Side Hustle (Dawson Family 3)

“Jackson, go up to your room,” I say as soon as I see Daisy.

“Why?”

“Now,” I say, and my tone scares him enough to grab the phone and run.

“Shut the door.”

“Is it a bad guy?” he asks, looking down the stairs.

“Kind of,” I say, knowing I shouldn’t tell him that his mother is bad, but I need him to stay out of sight. Once his door closes, I throw back the front door.

“What the fuck do you want?” I bark.

“Nice to see you too, Wes. Can I come in?”

“No.” I grab my coat that I left hanging on the banister, and step outside. “What the fuck do you want?” I repeat.

“I came here to talk.” Her brows push together, and she looks confused. “Didn’t Scarlet tell you that we should—”

I rush forward. “Scarlet?” It’s making sense now. “What the fuck did you do?”

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit.” I’m raging, wanting to turn around and put my fist through the windows on the front door. “Goddammit, Daisy,” I say too loudly. There are people walking their dog down the street in front of our house, but I don’t fucking care right now.

Daisy showed up and Scarlet left. It has to be why. Scarlet wouldn’t just leave.

Trying to recover, Daisy puts a hand on her hip, ready to come at me with some ridiculous blow, just like she did back when we lived together. “Well, if she didn’t tell you that then I’m guessing she didn’t tell you how she took this job thinking she could con you.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Yep. That little snake. I knew she wouldn’t confess.”

“Confess what? You’re not making any sense.”

“Your girlfriend, the woman you left alone with our son, is a con artist.”

“No, she’s not.” I shake my head and point to the street. “Get off my porch, Daisy. You’re sounding crazier and crazier by the minute.”

“It’s true.”

“And how the hell would you know?”

“A friend got arrested and spent time at Cook County with someone named Heather Cooper. Ring a bell?”

I blink. Scarlet does have a sister in prison.

Daisy’s lips curve into a smile. “I take your silence as a yes. Anyway, when I’ve been going to visit my friend—she shouldn’t have been arrested, but that’s not the point—and of course I noticed the bombshell blonde coming in. Everyone noticed her. I mean, how can you not?”

Daisy inches forward. “I didn’t pay her much attention after that, until I heard her mention Eastwood. You know how it is when you hear something familiar. Turns out, she has quite the reputation with the inmates. You see, her sister thought bragging about her would earn her cred or something. Boy, the stories I could tell you. But back to you, Wes. Your darling Scarlet thought some rich couple was hiring her. And then she showed up at your place. There was one thing I couldn’t figure out, but now that I know Quinn and Archer have a baby, it’s them.”

There’s no way Daisy would know Quinn and Archer are actually the ones who hired Scarlet instead of me unless she really did overhear Scarlet talking. But everything else she’s saying isn’t true. It can’t be.

“I know you won’t believe me, so I got the name of the last couple she was a nanny for. Turns out, she seduced a married man and forced him to buy her expensive clothes and handbags in order for her not to tell his wife.”

“You’re making that up.”

She digs a folded piece of paper from her purse. “Call him. Ask about Scarlet.”

Could it be true? Did Scarlet take the job thinking she’d con money out of me? But then why’d she stay? I love her…and I know she loves me.

“What did you say to her?” I ask, rounding on Daisy, whose smile disappears. I don’t know what she thought would happen. I’d take her in my arms and up to bed and we’d wake up like everything was fine?

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Then why did she leave?”

“She left?” Daisy acts shocked. “Wow, can’t say I’m surprised. Better make sure nothing valuable is missing.” Her face softens. “I miss us. And now that Scarlet is gone, we should try again.”

“You did something to make her leave, didn’t you?” I shake my head. “Did you think you’d come here with bad news and I’d welcome you home?”

“No, but I…I…” She squeezes her eyes shut.

“Let’s just say everything you said was true. It wouldn’t change things between us. You left me alone with an infant. And then you showed up again only to do the same thing. I’m not stupid, Daisy.”

“I know, Wes, I know you’re not.”

“And now you’re here again, telling me these things only to hurt me.”

“Wes, no. You need to know the truth about her. I’d never hurt you.”

“Really?” I question and her face crumbles. “It’s always been about you, Daisy. You need to leave.”