Page 48 of His Fantasy Girl

“He’s an ex-con. People like that never change.”

She picked up a pencil and tapped it on the desk as she tried to control her anger. The pencil snapped. Crap. She didn’t recognize herself these days. She never got angry, things never fazed her, yet she was ready to stab Jack with her broken pencil.

“You know absolutely nothing about him. And he’s Jennifer’s father, so I’d be pleased if you didn’t say anything like that in my presence again. Logan paid for whatever crime he committed.”

She really hoped that would finish the conversation, but he stayed where he was, looking down at her. “I thought we had a chance together. That there was something between us.”

And now she felt guilty.Great.“I thought so, too. I’m sorry, Jack. I’m just at a strange place in my life right now. Jenny needs me and…”

“And you’re seeing Logan McCabe.”

“I am notseeinghim. Well, not like that.”And it’s none of your goddamn business anyway.But she kept the words to herself.

“So what were you doing in the early hours of the morning with him?”

Breathe slowly and think nice thoughts.Christ, if Logan could do it, so could she.“He was giving me a lift home after my shift finished. Though that’s really none of your business.”

He shook his head. Again. “You’re making a mistake getting involved with McCabe.” He waved a hand to the computer screen. “And it won’t do your chances of getting into the bureau any good.”

“Why the hell should it have anything to do with the goddamn bureau? My private life is exactly that—private.”

“Don’t be naive, Abby. It’s who you know that matters. It always has been, and I’m telling you—Logan McCabe will drag you down.” Then he turned and walked away.

She watched his retreating back as she mulled over his words. Could Logan really hurt her chances of becoming a detective? Part of her wanted to deny that it could have any effect, but as Jack had pointed out, she was being naive.

Sometimes she hated the way things were.

She was good at her job, and she’d make a great detective, and that should be all that mattered. Putting Jack from her mind, she finished the application form, took a deep breath, and hit send.

When she got home an hour later, Jenny had just left for school. Her mother was drinking coffee at the kitchen table and glanced up with a smile. “You look tired.”

“I am. I’m going to go to bed.”

“Could we talk for a few minutes first? There’s something I need to tell you.”

Abby sank down into the chair, searching her mother’s face. As far as she was aware, her mum wasn’t due any check-ups for another two months, and she’d seemed so cheerful lately. “There’s nothing wrong is there?”

“No, nothing like that. I’m fine. Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. This is something else. Nothing bad, I just…”

She got up, poured Abby a coffee, and slid it across the table to her. Abby cupped the mug in her hands and waited. Whatever she’d said, there was something wrong—her mum was pacing the room. “Sit down and tell me.”

She sat opposite, pursed her lips, twiddled a finger in her hair, and said, “I’m going back to your father.”

“What?” Whatever she’d expected, it hadn’t been that. Abby hadn’t had direct contact with her father in years, and she knew deep down that she was still bitter about him and his ultimatum. She wasn’t sure she would ever forgive him. No way would she ever have considered an abortion, but if her mum hadn’t sided with her things would have been very difficult. “I didn’t even know you were seeing him.” Her mother had kept very quiet about that.

“I went to see him after I got the all clear from the cancer. It was weird, but I really wanted to see him before that, and I’d been thinking about it for a while, but I couldn’t do it while I was ill. Afterward…well, I thought, why not? Life’s too short to hold grudges, and I loved him. Still love him. What he did was wrong, but he thought he was doing the best thing for you.”

“And he’s asked you to go back to him?”

“He asked me straight away. I couldn’t leave you and Jenny then, but things are different now.”

“How are they different?”

“Well, you have Logan.”

“I do nothaveLogan.” Her head was pounding. She pulled out the pins that held her hair in place and ran her hands through it, pressing her scalp. “Jenny has Logan.”

“But he’s going to be there for you. You won’t have to shoulder everything alone. And he told me his lawyer is drawing up a maintenance agreement, so money will be easier.”

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