Abigail thought back a moment but then shook her head. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Let me have your keys.”
Abigail handed them to him and stood back as he did his thing. After his few attempts at the ignition, he popped the hood.
“Well?” She came up next to him.
Josh wiped his hands across his pressed jeans. “I think it’s your battery.”
“That’s an easy enough fix. Let me see if I can get one of the girls to drive me to an automotive shop.”
“Don’t be silly, I can do that.”
She didn’t want to be around him anymore than she had to. “You’ve done enough for me…clearly. And I’m not happy with you anyway.”
“I know you’re not and I’m sorry about the job thing. But you deserve better and so does your daughter.” He closed the space between him and she could now smell is cologne. It was intoxicating, in a good way.
His words then registered in her head. Daughter? Had he said daughter? How did he know about Hailey? How much did he know?
“I’d like to help you. Maybe I can pay her tuition so you can work a better job with different hours.”
How did he know so much? Abigail crossed her arms and glared at him. “What’s wrong with me being a stripper? I’m damn good at it and I make a lot of money. After all, it is the male race that enjoys throwing money at women just to see her tits.”
Josh grinned. “I didn’t say you weren’t good. I just think a day job would be better. You could be more available to her when she needs you.”
“Just because I’m here at night and have a babysitter doesn’t mean I’m not there for her when she needs me.” She was very active in Hailey’s school and his insinuations were a wound to her pride.
“If I pay for her schooling, will that help you?”
Abigail leaned against the car and stared at the man who could change everything for her and Hailey. She had to tell him. He was bound to find out. In fact, he already knew quite a bit. A man with his money had the ability to get whatever information he wanted to. And maybe it was best he heard it from her before someone else.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “We need to talk, but not tonight. Let’s get my car taken care of and then I’ll call you tomorrow. I promise.”
“Sounds good. My vehicle’s this way.” He held his hand out to her. She stared at it and wondered if she should take it. Instead, she held her arms tight across her chest as though she were cold and followed him across the parking lot.
After he learned the secret she’d been hiding, she was pretty sure he wouldn’t want anything to do with her.
Chapter Three
Josh pulled his car up to Abigail’s place the next morning. She’d asked him to be there at ten. He was a few minutes early, but he believed in punctuality. He decided to go ahead and knock on the door. No reason to sit in the car. She most likely knew he was there already.
He went to apartment 2A and knocked. There was no answer, so he knocked harder. Finally the door swung open. Abigail’s face appeared and she didn’t look happy. “You’re early.”
“Only a little.” He took in the sight before him. Her hair was up in a towel and she wore a small pink robe that let him see just how long her legs were. “I figured you’d be ready by now.”
“I still had fifteen minutes. You’d be amazed how much I can get done in that time.” She opened the door wider and stepped back so he could come in. “Make yourself comfortable while I get dressed.”
He walked into the tiny place and watched as she headed to the back. Was she naked under that robe? Thoughts flooded his head of her onstage. As much as it should sicken him to know someone he cared about was doing that, he had to admit, she had a nice body. She had long flowing blond hair with a slight curl to it. And eyes that almost matched the color of coffee. She had curves. Wide hips, a waist that dipped in, and then a set of medium-sized breasts.
Willing the image of her body from his mind, he walked around the living room, studying the photos. Most were of the child Hailey and the rest were of the two of them. Josh had chatted with Nate again and he found nothing of a father in the girl’s school records. He’d dug around further and there wasn’t a trail anywhere. Who was the mystery man that had walked away from these two?
Finally taking a seat on the couch, he looked forward to actually talking with Abigail. Maybe things would work out for the two of them this time. He had every intention of letting her know today how he felt about her years ago and how he felt now. He wasn’t getting any younger and he wanted to settle down. Abigail was the one he wanted to share his life with. And with no mention of any father, perhaps he could adopt the girl and give her the father she deserved.