Love Me Like You Do (Love Me Book 1)

by Jaime Russell

  I pull out the box and start to unwrap it. Tearing the paper off reveals a black velvet jewelry box. I slowly open it and gasp. Inside is the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen. Spotting a card laying on the table, I reach for it, wondering if it will tell me who the gorgeous necklace is from.

  “Read it out loud, squirt.” Max urges me.

  You came into my life when I needed a guiding light. You taught me so much about myself. You make me smile and laugh. I want you to wear this necklace and think of me. I want you to know how beautiful you are, inside and out. I hope you give me that chance.

  At the bottom of the card is an arrow pointing to the back. Puzzled, I flip it over and read the words written there.

  Please stand up and turn around.

  I put the card own with shaky hands and move to follow its instructions. My knees are knocking together with nerves, and I have a horrifying moment where I think everyone can hear my heart pounding out of my chest. Taking a deep breath, I follow the instructions from the card. “Cash?” I look back at my friends and see the nods of encouragement. I whisper his name again and slide my chair in; giving myself a moment to regain my composure before walking towards him. As soon as my feet start moving, I can’t stop myself. He does the same, picking up his pace and suddenly we can’t get to each other fast enough. When I’m just a few short feet away, he stops and stretches out his arms for me. I throw myself into them, and our lips meet in a passionate tangle. Our kiss is everything that I’d imagined it would be. There’s longing, desire, and love. He pulls me closer to him, and I melt. It feels like his arms are made for me. We finally break apart, breathless and staring into each other’s eyes. I touch my lips to feel how swollen they are, a sign of our first kiss. I look up into his eyes, and he’s watching me tenderly.

  “What? How?” I ask him, my voice barely above a whisper.

  He rests his forehead on mine. “My sweet, Abby girl, this is my hotel.”

  “How did you know I was here?”

  “Funny story about that.” He fills me in on hiding behind the plant and his conversation with Shawn about his man card. I can’t help but laugh, delighted with him; with everything.

  “You hid behind a plant instead of saying hello to me? Am I that scary?”

  “Abby, you’re not scary. I just didn’t know what to say to you.”

  “I made the decision last night to text you to see if you lived close to here. I wanted to meet you.”

  “I do live close,” He replies with a smirk.

  He kisses me again, and I let out a moan. The desire I have for this man is growing more and more. I can feel it in my core. I need to be with him.

  “We should go back to your table before I lose all control and take you up to my room. I only have an hour free right now, and once I get you in my bed, I’m not going to let you go.”

  “I can feel what our kisses do to you. I can’t wait to show you what they do to me.” I whisper to him, and he growls. I can’t believe I just said that to him, this is out of character for me. He grabs my hand and leads me back to the table.

  “Hello, I’m Cash.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Cash. Rob, Aaron, Sarah and my brother, Max.”

  “Nice to meet all of you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” He shakes hands with everyone, and when he gets to Max, he asks him about the bruises.

  “These girls are crazy, man. Ouch! See what I mean?” Sarah and I both hit him.

  He excuses himself to get some more coffee and something to eat.

  “If Aaron wasn’t my true love, I would so try to do some very naughty things to him.” Rob admits, staring longingly after Cash.

  “I agree,” Aaron says craning his neck to see Cash’s ass. I slap his hand.

  “He’s mine and no one but me touches him.” I point the knife that I’m holding in my hand at both Aaron and Rob. They just winked at me with a smile on their faces.

  “She’s a possessive one isn’t she?” Rob eyes me, and I can feel myself blushing.

  Cash comes back to the table. “I can’t believe this is your hotel,” I say to him. “Sarah, you do know how to pick hotels.”

  Cash grins at me. “It’s amazing that you picked us.”

  The four most special people to me in my life start to look around the room, and I know they have a secret.

  “Spill it now,” I say in a tone that means business.

  “We knew this was his hotel when I booked it,” Sarah admits.

  “How?” Cash and I both ask at the same time.

  “You talk a lot about him, which he lives in Florida and owns a hotel. Max stole your phone one night and saw his contact info, and we used his area code to call hotels. It took us three days to find this hotel.” Sarah looks around at the table to see if the guys would help her out, but they just keep eating and avoiding eye contact with me. “I ended up talking to a Shawn, who says he works in the kitchen and is your best friend. So he and I decided to put this trip together.”

  “Wait, so Shawn knew the whole time you guys were coming here and never told me?”

  “We all wanted it to be a surprise for you. The plan was for you to meet up tomorrow.”

  “I don’t understand. You know how we feel about each other, and instead of telling us what you planned, you tricked us?” Cash asks in a pissed off tone.

  Now it’s Max’s turn to step in. “We didn’t deceive you. We know Abby better than anyone, and she would have canceled last minute had she known that she was going to be meeting you. She didn’t decide until last night that she’d call you today to meet up later on. Abby’s always felt the need to stay protected, and please everyone without thinking about what’s best for her. Ouch! Will you please keep your damn hands and feet to yourself?” He glares at me rubbing his shin.

  “Keep your mouth shut and I will!” I stick my tongue out at him. “I’m sorry about this, Cash. I’ll understand if you want to kick us out and never talk to me again.” I look at my hands that are now in my lap. He turns in his chair to look at me, placing his pointer finger underneath my chin, gently forcing me to look at him.

  “I don’t care how they did it, but they did it for two people who mean the world to them. They just want us to have a little happiness. Would we have met if they didn’t plan this? Maybe, but we’ll never know now. I’m glad that they did this for us; it made meeting you so much sweeter. I’ll kick Shawn’s ass for keeping this from me, though,” he says jokingly, but I can tell he imagines himself doing it. “As far as kicking you out or never talk to you again, I’d have to be out of my mind to do either of those. I got what I wanted from Santa. I got my Abby girl.” He leans in and kisses me, but we’re cut short by someone clearing their throat behind us.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Hawthorne, but my shift is over. I need to leave soon, or my mother will be hunting you down.” Natasha says to Cash with a smile on her face.

  “Thank you for staying over and giving some time with Abby. Merry Christmas and tell your mother to see me sometime.” He winks at her, and I know it’s an inside joke.

  “She tells me all the time, as soon as my dad kicks the bucket, she’s coming to see you,” she sounds amused. “He just had a check-up and will be around for a while.”

  “Oh, well let her know that I’ll be waiting.”

  “Merry Christmas.” She waves to us all before heading out the door.

  “Her mother is almost seventy and stands about four feet tall. She’s a feisty Latina woman. She flirts with me and even proposed, it’s been like that since the moment we met. She says I’m a Greek God.” He snickers at the memory of meeting her. “I hate this; I don’t want to go to work.” He pouts.

  “How late are you working?” I ask as he stands up.

  “I think until one. I need to check the schedule. What are your plans for the day?” I stand to walk with him. I tell my friends I’ll be right back and follow Cash. He laces his fingers with mine, and my heart skips a beat at the contact. Everything about
him feels so right like we’re meant to be.

  “Our plans are to go to the beach and then eat dinner around 4. Are you going to eat with us?”

  “I’d love to join you. I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I’ll let Sally know that I have other plans. God, you’re so beautiful. I want to spend all my time with you.”

  I blush at his words. Does this gorgeous man find me attractive? The words, the actions with the necklace, makes me feel like he could be my Prince Charming, my happily ever after. “I’m pretty sure that can be arranged. While you work, my friends and I can do some sightseeing and then when you’re done, it’s Cash and Abby time.”

  “I’d love that, but I don’t know if I want you to see my town without me guiding you,” He says with a twinkle in his eye. He takes another phone call, and I see my brother coming my way. “What’s going on?” I ask him.

  “We’re getting ready to head upstairs to get changed for the beach.” He seems more excited than me. Cash is listening to our conversation as Max and discuss everything we want to see and do at the beach. Cash is eyeing us up and couldn’t help but smile. “I can tell you two have never seen a beach before.”

  “We look and talk like tourists, huh?” Max asks.

  “I see it a lot, but it’s still fun to listen. So you’re leaving me already?” He feigns heartbreak.

  I reassure him that I’ll be back before our dinner reservation. He comes around the front of the desk and kisses me, filling me with a passionate desire to be alone with him.

  “Wow. Now I’m all hot and bothered, it’s the perfect time to go to the beach with all the half-naked guys,” I tease.

  “Fuck, that wasn’t supposed to happen.” He frowns and I can’t help but pull him into me for a kiss.

  “I only have eyes for you.” I bat my eyelashes at him.

  “I call bullshit, but for now, I’ll believe you, so I don’t follow you out and beat all the men away.”

  “Are you going to hide behind the plant again so I can’t see you?” I can’t help but rub it in about his initial reaction to seeing me. His facial expression is of a toddler not getting their way, making me laugh.

  “Why do I like you again?” he teases.

  “Because you do!” I kiss him and head to the elevator. I smile and wave to him. I blow him a kiss, and he catches it, the doors closing on his grin.

  CASH

  “I need eye bleach right now. Someone get me eye bleach; I can’t stand this torture.” Shawn whines as he stands there watching the interaction between Abby and I. I punch him in the arm as I walk around him and go behind the desk.

  “What the fuck was that for?” He rubs his arm.

  “When were you going to tell me that you knew she was coming here?” I demand.

  “How did you find out that I knew?”

  “Sarah told me while I had breakfast with them.” I’m pissed off, but I don’t want Abby to know that I’m mad about us being tricked.

  “She wasn’t supposed to say anything about my involvement. I didn’t want you to tell Abby and ruin the surprise for her. They worked on setting this up for a month.” He’s getting defensive, and I wonder if he’s going to hit me. “I’m sorry if you’re pissed at me, but I would do it again if I had to.”

  “Thanks, man, but you know I hate surprises.”

  We talk a few more minutes, and then he returns to the kitchen. I sit down and try to do some work, determined to free up as much time as I can to be with Abby while she’s here. I can’t help but keep my happy grin plastered on my face.

  “It’s so great to see you smiling.” Joan is standing in front of me. Since my parent’s accident, she’s stepped into the role of mother for Sally and me. We like the fact that she’s here for us without trying to take our mom’s place. “What’s the reason for it?”

  “I just met the girl I’m going to marry.” I smile. I can barely contain my happiness.

  Joan pretends to faint. Grabbing the desk, she leans closer to me. “I’m sorry, I must be losing my hearing because I could have sworn that I heard Cash Hawthorne say that he’s going to get married.”

  I laugh at her theatrics. “I told you that I met the girl of my dreams, and she’ll be mine someday.”

  “Oh hallelujah! Praise the Lord! I never thought this day would come.”

  “I didn’t believe that it would be possible either.” I tell her the whole story about meeting Abby online, talking to her, Shawn’s involvement and finally seeing her face-to-face.

  “You gave her the necklace.”

  “I did. How did you know? When I saw her yesterday, I knew that it was meant to be hers.”

  “Wow,” she whispers, emotion thick in her voice. “Your mother told me when she overheard a conversation with your dad when Robin left you. She goes, “Joanie when Cash meets the one, that necklace will be the first thing he gives her and his heart is close to follow.” She swipes a tear that falls from her eye.

  The phone rings and I pick it up, passing it to Joan when the call is for her. As she takes the phone, I notice Miriam approaching.

  “Cash, have you heard from my son? I’ve been calling them all morning and nothing.” “Miriam, they do presents and breakfast. They shut off their cell phones, laptops, Kindles, and even the answering machine to be with the kids. It’s been a tradition for years. They usually start making calls about eleven. You have about thirty minutes to wait.”

  “How did I not know about this tradition?” She frowns.

  “You’re there most Christmases, so you never need to call them. I know Matt and Sally like that family time with just the kids.” I shuffle some papers.

  “I just hate that I’m not there with my grandkids. My other son Mark is there with his family.”

  “Miriam, that’s the first time Mark has been in town, let them enjoy it. You call at eleven and see when you guys can go over.” She nods and walks away.

  “So tell me about this girl.” Joan urges, excited for more information about Abby.

  “She’s perfect. So beautiful and here! I’m worried, though if I’m honest.”

  “About what?” she asks, concerned. I explain to her about Sally and how she’s behaving about Abby and me. “Joan, why can’t she be happy for me? I’m afraid to tell her that Abby is even here.”

  “I honestly don’t know why she’s behaving like that. I never thought that she would try to control you so badly. Was she like that before your parents died?”

  “No. I can understand about wanting to keep me safe, but the things she says are out of line. I’m thirty years old. I need to live my life, make my mistakes.”

  “I agree with you. I’ll talk to her. Especially since Abby is here.”

  “How do I keep my future from being tarnished?”

  “You can’t,” Joan answers, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You get to know this girl and Sally will have to deal with it. Believe it or not, Sally doesn’t rule your life. You’re the only family she has, but you’re the keeper of your happiness.” Her hands are on my cheeks, and she kisses my forehead.

  “I love you, Joan.” She taps my cheeks a few times and turns away from me to go back to the kitchen when she suddenly stops. I look up and immediately spot Abby, she’s getting ready to flee the lobby. “Wait here, Joan, you’re about to meet my girl.”

  I walk over to Abby. “I want you to meet someone.” I take her hand and lead her to the front desk. “Joan, I want you to meet Abby, Abby this is Joan.”

  “Oh, let me get a look at the girl who has my dear Cash’s heart.” She pulls Abby into a hug. Abby hugs her back. “You are so beautiful,” Joan says to Abby before glancing at me. “You don’t deserve her.”

  I nod. “I don’t deserve her, but I hope she keeps me.” I see Abby blush at my confession. Joan lets her go and excuses herself to the kitchen.

  “I like her,” Abby tells me as she takes my hand into hers. I enjoy seeing our fingers woven together. “What were you two talking about before I c
ame over?”

  “We were talking about you and Sally.”

  She tilts her head at me. “What’s going on with Sally?”

  “I prefer not to talk about her,” I say in hopes of Abby dropping the subject.

  She looks at me and raises her eyebrows. “What can I do to make your day a little better?”

  “A kiss from my girl would make my day a hell of a lot better,” I tell her with a wink. I tug at her hand and pull her onto my lap. I fit my lips to hers, sliding my tongue into her mouth to tease the top of hers in a slow motion. She moans into me and then we pull apart. “Wow,” she whispers as she moves her fingers to her lips and I smile at her.

  “Is that the kiss you wanted or is this the one you want?” She snakes her arms around my neck and this time, she kisses me.

  It’s one of those kisses that you see on TV right before clothes come off, and you have sex for the first time. Our lips meet and again, and each of us is desperate to get closer, it’s like we’ve been starved for each other’s touch. I love this feeling of being with her, touching her, and needing her. This is something that I’m not use to.

  What am I going to do when she leaves in a week?

  “Are you ready for the beach?”

  She breaks our kiss and jumps off my lap. “I can’t wait for it. I’ve only seen pictures and movies of the beach. I can’t wait to feel the sand between my toes.” I have to chuckle at her. “Sarah is going to be taking lots of pictures so we can remember every moment. Do you think that we’ll be able to arrange for all of us to go together before I leave?”

  “We’ll go to the beach. I have several things planned that I want to do with you. I wish I didn’t have to work today. It’s going to be hard to concentrate knowing that you’re so close.” She giggles at my frustration.

  “Do you have things planned for us?” she watches me with joy in her eyes that I never want to see fade.

  “Yes, Abby. I’ve made a list.” I hand her my tablet.

  Things to do with Abby