Page 21 of The Hard Hitter
“Work calls,” he says. “Do you mind if I get your number from Quinn? Maybe we can continue this conversation over dinner sometime.”
Before I can answer, the bartender calls him again, and he shakes his head. “Talk soon,” he says, a
nd disappears.
“Well, what do you think?” Quinn asks, her eyes wide, hopeful. “He’s cute, right?”
“He’s cute,” I say, and let my gaze wander to Zander. Tall, dark…powerful. A fine shiver goes through me. Zander sets his cue aside and walks up to us. His jaw is clenched, hard, and I swear he’s going to snap something.
He yawns as Jonah moves in beside Quinn. “I think I’ll call it a night. It’s been a long week,” Zander says.
From the corner of my eye, I catch Jonah about to say something, but he stops when Quinn elbows him in the gut. He lets loose a breath, and I don’t miss the silent exchange between the two.
Is Quinn on to us? I’m thinking no, otherwise she wouldn’t have introduced me to Todd, right?
“I’m tired too,” I say. “I’m going to grab a cab.”
“You didn’t bring your car?” Quinn asks.
“No, it’s in need of repairs and making some clunking sound, so I thought it was better not to take it. Plus, I’m a lightweight,” I say, holding up my empty beer bottle. The alcohol has already started to affect me. I can’t blame liquid courage on my behavior in the bathroom though. Nope, not even a drop had hit my lips and I was dropping my pants for Zander.
“I can drive you home,” Zander says. “It’s no problem.”
“If you’re sure,” I say. “I don’t want to put you out.”
He scrubs his chin, but I can see his grin beneath his hand. We both know when we get to my place, I’m definitely going to put out, over and over again.
7
Zander
The night air is warm when we step outside, and I put my hand on the small of her back to guide her to my car. Once there, I press the fob and open the door for her. She slides in, and I circle the vehicle and get in the driver’s side.
“I appreciate you driving me home,” she says, and buckles in.
“It’s not a problem.”
“What about Daisy, though?” She sets her purse at her feet and casts me a glance. “You must be anxious to get home to her. Is she with a sitter?”
“She’s with her nanny. She’s asleep for the night, and safe.” I glance at her, note the way her hands are folded on her lap, and she’s staring straight ahead, her body stiff. “What?” I ask.
She makes a small noise. “It’s none of my business, and Quinn never explained the whole situation, but…what ever happened to Daisy’s mother?”
Anger curls through me as I think about Shari. Jaw clenched, I back from my spot and turn onto the road. “Did she tell you how she tried to trap Jonah?”
“She did mention that, but then Daisy ended up being yours.”
“Yeah, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.”
That brings a smile to Sam’s face. “You’re such a good dad.”
“Daisy is the most important thing in the world to me.”
“As she should be.”
I take a deep breath. I don’t normally talk about Shari, but suddenly find myself saying, “After she tried to trap Jonah, and we had a paternity test done, we discovered she was mine. Daisy’s mother turned her attention to me. I was serious with someone else at the time, and having none of her tricks. When she figured that out, she took off. Last I heard, she’d hooked up with someone from Washington Warriors.”
“What… Ah, it’s none of my business,” she says.