“I also said I’d try to convince you to give him another grandbaby. He thinks four is a much rounder number.” The admission made Abigail stop. “I couldn’t promise that, so don’t worry.”

“You should’ve told him that was a given too. I’ve seen the kids in your family, and planning a couple more Abbott kids will change what we’ll do to the house, so you might as well go ahead and give in now before the renovations are done.” Abigail lifted her hips and placed her hand on her sex. “You don’t want to disappoint my father, do you?”

“Not him, not you, not ever.” Everything she’d done in her life had led her here, to this woman, to this family, and to this life. It was hers. She was claiming it, and she’d fight to keep it all safe.

✥ ✥ ✥

“Did you finish everything at the office?” Emma asked as she came out of the bathroom in her panties and a sweater.

“I did, and thank you for packing for me. This is the last thing on our to-do list, and then we’re set for tomorrow.” She pulled a cable-knit sweater on and put her phone in the front pocket of her jeans. “This reminds me of our first days together.”

“If you want, I’ll even wait some tables tonight and spill something on you,” Emma said, winking at her as she pulled on a pair of jeans. “It’s been ages since I’ve been to the pub.”

“I thought these people would be more comfortable in a public setting where I’m less likely to bite.” She put her money clip in the opposite pocket and waited for Emma to get her boots on. “Hannah looked a lot happier and back to her old self.”

“We can thank Victoria Eaton for that.” Emma put on earrings next. “The strange thing is Lucy wasn’t in school today. I told Sabana to see if Lucy tried talking to Hannah,” she said of Hannah’s guard. Since the kidnapping incident, Sabana now sat outside Hannah’s classroom, and the kids loved playing with her when they were at recess. “I don’t want to punish Lucy, but I do want to know what’s going on.”

Cain had wanted Hannah to form a relationship with her personal bodyguard early, like Mook had done with Hayden, and Sabana wasn’t disappointing her. “It’s pathetic we’re having to jump through all these hoops. I find threatening to shoot someone’s fingers off is a much better way of getting answers.”