“Your brother is my best friend. We talk. Listen, I get it. You don’t want the entire burden to fall on your brother, and that’s admirable.” Really fucking admirable, considering the women I know what me for one of two things: what’s between my legs or what’s in my back account. “But what you would have paid, you can save, put it toward that daycare facility you always wanted.”
She bites her lip and looks down. “You’re not saying no. I won’t let you.”
“Jonah—”
“Done. It’s settled. While you’re helping me with Daisy, and helping me find a nanny, I’ll pay you.”
“You’re kind of pushy.”
I grin at her. “That’s why they call me the Body Checker.” She looks down for a moment, and I pray she’s not having second thoughts. “What?” I ask.
“Just…I don’t think we should tell my brother or anyone else about us.”
“Your brother would kick my ass if he knew I was fucking you.”
“Since when have you ever been afraid of Zander?”
“He’s my best friend, Quinn.” Fear niggles at me. I love Zander like a brother, and would never want to hurt him. Goddammit, I should have kept my dick in my pants. “I can’t lose him.”
She nods, like she understands that. “I know he’s overprotective of me, but I’m a big girl, can make my own decisions on who I bring into my bed.”
“Then why don’t you want anyone to know?” I ask, bluntly.
“I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea, that we might be in a relationship or something. I’m not looking for anything like that.”
I take a moment to absorb her words, roll them around in my brain for a second. Would being in a relationship with me be so horrible? Guess so, considering she wants to keep this a secret. Yeah, I know I have a reputation, and she deserves someone better.
Wait, wait. I don’t want a relationship either, so what the fuck am I getting all upset about?
Daisy lets loose another burp and Quinn laughs. “Not hard to tell she’s your daughter.” She shakes her head. “You and Zander were so disgusting, having those burping contests when you were younger.”
“I remember you joining in a time or two. If memory serves me correctly, didn’t you win after you drank that big glass of root beer?”
She lifts her chin. “I don’t remember that at all.”
“Yeah right.”
“I believe you’re having false memories. I would never do something so disgusting.” She stands and stretches out her arms. “Can I hold her for a minute?”
“Way to change the subject,” I say, and hand my daughter over.
Quinn smiles as she looks down at little Daisy. “She’s so precious.”
“You look like you might want one.”
Her head rears back. “No.”
“Whoa,” I say, obviously hitting a sore spot. “Sorry.”
“I just…I work at a daycare. When I get home at the end of the night, I want peace and quiet,” she says, but I’m not sure I believe. There’s something she’s not telling me, and I’m not going to push. It’s obviously a sensitive subject for her and likely none of my business. “I sent out a few texts to my co-workers yesterday. Hopefully we’ll hear something today. Like I said, the sooner we get a nanny, the better.”
Okay, okay, I get it. She doesn’t want to be here with me longer than necessary. She doesn’t have to keep driving the point home. I nod, and just then my cell rings from my bedroom. I glance at the stairs. “Who would be calling me this early in the morning?”
“No clue,” Quinn says. “Maybe it’s Shari, with a change of heart.”
Would I want her taking care of my daughter after pulling a stunt like that?
I hurry up the stairs—and my heart races when I see who the call is from.