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Phoebe shut her eyes and quivered as a wave of heat covered her skin. Removing the phone from her hand, Quentin spoke into the receiver while keeping his eyes on Phoebe.

“Cindy, continue what you were doing, I’ll call you back.” He disconnected the call and handed Phoebe back her phone.

“What do you think you’re doing, ladybug?” he asked.

“Why would you need Cindy there when you’ve got me?”

His gaze fell to her luscious lips. “I didn’t know I had you.”

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding?”

“I’m not.” Quentin paused before responding, “Are we officially dating?”

Phoebe stuffed her cell inside her coat pocket. “You tell me, Quentin. What do you want to happen between us?”

Their gazes held as his fingers fiddled with the sides of her waist before sinking into her hips and pulling her closer. So close they were nose to nose.

“Let’s take things slow. We know a lot about each other, but there are some things we could learn. I want to take you out on an official date.”

Phoebe smiled warmly.

“But, I need to speak to Jonathon first.”

Phoebe’s smile quickly dropped and she rolled her eyes. “For the love of God,” she fumed.

“Baby girl, this has nothing to do with me treating you like a child and everything to do with my respect for your brothers. I need them to know about this and also to know that I respect you, and I would never do anything to hurt you.”

Phoebe shook her head. She knew Jonathon, and he was bolder when it came to her, Eden, and Jasmine. Her other brothers were bad, but Jonathon was worse.

“What happens when he doesn’t agree?”

Quentin had thought about that the entire time Phoebe was in the hall arguing with Jordan.

“Then I’ll just have to show him,” he said, tugging her nose again.

A half smile turned into a pout on Phoebe’s lips, and Quentin leaned in to kiss them. The warmth from his mouth coiled around her heart, making her feel like mush. She sank into his kiss, starting a fire that would have to be put out by the hospital’s staff.

“In the meantime,” Quentin said between kisses, “it’s probably best that Cindy stay over to help me.”

Phoebe jerked back. “So, you are basically waiting for my brother’s approval?”

“Not necessarily. I just want them to know before I have you over. It would be like me asking you to marry me without speaking to your father first. Even if I didn’t get his blessing, I would have done the honorable thing first.”

Phoebe let out a heavy sigh. “Fine.” But she didn’t feel fine. Already, she had doubts about another woman in Quentin’s home. How could she not with all of the things Jordan had said.

“I have a court case that I need to prepare for.” She was spaced out when she said it.

“How bad is it?” he asked.

“It may be the case that makes or breaks my career,” she responded.

Quentin arched a brow. “That bad?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

“Thanks for your vote of confidence.”

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