Chapter 6
Abigail stared at her reflection in her bedroom mirror.
Did she look like a fiance stealing whore?
Would the entire Horton/Brady/Dimera clan see her and instantly know she'd spent the night before Sami Brady's wedding in bed with the groom?
I can't go.
I have to go.
Will had seen her walking through Horton Square after she'd returned to town this morning. He'd been worried about her. She'd uncomfortably promised him that she would see him at the wedding. She had been so nervous, she would have promised him anything in that moment to avoid talking to him. She could still smell EJ's cologne on her body. Could Will?
What does one wear in a situation like this?
"Red," she said aloud.
She moaned miserably and glared at the soft, dove grey sheath dress that was draped across her bed. It was pretty, but in no way attention grabbing.
The Deveraux in her wanted to wear something sexy and remind EJ what he was giving up by marrying his precious Samantha
The Horton in her wanted to blend into the crowd.
She paired the grey dress with a pair of strappy sandals and twisted her blonde curls into a high knot atop her head.
Not too flashy...definitely not fallen woman, she thought.
She slid a chunky bracelet onto her wrist and added a pair of diamond studs to her ears.
She turned back to the mirror. The dress hugged her curves lovingly and her yoga toned arms were on nice display. She looked young, elegant and understated.
Her eyes filled with tears. She couldn't do this. She could not walk in that house and pretend like everything was okay.
Damn it, Abigail. Get tough.
The Deveraux crept in.
Ten minutes later she was wearing a sleeveless black jersey dress that skimmed across her collar bones in front and dipped all the way to her waist in the back. The skirt modestly hit just above her knees.
She kept the earrings, but added a long, delicate necklace that she wore backwards to accentuate her toned back.
She smiled softly. Thank God for yoga.
It was a power dress. She would need that power to survive this day.
She walked downstairs and met her mother in the living room.
"Wow, Abigail. You are stunning," her mother smiled. "I'm so glad you decided to go, but Sami might have a fit when she sees the way you look in that dress!"
Abigail bit her lower lip to keep from chuckling. "Sami Brady weddings are always an event."
"That happens when you are stupid enough to get involved with the Dimeras," her mother said.
They drove to the mansion in silence, but Abigail felt like the sound of her heart pounding could surely be heard all over Salem.
She had never been so nervous before...well...except the first time EJ had kissed her. Or the time he'd used her hospital ID to pull her into his arms. Or the time she'd undressed before him in the Dimera gym shower...
She closed her eyes. The shower... The single most erotic moment of her life had been when EJ had lifted her into his arms and slammed into her against the shower wall with the warm water caressing her skin.
The valet took their car at the entrance to the mansion. She stared at the massive doors and said a quick prayer.
Please help me keep it together today, Dad. Please don't let me humiliate myself.
EJ watched Abigail get out of her car from his second story window.
My God. His mouth went dry. She turned to say something to her mother and the sight of that beautifully tanned, toned skin sent a jolt of desire through his body.
He'd run his tongue down her spine last night. He'd started with her delicate little earlobes and moved to the base of her neck. He'd felt her shiver against him. His fingers had reached around to gently cup her full breasts as his mouth moved lower...
"She's amazing, isn't she?"
He was interrupted by the sound of a voice he heard in quite some time.
Chad?
He turned to find his brother standing in the doorway to his room.
EJ had not seen his brother in months...not since the day Chad had given him Abigail's angel wing pendant to return to her. He'd been recovering from his gun shot wound and miserable without her.
Chad had loved Abigail Deveraux very much.
"You made it," EJ said quickly. How long had Chad been watching him?
Chad narrowed his eyes and nodded. There was no warm greeting or well wishes.
His entire demeanor seemed strange...off.
His face was blank, but his eyes burned into EJ. Something was definitely wrong.
He's not dressed for a wedding, EJ noted.
"You've been looking after Abigail for me, haven't you, brother?"
EJ shook his head. Denials came easily to Dimeras.
"Don't be so modest," Chad said with a cold smile. "I know what a huge favor you did for me, keeping an eye on my girl...especially since I have every intention of winning her back."
EJ looked down. He didn't trust his own expression.
"You've returned for Abigail? I thought things had ended for you for good? Abigail's not exactly to forgiving type when it comes to dishonesty."
Chad smirked.
"I misjudged Abigail...on many things. Not unlike you and Sami. No one would have thought you'd end up together after she shot you in the head and you kidnapped your daughter. And here you stand... dressed and ready to walk down the aisle to the woman you say you love. I do have one question though?"
EJ did not care for his brother's tone, or the dark knowledge in his eyes.
"A question? Why would you question me?"
Chad raised a brow at EJ's imperious tone.
"Are you wearing a bullet-proof vest? Surely you cannot expect to come out of this without at least one attempt on your life? This is an EJ and Sami wedding. Surely there's a secret or two that may put you at risk?"
Chad had changed in his time away. The carefree, happy young man now wore a cloak of mystery. He seemed much older, cynical. There was power in Chad now. EJ could feel it.
He was a Dimera, after all...
Power was in his blood.
"I can assure you, this wedding will be perfect," EJ said. "More so now that my brother is here to stand beside me."
Chad laughed and walked toward to the window to watch Abigail enter the mansion.
"I was her first, you know. I got to experience her passion and beauty before anyone else," he said. "She waited...for me. She knew I was worthy of that gift. Do you understand how incredible that is, EJ? No. Of course not. You've never been with a woman who actually just wanted you. No tricks. No schemes. I had that with Abigail...the first time."
EJ's patience was wearing thin.
"Where is this going, Chad?" EJ snapped. "Why are you insulting me? You can hardly claim innocence with Abigail after the lies you told."
"Claim innocence, EJ? Hmmm. That's an interesting choice of words. Can you claim innocence with Abigail, EJ?" Chad spat, all niceties gone. "I highly doubt that. I guess I have a second question. How does it feel to play back up to your little brother?"
EJ's blood turned to ice in his veins. Chad knew. He knew about the affair.
"I don't know what you are talking about," he insisted. "Back up?"
Chad glared at him. "Stop it, EJ. I know. The only thing I don't know is how you actually feel about her. Do you love her?"
EJ shook his head.
"Do I love Samantha? Of course I love Samantha. Why would you even ask such a question?"
Chad rolled his eyes. "Abigail doesn't do sex without love, EJ. She believes the two are connected. She cannot give her body to a man unless he's in her heart. Sami, on the other hand, has given both away quite easily."
EJ had had enough of this game.
"Insulting my bride would be very unwise. I'll caution you to remember who I am."
Chad chuckled.
"I'm not insulting Sami Brady, EJ," he said. "I'm merely trying to understand why you chose to cheat on her. Did you get bored? Were you looking for a challenge? Or did Abigail just get to you? She's got that knack, you know. She sees people."
EJ knew that fact all too well, but he was not about to admit that to Chad.
"Cheat on Samantha?" EJ asked with feigned hurt. "Why would I do that? You know I've always loved her."
EJ did not have time to think about Abigail and his brother's assertions of her feelings about lovemaking. He did not want to open that door.
He did not have feelings for Abigail.
He couldn't.
It simply wasn't possible.
But a quiet voice inside his head thought that might not be entirely true. Abigail had gotten to him.
"Yes, you are meant to be with Sami. You aren't good enough for anyone else...certainly not Abby. I don't care how many times you've been with her, EJ. You got her on the rebound. Abby is mine."
EJ couldn't help but think of the amazing night that "Elvis" had spent with "Abby" last night. Abby was most certainly not Chad's. Not anymore.
EJ shook his head to clear his thoughts. He was not going to start thinking about Abigail...not now.
"That is preposterous, Chad. Abigail and I..."
"Have been sneaking around Salem for months, EJ!" Chad yelled.