Justice For Abby by Cate Beauman Page A

laughed. “Am I going to wake up in my bed, or worse, in the stash house only to realize my subconscious was playing nasty tricks on me?”
    His jacket blew about with the next unforgiving gust. “It’s too damn cold out here to be anything but reality. Although if we are dreaming, I want more of that cake.”
    She smiled. “I can’t believe this is happening. I wish Gran were here. She would be so proud. And Lex… I don’t know what to think or feel.”
    “Is this what you want?”
    “Oh, yeah.” She smiled again. “I’ve wanted this since I sewed my own prom dress. I’ve wanted the Escape line since the night Lex and I were stuck on Zachary Hartwell’s roof.”
    “You’ve got it. What are you going to do with it, Abigail?”
    “I’m going to take it and run…after I stop being terrified.” She laughed again and threw her arms around him, holding on to the warmth and comfort that was Jerrod.
    He returned her embrace, his rough hands sliding along the bare, sensitive skin of her back as her wrap flew about like a cape. “Abigail, you’re freezing.”
    She drew away, still holding him, unwilling to let go. “I’d say I’m more afraid than anything.” She planted a noisy kiss to his cheek, then looked in his eyes. “And really, really happy.”
    He wrapped his arms tighter around her without his typical hesitation and turned, taking the brunt of the unforgiving winds. “Congratulations, Abby. Your vision’s going to help a lot of people.”
    “Thank you.” She grinned as he did, savoring this perfect moment. Then she remembered yesterday. “I’m sorry.”
    His smile turned into a frown. “For what?”
    “For yesterday.”
    He shook his head. “It’s over. We’re here. You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
    “But I—”
    “Water under the bridge, Abby.”
    “Okay.”
    “Now can we go inside?”
    She smiled. “Yes.”
    “Thank god.” He winked.
    She laughed and took his hand, walking back into Lily’s bedroom as his cell phone started ringing.
    He stopped and pulled his phone free, glancing at the readout. “It’s Austin. We should go.” He pressed ‘talk.’ “Quinn. Yeah. We’re ready.” He grabbed her hand and they moved down the hall as he continued his conversation.
    Abby gave Lily a wave on the way out, listening to Jerrod spew his jargon, watching him move his jacket so his weapon was at the ready. The magic of the evening quickly vanished when he opened the door, keeping her close, and Austin met them. There were no more princes and princesses or pretty roses and candlelight. She still had her clothing line, but she also had her grim reality.

Chapter Seven
     
    Jerrod stood close to the stage, scanning the small group of parents and faculty members scattered among the first few rows of auditorium seating. For two hours he’d watched the double doors and stage exits closely, making certain everyone entering or exiting wore a red badge identifying them as a member of South Central High’s Day of Fashion. He checked his watch in the dim lighting, counting down the minutes until he could get Abby out of here, tensing when the auditorium doors opened for the umpteenth time. His gaze flew to the woman stepping in, and he automatically searched for a tag on her shirt, relaxing—sort of—when he spotted it.
    Today should have been a cakewalk. Abby had helped Lily host a similar event with the same group of kids earlier in the fall. The aspiring designers were supposed to share their sketches and the outfits they’d created, get a few critiques, then eat a catered lunch in the faculty lounge down the hall. That was it, end of story, gravy, but nothing was as simple as it had been in October. Instead of enjoying an easy morning of watching Abby interact with a great group of teenagers, he was on high alert, waiting for something to go wrong. He was expecting it.
    Lily’s plan to turn the media in her favor had worked in spades. The newspapers and entertainment rags