NICE GIRL TO LOVE (THE COMPLETE THREE-BOOK COLLECTION)(58)

“What?” He wasn’t sure what was more disturbing, hearing that ear-burning advice coming out of her mouth or acknowledging that her advice sounded markedly like the only set of moves he’d had when he was fifteen.

“I’m serious. That’s going to work, trust me. I heard Abby and mom talking about how they both had a thing for guys with strong arms, and big, muscular chests.”

“What?” he repeated again. And then, “When?”

“I’m not sure exactly. But it was when mom could still talk so I must have been around six or so, I guess. I do know it was at the care center because I remember they were watching a movie on that TV in the wooden cabinet I used to keep my toys in. They were talking about the actor in it while I was playing. I asked mommy if she thought you had strong arms and big muscles on your chest, and she told me, ‘You betcha. That’s why I married him.’”

Brian smiled. That sounded like Beth.

“See, so you should just keep showing Abby your arms and chest,” she nodded vigorously.

He chuckled, again, still dramatically disturbed by the words. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Then he shot her a look. “While we’re on the topic, you’re hereby not allowed to talk about any guy’s muscular chest again until you’re twenty-one.”

“Oh, dad.” She rolled her eyes.

“Keep it up and I’ll make it thirty.”

She giggled.



“Okay, just leave everything to me,” reassured Skylar as Brian rang the doorbell.

He wasn’t sure whether to be scared for Abby or himself.

Abby opened the door with a look of surprise and Skylar immediately launched her attack. “Hey Abby! We brought over sushi for lunch. You didn’t eat already did you?” It was like listening to the rat-tat-tat of a machine gun. “We got all your favorites! Did I tell you I got an A-on my last book report? The one you helped me with?” Skylar was already in the house before Abby could even open her mouth to reply. “Ooh, what’re you watching?”

Brian hid his grin. His daughter was good. Definitely an excellent inside man.

With no choice but to let him in since Skylar was already planted on the couch, Abby helped Brian with some of the things he was carrying.

“Chocolate truffles?” she asked quietly. “You’re playing hardball today.”

“Damn straight,” he tossed back, staring into her eyes, saddened over the wariness he saw blanketing her features. “Do I at least get a hello hug?”

It was an awkward hug—the only one in their history as friends. He had to get to the bottom of this.

“Ohmigod, you guys,” exclaimed Skylar, stretching and yawning like a baby lion. “I just remembered I’m sooo tired. You were right, dad, I shouldn’t have stayed up so late last night.” She gave another outrageously huge yawn. “Abby, could I take a quick nap in the guestroom for like an hour before I go to Becky’s? Pretty please? I don’t want to fall asleep on her. That would be sooo rude.”

Brian bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. So they could definitively cross off ‘actress’ from Skylar’s future career aspirations.

Abby’s lips were twitching as well. “Sure, kiddo. You do look super exhausted.”

“I totally am. Okay, don’t disturb me for at least an hour okay? And dad, can you please stop leaving the door open? I’m not a little kid anymore.” One more exaggerated stretch and she was trudging to the guestroom with Frankenstein legs.

Just as she was closing the door, she flashed him a wide grin and a thumbs-up sign.

“Subtle,” remarked Abby from the kitchen island, smiling despite the obvious set-up. “Did you coach her through all that?”

He mustered up an affronted frown. “I’m not even sure I know what the hell that was. If I’d been coaching her, don’t you think I’d have had her dial it down just a smidgen?”

Abby chuckled. “Maybe two smidgens.”

Brian smiled and reached over to cup her cheek, but instantly drew back when she flinched at the contact.

“Sweetheart, please tell me what’s wrong,” he pleaded, hurt and utterly confused. “Something happened that day after we saw Gabriella. What was it?”




ABBY LOOKED AT Brian’s tortured expression and felt wretched inside.

“Please, Abby. Just tell me. What did I do wrong?”

“Nothing. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You’re hurting and it’s tearing me up inside. Just tell me. What was it that I did to upset you? I’ll fix it, I swear.”

If only there was something to fix. Breaking her gaze away, she called herself every horrible, petty name in the book for feeling the way she was, before finally admitting quietly, “You called me Beth while you were kissing me.”

He sucked in a sharp breath and stilled.

She couldn’t bring herself to look at his face.

After a few stunned moments of silence, he moved to comfort her. And then paused before touching her. “Abby, I’m so sorry. I don’t even remember… I mean I couldn’t have…” His voice trailed off, leaving them in an uncomfortable, thick cloud of tension.

Yeah…there really wasn’t any right thing to say after someone called you by his dead wife’s name.