A Beautiful Thought (The Beautiful Series) by Alicia Rae Page B

certain kind of person to be so giving and to put someone else’s needs in front of her own.
    I pushed all the food aside and gently laid her down on the blanket while climbing on top of her. My eyes roamed as my hands traveled over the contours of her beautiful face.
    I shook my head in awe of her. “You’re amazing,” I breathed. “You know that, don’t you?”
    Her expression sobered as she ran her hands up and down my sides. Her touch ignited my skin.
    “So are you,” was all she got out before I spent the next few hours kissing and holding her.
    All the while, I silently thanked Abbey for bringing Gail into my life.

~Gail~
    “Don’t forget to read The Princess and the Frog to her before bed. It’s her favorite story,” Abbey said, putting the book into Pearl’s bag for our sleepover.
    “Read The Princess and the Frog .” I made a mental note. “Got it,” I said.
    “And please make sure she takes a bath at least thirty minutes before bedtime, so her hair can dry,” Abbey continued thoughtfully.
    “Thirty minutes. Okay, so seven thirty,” I rambled to myself, adding it to my checklist.
    “Oh! And make sure she has a night-light on. She’s scared of the dark.”
    I stifled a laugh and could not resist the urge to tease Abbey. “Are you sure you don’t want to write an actual list for me, Mother Hen?”
    Abbey rolled her eyes at me. “You’ll understand how difficult it is to spend one night away from your child when you have one someday,” she chided good-naturedly.
    “Whoa,” I exhaled, putting my hands in front of me. “Let’s just practice having sleepovers for the time being.”
    Abbey laughed. “Speaking of sleepovers …” She speculatively stared at me. “How is the living arrangement with Damon going?”
    “Good,” I replied, being evasive since Jason and Pearl were in the living room.
    “Is that a good or a good ?” she probed while making goofy animations with her face.
    “Um…definitely the latter of the two.” I grinned, blushing.
    “Ah,” Abbey purred enthusiastically. “I expect an update on that very soon.” She winked.
    “Let me know when you can carve some free time into that crazy schedule of yours, and we’ll have a lunch date,” I said.
    Abbey zipped up Pearl’s sleepover bag and handed it to me. “It’s a date.”
    She headed for the door, and I followed.
    “But first, I have a date with my fiancé.”
    Jason walked up to Abbey and me, holding Pearl over his shoulder. Her sweet laughter filled the room.
    “I’m missing a person who’s about yay high.” He pointed to his lower chest. “She loves princesses, and her favorite color is pink. Can you help me find her? I think I might have lost her.”
    “Hmm…” Abbey and I murmured in unison. We looked around and then at each other.
    “Mommy!” Pearl squealed, her hands flaring at Jason’s sides as she hung upside down.
    “No, I don’t see anyone,” I said.
    Abbey gasped at Jason. “You lost our daughter?”
    “On accident!” Jason chuckled.
    “I’m right here, Daddy!” Pearl snickered.
    “Where?” Jason replied, spinning around with her. He rotated again, lifted one hand, and started tickling her. “Oh, wait! Never mind, I found her!”
    “Stop! Stop!” Pearl cried, laughing uncontrollably.
    Jason set Pearl down on her feet, and she gazed up at him with love in her eyes.
    “I’m gonna miss you, Daddy.”
    “Me, too, Princess,” he replied, hugging her.
    Abbey walked over to them. “I hope you have lots of fun with Gail,” she said, embracing Pearl before giving her a kiss. “Love you, Princess.”
    “Love you, too,” Pearl said to Abbey before turning to beam up at me.
    “Ready?” I asked, smiling.
    “Oh yeah!” Pearl bounced on the balls of her feet. She grabbed her overnight bag from Abbey and ambled to the door.
    I waved good-bye to the two lovebirds before heading out after Pearl.

    After taking Pearl out for pizza, we arrived at my apartment. We still had some