Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

“Let me. Unless you really don’t trust me.”

I can see the indecision in his eyes, but even at my worst, Wren knows I’d never let anything happen to his daughter. At least I hope he knows that.

“She’s pretty pissed at you right now,” he says, now amused. “Apparently you promised her that her mother would be giving her a baby sister, and now she’s not getting one.”

Surprise hits me, along with a pang of regret. “Allie lost the baby?”

I can’t believe he didn’t tell me this.

He frowns. “No. Apparently the tests were wrong. I went to the doctor with her myself. But now that she knows I’m ready for another child, we’re discussing it. She said she wants to wait until the wedding is over before we start trying though.”

His smile returns as he adds, “In the meantime, we’re just practicing.”

Didn’t need that much information.

“So do you trust me or not?”

“I trust you,” he says on a long sigh. “But she really is pissed at you.”

“I can handle a pissed off kid.”

Shrugging, he walks back in, and I follow him. Angel is in the living room, and she snarls when she sees me. Apparently she’s legitimately pissed.

I really suck with women of all ages.

“You lied,” she says.

But I also have charm. Sort of.

“Did I?” I ask, cocking my head to the side.

“You said I’d be getting a baby sister.”

“But I didn’t say when,” I point out.

She narrows her eyes at me, but apparently she sees the logic. Thankfully. Most kids aren’t too logical, so I guess I’m lucky.

“So mommy will have a baby one day?”

“A baby sister,” I correct.

Maybe by the time it happens, Angel won’t remember this if it turns out to be a baby brother.

Her smile forms, and instantly it seems like I’m forgiven. I wish all women were that easy. I’d promise Bella thirty baby sisters if that’s all it took.

“Why are you here?” she muses as I go to sit down on the couch behind her.

I came to see if Wren would toss me a bone as to where Bella is hiding out. Because she is hiding out. I was hoping a face-to-face would get me more answers from him than texting or calling has gotten me.

“I’m here to babysit until Aunt Bella shows up to take over.”

“But you’re an asshole,” she states bluntly.

It’s hard not to smile, but I manage to restrain it. Well, most of it.

“I am an asshole,” I agree. “But I don’t think you’re supposed to be using that word.”

She darts her eyes around the room, like she’s worried someone else heard. Then she looks back at me and whispers, “Don’t tell on me.”