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“Keep her,” I replied. “I won’t let anyone hurt her. She’s already been through so much in her short life.”
Mack pursed his lips. “In my line of work, I meet all kinds of people every day. I know a guy who’s a PI. I could get you his number. Maybe he can help you find Hope’s family for Destiny.”
The offer didn’t sound half bad. Although I didn’t like the idea of Destiny being taken from me, either. “I only meant for you to help me keep Ireland from getting too close.”
“I know,” Mack said. His gaze softened as he looked from Destiny to me. “She’s a cute kid, Hunter, but you’re being pulled in too deep. Destiny should be with her family.”
I agreed. “You’re right. All of this would be so much easier if I could give her to Hope’s grandmother.” I might not know her, but she was the closest relation I would trust with Destiny. Even though Hope never told me why she left her family, I got the idea if there was anyone she trusted as much as me, it was her grandparents. “Then I could stop lying to my family.”
“Amen to that,” Mack muttered.
“Let’s do this on the sly. I don’t want to alert Destiny’s social worker or the state. Nor do I want anyone who could jeopardize the case to find out, either. Until we’re sure about Hope’s family, the truth stays between us.” It was bad enough Posey would eventually find out I lied when I accepted Destiny into my home without so much of a paternity test.
“Get a paternity test too,” Mack said, as if reading my mind. “You already know the outcome, but having the results in black and white will also remove your name quicker from the birth certificate.”
Even though he said the words I needed to hear, it didn’t make the idea of giving up Destiny easy. There was a raw spot in the center of my chest that ached at the knowledge of Hope dying so young and so needlessly. She gave me her daughter for a reason because she knew I could protect her. Giving her up made the raw spot bigger. “I’ll text you a copy of Destiny’s birth certificate to give your friend, and the last place I knew Pedro and Hope had been before they came to Nashville.”
“That’s a good start.” Mack placed his napkin on his now empty lunch plate. “I have to get back to work. I’ll talk to Ireland. But I’m warning you, this could go one of two ways. Either she’ll listen to me and understand more is going on than can be said, or she’ll be a squirrel looking for her nuts.”
Fuck me.Ireland’s tenacity was legendary. She could squeeze blood from a turnip, given half the chance. It was why I needed Mack’s help. “Well, do what you can. Whatever comes next, I’ll have to face it. I just wanted a little more time.”
After changing Destiny’s diaper, we headed back to the house for the rest of the day. Mack’s offer played over in my mind while I watched brain numbing television with Destiny before she went to sleep. Mack’s plan was solid. I should have thought of doing the same thing since day one, but I also had a soft spot for women in distress. I guess the same could be said about babies, too.
By the following Wednesday, I still hadn’t heard a word from Mack, and I was worried. Regrettably, I couldn’t continue to dwell on the situation. Posey was on her way to the house for our two o’clock appointment. Landon was at the shop with Ireland while Jackson was at work. I wished she would have done the courteous thing, which was choosing a time more convenient for everyone else.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury of being able to request such things. When the knock came at the door, I went to open it, ready to face Posey’s wrath once more. The second I opened the door, the air rushed from my lungs, and my dick went from soft to mach Jesus hard in less than a second. Posey was fine as hell. She wore frumpy clothes for someone her age. Though I suppose she kind of had to, since she worked with kids.
Nothing like some kid puking on a three-hundred-dollar dress. Mack Jr. had already done that to Ireland. All down her back and some in her hair. The memory knocked away some of the irritation surrounding me. “Good afternoon, Miss Roberts.”
She gave me a once over with her heated gaze as she tucked her notebook close to her chest. Yeah, I bet she did that in high school, too. Shy, quiet girl, catching glances of the popular guy. Probably a quarterback or something equally as preppy. Jealousy reared its evil head as I scowled at the thought of her looking at anyone other than me. “Mr. Banks. I trust since the last time we talked, you’ve made proper living arrangements for Destiny.”
Goddamn, she had a whippish tongue. She could flay me open without even trying. “I have. If you’ll come this way, I’ll show you to her room.”
Her gaze burned a hole through my back as we climbed the stairs to the second floor. Goosebumps formed on my skin as my balls drew up in anticipation. I’d experienced eye fuckings before, but this... She was so fucking sweet. Innocent if I had to venture a guess. “I’d like to schedule another drug test, just to be sure there isn’t anything we missed the day I picked Destiny up from the hospital. Things were chaotic, and I’m very protective of kids.”
I pushed open the door to Destiny’s new nursery. I’d spent some money, but in the end, it was worth it. This was her room, and she needed something comforting after everything she’d been through. There were toy shelves and a glider. Books and a soft rug. Her crib was one of those convertible ones that made a twin to double bed conversion. On the walls were photos of my family and a couple of cartoon stickers. “As you can see, I’ve done tons of work since you were last here. I also agree with you about the blood test. I’ve worried about the same too.” Then I hurried to add, “not that I’ve seen anything out of the ordinary, but I can’t stop thinking about the way you found her.”
“Hope’s autopsy said a lot of nothing.” The disappointment in Posey’s tone shocked me. “Not that I was hoping to find anything significant. Other than she was a few weeks pregnant at the time of the accident.”
My gut twisted.Damn it, Hope. What the fuck were you thinking?“You were assuming because of the scene?” I shook my head. “Hope wasn’t like that. At least when I knew her. She didn’t drink. Didn’t even smoke. She was super sweet and wanted to be cared for.”
“I suppose we all failed her then, didn’t we, Mr. Banks?”
Ouch. My feelings.
Nevertheless, Posey said exactly what I was feeling. Guilty because I couldn’t save her, though I tried. I’d been a de facto therapist for Hope. I’d even pleaded with her to leave with me, but she chose the life over stability. “You can say that again.” The second I felt Destiny go limp in my arms, I put her down into her crib and stepped back. “For what it’s worth, had we all met under different circumstances, I don’t think Destiny would have been on your radar.”
“Maybe.” Posey murmured. “I know I came at a bad time. So, if you don’t mind, I thought I could stop at the auto shop and talk to your siblings there.”
“That’s fine.” I shrugged, trying to control my raging libido. “What else do you need to see?”
“I thought we could talk about your plan. Goals you want to accomplish with Destiny.” She followed me out of the room, then back down the steps to the living room.
“I haven’t given those much thought.” I turned on the monitor next to the couch and sighed as I sat back. “I’m still trying to get my feet under me. I found a babysitter, though. She’s a good kid. Works for Mack Redman atFlame. Her name is Mindy, and Mack will vouch for her.”
Posey nodded as she made a series of notes. “How are Destiny’s sleeping patterns?”
Fuck if I knew. She slept when she was tired. Ate when she was hunger, and pissed, and shit on schedule too. As far as I could tell, the little girl was right on track. But something told me that wasn’t the question Posey was asking. She wanted to know if Destiny exhibited signs of having nightmares.Is it possible for babies to dream about bad shit if they didn’t understand what happened?
