Dare To Resist (Dare Nation 1)

Okay, she’d made a mistake. One she wouldn’t repeat. And considering he’d said not to overthink things, clearly he didn’t take it all that seriously, either. Why would he? Women flocked to him, and she just wished she hadn’t fallen in line as easily as the others.

She blew out a long breath just as a familiar scream sounded from the carrier. She had to admit, hearing Jenny cry didn’t instill the fear in her she usually felt when she heard babies’ hysteria. The tiny girl was quickly endearing herself to Quinn. She was good, only crying for things she needed, which told Quinn she’d been well cared for before being dropped off here.

On the one hand, of course that made her happy. On the other hand, she wanted reasons for Austin to be able to keep this infant if she turned out to be his. Quinn supposed abandoning the baby in the middle of the night in the heat of the summer qualified as a good reason to give the father custody.

Quinn checked the diaper, which wasn’t ready for a change, and picked the baby up, lifting her out of the carrier.

“Hello, little miss.” She walked around with Jenny in her arms, talking to her while she bounced her gently. Eventually Quinn put her into the carrier and continued chatting to her while she prepared a bottle.

“You do know if Austin’s your daddy, you’re a very lucky girl. Once he gets the hang of things,” she said as she put the powder into the bottle.

The baby gurgled, and a few minutes later, bottle made, Quinn settled into the couch in the big family room and popped the nipple into the baby’s adorable puckering lips.

While Quinn fed Jenny, memories of her days doing the same thing for her family members came back to her, her younger cousins especially, and she remembered that there were times she really had enjoyed taking care of them. Like now when this sweet girl chugged her bottle as fast as she could, looking up at Quinn with wide eyes. Eyes that reminded her very much of her good-looking daddy’s.

She shook her head and let the baby finish, burped and changed her, and waited for Austin’s family to descend en masse.

A little while later, the doorbell rang, and still holding the baby because she’d been crying earlier, Quinn answered, catching sight of Bri on the other side.

Drawing a deep breath, she let the other woman in.

“What’s the emerg … en … cy?” Bri’s voice trailed off as she zeroed in on the infant in Quinn’s arms. “What the fuck is that?” She shook her head, her gaze never leaving Jenny. “Never mind. I know it’s a baby but what’s it doing here?”

Bri stepped inside and Quinn closed the door. “I think that’s your brother’s story to tell, but isn’t she cute?” She turned the baby to face Bri, who looked at the infant, eyes huge.

“Is she—?”

“Nope,” Quinn cut off Bri’s question. “Not answering.” Explaining the situation was definitely Austin’s job.

Bri frowned, obviously not liking being in the dark. “Okay, then what are you doing here with the baby?”

Quinn sighed and readjusted Jenny against her. “Austin called me and that’s all I’m going to say. Come in. Is the rest of the family on their way?”

Bri nodded. “Mom should be here any minute. Damon’s in town so he’s coming,” she said of their youngest sibling, who played football for Ian’s team, the Miami Thunder. “Jaxon is between games so he’s coming, too.”

The baseball player brother, Quinn thought.

“And of course, Braden is halfway around the world with Doctors Without Borders,” Bri said of her twin. She sighed at that.

“You miss him, don’t you?” Quinn had heard the twins were close.

She nodded. “It’s hard when he’s not always available to talk.”

“I get it. I’m close with my siblings, too. Not that I have a twin. I’m sure that bond is different.”

Bri smiled. “It is.”

“Well, come on in. Coffee’s available. Your brother only has a single-cup brewer, but I’ll make you some.” Quinn turned and started for the kitchen, Bri right behind her.

“Thanks but I can make my own. You’re his business assistant not his housekeeper,” Bri said, shooting her a knowing look. One that said she was very at home in Austin’s house.

Quinn refused to think too hard about that and settled the now quiet baby into the carrier as the doorbell rang again. “I’ll go let them in. Can you keep an eye on the baby?” she asked Bri.

Austin’s sister nodded but she narrowed her gaze. “I don’t like not being in the loop.”

Quinn chuckled. “All will be revealed in due time,” she said and headed to let the other family members in.

* * *

Pulling in a calming breath, Austin let himself into his house, braced for whatever reaction his family had to his supposed baby. He felt bad that he hadn’t gotten back in time to do the explaining, but Quinn was more than capable of handling his family. He left the truck in the garage, planning to get his brothers’ help unloading the packages.