Page 42 of Until I Have You

Seeing how she interacts with Bonnie and Bonnie’s fondness of Abigail only adds to the perverse feeling of want inside me.It’s not just a woman who is good with children, but a woman who is good withmychild, and whether or not Abigail likes me matters very little when she’s so keen on the most important part of me.

“Really, it’s not necessary, Abigail, I–”

“You have a meeting tomorrow, don’t you?”Edwin announces.“Surely, Abigail can just take Bonnie for an hour or two.Help you out?”

I withhold a grimace.Why do I tell anyone anything when they just use it against me in the end?

I know he’s trying to help, but he’s only hurting me by pushing Abigail closer.Makes me have to deal with all these intrusive thoughts more frequently.

Hell, he’s only hurting himself too.

“Free tomorrow?”Edwin asks Abigail.

“Yep,” she answers.

Bollocks.

“Then it’s settled.Abigail can take Bonnie and–”

Abigail laughs.It’s light and airy, unusual given the way she normally sounds around me.“Dad, don’t force me on him.”

Bloody hell.

“Sometimes, we have to force people to take our help,” Edwin says.“That’s a lesson I learned far too late for my liking.”

“And now you’re making up for lost time, I suppose.”I cross my leg over my knee and grab onto my shin.

Edwin grins.“Precisely.”

I am silent for what feels like a long time but in reality is probably only a few seconds.

I’m trying to find the strength to look Abigail in the eye without breaking into smithereens.

I grip my shin a bit harder, hard enough to cause a pressure that’s almost pain, and with a deep breath, push myself to look at her.

She’s beautiful.Bollocks.Whyis she so beautiful?

At the bar last night, when I saw her in that low cut dress sticking to her body, I felt I might not recover.Now, I’ve seen her this way, IknowI’ll never recover.

I grab my leg harder, let the pain deepen.“I’ll pay you of course.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Abigail replies.

It’s impossible for me to tell what direction to go in when it comes to her.Might as well just try and not pretend like I understand the complicated animal of Abigial Lyons.

“Abigail, you know not to refuse money when it’s on the table.”Edwin chuckles.

She rolls her eyes.“Dad…”

“I’m just saying, he’s offering.Let him pay you, Abigail.”

She sighs, but a smile plays upon her lips.“Fine.Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

She wriggles free of her father’s hand and backs out of the room.“I have to go shower.Text me the details, ‘kay?”

Abigail disappears before I can respond.

I’m ready to come up with an excuse for why I might have Abigail’s number even though the truth is innocent and thoughtful, a man looking after his friend’s daughter.

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