vaguest idea that Abigail’s friends were less than impressed with him. In the low light and very low seating of the overly priced bar, Liam’s knees were almost touching his chest. Abigail was just as uncomfortable next to him, the hem of her jersey dress creeping up her thighs. He’d have to enjoy that later. Laura, he remembered, was the photo editor. Her face was set into a squint. He supposed staring at photographs all day would do that. Maybe she was feeling suspicious. Haillie, was the interior designer. Almost as tall as Abigail in death-defying heels, her suspicion was more than evident.
Okay, plan B . He ordered a move to a better area, with a combined order of a magnum of champagne. As they changed into a seated area that accommodated the giants amongst them, Liam felt more comfortable about facing what was coming. An inquisition. The three women stared at the bottle of champagne then at him.
He gazed back at them. “Am I the only alcoholic here?”
“Just no idea what we’re celebrating,” Laura said.
Abigail shot her friend a disapproving look. “Me being happy? You meeting the person responsible?”
He caught her Abigail’s hand and kissed it before handing her a full glass of champagne. Haillie accepted her glass from him and said mutely, “You must be amazing in the sack. She doesn’t introduce us to anyone.”
“I wonder why?” Abigail was boot-faced. Bless her, this was pretty easy going for him.
“I am but a slave to the lady’s demands. The next time you’ll see me, I’ll be on one of those TV adverts, appealing for three pounds a month to save me. Three pounds a month would give me half-hour breaks. Save me from lockjaw. Counsel me through the trauma.”
Laura and Haillie stared at each other for a moment before they burst out laughing. “You are dark,” Laura said with approval. “You don’t seem old enough to have a teenager.”
Liam’s brows lifted slightly. Improvement from the suspicion. “Edging into the 4-0. I’m plenty old enough, but Leila isn’t thirteen yet. Next month.”
Abigail smiled at him. “He just about allowed me to take her to Topshop. It’s Teenage Mecca in there these days.”
“What are you talking about?” Laura protested. “I’m wearing Topshop.”
“And as lovely as it looks on you, it’s full of sparkles and cropped tops girls used to wear when I was Leila’s age. I don’t want my child in there!”
Haillie regarded him with interest. “You sound strict.”
His eyebrows curled in confusion. “Is that your way of asking me if it extends to Abi?”
“Maybe.” Her face was sly, tickling Liam’s funny bone. Now his lovely Abigail’s OCD seemed miniscule in comparison to the unbalanced nature on display.
“Stop it!” Abigail warned them. “We’re not discussing any kink.”
Laura and Haillie sighed in disappointment. Liam took the opportunity to reassure them both that he wasn’t misusing their friend. “I like your friend. More than I’ve liked anyone in a very long time. She’s not going to play Evil Stepmother to my daughter, even if the brat deserves it sometimes, and she’s not a free babysitter. I pay her in kind.” Abigail hit him on the arm. “I hope I’m making her happy. But I know she’d tell me if she wasn’t. Only because I’m getting good at convincing her otherwise.”
“Would you stop?”
“He’s appealing to your deep, dark whoreish nature.” Haillie shrugged. “Is this your first relationship since you, er...found yourself single?”
“Yes. Before Abigail poured bottles of red down my throat and groped me in her café—”
Abigail heaved a sigh. “I’m just going to hurt you later.”
“I hadn’t gone out with anyone in...” He had to think to work it out. Grief. Fifteen years. He and Sarah had been so young when they met and married. Perhaps their age became the dividing difference between them. He grew up and she wanted to retain her “lost” youth. “A
Okay, plan B . He ordered a move to a better area, with a combined order of a magnum of champagne. As they changed into a seated area that accommodated the giants amongst them, Liam felt more comfortable about facing what was coming. An inquisition. The three women stared at the bottle of champagne then at him.
He gazed back at them. “Am I the only alcoholic here?”
“Just no idea what we’re celebrating,” Laura said.
Abigail shot her friend a disapproving look. “Me being happy? You meeting the person responsible?”
He caught her Abigail’s hand and kissed it before handing her a full glass of champagne. Haillie accepted her glass from him and said mutely, “You must be amazing in the sack. She doesn’t introduce us to anyone.”
“I wonder why?” Abigail was boot-faced. Bless her, this was pretty easy going for him.
“I am but a slave to the lady’s demands. The next time you’ll see me, I’ll be on one of those TV adverts, appealing for three pounds a month to save me. Three pounds a month would give me half-hour breaks. Save me from lockjaw. Counsel me through the trauma.”
Laura and Haillie stared at each other for a moment before they burst out laughing. “You are dark,” Laura said with approval. “You don’t seem old enough to have a teenager.”
Liam’s brows lifted slightly. Improvement from the suspicion. “Edging into the 4-0. I’m plenty old enough, but Leila isn’t thirteen yet. Next month.”
Abigail smiled at him. “He just about allowed me to take her to Topshop. It’s Teenage Mecca in there these days.”
“What are you talking about?” Laura protested. “I’m wearing Topshop.”
“And as lovely as it looks on you, it’s full of sparkles and cropped tops girls used to wear when I was Leila’s age. I don’t want my child in there!”
Haillie regarded him with interest. “You sound strict.”
His eyebrows curled in confusion. “Is that your way of asking me if it extends to Abi?”
“Maybe.” Her face was sly, tickling Liam’s funny bone. Now his lovely Abigail’s OCD seemed miniscule in comparison to the unbalanced nature on display.
“Stop it!” Abigail warned them. “We’re not discussing any kink.”
Laura and Haillie sighed in disappointment. Liam took the opportunity to reassure them both that he wasn’t misusing their friend. “I like your friend. More than I’ve liked anyone in a very long time. She’s not going to play Evil Stepmother to my daughter, even if the brat deserves it sometimes, and she’s not a free babysitter. I pay her in kind.” Abigail hit him on the arm. “I hope I’m making her happy. But I know she’d tell me if she wasn’t. Only because I’m getting good at convincing her otherwise.”
“Would you stop?”
“He’s appealing to your deep, dark whoreish nature.” Haillie shrugged. “Is this your first relationship since you, er...found yourself single?”
“Yes. Before Abigail poured bottles of red down my throat and groped me in her café—”
Abigail heaved a sigh. “I’m just going to hurt you later.”
“I hadn’t gone out with anyone in...” He had to think to work it out. Grief. Fifteen years. He and Sarah had been so young when they met and married. Perhaps their age became the dividing difference between them. He grew up and she wanted to retain her “lost” youth. “A
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