Page 30 of Dare To Resist (Dare Nation 1)
She nodded.
“And no news from the child’s mother?” Paul asked.
“If you mean has she shown up or been found, that’s a big no.” She glanced down at Jenny, who stared at her with eyes very similar to the man standing in front of Quinn.
She had a feeling Austin had every right to be concerned that the baby was his. And just as much right to worry if she wasn’t, because who in the world would take care of her then? Quinn’s stomach churned at the uncomfortable thought.
“Is he in? Or is he with a client?” Paul tipped his head toward the closed door.
“He’s in. I’ll let him know you’re here.”
“I’ll just surprise him. You have your hands full,” he said before she could get a handle on juggling the baby, the bottle, and the phone.
“I appreciate it.” She was glad Paul was here to talk to Austin, because she had a feeling he needed his uncle’s support more than he realized.
* * *
“Austin.”
At the sound of his uncle’s voice, Austin turned away from the window overlooking the city of Miami. “Hi. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“You’re preoccupied. Understandably so.” Paul strode over and put an arm around his shoulders. “It’s not every day a man finds out he’s a father and is handed his baby in one day.”
Austin let out a rough laugh. “I guess that sums it up. If she’s mine.” He was getting tired of that refrain, but the lab tech told him that his law firm had paid for rushed results, so the best he could hope for was three to five working days.
He stepped away from his uncle and walked over to the makeshift bar he kept in his office. “Can I make you a drink? Club soda and a splash of cranberry juice?”
Since Paul’s transplant, he’d sworn off alcohol, determined to make his single kidney last.
“Sounds good.”
Austin nodded. “I’ll have one, too. I could use the hard stuff today.” He chuckled at his own joke and poured two virgin drinks, handing one to his uncle.
“Let’s sit,” Paul said, choosing a club chair in a corner where Austin had a comfortable, casual den-like area set up in his overly large office.
Austin lowered himself into the matching chair to Paul’s and crossed one leg over his knee. “So. To what do I owe this visit? Want to discuss Damon’s upcoming year? Another client contract?”
“No. What I want is to get you to open up and relieve yourself of the panic I know must be riding you. So tell me what’s on your mind? What’s wrong besides the obvious?”
Taking a sip of his drink, Paul studied him in silence. The man had a knack for getting others to talk because he had the ability to remain quiet down to an art form.
Austin ran a hand over his face and groaned. “What isn’t wrong?” Without drinking any, he put his glass onto a coaster. “Let’s see. There’s a woman floating around out there who is Jenny’s mother. Let’s assume for the moment the baby is mine. That means I’m stuck with this crazy person for the rest of my life. Joint custody or a custody fight. Something is brewing. There’s no way she just dropped the baby off and is going to disappear.” The longer he chewed on the situation, the more he was certain.
Jenny’s mother wanted something. Why else leave her baby on his doorstep? At the thought, what was becoming a familiar pain lodged in his chest. He didn’t know if the discomfort was because of the disruption Jenny being his baby would cause … or the baby’s mother’s unknown intentions. He rubbed on his sternum in a futile attempt to ease it.
Paul leaned in close. “I can understand you find that upsetting, but until you have the DNA test back so you can formalize your rights to the baby, there’s nothing you can do.”
He nodded. “I know that.”
“Your mother will be back from her cruise at the end of the week. You and Quinn will have backup.” He took another sip. “A little less cranberry next time,” he said with a laugh.
Austin grinned. “Good to know my bartending skills aren’t up to par.” He hesitated then said, “What if she’s mine? What do I know about being a father? Or being a single parent? Because I don’t want someone who can abandon their child anywhere near my kid.” His certainty on that was clear.
Paul’s expression gentled. “You know kindness and empathy. And you know what not to do.” Paul met his gaze, so much unsaid yet understood between them.
“That’s what Quinn said,” Austin admitted. He wasn’t a man used to unburdening himself, but that’s what seemed to be happening and often lately.
“She’s a smart woman. And she also has a big heart,” Paul said.
Austin grinned at that. “Yeah, she does.”
