abbi’s head snapped up as she pushed Taylor’s hand away. She sighed a breath of relief it wasn’t Ben but a regular customer.
    ‘I’ll be with you in a minute,’ she said to the elderly gentleman who nodded his head in acknowledgment.
    ‘I really do have to get on Taylor.’ Abbi dug in deep to find the professional in her. ‘Thank you for lunch and updating me with your findings.’ She stepped around him without making eye contact. She still didn’t have the strength to do that yet.
    Suddenly Taylor caught her by the arm and turned her around to face him. No longer able to hide from his gaze she raised her head to look at him.
    ‘This is just the beginning, Abbi. I was being serious when I texted you yesterday. It was fate that brought us together.’ He released her arm and strode towards the door with long strides. ‘I’ll be in touch soon,’ he said with a backward glance then exited the shop.
    Abbi could still feel the heat from his hand on her arm. I’m in trouble. Big trouble.

Chapter Eleven
    By closing time Abbi was still shaken by her encounter with Taylor earlier that day. The way he had said they were meant to be together had given her the jitters. Did he think just because he was handsome and sexy that she was going to fall at his knees like some kind of groupie and walk away from the life she had made with Ben? If he did he was crazy. There was more to her than being a fantasist. Yes, she had enjoyed thinking about Taylor making love to her, ravishing me more like it! But that’s all it was a fantasy . A make believe scenario that existed in her head. Abbi’s mind being over active was a curse she was born with. If she knew what was good for her she