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It took every ounce of energy she had left to not roll her eyes. Apparently, luck was not on her schedule this morning after all.
Sure, the mere thought of Joe this morning had improved her running time, but it was way too early to actually converse with the man. Especially when he was in a pissy mood. She wracked her brain for a snarky comment about dealing with assholes before coffee, but—
“Where the hell have you been, Roxanne?”
Her right eyebrow arched in question, and irritation heated her already flushed face. Did the jackass have a death wish this morning?Bring it, buddy.
She slapped her hands on her hips, striking her best fuck-you pose. “Considering I’m wearing running clothes and all sweaty, I’d take a wild guess and say I was out baking cookies.”
His eyes narrowed. She could have sworn he growled.
Her chin lifted.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? You can’t just prance around the island by yourself in the dead of the night.”
Roxie saw red. She’d always thought it was just an expression. But it wasn’t. She literally saw red. And she wanted nothing more than to bash his stupid head in.
She jabbed her finger into his chest. Hard. “Irun, jackass. I don’tprance. I’m a grown woman and can take care of myself. Who the fuck do you think you are? You have absolutely zero say in what I do.”
He grabbed her finger when she jabbed him again. “I do have a say if your stubbornness and stupidity puts your safety in jeopardy.”
Yanking her finger out of his grasp, she smacked her hands on his chest and shoved.
The damn bastard didn’t budge.
“Fuck you, Joe. I’m not stupid. And you gave up all rights to say anything to me the moment you decided to turn into the world’s biggest asshole. That was your choice. Not mine. You don’t get to be an assholeandconcerned about me at the same time. It doesn’t work that way.”
Releasing a deep breath, he took a few steps back. “Dammit, Rox, I wasn’t calling you stupid.”
She stalked toward him and punched him in the stomach as hard as she could. If she weren’t so pissed, a satisfied grin would have spread across her face when he winced. But she was pissed. Beyond pissed.
She spun on her heels and raced up the stairs, ignoring his calls after her. She didn’t have time for this.
The jackass was now two-for-two in consecutive mornings he’d managed to ruin for her. Bastard.
* * *
A few hours after the fiasco with Roxie, Joe climbed the back steps to Quinn and Alex’s house, which was conveniently next door to his. He hadn’t texted to see if they were home; Annie’s sharp cries, which he’d heard clear across the yard, were answer enough.
Peering through the kitchen window, he spied Alex standing with her back to him. He gently knocked on the door, trying not to startle her. She spun around, an unhappy, red-faced baby in her arms, and motioned him inside.
When he opened the door, the volume of the little one’s shrill crying increased tenfold. Each wail was like a lightning strike to his eardrums. The urge to retreat was overpowering, but before he could take a step in either direction, Alex thrust the screaming baby into his arms.
His stomach knotted, and he froze.
Firing deadly weapons? He could handle that. Going undercover to infiltrate a circle of dirty politicians? No problem. Hand-to-hand combat? Bring it.
A tiny, shrieking baby?Holy fuck.
For the life of him, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d held a baby.
Annie’s howling intensified, and he adjusted his awkward hold on her. Supporting her itty-bitty body with his forearm, he rested her delicate head against the crook of his elbow and tucked her close to his chest.
To his absolute shock, Annie’s fury dissolved into soft hiccups. Which, if he weren’t so damn panicked, he’d acknowledge was the cutest fucking thing ever.
“Alex,” he whispered, not bothering to hide the desperation in his voice, “are you sure I should be holding her? I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
She laughed and gave him a hug, squishing the baby between them. “Joe, meet Annie Rosalie O’Conner.” Stepping back, she beamed at her baby and tickled her chubby chin. “Annie, sweetie, meet Uncle Joe.”
