Page 9 of Eleven of a Kind

“You finally believe that I’m your daughter?” She looked over at me with tears in her eyes.

“Yeah, I do.” A small smile crossed my lips. “But we do have to confirm it with a paternity test.”

“I know.”

“Okay.” I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Tomorrow, you’ll come to my practice with me, and then we’ll go to the genetics lab at the hospital. I know someone who can do the test.”

“I need a phone and a computer,” she said.

“After work, I’ll take you to the store and get you one. As for a computer, you can use mine in my office downstairs until I can get you a laptop.”

“You don’t have any porn on there, do you?” Her brow arched.

Shit.

“No.” I furrowed my brows. “Why would you ask that?”

“Because you’re a guy. Need I say more?”

I breathed out a laugh and shook my head.

“Can I have the other guestroom instead?” she asked.

“Why?”

“Because it’s bigger, has a bigger closet, and a bathroom. Besides, it’s further away from your bedroom. You know, just in case you bring a chick back one night. My virgin ears don’t need to hear what’s going on in there.”

I stared at her because I couldn’t believe she’d just said that. Now that she was staying with me, all hope of bringing women back here was out the window.

“What?” She cocked her head.

“Do you always say things you probably shouldn’t?”

“I was just saying that I don’t care if you bring women here. I just want to be as far away from your room as possible.” A smirk crossed her lips.

I sighed as I stood up from the bed. “We’ll go this weekend, and you can pick out some bedroom furniture. Now, get some sleep. We have to be at the medical center tomorrow by eight o’clock.” I began to walk out of the room, stopped, and turned around. “We also have to get you enrolled in school. You were in school, right?”

“Of course I was.”

“Okay.” I walked out of the room.

CHAPTER4

Gabriel

My eyes flew open when the buzzing sound of the alarm pierced my ears. Reaching over, I grabbed my phone and shut it off. Looking at the time, I slept a total of three hours last night. My mind went into overdrive with everything that had happened, and I didn’t know if I could handle raising a fifteen-year-old girl.

After I showered and got dressed, I went downstairs and made a cup of coffee. The sliding door opened, and Simon walked in.

“Morning, cousin,” he said.

“Morning. Coffee?”

“Nah. I’m good. I did some checking, and Riley’s grandparents reported her missing and as a runaway. Here’s their number for you to call them.” He handed me a slip of paper.

“Thanks, Simon.” I sighed.

“I wouldn’t call them until you get the paternity test results back. That way, if they try to take her back, you have proof you’re her father.”