Dare To Resist (Dare Nation 1)

Fast-forwarding, they watched as time passed, his brothers silent as they stared at the screen from behind him.

“There!” Jaxon pointed over Austin’s shoulder. “Stop it now.”

“I see.” Austin pushed the pause button followed by rewind and then play.

At nine p.m., an hour before he’d gotten home, a gray-hooded figure held the carrier in one hand and the bag on her shoulder as she took the few steps up the porch. Austin assumed the person was a woman based on the slight build, but with her head and hair covered, there was no way to see a face.

After placing the baby on the ground along with the bag, she took the steps down and turned, staring at the infant for a minute before rushing away and out of camera range.

“Shit. We got nothing,” Jaxon muttered.

“I honestly didn’t think we would.” But Austin pulled out a thumb drive he’d purchased at Target and duped the tape for his attorney and the PI on his payroll. “But I’ll let the professionals go over it in case I missed something.” He turned to his brothers. “Want to go upstairs and help set up my house for a baby?”

“This is surreal,” Damon said. “But yeah, of course I’ll help.”

Austin laughed but he was still an anxious mess, and once back in the kitchen, he took in the bottles on the counter, the packages of formula beside them, and the reality of his situation sank in even more.

“We set up the pack and play in your room,” his mother said. “And Jenny fell asleep immediately once we put her in there in a snuggly.”

“The what and what?” Jaxon asked, sounding as confused as Austin had been in the store when he’d been looking for all the baby paraphernalia.

“The pack and play is a portable crib. Until we know for sure that she’s mine, I’ll make do with that,” Austin explained.

“And the snuggly is a zipper-like thing that bundles the baby and makes her feel cocooned and safe,” his mom said. “But if she is yours, you’re going to need to turn one of the bedrooms into her room. You’ll have to buy a real crib and furniture, and … I’ll go shopping with you for all the baby things you didn’t buy this trip.”

Her excitement seemed to build and Austin knew he had to cut it off quickly. “I’ve got it, Mom. I know. But let’s not rush things.”

The truth was, he needed the time between now and when he learned the results of the paternity test to come to terms with his new potential reality. Thank God Quinn had agreed to help him.

He glanced around the room, seeing his brothers and his mother. “Where’s Quinn and Bri? Are they upstairs?” He hoped he didn’t sound as panicked as he felt at not seeing Quinn. In just one night, he’d grown used to her soothing presence to help with the baby. Hell, he was getting used to seeing her in his home, period. Besides, she’d promised she’d stick around.

“Bri went home with her so she could pack up a suitcase. She couldn’t exactly live in your sweats and the same pair of underwear for the next five days.” His mom took the lined-up bottles and began to put powdered formula in each. “I’m going to make you premade bottles and refrigerate them. That way you’ll just have to heat them in the bottle warmer over there.” She pointed to one of the items she’d set up.

He strode over and hugged his mother tight. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Taking care of that adorable baby isn’t a hardship. I can’t wait to come back home and spend time with her. But I’m glad Quinn volunteered to stay. She’s a sweet woman.” His mother met his gaze. “In fact, I’d go so far as to say she’s a keeper.”

“Mom, are you matchmaking?” Jaxon asked with a snicker.

“Shut up, asshole. Wait until it’s your turn.”

His mother frowned. “Language, Austin. And I’m just saying she’s good with the baby. And I might have seen how you look at her,” she added under her breath.

“Jesus. I’m leaving before she finds a woman to hook me up with,” Damon said. “You need anything, call me, bro. Just not for babysitting.”

“I’ll go with you.” Jaxon slapped Austin on the shoulder. “I’ll call and check on you. Behave with your assistant. You need her help, so don’t go trying to get into her pants.”

“Boys! Behave.” Christine shook her head. “Now go. I need to teach your brother how to make bottles.”

Jaxon snorted. “Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, Mom,” Damon repeated but they both obviously meant it. Then they walked out, bickering as they went.

* * *

Austin’s mother waited until Quinn returned before she left, promising to check in later. Quinn had gone upstairs to unpack her things, leaving Austin in the kitchen he no longer recognized. The counters were strewn with bottles and nipples, his once clean house now a cluttered mess.