“That’s what you do when you have a job.” She bites into a piece of toast, and I can’t help but stare at her mouth.
Noise from the television draws my eyes at a singing cartoon character and Sadie dancing in her seat. She’s eating what looks like Cheerios in a ceramic bowl with puppies on it. “Who’s gonna watch the wee one?”
“You,” Amelia says. “First babies take a while.”
Next, she and my brother are gone. Darcy and I are alone. I’m tempted to pull her into the alcove behind the kitchen and ask her what the hell is going on between us. I’m freaking the fuck out about it. She doesn’t seem to care that I’m her uncle, and she saw me hard as a rock. Why didn’t she scream or tell me to cover up?
“You don’t mind watching Sadie for the day, do you? Until my dad gets back?” She’s talking as if nothing’s happened.
Christ almighty, maybe it’s all in my head.
I’m not sure how I can watch Sadie if I have to drive into town to find a router, or at least a signal, and then sit there all day to follow up on my father’s council work. “No, I don’t mind. I have some errands to do, though. When will you be home?”
“Six.”
“Six!” I check my phone. “It’s seven-thirty a.m.”
“Aye, I work from eight to six, four days a week.”
“Shite,” I swear.
“Take Sadie with you. I’ll leave you the booster seat.” Darcy slaps my chest.
What in fuck’s sake is going on? I came here to bring Kieran a wife, and now I’m a nanny!
Darcy pushes a plate of food at me. “She’s easy, I promise. Give me your number, and I’ll text you. You can message me if you have any questions.”
I tell it to her as I eat. The food is warm and tasty, the toast just the color I like it and the right amount of butter. It feels good in my stomach and settles my anxiety. No, it wipes it out.
“Have a good day.” She hugs me, and I instinctively close my hands around her waist. She’s full in the hips and strong.
Damn, I like that. The smell of her is unnerving, and I feel myself get hard again. “We’re leaving here when Sadie’s visa comes through, right?”
“That’s the plan.” Darcy doesn’t meet my eyes, though, unlike before when she couldn’t stop looking at my body. It was the most exhilarating thing I’ve felt in a very long time.
I push the hair off her shoulder and kiss her cheek, pushing the boundary because I can’t help it. “Have a good day. Be careful driving.”
“What?”
“What?” What the helldidI say?
“You said be careful driving.”
“I did?”
“Yeah, that’s…sweet. Are you sure you’re dangerous?”
“I never said I was dangerous. I said our world is about to get dangerous.”
“Where do you live again?”
“Astoria.” I’ll tell her another time about the origin of Astoria. Named for John Jacob Astor, America’s first superstar billionaire.
“No other family there has offered Kieran a daughter?”
“His brothers will probably marry into powerful families. Whether to shore-up alliances or form truces. Kieran promised to marry a Quinlan.” I feel proud saying that.
“Right.” Darcy tugs the strap of her bag, looking uncomfortable. “Sadie, kiss Mummy goodbye.”