“No,” Quinn says, putting her hand up to Archer’s mouth to silence him. Everyone laughs, and I lean back in my chair to look at Scarlet. A small smile is on her face, and she’s watching us almost as if she’s in a lab observing our behavior. Rufus, the biggest and oldest of Mom’s dogs, jumps up at the back door, startling Scarlet a bit.
Dean gets up to let him in. I’d already moved out and was overseas when she got him, but he’s the family dog to the rest of the family. Without thinking, Dean opens the glass doors and all four dogs come barreling in. Most are friendly, but Rufus can be finicky with new people. He’s a German Shepherd mixed with a Malamute and is big and intimidating.
Scarlet tenses, bringing her wine glass to her lips and taking a big sip. I slip off the stool and take a hold of his collar as he sniffs her.
“This is Rufus,” I say. “He’s a cranky old dog but will leave you alone.”
“Hey, Rufus,” Scarlet says and holds out her hand for him to sniff. His fur raises for a few seconds, and then he decides she’s not a threat.
“I found my wedding dress,” Quinn tells me, looking over Archer’s shoulder. She beams, and I’m so damn happy for her. She’s my baby sister, one of the nicest people in the whole fucking world, and I want nothing but the best for her.
“When are you getting married?” Scarlet asks.
“June. At Disney World!”
“Ohhh, that sounds awesome. Have you picked out the rest of the wedding, uh, stuff?”
Scarlet’s trying, and I give her props for that. She doesn’t have to. It doesn’t really matter if she gets along with my family. She’s Jackson’s nanny…not my girlfriend. I’ve never really cared if my boss’s family liked me before. It actually never even crossed my mind.
“Most of it,” Quinn tells her. “Disney takes care of a lot of stuff, which makes it easy. All I’m really concerned about is having good food.”
Scarlet smiles. “I think that’s how I’d be too. Do you have a picture of your dress?”
“Of course. Want to see?”
“Heck yes!”
Quinn moves off Archer’s lap. “I don’t want to risk him seeing.”
“Oh, definitely.” Scarlet gets up and follows Quinn into the living room. The moment she steps out, my brothers round on me.
“Dude,” Owen starts, still holding Emma against his chest. “What the fuck?”
I shake my head, playing dumb. “What?”
“Your nanny is fucking hot.”
“Shut up,” I snap.
Owen raises an eyebrow. “You disagree?”
“I don’t agree or disagree.”
Logan chuckles. “Spoken like a true politician. Has this election gone to your head already?”
“Funny,” I tell him. “Yeah, she’s good-looking. But she’s here for Jackson so I can work.”
“Of course she is.” Dean raises his eyebrows. “Why else would she be here?”
“Sorry,” Archer starts. “I know Quinn had a secret agenda hiring her. She means well.”
“I know,” I tell him. “She does. And so far, Scarlet is great with Jackson. But it’s only been a few days so…”
“Who knows?” Logan finishes for me. I meet his eyes and nod.
“Right.” I get up and go to the fridge to get a beer. And who the fuck knows? I return to my seat and suck down a few gulps of the beer. I’m on edge, fighting my own attraction to Scarlet, and I feel like everyone can see right through me. That’s the only downfall of having a close-knit family like this.
The garage door opens, and Dad and Nana come in. Things get rolling after that, and Jackson throws a little fit when I tell him to wash his hands before dinner. I look at Scarlet.
“Told you so,” I mouth, and she laughs. She picks him up off the floor and takes him to the bathroom to wash his hands. Finally, we’re all seated around the table. Scarlet’s at my side and Jackson ended up across the table by Mom. I’ve introduced Scarlet to Nana twice now, and she’s staring at her, questioning who she is for the third time.
“I’m Scarlet, Jackson’s nanny,” Scarlet says sweetly.
“What the fuck happened to Daisy?” Nana asks, trying to steal Logan’s beer. He takes it from her and slides her water glass into her reach. She bats his hand away and goes for the beer again.
“Mom,” my own mother scolds. “We don’t swear at the dinner table.”
“Daisy is my mom,” Jackson says slowly, as if he’s not sure of himself. Silence falls over the table, and it’s taking everything inside me not to pound my fist before getting up and storming out. I’m not mad at my nana. Her mind has been going at a scary rate the last few months, and she doesn’t remember much of what’s happened recently.
I’m mad at Daisy and what she did to Jackson.
No one speaks, and each second that ticks by gives Jackson more and more time to think, to let his own mind question what the fuck happened to my mom? Dean opens his mouth only to snap it shut again, and Dad looks just as stunned as the rest of us.