VII

Abigail had never ever wanted work to end so badly in her entire life. She loved the diner but she wanted her shift to come to an end immediately. She did not know if it was because of the fact that Nick had gone to the hospital and his sleaziness went with him or …...something else. Abigail paused in taking an order from a regular patron named Gene and looked over at Abraham. He of course, was watching her…. all the time. Every time she looked over at Abraham he was looking at her. Her belly became a volcano and spewed heat all over her body and caused her skin to tingle. She could only turn away from him and smile because if she continued looking at him she would burst into flames that no fire extinguisher could extinguish.

She heard Henry chuckling when he caught them looking at each other. He thought it was cute that Abraham completely forgot about what he was supposed to do at the diner in the first place. Lisa took all the orders while Abraham watched over his favorite co-worker. Without stalker Nick there to interfere with everything the diner ran like a machine filled with happy and friendly customers.

Abraham for the life of him could not figure out why he could not think of anything but the smile that he caused to form on her perfect lips. He was planning to take her to the Sleepy Hollow Museum tonight. He had found that paper that Henry had scribbled down some of her likes and dislikes. She loved the work of one of their local artists Caroline North. Even though her exhibit ended yesterday, Abraham had secured a private showing just for them. His body grew excited imaging her reaction to him when she saw the exhibit. He hoped that her reaction was all physical so that he could touch her whenever he wanted and not unnerved her.

Abraham could feel eyes on him and turned and saw Henry looking at him and smiling. Abraham raised an eyebrow and walked over to the retired doctor still reading the same section of newspaper he had started last week.

"May I help you?"

Henry chuckled at his question. "Like I would let you make me anything to eat or drink."

Abraham chuckled. "Why are you making my favorite diner personnel prance around here."

Abraham looked over at Abigail as she worked. She had a smile on her face and a ballerina glide to her walk. "She did have the fish yesterday."

Henry laughed. You must have had the fish also."

Abraham turned back to the doctor and smiled. The bell above the door rang but no one paid attention to it but Henry. The merriment on his face ceased to exist. He frowned as doom and gloom fell over the diner. Customers began groaning and shaking their heads in disgust.

"I thought that I smell the stench of sewer."

Nick glared at the old doctor as he held his bandaged right hand in his left hand and walked towards him. There they were again hanging out with each other like best girlfriends. He hated this Abraham Van Brunt. He was taking over everything that belonged to him. He had Abbie, the diner, even Henry liked him. He had to wrestle control back into his hands. He had to get this man out of here before there was a revolt. He had to do it today before Fabio swept his Abbie away forever. "You are lucky that I am wearing this bandage, you old bastard or I would beat you down where you sit."

Henry snorted at his attempt at a threat. "You could not whip me with three hands."

Nick stopped beside Abraham and held out a paper for him. "This is the bill for my stay. Three hundred and twenty-five dollars for x-ray and bandages."

Abraham stared down at the annoying man. Henry frowned at the diner owners display of power. "I think you should fight him for it Abraham; winner take all. I think you could take him."

"Shut up, He did this to me. He has to pay this bill."

"When you don't listen to me this is what happens." Abraham's voice was calm and smooth. Nick turned his gaze to the blonde haired menace.

"I forgot and I was not hurting her."

"She does not want you touching her."

Nick snorted at the man's truth. "Like she wants you to touch her."

Abraham got closer to the shorter man. "She will,"

Henry smiled at Nick's fearful expression. He knew that Abraham spoke the truth.

"We will see about that." The diner owner walked away from the two men and towards his office.

The bell above the door rang again and Orion the lawyer walked into the diner. Lisa looked up and saw that he was heading straight for Abbie. Her eyes went to Abraham at the counter with her grandfather. She did not know if she could clean the blood up as fast as it would spill from the lawyer. Then there was the brain matter and teeth that would fly everywhere and she did not think that OSHA would let them stay open after that. She would have to find another job that would accommodate her school schedule.

Abraham's eyes locked onto his potential rival as he walked across the diner. Henry grunted in disapproval as the man waited behind Abigail as she took an order. Abraham could see the flowers behind his back and knew that she did not like wildflowers. Something about her childhood made those flowers a hated species so Henry had written. The desire to walk across the floor and strangle the man to death crossed his mind but Abraham would wait to see her reaction first then go from there. He knew that she did not want him to cause a scene and go to jail.

The arrogant side of his brain began to protest his decision. Since when did he care what someone thought about what he did? He was Abraham Van Brunt. The two sides warred until he finally came to the conclusion that it was a co-worker curtesy. It was perfectly fine for him to wait for her reaction…then kill the guy. Both sides of his brain agreed to this resolution.

Abigail turned and gasped when she saw Orion standing there. She immediately looked over at Abraham waiting at the counter with Henry. He was definitely watching her and waiting for a signal to attack.

"I am back," Orion pulled the flowers from behind his back and showed them to her.

Images of her father giving his mother, sister and her these flowers after he had verbally abused them for several days ran through her mind. He thought this was all that he had to do to be forgiven. He had often said that these flowers would heal all their wounds but they just opened them wider. Abigail stepped back and then took the flowers and gave Orion a half smile.

"Ah… thank you," Orion smiled.

"I thought that you would like them. They are beautiful like you and heal all wounds."

His words made her look up at him with a strange expression. The warm touch of his hand made her pull away from him. Why would he say that to her? He had never touched her before something was different about him. Why was he being so forward? She did not like this Orion. Abraham moved when he saw her frown at the lawyer after the touch. Henry grabbed his shoulder to delay him some.

Lisa quickly walked over to Abigail. "Luke needs you in the back."

Abigail quickly gave her the flowers and walked away from Orion. He frowned as she quickly walked away from him. Lisa smiled at him "I can help you."

"I'll help him Lisa." Abraham stared down at the man for a while before remembering to smile. Orion raised an eyebrow.

"You are Abraham Van Brunt."

"Guilty as charged." The patrons in the diner noticed the change in their billionaire's attitude from calmness to dangerous.

Abraham offered him a booth. Orion sat down. "I personally see nothing wrong with your attitude. I think that the Judge was having an off day. There is nothing wrong with doing what you want. You make a lot of money and people love that."

Abraham said nothing and decided to let the man talk to get the feel of him. "You are the kind of man that goes after what he wants like me. Your co-worker Abigail, would not give me the time of day. So I went searching for ways to remedy that. She's beautiful and I have to have that. You understand me don't you?"

Abraham gripped the pencil harder as he stared down at the lawyer. The man had not said anything derogatory about Abigail but Abraham just did not want him even speaking about her.

"I found her father. Let's just say that he would not win father of the year but I thought that he could help me with his daughter. He did not seem impressed when I told him that I was a lawyer. He asked me what I wanted his daughter for. I told him that she was beautiful and he just stared at me. After about a minute he smiled at me and gave me a lot of insight about his little sugarplum. I don't think that she loves wildflowers though. He got that wrong."

This man was a lawyer. He could read people. If he knew how bad Abigail's father was why would he seek help from him. Perhaps Abigail's father was thinking the same thing and decided that this man was too desperate and not good enough for his daughter. He had sabotaged Orion at the expense of hurting Abigail. Abraham's mind moved back to the conversation that he and Abigail had had in his car. Her father was the reason she was alone. He was the reason she did not trust a man to be true to who he was. She was afraid that she would fall in love with a man like her father is or was. He might have been a horrible man but he was protecting Abigail from Orion. He did not want a man that would resort to any means to get what he wanted.

Orion watched Abraham walk away from him. Lisa walked over to the confused man with a smile on her face. "Luke needs him too."

*()*

Nick rifled through the papers on the desk and found the court document. He smiled and sat down in his chair. He picked up the phone and prepared himself to lie like he had never lied in his life. The receptionist answered.

"Hello this is Nick Hawley from Hawley's diner, I was just wondering if I could speak with Judge Leena Reyes."

"Yes, One moment please."

Nick smiled as the Judge spoke on the phone. "Yes Judge Reyes I just wanted to speak to you about Mr. Van Brunt…No, he is just the opposite. He is performing at a spectacular level. I don't know if it is what you said to him or he grew a conscience but the man is an exemplary employee. Maybe he just needed to spend some time with us normal people to see how his attitude affected us. I can tell you that he does not require two weeks. Today can be his last day. I think that four days were enough to help him see the light and right his wrongs. He has made a remarkable turnaround."

The Judge was pleased. She began talking about starting the process of rescinding the order right now and informing Mr. Van Brunt tonight.

Nick tried to make a fist with his right hand and whimpered in pain as the Judge continued spoking. "Ye…. yes."

Nick grimaced in pain as the continued talking about his establishment." Thank you…. I totally agree. So should I tell him that his community service is done."

Nick smiled and nodded. "I will be more than happy to tell him the news. He will be thrilled. He will probably hug me that is how close we have become. I will certainly miss him. I hope he visits. Thank Judge goodbye."

Nick hung up the phone and sat back in his chair cradling his throbbing hand. All the pain began to fade away because he had gotten rid of Fabio. He doubted Abbie or anyone else would ever see him again. His rich friends would not tolerate a commoner on his arm. Everyone thought that he was some knight that just needed some love. He had to dirty him up before he left here. He wanted everyone to see this man was rotten to the core. He did not want the people here to think of pitiful Nick when they mentioned Fabio. He wanted Abbie's infatuation with this rich boy to end and end badly before they got physical. Nick would make sure of it.

He leaned forward and picked up the phone again.

"What do you want Mr. Hawley I am trying to run a business here."

The irritating English accent made Nick frown. "I was wondering if you wanted in on a little venture."

"That depends on what it is."

"You do kidnappings do you?"

Ichabod sighed. "Look I am already going to kill your mother who else are you willing to give up to save your skin."

"I know that our rich man that would pay through the nose to keep a certain young lady safe. I was thinking that if you turned up the heat on scaring her…..."

"You want me to kidnap her for money."

"You kidnap her. Fabio will pay the money and I will rescue her."

Nick could hear laughing in the background. "I read about your court appointed employee. He is relentless and he would hunt me forever. Is there someone else that he would pay for?"

Henry came to mind but Nick would have to see if they were as tight as he thought. He also knew that if Abigail was concerned with Henry's welfare then Fabio would be concerned also. "I will get back to you on that."

Nick hung and then dialed another number. "Hey Glenda…want to make two hundred bucks."

"Doing what?"

Nick smiled. "I need you to dirty up a real piece of shit."

*()*

Abigail walked from the kitchen after talking with Luke. She turned down the hallway towards the lockers and into Abraham's body. His arm surrounded her waist when they collided. She smiled up at him. He looked relieved to see her. "Are you following me?"

"Yes, Orion made me do it."

Her expression turned to one of horror. Her hands moved to his chest and the warmth that invaded his body made him relax and tense at the same time. "What did you do?"

"I did nothing. I let him talk. He said that he met your father."

He felt her tense for a minute and then relax. "I figured that from the words that he said."

"I take it he was not nice to you."

Abigail shook her head. "No he was not; he was mean."

"I am mean so they say."

She could hear the concern in his voice. "You are sometimes but you usually have a reason. He did not. He was just…...mean."

The faraway look in her eyes told him that she was reliving an episode from her past. Abraham did not want her to dwell on her past. He wanted to go back on the floor and pummel Orion for making her relive it.

"Are you okay?"

The expression on her face was the most beautiful look that he had ever seen and made him pull her closer. "You care if I am okay?"

Abraham just stared into the searching look in her eyes. "You are my favorite co-worker…. it's a requirement."

That dimpled smile returned and his happiness rose to astronomical levels. "I am okay."

Nick walked out of his office and saw the two in an embrace and just staring at each other. They looked as if they were about to kiss. Kissing led to other things that he wanted to introduce the innocent Mills to not this court appointed employee. Damn, he had only been there for four days and he was mean as hell. Why was it that he was the only one that could see the danger in this man? Was Abbie just like all women only after money?

Nick stared at Abbie and debunked his previous thought. No she was different. If she was smiling at Fabio it was because of something she brought out in the man besides his fists.

"Hey Fabio,"

Abraham slowly released Abigail and faced Nick with her at his side.

"I just got off the phone with the Judge. I don't know who you paid but they got you off the hook. You are officially done with this place."

Abraham frowned. "What…"

"Look I can't believe it either. I loved the thought of being your superior. I guess the wealthy get everything."

"I heard nothing of this."

Abigail gave Nick a suspicious look. "Are trying to get him arrested."

Nick returned her frown. "No, I am not lying to you. She just called and said that you are finished here. So who do you know. You rich people never pay for your crimes."

Abraham looked over at Abigail as Lisa came walking towards the back. "There's some lady up front causing a scene and asking for you Mr. Van Brunt."

The tall beautiful loud brunette dressed in a very tight black dress walked towards the counter as Henry watched her. She came inside and disrupted everyone's lunch. She was screaming to see her Abe. The patrons began grumbling about her appearance and what street she came from.

"I know that you know him. He's the real rich one. He showed me his money and we had some fun." Glenda chuckled at the horrified expression that she got from some of the patrons. She looked towards the counter and could see the people in the back and started to go behind the counter.

"HEY!" The woman turned around and found the old man who had been sitting on the stool standing behind her.

"What!"

"You can't go behind the counter. You don't work here."

The woman sighed and moved away. Henry shook his head and walked around the counter and grabbed some crackers from underneath the counter. Another man joined him and he got more than Henry was going to give him.

"You said a pair Gene and that means two."

"I meant four you old goat."

The two men began laughing from behind the counter as the brunette watched in disbelief. "Why are you two back there?"

"We are like family." Henry said as he and the other man came from behind the counter. The woman scowled at Henry as he looked her over in her out of place dress.

"Who the hell are you and who paid you?" The woman frowned at the old man as Abraham and Nick walked towards the front.

"OH ABE!"

She ran towards the counter but Abraham kicked the half door closed blocking her from getting close to him.

Nick frowned. "Who is this woman?"

Abraham turned his attention to Nick. "One of yours."

Abigail watched the woman try and push the door open but she pushed it back. "You're not allowed back here."

Nick looked at Abigail. "I think that she has something to say. I mean why would she come here and make such a fuss."

"Because of you." Henry said frowning at Nick. Glenda frowned at Henry.

"I don't know what you are talking about old man but I know Abe." She tried to touch him by reaching over the counter because Abigail was not letting her through the door. Abraham moved away and glared at the woman.

"I don't know why you are here but take this as I am about to say it. I would never ever, ever, ever, ever….be with you or do anything with you. You lack… everything especially an annoying smile."

Abigail looked over at him and found him staring at her. The heat in her stomach again became a volcano and flushed her skin with tingling pleasure. She turned away from him with a smile on her lips.

"You did not find me lacking last night."

Abraham looked at Nick. "Really could not find one that was a better actress."

"I don't know this woman."

"Really because when she first walked in she asked for Nick then changed her mind and said Abe." Henry answered.

Nick still shook his head. "Why would I allow this street walker into this diner."

Glenda frowned and looked at Nick. He held up his hands in apology. He had forgotten how horrible she was at acting. "Maybe you should leave he is not going to acknowledge you in public."

"You can collect your money around back." Henry said as the woman turned to leave.

"Fuck you old man." She walked out the door. Nick shook his head.

"I don't know what you do after you leave here Fabio but you know how to pick them."

Abraham moved towards Nick with violence in his body but Abigail gently grabbed his left hand and he instantly looked back at her.

"So today is your last day."

The sound of lament in the diner made Nick angry. How could they want this man here?

"What are you talking about?" Henry asked taking his seat again.

"The Judge called and said that he was free." Nick explained.

Henry made a face. "Aww don't cry Dr. Parrish we can get you another friend."

"Jealous," Nick frowned at Henry's retort.

"He's happy that he is leaving aren't you Fabio."

Abraham looked back at Nick for a moment and then returned his attention to Abigail. He could not believe the conflicted emotions running through his body and he had never even kissed this woman. He hated this place. He hated being told that he had to come here. He hated that he had not had the chance to rip Nick's head off. He did not want to leave her here with Nick. He did not want to leave her.

*()*

"So he just ran out and left you here alone just as I said that he would."

Abigail let her hair down and then placed the clip in her locker. She said nothing to Nick. She did not even look at him. She did not hear him. She was busy thinking about the dinner tonight with Abraham. She did not know why she felt a little sad that she would not see him tomorrow morning. He was free to do what he wanted…. free to be with who he wanted.

Nick frowned as she ignored him. He moved closer to her to get her attention.

"You do remember what happened the last time you forgot what he said to you. I know that your right hand does."

Nick cursed and turned away from the oblivious Abigail Mills and headed towards the diner floor to confront Henry.

"What do you have cameras in my diner? How is it that you know what I am doing all the time?"

Henry snickered. "You are pathetic. I can't believe that you thought anyone in the free world would believe that Abraham would do anything with that harlot that you let dirty up your mother's place."

"This is my place."

"And you are delusional on top of being pathetic."

"You are just like everyone else against me. You think that you are better."

"I am better than you. I don't try to hurt people or spread lies."

Nick frowned at the old man smiling at him. "Abraham is the enemy not me."

"For two days he was the enemy but he has made a dramatic change. See what a good woman can do to a man."

"You don't want that for me."

Henry's smile was replaced with a frown. "I said for a man not a shmuck."

Nick reached over the counter with his left hand and grabbed Henry's shirt collar and roughly pulled him forward. "Now that he will be gone you will be unprotected. Old people fall easily you know."

Henry smiled and suddenly began squeezing Nick's injured right hand on the counter. The screaming sounded like a small child's as the diner owner slid to the floor. Abraham and Abigail walked from the back and saw Nick on the floor holding his right hand in pain and Henry looking over the counter down at him.

"What happened?"

Henry shrugged. "He's dumb…. You two go on he will be alright."

Abraham smirked at Henry as he guided Abigail towards the front door.

*()*

She had to make herself not look out the window for the tenth time as she waited for Abraham. She looked at her reflection hoping that the body hugging fig green colored dress was not too sexy or was she? He would see the tops of her breasts, bare shoulders and arms, the curve of her body, the smoothness of her legs. Her hair decided to cooperate with her and stay in the soft curls and hang down her back free and unhindered. Abigail took a deep breath and then she heard a car door close. Fear and excitement filled her body as she smoothed down her dress. She walked towards her front door.

Abraham watched the door slowly open and just stared at her. Abigail stood there trembling and she had no idea why. Maybe it was because he was just looking her over from head to toe several times. He looked so gorgeous in his black suit. Her breath stalled and then her confidence began to wane when he said nothing about her appearance.

"I can change."

Abraham stepped into her house and his arm circled her waist. Abigail fell onto his body. His loose hair touched her cheek as he looked down at her body again. His lips moved towards her ear. "Don't."

The volcano returned and exploded inside her belly. She was so thankful that he was holding her. She closed her eyes and let his strength do what he wanted it to do. "I want you…... to wear this tonight."

Abraham moved his lips down her neck but did not touch her skin. God, he wanted to do more than just touch her neck. He closed his eyes and tried to find his center again to quiet the growing need in his flesh. He had to let her go eventually and he was not sure if he could. He wanted to hold her like this all night. He could not explain the feelings that were running through his body and mind.

His lips returned to her ear. "It's time to go."

Claude did not look in the mirror at his two guests as he drove them towards the first of two destinations that night. Abraham had planned a long night with her tonight.

He was touching her with his right thigh and shoulder as he sat very close to her. She hoped that he could not feel her trembling but she knew that he did. His closeness made her nervous and happy at the same time and Abigail could not explain that. She felt as if she would never see him again after tonight. He no longer had to work at the diner. She hoped that what little she had done with Abraham helped him to be nicer to his employees. He would see them tomorrow. She would not. Why would he want to see her anymore? Why would he need to? They were no longer co-workers.

Abraham watched her hands laying folded on her lap. Was she thinking what he was thinking about tomorrow? This was not the last time that she would see him. Maybe she felt that way; he did not. He probably would have his own personal seat right beside Henry in the diner just to annoy Nick. Abraham watched her breasts rise and fall for a moment and then slowly moved his right hand from his thigh and towards her lap.

Abigail saw the movement and looked down and watched the powerful appendage slowly move towards her folded hands. His touch was warm and soft despite the damage that she knew he could do with them. He gently touched the skin on her hands until she unfolded her hands and he slid his hand between them.

"The Judge called me and released me from the order."

Abigail looked up at him and found that he was staring at her with a soft expression. "You don't have to wear the hairnet anymore."

Abraham smiled. "I was going to name it if I kept it longer."

Abigail softly chuckled. His hand began gently caressing hers. "Will you miss me?"

A smiled crossed her lips. "As a co-worker you were …. okay."

Abraham leaned his head towards her. "As your favorite co-worker,"

Abigail laughed and turned her head not expecting him to be so close. She stared up in the bluest eyes that she would ever see. Abraham leaned in closer and his blonde hair touched her cheeks.

"As…... my…. my favorite co-worker you were okay." She spoke as if she had run up a hill at break neck speed.

"Just okay, Then I must try harder than before to get it right."

Abigail felt his body turn towards her as his left hand moved around her waist. "Try harder for what…"

Abraham's lips moved towards her ear and he could feel her body shaking with excitement of the unknown. He struggled with not touching the skin on her neck and shoulders. He could not touch her or he would not stop.

"I have to try harder to be more than just okay. I am free from the diner. I am no longer your co-worker and I don't want to be your co-worker."

The car stopped in front of the Museum as Abraham leaned back in his seat watching her dark eyes watch him.

"What do you want to be?"

Her soft voice and heaving body made his body react with a need to touch her.

"With you,"