Page 201 of Before Dawn

Alicia smiled. “You’ve built a great life, Mikkel, and we can see that reflected in Abigail.”

I met her eyes, my voice sure. “She’s everything to me, and she knows it.”

She patted my arm before pressing a kiss to her husband’s cheek. “I’m going to get some work done.”

She left, and he didn’t move right away. Instead, he exhaled, swirling the last of the water in his bottle before setting it on the counter with a soft clink. His gaze found mine again, this time less like a test and more like a warning.

“I’ve heard the praises my wife sings about you,” he spoke evenly, his voice carrying an unmissable weight.

“And from this conversation, I can see why. You’re a determined, level-headed man—ambitious but grounded. A man who knows what he wants.”

A pause. A shift. And then—

“Abigail is my baby,” he said, quieter now. “She’s twenty-three, but she’ll always be my little girl.”

I nodded, understanding the unspoken meaning.

“She’s far from home, and I want to thank you for making her happy.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Mr. Asher.”

“Daniel,” he corrected, his voice deliberate. He held my gaze, his silence charged with something protective, personal.

“I know how badly she’s been hurt,” he finally said. “And I never want her to go through that again.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” I replied, my voice steady and certain. “I’d never let that happen.”

For the first time, something flickered in his expression—reluctant but unmistakable. After a pause, he nodded. “Alright, Mikkel. I’m trusting you with her.”

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the kitchen.

I took a deep breath and turned toward the stairs, but froze when I saw Abigail sitting on the steps, tears staining her cheeks.

Panic gripped my chest as I rushed to her side. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

She sniffled, wiping her eyes. “I heard everything. The whole conversation with you and my parents.” Her voice was shaky, but a hint of humor crept in. “Aurora and I were eavesdropping—well, mostly me. She said she was going to die from the cuteness and then left to probably annoy mom.”

I chuckled, amused by how animated she sounded, mimicking her sister’s dramatic flair.

She pulled me into a kiss, and I wrapped my arms around her. “You have no idea how happy hearing that made me. I know my dad can be intense, and you, as expected, handled it so well, but actually hearing it… everything just…” She paused, taking a deep breath, and I placed my hand on her thigh. “It just made me feel all warm inside, Mikkel.”

I didn’t respond—just kissed her forehead and held her tighter.

I pulled back slightly to look at her. “Are you feeling better?”

She shook her head. “I still have a headache.”

“Maybe you need to eat,” I suggested gently.

“Maybe.”

We walked to the kitchen, and I admired her as she moved around.

Without even looking back, she said, “I can feel your gaze on me.”

“Because I’m admiring you.”

She turned, setting a plate in front of me before sitting down at the table.

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