Page 22 of Quinn

As much as I knew about the lady, I had no idea if she had family, and although I estimated she was in her mid to late forties, I really had no idea of her age. In all honesty, neither were questions I needed answered.

“How about steamed fish and salad? That will be light on Bella’s stomach until she gets used to eating again. Oh, and sago pudding please?”

“I swear you’ll look like sago soon, Quinn.” Lynetta smiled towards Arabella. “He’s asked for that pudding almost every night for as long as I’ve known him.”

Arabella laughed and it was like music to my ears. “How long have you known each other?”

I stood and wrapped an arm around the woman’s shoulders, smacking a kiss on her cheek. “This beautiful woman was employed as my nanny when I was fifteen and has been with me ever since. She is like a second mother and I love her very much.”

Tears appeared in Lynetta’s eyes. Standing on tiptoe, she placed a kiss to my cheek, excused herself and left the room.

“I embarrass her when I say things like that but it’s the truth. I don’t know what I’d do without that woman.”

“It’s nice you have someone who cares about you, she obviously loves you very much too. I can tell by the way she looks at you that she loves you like a son. I’ve only had one person in my life who truly cared what happened to me and they’ve been gone for a long time.”

I opened my mouth to speak when a miniature tornado barrelled into the room and threw herself into my arms. It was lucky for Mahiro that I had lightning fast reflexes—came with the territory really. I couldn’t afford to hesitate in my line of business.

I swung the imp onto my hip after giving her a kiss. “Arabella, this whirlwind is my beautiful goddaughter, Mahiro.”

Arabella placed her uneaten cereal bowl on the table, pushed up from the chair and stepped to where we stood.

“You are indeed beautiful, Mahiro. I’m very pleased to meet you.”

“You’re pretty too, are you Uncle Quinn’s girlfriend?”

A blush crept over Arabella’s cheeks; her eyes lowered. “I’m not…”

“Arabella?”

Her head shot up at the sound of Asagowi speaking her name; her eyes widened in recognition.

Asagowi crossed the room, swept her into his arms, and held her tight. Now why the fuck was I jealous of a married man—a man who loved his wife without question, hugging Arabella?

Tears streamed over their cheeks as they stood hugging.

“Why is Daddy crying, Uncle Quinn.”

“Daddy knows Bella and they haven’t seen each other for a very long time. How about we leave them alone and head for that swim?”

“Yes, and to see if my dolly is at the store.”

I touched a hand to Asagowi’s back. “I’ll be back around lunch for you to come and get Mahiro.”

Asagowi didn’t answer; he merely nodded.

CHAPTER SIX

QUINN

Lifting a sleeping Mahiro from the car, I carried her, and the fuzzy stuffed dog toy she’d named Bertie, into my home. I turned towards the living room where Arabella and Asagowi sat quietly talking. The pair looked up when I stepped into the room.

“She wore herself out at the pool. I swear she must have gotten out a thousand times just so she could jump back in and I’d catch her and throw her up in the air.”

“She has you wrapped around her little finger, I make her stay and play in the water.”

“You’re mean. It’s fun for her to keep jumping in and making a big splash.”

“Whatever you say.” When he held out his arms, I placed his daughter into them. “The doll hadn’t arrived, but they found one down in Moresby. I put a hold on it for her since I’ll be down there in a few days.”