Dare To Resist (Dare Nation 1)

“What? Why? I have issues! Who doesn’t? You’re the one who thinks you intimidate every man you come in contact with.”

She shrugged. “I do. I can kick their ass and they know it. But we’re talking about you. And you walked away because you’re scared. You’re freaked out because the things you ran away from thanks to your family are now the same things you want. You think it’s wrong to desire a family now. And you’re scared to prove your mother right.” Evie shrugged. “But guess what? It doesn’t matter what your family thinks or wants. It only matters what you want.”

Quinn nodded because Evie made sense. “I hate it when you’re right.”

Her friend grinned. “The ice cream is melting and I’ll clean it in a second. But this is what you’re going to do. You’re going to take tonight and sleep in your apartment. You’re going to see that the life here waiting for you isn’t the one you want. And I’m going to sleep over because I’m opening a bottle of wine for us and I don’t want to drive my car back home. Then, tomorrow, you’re going to go to work and get your man.”

Quinn smiled, her heart lighter than it had been since leaving Austin’s earlier. She would have said it was impossible to change her mind about her life, but she had every right to do so. Even if the future freaked her out and might be uncertain.

Chapter Ten

Austin glanced at his watch again. Quinn had texted that she was running late this morning, and he wanted, no, he needed to see her.

After calling his family and spreading the news that Jenny was his baby, he’d spent the rest of the night pacing the floors and checking on the baby since it was his first time alone with her in the house. But she’d slept through, and he’d had no problem with her diaper or bottle in the morning.

Dressing her had been a little bit of a challenge, but he’d finally gotten her moving arms and legs into the right holes, and he’d handed her to Amy when she’d arrived on time. And though the morning had run like clockwork, he hadn’t enjoyed it nearly as much without Quinn under the same roof.

He’d also received a call from the PI he’d hired to look into the woman he believed was Jenny’s mother. Apparently she’d recently checked into a motel in downtown Miami using a credit card, which confirmed his suspicion that Nelle Jamieson was his baby’s mother.

The PI was headed over to see if he could get answers from her, because Austin still believed she’d show up wanting money.

“Knock knock.”

Austin glanced up to see his uncle in his office doorway. “Hey. Come on in.”

“You looked a million miles away. Want to share what’s going on?” Paul stepped inside. “I notice Quinn’s not at her desk.

Austin smiled grimly. “Yes. She checked in. Said she’d be late.”

Paul nodded. He chose a chair by the desk and sat down, crossing one foot over his leg. “How’s your brother? I called this morning, but he’s in a mood and not communicating much.”

“Yeah. Damon didn’t say much to me this morning, either.”

Austin glanced at the professional photo of his brother with a football in his hand, uniform on, beside the one of Austin in the same pose, and prayed his brother returned to one hundred percent. Concussions were iffy suckers.

He flexed his fingers and groaned. “We’ll deal with his business negotiations when it’s time. Right now, Mom is going to accompany him home. We’ll get him settled. It’ll be okay.”

This was Damon, his brother. And even if he were only a client, Austin would do the same. He just wouldn’t have as much of an emotional investment.

“And Quinn? Is she okay?” Paul drummed his fingers on the table beside him. “It’s not like her to be late. You two have been coming to work together for the last week,” he said pointedly.

Austin groaned, knowing his uncle was pushing for answers. “She moved out last night.”

Paul raised his eyebrows. “Because you’re suddenly ready to handle a baby, I presume.”

“On the surface, yes. That’s why.”

“And if we dig deeper?” Paul asked.

Thinking about their conversation last night, Austin rubbed his palms against his eyes, which felt grainy from lack of sleep. “I asked her not to leave. I told her I care about her, that Jenny loves her, and I thought we had a shot at a future. But she had to want it, too.”

Unfortunately she hadn’t run into his arms. She’d run away.

“Let me get this straight. You told her you cared but you didn’t tell her you love her?” Paul, the closest thing he had to a father … hell, the man actually was his father, leaned close to the desk. “Why not?”