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Who the hell slashed open a soft toy like that? And all of her clothes were destroyed. Someone had gone through her small wardrobe. They’d done their best to destroy everything she owned.

He pulled up outside one of the small clothing boutiques on the main street of Wishingbone.

“What are we doing?” she asked, turning to him.

Poor darling, she was so exhausted. Soft trembles rocked her body. He wanted to get her home, fed and into bed as soon as possible. But he also knew it would make her feel better if she had something to wear when she got up in the morning. He had a few things she could wear, but if she wasn’t comfortable with what he’d bought for her, he wanted her to have something she could put on.

He wanted her comfortable in his place. With him.

It was then that he realized this felt completely right to him. He’d had relationships last for months and never once had the urge to ask his girlfriend to move in with him. But with Abby, he was imagining...forever.

“We’re going to do some shopping for you.”

“Oh, right, yeah.” She frowned. “Um, I can’t afford to shop there, though. Normally, if I need something, I just go to Walmart.”

“Walmart is on the other side of town. This is closer.”

“No, well, I guess we could go to the secondhand shop that’s along the next block.”

“We could.” He climbed from the truck and came around to her side. She was still sitting there, seatbelt on, staring at him in confusion. “Why are we getting out? Are we walking there?”

He reached over her, his arm brushing against her breasts as he undid her seatbelt. She shivered. “Oh.”

Kent bit back a smile. He reached up and lifted her down. He wished he’d brought the booster seat with him that he’d purchased for her.

There’d be time to introduce that later. He set her on her feet reluctantly, but made certain to brush her body against his. Probably wasn’t very fair of him. She certainly wasn’t up to any play. But he loved the feel of her against him. He loved doing things for her. Like undoing her seatbelt, lifting her in and out of his truck. And he was definitely going to enjoy spoiling her.

If anyone could use some spoiling, it was Abby.

How little she had appalled him and now that he knew where all her spare money went...it was horrifying. No wonder she worked as many hours as she could. He cursed himself for having his head up his ass and not actually thinking about what all the clues added up to.

“No, we’re shopping here.”

She tugged at his hand. “Kent, I can’t shop in there.”

He stopped with a sigh and turned to her. Gently he cupped the back of her neck with his hand. “Baby girl, you’re not paying for anything. I am buying you what you need.”

She tried to shake her head but couldn’t with his hand holding her still. “I can’t let you do that. I don’t know when I can pay you back.”

“You’re not letting me and you’re not paying me back.”

“No.”

“You’re very cute when you try to out-stubborns me. But it’s not going to work. Nobody out-stubborn me. Well, except for Clint. This is happening. I want to do this for you. I need to.”

“I don’t want to take advantage—”

“Baby, stop.” He placed a finger on her lips. “I offered. I don’t offer to do things I don’t want to do. I have to do this. It makes me feel like I’m looking after you.”

“I don’t need your money.”

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I know you don’t. But this is important to me, so you’re going to let me do it.”

She sighed. But she walked towards the shop with him without arguing. “Are you sure Clint can out-stubborn you?”

“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” He held open the door for her. But she just stared up at him, clinging to his hand. “Not ready to let go, baby?”

She shook her head.