Page 72 of Broken Daddy

“Oh, of course.” Gen rushes to stand and straightens her clothes. Even though she’s not rumpled at all. If we had more time, if he hadn’t interrupted, I’m sure I could find a way to muss her up a bit…

She gives me a tight smile before awkwardly squeezing past Chris. He looks like he’s having a hard time suppressing a grin as she leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

“So.”

“So,” I echo.

“So that’s still happening?”

You have no idea.A part of me wishes I could tell Chris just what’s going on, but I promised Gen we’d keep this quiet for now. And until I’m more sure of the future—for me, her, and our baby—I’m hesitant to say anything.

In answer, I shrug. There’s no real way to explainwhatis happening with us. I don’t want him to think Gen has gone from a summer season personal chef to some kind of live-in hookup. But he did just see us kiss.

He walks across the room and sits down in my chair, ignoring a glower from me. “I know I joke around a lot, Nate, and I’m the last one who should be giving advice about this kind of thing. But I think you need to figure out what you want. It’s not fair leading her along like this.”

I scoff, caught off guard. That was the last thing I expected my little brother to come out with.

“I’m not leading her along, Chris. She’s been a willing participant in all of—” I gesture around, at the house, at my life “—this.”

He cocks a brow. “Oh, I can see that.” Then his face goes somber, the lawyer coming out. “But really, Nate, whatdoyou want? Ever since Julia, you’ve shown no interest in dating. And I don’t think that’s what’s going on here.”

When I shake my head, he continues the lecture. “Gen seems pretty cool. Relaxed. I mean, she took to Brutus better than you did.” He chuckles and I open my mouth, about to ream him out about showing up here with a rescue dog, but he holds up a hand. “She’s laid-back where you’re uptight; she can cook and you can heat up takeout. A few times I’ve come over, I heard her belting out some songs that make me question her taste in music. But my point is, she seems good for you. So what does shemeanto you?”

Frowning, I let his question sink in.

What does Genevieve Walker mean to me?

She’s frustrating. She’s fun. She challenges me, annoys me, cares about Eva, and can cook a mean steak. She also stresses me out whenever she feels the need to argue back and she’s a little too willing to run around while some psycho is out there waiting for her. Especially now that there’s a baby involved.

“She means a lot to me,” I admit. “But I’m not sure the timing is right.”

Chris sighs, slumping back in the chair. “Is the timingeverright? Do you remember when you and Julia met? She had to show up at one of your builds to get you to agree to a date.”

A smile ghosts my lips at the memory. Julia, her dark hair topped by a construction hat, heels sinking into the newly broken earth. How could I say no?

Gen has the same kind of tenacity. But she isn’t trying to pin me down or force her way into my life, which I appreciate. I hadn’t realized that until right now.

“Eva seems very attached to her,” Chris comments quietly.

As he talks about how I should find happiness and open myself to the possibility of dating again, my heart breaks a little bit. I’m the only one who knows this really might not last through the summer. Not just Gen’s employment. If she leaves the country…would we ever see her again?

Eva would be heartbroken.

“I’ll think about it.” I sigh, interrupting my little brother. His mouth snaps shut, surprised at how quickly I agreed. “You have to remember, though, she has a say in this, too. Just because I wantherdoesn’t mean she wantsme.”

Chris smirks smugly at my casual admission.

I want her.

It’s stupid to hide from it anymore, at least when it comes to him. He can see right through me, always has. But I’m not ready to tell him the whole truth.

“And Brutus?”

“The dog?” I level him an incredulous look. “Did you really think that was a good idea, or are you just screwing with me?”

Chris stands, hands up placatingly. “All I’m saying is, give him a chance. You won’t even notice he’s around.”

I choke out a strangled laugh. “He looks like he weighs two hundred pounds, Chris.”

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