Page 36 of Knocked Up By the Silver Fox

When Abby swallowed she continued. "Look, I'm sorry about that post. It went viral and I never meant for that to happen. I was just pissed."

"Abby—" I snapped, feeling frustrated. "Language."

"Sorry," she mumbled and her cheeks flushed red.

"It's really okay…" Beth was being polite. It really wasn't okay, but all of that was hopefully in the past, and hopefully Abby had learned not to do that again. "I get it…" She smiled at me as Abby's head still hung, and somehow I just knew thingswere going to be okay. "So your dad said you're looking at colleges? What do you want to major in?"

I never said a word. I sat there eating my spaghetti in silence as a conversation naturally blossomed between them. Abby was stiff at first, reluctant to open up, but when she confessed to Beth that she'd like to study business, perhaps at King's College, Beth offered some really great advice.

One sentence at a time I saw Abby warming to Beth, though it didn't appear overly intimate, just a casual and comfortable disposition between them. They were being civil and it pleased me. I never doubted Beth would be good for Abby, but my daughter's shift in attitude helped me relax.

"Beth, you haven't touched your wine tonight…" I refilled my glass and noticed how she hadn't even taken a sip of hers. Abby just kept eating, and Beth shrugged her shoulders.

"Not in a drinking mood, I suppose." Her soft smile reassured me, and I figured she was just trying to stay in control, given the situation. She turned back to Abby and asked, "Have you taken the ACT or the SAT yet?"

The way conversation flowed between them so naturally made me more than hopeful. Beth couldn't have picked a better topic to break the ice. Abby was in the thick of college preparations and I knew she'd been nervous about it. My brother and his wife tried to help her too, but what she really needed was her mom. Beth would never replace Kate, but I did hope one day Abby would think of her at the very least like a friend.

When dinner was finished, I left them sitting at the table talking about college choices and placement tests and carried the dirty dishes away. I brought Beth a glass of water and removed her wine glass. They were still talking, so I rinsed the dishes and loaded the dishwasher, which was something I hadn't done in ages, but since I gave the maid the night off, it had to be done.

As I pressed the button to start it, I heard chuckling in the other room, and it hit me that this was what my life could be like every night if things went smoothly. To have Beth in this house as my partner and to feel like a real family again without the distance and heartbreak. It wasn't something I thought I'd really ever have again, at least not while Abby was still living here, and the idea of it made me crave it so desperately. It made me crave Beth too.

I walked back into the dining room and Abby was gone. Beth sat quietly sipping her water and I leaned down and kissed her cheek, lingering there to hug her from behind.

"She's just getting her senior portraits," Beth whispered and I smiled.

"Seems like you two are hitting it off?" I kissed her cheek again, trailing my lips up her jawline to her earlobe where I nibbled.

Beth smiled and leaned away from me and said, "She's a really good kid, Will."

I was so close, so hungry to taste my victory in this situation, but I wasn't going to push either of them. I kissed Beth again, this time on the lips and she responded. Her body angled toward mine and her hand rested on the back of my neck, pulling me down against her. I crushed my mouth against hers and slipped my tongue inside. She moaned softly as my hand slid down over her sweater, cupped her breast, and kneaded it.

"Will," she panted breathlessly as I sucked on her pulse point and raked my teeth against her skin. "She's coming back…"

I hadn't heard her bedroom door shut yet, so I knew we had a few seconds longer, and I squeezed her tit hard. "Stay with me tonight…" My groping continued and she forced my lips back to hers. Her response encouraged me. I wanted her so badly. I let my hand slide over her belly and between her thighs, and she gripped my wrist and held my fingers away from her core.

"Will, stop…" she sighed, and when I pulled away she was grinning. "This isn't exactly how she should walk back in. Okay?" I saw the concern on her face, and I knew she was right. We were making progress, and Abby seeing us groping each other like horny teenagers wouldn't help my case. I straightened and she shook her head. "I can't stay."

"But …"

"Think about it, okay? What message would it send to Abby?" I hated that Beth's wisdom was correct. And I hated that everything was moving at a snail's pace, but at least Beth and I were finally inching forward again. Being away from her in the office was sheer torture and she'd been so distant lately. I didn't want to push her either.

"Alright…" I conceded and took her hand, leading her toward the living room as Abby left her bedroom.

I sat for the next thirty minutes as Abby showed Beth her portraits. They were getting along even if it was very stiff and professional, but it was a first step. After another half hour of talking about college life and dorm living—which made me thoroughly convinced I needed to hire a bodyguard for my precious little angel—Beth yawned and mentioned she was getting tired. I hoped she'd stay, but she had made her mind up.

"I'll escort you home," I said, and I saw the flash of frustration on Abby's face as I walked toward the coat closet.

Beth stood and nodded at Abby. "It was really nice to finally meet you, Abby. I hope we can do this again sometime."

"Yeah, it was okay." Abby stood and hugged her scrapbook to her chest and pursed her lips. "You're coming home tonight, right?" Her eyebrows were knitted together and she stared at me.

"Of course, honey. You make some popcorn and I'll be back in forty minutes. We'll watch a movie." I winked at her as Beth walked over to me and slid her arms into her coat.

The night had gone off without a hitch. We were miles ahead of where we'd been only hours ago. Abby was willing to sit in the same room and speak with Beth without angry tantrums. I made a mental note to call my brother and thank him for whatever it was that he said to her to help her see things my way.

"I'll be back," I said and waved at her as she stood there glowering at us.

I escorted Beth downstairs to my car and we climbed in. Part of me hoped she'd give me a wild ride right here in the back seat like before, but she sat against the door with her legs crossed and her arms folded on her chest in a very distant and cold posture, even when I scooted up closer to her.

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