NICE GIRL TO LOVE (THE COMPLETE THREE-BOOK COLLECTION)(78)

“Dad, it’s so hot. You have to see it.” Skylar began rummaging through her bag to show him this so-called ‘hot’ dress. “Everyone’s wearing dresses just like it in all the teen magazines. And it’s so tight, it fits me perfectly.”

He was starting to see colored spots in his vision.

“Relax, Brian. It’s a little different from what we discussed but she’s right, nearly every teen starlet is wearing something like it on TV and in magazines. It’s a very ‘in’ look right now. Plus, it made her so happy.”

Brian turned a disappointed side-eye at Abby and quietly hissed, “You can’t just give in when she asks you for things that aren’t appropriate for her, Abby.” Dammit, she was usually so good about the responsible mother thing.

“Well, what do you think? Don’t you love it, Dad?”

He was afraid to look. Taking a deep, calming breath and putting a break-open-in-case-of-emergency glass seal on his dad-temper, he peeked open one eye to scan the dress…and sagged with relief.

“Gotcha!” The two cackling hyenas dissolved into a puddle of laughter, while they championed the fairly demure, rather sweet, pale blue dress for his perusal. Yes, the dress was sleeveless but with a semi-transparent lace overlay that went all the way up to her collarbone, thanks to a lightly-jeweled choker-style collar. Best part, the skirt landed at about her calves. It wasn’t quite as keep-ten-feet-away-from-my-daughter as he would’ve liked, but it was pretty and really very modest.

“You two almost gave me a freakin’ heart attack.”

Still unable to keep her little giggle-bursts fully in check, Abby picked herself back up off the bench to give him a hug as a peace offering. “I’m sorry, we just couldn’t resist.”

“Yeah, dad, you should’ve seen your face.”

“We should’ve taken a picture!” The declaration came out in stereo and the hyenas were back.

“Jinx!” They laughingly called out, again in unison.

Despite himself, Brian joined in the laughter at his expense.

This right here was everything he’d desperately wanted for so many years. And he had it now.

Because of Abby.





ABBY WAS JUST FINISHING up the pot roast in the crockpot when the doorbell rang.

From the kitchen, she couldn’t see out the front door, but she could definitely make out Brian’s sudden rigid posture when he saw whoever it was that was standing out on his porch.

“What are you doing here?”

Abby froze. Even from halfway across the house, she could hear the barely leashed hostility in Brian’s acidic tone. To her knowledge, only one person had ever inspired that kind of ire in Brian. And in Connor for that matter.

Marcus Sullivan. Their ‘father.’

Yes, the air quotes were entirely necessary.

Checking to see that Skylar was still in her room doing her homework, she was actually glad to see her studying on her bed with her earphones on. Normally, she discouraged the habit of Skylar blasting that ear-numbing music in her ears, but today, she was thankful for it. This was not going to be pretty.

“Is it just me, or have the Sullivan son greetings gone downhill in the past few years?”

Lordy, but she hated that man’s voice.

“What do you want, Marcus?” returned Brian coldly.

“How sad, I don’t even get a ‘father’ anymore...so I guess this means you aren’t inviting me in.”

“Have I ever?”

“No, you haven’t. And thank you for that reminder. I’ll be sure to remember that little tidbit when I get deposed in court this week.”

That’s right, the court proceedings for Marcus and Helen’s divorce were going to start in a few days—she’d completely forgotten.

Brian’s voice became even icier. “Why would you bother bringing that up? Or me at all for that matter? I’d prefer you just leave me the hell out of it.”

“I can’t very well do that. You are, after all, my only legitimate son. It’s a given that you’re going to come up throughout the settlement talks. A lot.”

His only what?

Abby watched as Brian’s hands fisted in anger. “You wouldn’t.”

“Oh son, we both know I most certainly would. But I digress; that’s not why I stopped by today. I just wanted to drop off this little receipt. You see, I’ve taken care of all of Skylar’s recent medical expenses in full. No need to thank me.”

Brian eyed the envelope, refusing to touch it. “What the hell kind of game are you playing at?”

“Game? What game could I possibly be playing by taking care of a medical expense for my granddaughter?”

“You’ve never cared about that girl a day in her life, Marcus. We don’t want your money. I’ll call the hospital in the morning to cancel your payment.”

“It’s already gone through,” came the smug reply.

Brian’s eyes narrowed in annoyance. “You can’t possibly believe that one little act of fake grandfatherly kindness is going to convince the judge that you’re a halfway decent person. Mom’s still going to take you to the cleaners.”

“Oh, how sweet. You’re calling her ‘mom’ now. Tell me, was this before or after she stopped being a raging alcoholic?”