Austin had heard about how Ian’s wife, Riley, had been his half brother Alex’s best friend. Ian had come between Riley and Alex, and though they’d never been a couple, from Ian’s possessive tone, that hadn’t mattered. According to Dare family lore, Ian had worked hard to win Riley, and once he had her, he kept her pregnant and happy.
The thought of another man making a play for Quinn didn’t sit well with Austin, but he didn’t have a say. Picking up a pen on his desk, he rolled it between his palms, thinking about the woman outside his office.
“She doesn’t want kids,” he admitted to Ian. “She’s already all but raised her siblings and cousins. Which means whatever I might be feeling for her doesn’t matter as long as Jenny is mine.”
Ian studied him. “In my case, what Riley thought she didn’t want and what she was afraid of were one and the same. Once I got her past her issues, she became mine.”
Austin heard the man but he believed Quinn knew her own mind. And she’d said she didn’t want children. Austin believed her.
“What if the baby isn’t yours? I happened to turn and notice that little kiss you gave her. Looks to me like you’re already falling for the baby, too,” Ian said with certainty.
His words hit home, but unsure how to respond, Austin remained silent.
Ian cocked his head to one side. “Look, I’m giving you things to think about. I just want you to be happy. Like I want for everyone in my family. Now let’s talk business.”
Jesus, the man could cause whiplash, Austin thought and refocused himself on his clients and what was in their best interest. “Fine. Damon’s contract is up at the end of the season. He’ll be a free agent. I’ve had other teams sniffing around. Is there a reason I should take them seriously?” His brother wanted to remain in Miami, but no need to tell Ian that and tip his hand.
Ian folded his arms across his chest, his face impassive, giving nothing away, either. “If he plays the same way this year as last, we’ll talk.”
“You know he will.”
He shrugged as if to say, we’ll see.
They discussed a few other mutual clients and Ian rose to his feet. “We should get together. Riley loves babies and maybe you’ll pick up some tips.” Ian grinned. “I’ll text you some items that might save your life.”
“I’d appreciate that. As for getting together, give me a week or so to settle in with Jenny and to make sure she’s really mine.” If she was, his entire life would remain as it was now, upside down and brand-new. If she wasn’t his, what was he going to do? Give her up to social services and some unknown family?
He’d only had Jenny in his home for a weekend, but she was a helpless infant and she needed loving care. Not a family who took her in for cash or had other kids and couldn’t give her the love and time she deserved.
Both thoughts churned his already upset stomach.
Chapter Five
Austin had convinced Quinn to let him drive them to and from work since they were coming and going from the same place anyway. She figured people in the office would learn she was helping him out with the baby, so she didn’t have to hide them arriving together.
When they returned home at the end of the day, he parked and she noticed a huge box sitting on the front step. “What is that?” she asked.
“A baby swing. Amazon had same-day delivery.” He opened the truck door and hopped out, leaving her speechless.
She let herself out and met him by the back door on the baby’s side. He’d already begun unbuckling the car seat and lifting Jenny into his arms.
Stunned, she followed him up the steps and unlocked the front door.
“Can you hold her so I can get the box inside?” he asked.
“Sure.” Her head was spinning, shocked he hadn’t expected her to take Jenny out of the seat. “You’re suddenly comfortable with her?”
He grunted in response, then said, “Not really. But I had an interesting conversation with Ian.” Austin dragged the box into the house.
She followed him and he shut the door, locking it behind him.
“Ian has three kids, and for some reason it got me thinking about what Jenny needs.” He rested a hand on the top of the box. “She needs me. Right now I’m all she has.” He met her gaze. “We’re all she has.”
“For now,” she felt compelled to remind him. She wasn’t his or Jenny’s answer to life.
He frowned and continued. “Anyway, Ian sent me a list of some items that he said would give us a break from holding her constantly. The swing being one of them.”
Quinn forced a grin. “If I’m the baby whisperer, Ian must be the Austin whisperer.”
He rolled his eyes. “If you don’t mind feeding her, I’ll get this set up. Oh, and do you want to order dinner?”
She nodded, and later, they shared Chinese food out of cartons. Sitting side by side on the couch in the family room, they watched Jenny swing back and forth. Freshly bathed, fed, and changed, she was quiet and happy in her new piece of equipment, her little feet kicking, while Austin was extremely proud of himself for buying and setting up the swing.
He was already something to see as a man. Watching him come into his own as a dad was sexy in a whole different way. She didn’t want to see Austin as the whole package, and she reminded herself that not only did he not want a long-term relationship, she preferred to be alone. Or with a man who didn’t come with a built-in family. Hadn’t she broken up with Daniel for the very reason that she didn’t want children? And that hadn’t changed.
She looked from the swinging baby to the man beside her.
“So tell me, really, are you okay with your new reality?” she asked him. “Or are you just making the best of it?”
He paused with the fork halfway to his mouth and lowered it to the table. “Frankly, I’m scared to death.”
She blinked in surprise because he’d suddenly seemed so capable and calm.
“There’s a baby in that swing that a note says is mine,” he went on. “A woman floating around out there who could show up at any minute and demand her back. A DNA test to be taken that could change my entire life, and these last three days have given me a glimpse as to just how drastically. So no. I’m really not okay. I’m just doing what I have to do for that helpless little baby.”
He expelled a long breath, and she finally realized just how much this situation was impacting him.
“Hey.” She put her own fork down. “I know this is rough. I’m not going to bail on you until you get yourself settled one way or another. And your mother will be home before you know it so she can pitch in. You aren’t alone.”
His gaze warmed at her words but he looked upset. “Except I am alone. You said you don’t want kids? Hell, I never gave them a thought. And what’s worse is that I was careful. I know for sure I used a condom. So to say this is unexpected is an understatement.” He ran a hand through his hair and messed up the long strands.
She blew out a breath. “I—”
“Do you know what’s worse?” He interrupted her and she waved a hand for him to continue.
Obviously he had things he needed to get off his chest.
“What the fuck do I know about being a father?” He stabbed himself in the chest with his finger. “Jesse Prescott taught me lessons in berating a kid to get the best out of him. How’s that for a good role model?”
“Oh, Austin.” She leaned in close and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. “You’re not Jesse. You’re a good man. You’ve put your life on hold to take care of a little girl you aren’t even certain is yours. Forgetting the fact that you spent a small fortune in baby supplies, you’ve learned how to change a diaper and give a bottle when you could have turned her over to the police, who would have given her to CPS.”
He shook his head. “Those are basics. Anyone can do that.”
“But not just anyone would. Just like being a kidney donor for Paul. You stepped up.” She stroked a hand down his cheek, feeling the stubble beneath her fingertips.
“If you’re her father, you’re going to be a good dad. I promise.”
He managed a smile but she knew it was half-hearted at best.
A muscle still worked in his jaw from the way he obviously clenched his teeth. “Listen, I need some time to think. I’m going to go out to the pool for a bit and just chill. Can you handle her if she wakes up?”
She swallowed hard, hating that she’d upset him. “Of course. And I’ll clean up.” She reached out to touch him in reassurance, but he rose, turned, and walked away.
* * *
Austin stood facing the Olympic-sized pool that had been a selling point of the house. The ability to swim laps in order to unwind was always something he enjoyed. Tonight was a cool evening for August, and he wasn’t in the mood to go into the water. He’d just needed to be alone to think.
Ever since he’d accepted the reality of Jenny in his home, he’d been forcing thoughts of Jesse out of his mind. He’d even tried to be okay with the situation after Ian had left, but the more he attempted to be the upbeat, good father she needed, the more insidious thoughts of the dad who’d raised him intruded. And Quinn had called him on it.
Somehow she sensed all wasn’t as it seemed and he’d dumped his fears on her. Not his greatest moment, he thought. Another thing Jesse had instilled in him. Never show weakness.
Except, when it came to the woman currently living in his house, he was beginning to feel his personal walls crumble. And if he wasn’t careful, he was going to be left having to pick up the pieces when she was gone.
* * *
Sitting at her desk in the office the next morning, Quinn looked at the schedule for the day. She’d found a bonded nanny agency that agreed to send qualified candidates with vetted references over to Dare Nation for interviews. She’d explained the urgency of the situation, and she had five women coming to the office today.
Again, she worked with Jenny, alternating between the car seat carrier and the Baby Bjorn. If she wasn’t such a sweet baby, this situation wouldn’t have been palatable, but she was. So Quinn was able to handle it. And there was a small part of her that was falling for the adorable infant, which made her grateful Austin’s mother would be home in a couple of days and relieve her of duty.
The first candidate arrived, a young woman with stars in her eyes, and when she caught sight of the athlete photographs on the walls in the office, those eyes lit up. Quinn disliked her immediately and was grateful when Austin cut the interview short after she was visibly sucking up to him and ignoring the baby.
Candidate number two was an older woman with strict ideas about babies, scheduling, letting them cry it out, and other old-school ideas that had Quinn cringing at the thought of subjecting Jenny to such a rigid woman.
“Thank you, we’ll be in touch,” Quinn had said, interrupting the woman mid-sentence.
Austin, she’d noted, hid a grin as Quinn had risen from her chair and escorted the other woman out, listening to her complain that Quinn hadn’t let her finish discussing the Ferber method of teaching a baby to self-soothe. It hadn’t helped that she’d gone into a lecture on the issues with the Baby Bjorn and spoiling an infant.
The day went on in similar fashion, with either Quinn or Austin finding reasons to dislike the candidates.
And when someone from the lab arrived to take a DNA swab from Austin and Jenny, Austin hovered over the baby and asked a ton of questions, making the entire process take longer than it should have for a mere mouth swab.
On top of that, his lawyer had no leads on the baby’s mother. Austin had visibly tensed when he’d taken the call and hadn’t been happy with no progress, and Quinn had had to remind him it had only been a few days.
Quinn was giving the baby a bottle when Paul Dare walked up to her desk.
“Hi, Quinn.” The handsome man treated her to a warm smile. He had a full head of dark hair, tanned skin, and a healthy pallor, thanks to Austin.
“Hi, Mr. Dare.”
He frowned. “Paul, please. I’ve told you that.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry. Habit.” Her parents had instilled the Mr. and Mrs. thing and it had stuck.
He glanced at the baby in her arms. “Quite the change around here, yes?” The good-looking older man met her gaze and grinned.
She nodded.
“And no news from the child’s mother?” Paul asked.
“If you mean has she shown up or been found, that’s a big no.” She glanced down at Jenny, who stared at her with eyes very similar to the man standing in front of Quinn.
She had a feeling Austin had every right to be concerned that the baby was his. And just as much right to worry if she wasn’t, because who in the world would take care of her then? Quinn’s stomach churned at the uncomfortable thought.
“Is he in? Or is he with a client?” Paul tipped his head toward the closed door.
“He’s in. I’ll let him know you’re here.”
“I’ll just surprise him. You have your hands full,” he said before she could get a handle on juggling the baby, the bottle, and the phone.
“I appreciate it.” She was glad Paul was here to talk to Austin, because she had a feeling he needed his uncle’s support more than he realized.
* * *
“Austin.”
At the sound of his uncle’s voice, Austin turned away from the window overlooking the city of Miami. “Hi. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“You’re preoccupied. Understandably so.” Paul strode over and put an arm around his shoulders. “It’s not every day a man finds out he’s a father and is handed his baby in one day.”
Austin let out a rough laugh. “I guess that sums it up. If she’s mine.” He was getting tired of that refrain, but the lab tech told him that his law firm had paid for rushed results, so the best he could hope for was three to five working days.
He stepped away from his uncle and walked over to the makeshift bar he kept in his office. “Can I make you a drink? Club soda and a splash of cranberry juice?”
Since Paul’s transplant, he’d sworn off alcohol, determined to make his single kidney last.
“Sounds good.”
Austin nodded. “I’ll have one, too. I could use the hard stuff today.” He chuckled at his own joke and poured two virgin drinks, handing one to his uncle.
“Let’s sit,” Paul said, choosing a club chair in a corner where Austin had a comfortable, casual den-like area set up in his overly large office.
Austin lowered himself into the matching chair to Paul’s and crossed one leg over his knee. “So. To what do I owe this visit? Want to discuss Damon’s upcoming year? Another client contract?”
“No. What I want is to get you to open up and relieve yourself of the panic I know must be riding you. So tell me what’s on your mind? What’s wrong besides the obvious?”
Taking a sip of his drink, Paul studied him in silence. The man had a knack for getting others to talk because he had the ability to remain quiet down to an art form.
Austin ran a hand over his face and groaned. “What isn’t wrong?” Without drinking any, he put his glass onto a coaster. “Let’s see. There’s a woman floating around out there who is Jenny’s mother. Let’s assume for the moment the baby is mine. That means I’m stuck with this crazy person for the rest of my life. Joint custody or a custody fight. Something is brewing. There’s no way she just dropped the baby off and is going to disappear.” The longer he chewed on the situation, the more he was certain.
Jenny’s mother wanted something. Why else leave her baby on his doorstep? At the thought, what was becoming a familiar pain lodged in his chest. He didn’t know if the discomfort was because of the disruption Jenny being his baby would cause … or the baby’s mother’s unknown intentions. He rubbed on his sternum in a futile attempt to ease it.
Paul leaned in close. “I can understand you find that upsetting, but until you have the DNA test back so you can formalize your rights to the baby, there’s nothing you can do.”
He
nodded. “I know that.”
“Your mother will be back from her cruise at the end of the week. You and Quinn will have backup.” He took another sip. “A little less cranberry next time,” he said with a laugh.
Austin grinned. “Good to know my bartending skills aren’t up to par.” He hesitated then said, “What if she’s mine? What do I know about being a father? Or being a single parent? Because I don’t want someone who can abandon their child anywhere near my kid.” His certainty on that was clear.
Paul’s expression gentled. “You know kindness and empathy. And you know what not to do.” Paul met his gaze, so much unsaid yet understood between them.
“That’s what Quinn said,” Austin admitted. He wasn’t a man used to unburdening himself, but that’s what seemed to be happening and often lately.
“She’s a smart woman. And she also has a big heart,” Paul said.
Austin grinned at that. “Yeah, she does.”
“The question is, does she have yours?”
He shook his head. “What is it with people asking me how I feel about my assistant?”
Paul lifted an eyebrow. “So I’m not the only one who noticed how your eyes follow her wherever she goes.”
Austin ignored the words, his fingers toying with the material on his slacks.
“You and Ian are seeing things,” he said at last. As was his mother, but he wasn’t about to make things worse for himself by admitting even the astute Christine had nailed his feelings for a woman he couldn’t have.
Paul’s concerned gaze rested on his. “Son, life is short. I, of all people, know that. I came close to not getting that kidney because I didn’t want to risk the secret I’d agreed to hold years ago. It was your mother who convinced me to talk to all of you.”
Austin’s heart skipped a beat at the thought of losing a man who’d treated him better than his own father had. “I realize that.”
“Then you should go after what you want. Just because you hadn’t planned on a family doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one. Can’t have one. Or don’t deserve one.”
Dare to Resist Page 8
