Rock Bottom (Dawson Family 6)

“He’s drunk,” I tell her, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. I know she thinks it’s a little weird to hang out with her boss in a social setting like this. But Archer is a good guy and wouldn’t make her feel awkward at work or anything.

“Guys, this is Rory.”

“Hi,” Rory says, reaching down to pet one of the four dogs that are bombarding her. Quinn smiles and slowly gets up, coming over to greet Rory. “How are you feeling?” Rory asks her.

“Like shit.” Quinn puts her hand over her stomach. “I think the babies hate me already.”

“Babe, they don’t hate you.” Archer fills his Glencairn whiskey glass and takes a drink. “They can’t form emotions yet.”

“You can’t form emotions,” Quinn snaps and Archer takes another drink.

“You all right, sis?” I let go or Rory’s hand to give Quinn a hug.

“Other than the nonstop puking, being the only one here not drinking, and the fact that my babies hate me, I’m fine.”

“She can be a tad dramatic,” I whisper to Rory. “And pregnancy makes her emotional.”

“Dramotional,” Rory laughs. “That’s what my brothers call me. I can be emotional and dramatic like the best of them. And I don’t think your babies hate you. You’re way too cool to hate.”

Quinn’s eyes fill with tears and she nods. “I’m not, but thank you for saying that. I’ve always been a nerd.”

“Me too.” Rory gives her a smile. “I was actually just telling Dean I’d love to find some people to play Dungeons and Dragons with me, and he thought you’d like it.”

Quinn smiles, doing a one-eighty from the mood she was just in. “I’d really like that. I don’t have to be pregnant in the game, do I?”

“You don’t have to be a woman. Or human.”

“Great.”

Archer pours whiskey in two glasses and hands one to me and Rory. “Tell us what you think. We’re sampling whiskey for…for something.”

“For the bar,” Logan says. “And it’s nice to meet you. I’m Logan. This is my wife, Danielle.”

“Hi,” Danielle says.

“Hi.” Rory gives her a small wave. “You own the bakery, right?”

“Right.”

“I haven’t been in yet, but I’ll definitely stop by sometime.”

“Ask for me when you go in. I’ll sneak a few extra cupcakes in your bag before you leave.”

“Ohhh, I’d love that! Thank you.”

I lace my fingers through Rory’s again and we join everyone at the island. “Where’s Mom and Dad?” I ask.

“Downstairs with the kids,” Danielle answers. “All the kids.”

“I still say we make a run for it,” Scarlet jokes.

“Drink!” Archer tells me, pulling the cork out of bottle of whiskey. He goes to pour more in his glass and misses, spilling it on the counter.

“Hands of a surgeon, that one,” Quinn huffs. “Though he really is good with his hands, among other things. If he weren’t, I wouldn’t be pregnant for the fourth fucking time.”

“Gross, Quinn,” I say, and she rolls her eyes. Rory brings the Glencairn to her nose, smelling the whiskey before taking a tiny taste. She wrinkles her nose and shakes her head.

“You don’t have to drink,” I tell her, knowing she doesn’t like the taste of alcohol.

“I’m not.” She sets the glass on the counter and looks at Quinn. “I can explain D&D to you, and we can start creating your character if you want.”

Quinn’s face lights up. “Okay!”

Rory takes a step forward, following Quinn, and I grab her hand, pulling her back for a kiss. My brothers catcall and I hold up my middle finger.

“I like her,” Scarlet says once Rory has left the room.

“I do too.” I toss the whiskey into my mouth and pull out a stool at the island.

“She seems really nice,” Danielle tells me, and I try not to think about how many times I heard my sisters-in-law tell me they liked Kara.

They never did.

“And she and Quinn have a lot in common,” Archer says, swaying on his feet a bit. I pull out another stool and he sinks down. “Quinn keeps talking about her, and no, I didn’t tell her about you guys spending a few days together in Miami.”

“What?” Scarlet asks, leaning forward. “She was in Miami?”

“Fuck.” Archer shakes his head. “I forgot no one else knew.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t scare her off, okay?”

“So you really like her?” Logan asks carefully.

“I do,” I say, unable to keep the smile off my face.

“That’s how it works.” Weston finishes the sample of whiskey in his glass. “Love finds you when you least expect it.”

“Or,” Scarlet starts. “When someone tries to con you out of everything you own.”

Weston laughs. “You had to be sorely disappointed I had nothing to steal.”

Scarlet loops her arm through Weston’s. “Just your heart.”

“Gross,” Logan huffs. “Did he ever tell you why you got hired?”

Scarlet shakes her head, blonde hair falling in her face. “It wasn’t for my impressive resume?”

“Nope,” Logan laughs. “Owen and I picked the hottest nanny on the site.”