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She gave me a fleeting look before sighing loudly. “I need to get going. Are you sure you’re going to be okay by yourself with her?”
I snorted. “Helped raise all of you, didn’t I?” I quirked a brow. “I’ve got this, Ireland. Slow and steady wins the race.”
Once more, she stared at Destiny before nodding. “Call me if you need something. I don’t care what time it is.”
“Risk Mack’s fury? No thanks. We’ll be just fine.” I grinned down at Destiny, who watched me with these incredible topaz eyes. In the mid-afternoon sun, they were glittering flakes of gold.
I walked Ireland out, then sat on the couch to finish feeding Destiny. Sleeping in a playpen wasn’t the way to go, so I knew I’d have to do a little shopping for supplies. Thankfully, Posey brought a car seat for me. Wouldn’t be much to carry her around the store if I had to. “Well, kid. It’s just you and me.”
The next week went by faster than I’d been prepared for. I had the Maverick street legal, so I didn’t have to use my motorcycle for the time being. The routine I’d been afraid wouldn’t come together quickly had, and by Friday, Destiny’s first doctor’s appointment, she’d already gained a pound and eight ounces. Perfect progression for a malnourished baby.
However, Ireland hadn’t relented. If she didn’t slow her roll, she was going to end up drawing way too much attention to me and on Destiny. So, I did the only thing I knew to do in a situation like this. I went to see Mack. Of all our family members, he’d know what to do and would help keep Ireland off my ass. It was bad enough Posey was supposed to return in a few days to do another checkup and to talk with anyone who might be home.
I strode throughFlamewith Destiny on my chest in a wrench-buddy carrier—I absolutely refused to call them slings or snugglies or whatever the fuck Ireland said they were. I raised Destiny’s sunglasses off her eyes and fixed them on the top of her head, then did the same for myself.
“Mr. Banks,” Mindy, I thought her name was, said with a smile. “Mr. Redman will be with you in a second. He said he has a table prepared for you and your little guest.” She ran the pad of her index finger over Destiny’s fist and grinned. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” The praise was odd to me. Here I was, pretending to be the father of a baby who didn’t belong to me, but needed me.
It was awkward.
“I kind of see the resemblance.” Mindy motioned to the table with the highchair already set in place. “Your server will be with you shortly. Do you have a bottle or anything you need warmed up for your daughter?”
Was I supposed to? I’d fed Destiny before we left the house and changed her diaper. About the only thing I’d been prepared for was a shitty diaper, not meal prep. “We’re good. I took care of all that before we left the house.”
“Great. We have crunchy bread sticks if she needs anything to chew on,” Mindy added. “My litter sister was a terror at this age. Always teething. Always crying. Ear infections while teething? The worst.” She rolled her eyes and made a sour face.
Hadn’t thought about that. Destiny came fully equipped with four teeth. Two on top and two on the bottom. I didn’t notice any others, but now that Mindy mentioned it, Destiny’s diapers were a little on the loose side. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been around a baby. It’s a lot like riding a bike. Once you start moving, your memory kicks in and everything is instinct.” Except when it came to teeth. Mom and Dad worried about that aspect. Not me.
Mindy laughed. “If you need a babysitter or anything,” she handed me a slip of paper. “My weekends are free. I’m usually at the community college during the week until three and here by five. Unless I don’t have school.”
I glanced down at her swirly script and grinned. “I appreciate you, Mindy. If I find myself in need of a babysitter, you’ll be the first I call.”
“Perfect.” She beamed. “Mack’s on his way, so I’ll get out of your hair. It was a pleasure meeting your daughter. Have a pleasant lunch.”
When Mack joined me, I put Destiny in the highchair then placed a few of her toys Ireland insisted her niece have. The waiter took our order and when he left, I folded my hands on the table. “I need your help. Of all the people who’ll understand where I am in all this, it’s you.”
Mack quirked his features in a way, any other time I would have laughed. “That doesn’t sound ominous. What’s going on?”
The only reason I sat there with Mack was because of everyone, Mack knew Cobi and the Mayson’s the best. He also wouldn’t go blabbing everything to anyone who’d listen. “I went undercover with Cobi while you and Ireland were on your honeymoon.”
“Are you fucking with me right now?” The look of stunned disbelief etched into his features, causing my stomach to turn as he leaned in. “How the fuck didthatgo down?”
“I probably shouldn’t be telling you any of this,” I hissed. “But the whole fencing operation wasn’t dismantled after Edgar got picked up.”
Mack’s shoulders sagged. His features were taut with understanding and irritation. “I should have known it wouldn’t be as easy as any of us thought. What do I need to do to protect Ireland?”
I pulled a face before taking a sip of my sweet tea. No beers for me while my ladybug was in the car with me. “I already took care of everything.” I told him about Cobi’s plan and the feds helping. Then I told him about Destiny’s mother Hope and her bastard of a father, Pedro. I was saying too much, but if I didn’t tell Mack the whole truth, he’d never help me out. “I didn’t even know she was pregnant when all this shit went south. They fled. I half expected them to go to Mexico or New York, not stick around here.”
“That car crash,” Mack snapped, keeping his tone low, so no one overheard us. “That was them?”
I nodded. “I’m telling you all this because Ireland is asking too many fucking questions.”
Mack grunted. “Of course, she is. Her natural curiosity has gotten her into trouble more often than not.”
Didn’t I know it? “I can’t keep having her ask me questions. Sooner rather than later, the wrong person is going to be there at the right time and overhear us arguing about Destiny.”
Mack sighed. “That’s quite the dilemma. I’ll talk to her. In the meantime, what are you going to do about this precious little girl?” My brother-in-law grinned at the gorgeous mini version of her mother, who was currently slapping her breadsticks on the tray of her chair.
