Page 24 of Buckin' Around

I rock her, trying to settle my own breathing and not let my anger at this situation and this poor kiddo’s bollocks parents get the better of me.

I shift on my feet, and she settles into her sucking, her little blue eyes closing. It’s then I see a small white envelope.

I swipe it out.

I have zero shites to give if Spencer thinks this is for him.

If he gave two fucks, he would be in here, trying to look after the baby, not freaking out about the old woman down the hall snitching to his folks.

I flip the envelope open and slide the card out.

Spencer,

I can’t do this.

Emma.

Well, Emma, you suck.

What the actual hell?

I glance down at the baby in my arms. I became a default parent when my folks died and Chloe needed a mother-type figure. Even at twelve, I had the guts to do this.

Feeling a little more than plain mad and a whole lot judgmental, I tuck the note back into the bassinet, deeper than before, and huddle the baby close. I don’t know why, but I have an instinctual feeling that Emma is not the place for this little girl.

I mean, who dumps an infant no older than a few weeks on a strangers doorstep?

What if someone else had picked her up?

What if she’d died of the cold?

Okay, so maybe that’s a stretch. Still . . .

“Lucky you, kiddo. You got the short end of the stick when it came to parents.” I pat her back gently as I pad back toward the living area.

I find Spencer and Stacey on the sofa. Spencer’s head is in his hands. Stacey is still on her phone, the look of disappointment etched over her features.

I clear my throat.

Spencer’s head snaps up. His eyes widen as he takes in the infant in my arms. “How did you get her to stop crying?”

He stands, takes a step forward, but stops.

“I picked her up,” I snap out.

His face slackens.

Good. I hope you feel guilty as hell, you asshat.

Stacey rises and comes over to look but doesn’t touch. “Hmmm. As soon as we can figure out whose she is, the sooner we can send her back.”

“Like an unwanted parcel,” I say, the venom in my voice taking Stacey aback.

“No, back to her proper family, Riley. Spencer is not parent mater?—”

“Hey. I can defend myself, thank you.” Spencer steps forward. “Let me hold her.”

He reaches for the baby.