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It lasted maybe two full seconds before Knox moved her to the crook of his opposite arm and teased her lower lip with the nipple of the bottle. Juniper took it eagerly and gazed up at him with adoring eyes.
Pretty sure my ovaries stood up, did a pirouette, and spit out some eggs at the sight of him handling his baby with care and competency.
“Do you mean that?” he asked, his gaze still locked on the infant.
I had to yank myself out of my stupor to try to understand what he was talking about. “Mean what?”
“That you’ll help me with her anytime.”
“Oh. Of course. Whenever I can.”
Knox didn’t say anything else for a while. He was focused on the baby in his arms, his expression nothing like yesterday’s fear and more one of determination…and possibly affection. I couldn’t stop watching the two of them. There was nothing quite like a hot guy taking care of an adorable baby.
Reel it in, I told myself. I sensed there was more coming, so I waited, but I forced myself to glance around the restaurant, noting that the customers in Sarai’s section had left. It was nearly time for us to close until dinner.
When I turned back toward Knox, I caught him nodding once as he watched Juniper drink, as if he was having a silent conversation in his head.
“I’m keeping her with me at least until I get the test results,” he said, switching his attention from the baby to me.
“That’s great,” I told him. “It’s definitely the best thing for her.”
“I’m hoping I can convince you to help me.”
The way my blood started rushing through my veins at that was all the reason I needed to say no. Because there was maybe a slight attraction on my part, and I was just starting to get my feet under me to dedicate myself to this new path I’d chosen.
I made a point of not reacting, of waiting for him to say more, because he didn’t actually ask me a question.
“I might be more confident than I was yesterday, but I can’t do this on my own, Quincy.”
“You’ll learn,” I said. “Look how far you’ve come in just a few hours.”
“And that’ll continue,” he said with determination. “But I’m not foolish enough to believe I can handle this princess on my own for several days.”
“You know I work here full-time, right?” I asked, torn about that fact at this very moment. Part of me wanted nothing more than to go home with Knox and help him care for Juniper. Part of me recognized that wouldn’t be the smartest move I could make right now.
“I took the liberty of talking to Seth. He said if you’re interested in helping me out, he’d let you help me while I need it. Then you can have this job back whenever you’re done.”
I couldn’t ignore how much I wanted to do that. “And when would I be done? What happens when you get the results?”
Knox gazed down at Juniper, who was still avidly going after her bottle. Slowly, his lips curved upward, then he sobered again. “If she’s mine”—his lids lowered for moment, and his broad chest rose as he inhaled—“I’m going to keep her.”
My chest inexplicably contracted at his declaration. I mean, of course I was thrilled he’d made that decision. This baby needed a responsible parent, and even though Knox was new and mostly clueless, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind he could be everything Juniper needed him to be.
“And if it turns out she isn’t yours?” I asked, wanting to distract myself from my weird surge of emotion.
“I’m not sure yet, but”—his Adam’s apple rose with a big swallow—“if she needs a family, I’m not sure I could let her go into the system.”
That right there was proof he’d be a good father. Not that I needed it.
“So you’d want me to help for how long? What do you have in mind?”
“Let’s start out saying it’s a temporary nanny position with the potential for longer. If she isn’t my daughter, it’s a complicated decision. That’s as specific as I can be right now.”
I was so in. Or I wanted to be so in, but Jewel’s voice rang out in my head.You want to be part of a family so badly. A good, loving family.This is, like, a hot guy and a baby. Ready-made family.
She was right about all of it. I knew I was predisposed to fall for the baby at least, and maybe the hot dad as well, and that would not be in my best interest. If I cared about them, it would hurt like hell when I had to go off to school in January.
I didn’t want to do anything that could possibly derail me or get me off to a wobbly start.
