I look at the woman sleeping beside me and can’t believe that we fucked last night. And oh, how we fucked. My cock thickens from the memories. It was seriously the hottest sex of my life, and her talking all dirty like that nearly blew my mind and my load.

But seriously, what the hell was I thinking?

I wasn’t. That much is obvious. Did I really tell her that the next time she’s in my clothes, I want her naked underneath? Talk about some big fucking balls. Balls her brother is likely going to cut off and feed to me if he ever finds out. Then again, he’s the one who called her to help me, so part of the responsibility is his.

How is that for logical reasoning at its worst?

I glance at the clock. It’s eight in the morning. My thoughts turn to my daughter. My daughter. Is she still asleep? She must be, otherwise she’s be crying her eyes out. Not that I can blame her. She had a pretty traumatic day yesterday. I have a billion concerns, things I need to think of, plans I need to make, but it’s so goddamn overwhelming, I try to block it out for now, just take this fatherhood thing one day, one hour, at a time.

I ease from the bed, pull on a pair of sweatpants, and tiptoe quietly from the room. I listen outside Daisy’s door and when I hear cooing noises, I inch it open, praying to God the sight of me doesn’t send her into hysterics again. I walk to her crib, and she’s staring at the ceiling, her feet and hands moving. Her eyes move to mine, and when her chin quivers, I act quickly, wanting to soothe her worries.

“Hey, little one,” I say quietly, and she watches me with those big blue eyes, so unsure of me. I don’t blame her. I’m unsure of me, too. “Are you hungry?” I ask, as I cradle her against my chest. Her little head bobs against my body, then she glances up at me, like she’s trying to figure out if she likes me or not.

Her diaper feels soggy beneath my hand, so before I feed her, I need to change her. I place her on the changing table, and talk quietly to her. “If you’re wondering who I am and what I do, well, I’m your daddy, apparently, and sorry that was just sprung on you. It was sprung on me, too. Anyway, I’m a hockey player. When you get bigger, I can teach you how to play, too.” I frown. “That is if you want to. Maybe you want to be a dancer or something.” I unsnap the bottom of her pajamas. What was it Quinn had called it? A onesie? “I’m new at this and it’d be great if you’d give me a chance and not cry.”

She wiggles, her little hands fisted, swatting at the air, like she’s looking to land one on my chin. I take her hand in mine, lean in and give it a kiss. “You’re going to be a fighter, aren’t you?” I remove her diaper and reach for the baby wipes. “That’s good, Daisy. You’re so pretty, you’re going to have to learn how to fight the boys off.”

She makes a noise and gives me a big smile—the first smile I’ve seen on her—and my heart jumps into my throat. “No way.” I turn around, half-expecting Quinn to be there, to witness this moment, but disappointment takes up residency in my gut when I find the room empty. I turn back to Daisy.

“Oh, you like that do you? You want to take care of those boys by yourself.” As I look at her, think about who’s going to protect my girl once she’s in school—a teenager—possession moves through me. Yeah, I know what guys are like, and if any of them think for one moment they’re going to get within ten feet of my teenage daughter, they’ve got another thought coming. I slide the diaper beneath her, tape it up, and re-snap her onesie.

She’s cooing and smiling at me when I pick her up and hold her against my chest. “How about we let Quinn sleep a little longer, and I’ll get your bottle. We can watch Sportsnet and maybe you can see snippets of your daddy’s last game.”

Daddy?

Man, will I ever get use to that?

She wiggles in my arms, and her fingers tug at my hair. Damn, I’m going to have to get it cut before she tears it out. We head downstairs, and I take a bottle from the fridge. I set her in her car seat, which is plunked on the kitchen table, and make some coffee, wanting a mug ready for Quinn when she wakes up. My mind races to my best friend’s sister.

How will she react this morning?

Will she go running out of here, or take me up on the offer I’m about to make her?

When it comes right down to it, I really shouldn’t have seduced her. If she runs now, I’m fucked. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and now, since neither of us can deny that last night was pretty damn awesome, we can only move forward with that knowledge

The microwave beeps, and as I prepare the bottle, I turn to see Daisy, one of the rubber toys hanging from the car seat handle in her mouth. Heart in my throat, I jump toward her, ready to grab it—but then stop. I guess it’s okay for her to chew it. They wouldn’t make a car seat toy that wasn’t safe, right? Fuck, I have so much to learn.

One day at a time, dude.

As the coffee percolates, I pick her up and we head into the living room. I sit, put the bottle into her mouth and flick on the TV. I go through the stations until I find Sportsnet, showcasing highlights of last night’s basketball game. Daisy drinks half her bottle, then I burp her, but before I do, I throw one of her blankets over my shoulder.

Like I said, I’m a quick learner.

Behind me the stairs creak, and Daisy begins to make babbling noises. I angle my head, catch the hesitant look on Quinn’s face.

“Sorry if we woke you. I was hoping you’d get more sleep.”

“You didn’t wake me. I’m always up early. Habit. How is she this morning?” She comes around to face me and tugs on the hem of the T-shirt she’s weaning. My T-shirt.

Does she have any panties on underneath?

“Good. I changed her diaper,” I say, like a student looking for praise from a teacher. How juvenile is that? Changing the subject, I gesture with a nod toward the kitchen. “Coffee should be done.”

“I’ll grab us a cup,” she says and darts into the other room like wolves are nipping at her heels. Cupboards open and close as she searches for the mugs, and a few minutes later she brings me a much-needed cup.

“Cream, no sugar, right?” she asks.

“You remember,” I say, a statement, not a question.

She blows into her cup and sits in the seat across from us. Daisy gives a good burp and I settle her back into my arms, and give her the rest of the bottle.

“You’re really good with her, Jonah,” she says quietly.

I shake my head. “To think before yesterday I’d never even held a child.”

“You really stepped up.”

My chest swells. Goddammit, I really like it when she looks at me like that, like she’s totally proud of me. Although I don’t want to think too hard on why I like it so much.

She goes quiet for a moment, toys with her coffee mug. Is she thinking about last night? Waiting for me to bring it up? I open my mouth, but she speaks first.

“Jonah, about last night…”

I brace myself. “What about it?”

“It was…”

“Fantastic?”

A small smile touches her mouth. “That’s one word to describe it, but I’m just not sure—”

“Wait,” I say, unable to hear her valid points on why we shouldn’t do it again—Christ, I just found out I was a father, and I have an NHL career to think about. Not to mention her brother is going to kill me, and Quinn deserves better than a guy like me, one who has a reputation a mile wide. Plus, she’s chasing her own dreams, is building a life for herself that I don’t fit into—not that either of us are looking for anything more. We had fun, simple as that.

I lean toward her, Daisy secure in my arms. “You had fun, right?”

She sips her coffee and looks at me over the rim. “I…yes.”

“So did I. A lot. So what’s a little pleasure between friends? Neither one of us is looking for anything more, so while you’re here, helping out, why can’t we just keep having sex…enjoy each other?”

She visibly quakes, like she’s remembering all the dirty things we did last night, reliving them in her mind’s eye. “I…”

I take the empty bottle from Daisy’s mouth and put her over my shoulder again. Quinn’s face softens as she watches me.

“So you’re suggesting we continue to have no-strings sex, until I find you a nanny?” she asks, and my heart thumps with excitement. At least she’s considering it.

“Sure,” I say casually, although my stomach is in a chaotic mess. What if she says no? I’m sure fifty hand jobs a night and a harem of puck bunnies would never suffice. Now that I’ve had a taste of her, I want more. I’m certain by the time we hire a nanny I’ll have gotten her out of my system. “And until I find a nanny, I want to pay you for helping out.”

She crinkles her nose. “No, I don’t want your money,” she says adamantly.

Christ, she’s so different from the other women I know, which makes me like her all the more. “It’s a simple business arrangement, Quinn.”

“I can’t take your money, Jonah.”

“Fine. Then while you’re here, I’ll pay your half of your father’s medical bills.”

She sits up a little straighter and her eyes go wide. “How do you know—”

“Your brother is my best friend. We talk. Listen, I get it. You don’t want the entire burden to fall on your brother, and that’s admirable.” Really fucking admirable, considering the women I know what me for one of two things: what’s between my legs or what’s in my back account. “But what you would have paid, you can save, put it toward that daycare facility you always wanted.”

She bites her lip and looks down. “You’re not saying no. I won’t let you.”

“Jonah—”

“Done. It’s settled. While you’re helping me with Daisy, and helping me find a nanny, I’ll pay you.”

“You’re kind of pushy.”

I grin at her. “That’s why they call me the Body Checker.” She looks down for a moment, and I pray she’s not having second thoughts. “What?” I ask.

“Just…I don’t think we should tell my brother or anyone else about us.”

“Your brother would kick my ass if he knew I was fucking you.”

“Since when have you ever been afraid of Zander?”

“He’s my best friend, Quinn.” Fear niggles at me. I love Zander like a brother, and would never want to hurt him. Goddammit, I should have kept my dick in my pants. “I can’t lose him.”

She nods, like she understands that. “I know he’s overprotective of me, but I’m a big girl, can make my own decisions on who I bring into my bed.”

“Then why don’t you want anyone to know?” I ask, bluntly.

“I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea, that we might be in a relationship or something. I’m not looking for anything like that.”

I take a moment to absorb her words, roll them around in my brain for a second. Would being in a relationship with me be so horrible? Guess so, considering she wants to keep this a secret. Yeah, I know I have a reputation, and she deserves someone better.

Wait, wait. I don’t want a relationship either, so what the fuck am I getting all upset about?

Daisy lets loose another burp and Quinn laughs. “Not hard to tell she’s your daughter.” She shakes her head. “You and Zander were so disgusting, having those burping contests when you were younger.”

“I remember you joining in a time or two. If memory serves me correctly, didn’t you win after you drank that big glass of root beer?”

She lifts her chin. “I don’t remember that at all.”

“Yeah right.”

“I believe you’re having false memories. I would never do something so disgusting.” She stands and stretches out her arms. “Can I hold her for a minute?”

“Way to change the subject,” I say, and hand my daughter over.

Quinn smiles as she looks down at little Daisy. “She’s so precious.”

“You look like you might want one.”

Her head rears back. “No.”

“Whoa,” I say, obviously hitting a sore spot. “Sorry.”

“I just…I work at a daycare. When I get home at the end of the night, I want peace and quiet,” she says, but I’m not sure I believe. There’s something she’s not telling me, and I’m not going to push. It’s obviously a sensitive subject for her and likely none of my business. “I sent out a few texts to my co-workers yesterday. Hopefully we’ll hear something today. Like I said, the sooner we get a nanny, the better.”

Okay, okay, I get it. She doesn’t want to be here with me longer than necessary. She doesn’t have to keep driving the point home. I nod, and just then my cell rings from my bedroom. I glance at the stairs. “Who would be calling me this early in the morning?”

“No clue,” Quinn says. “Maybe it’s Shari, with a change of heart.”

Would I want her taking care of my daughter after pulling a stunt like that?

I hurry up the stairs—and my heart races when I see who the call is from.

I swipe my finger over the phone and head back down to Quinn and Daisy.

“Hi Mom, what are you doing up so early? It’s only like six in Mexico, isn’t it?”

“What’s this we hear about you having a baby?” she says, getting right to the point like she always does.

I meet Quinn’s eyes and mouth the words, “My parents. They know.”

Quinn cringes. “Wow, news travels fast in the hockey world,” she whispers back, as she walks around the room with Daisy, bouncing her gently.

“Is it true?” Mom asks.

“Who have you been talking too?”

“Luke mentioned it to his mother. She called me right away. We all talk you know, and if it is true, why am I not hearing it from my own son?”

“Sorry. I just found out yesterday. She was basically dropped into my arms, and I wanted to figure things out before I called you.”

“We’re coming home right now.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. Yesterday, I would have been all over the idea, but Daisy isn’t my mother’s responsibility. She’s mine—Quinn beat that fact home—and she shouldn’t cut her vacation short because of it.

“No, it’s okay. I’ve got everything under control.”

“I hardly think so,” she says. “You’re not equipped—”

“I know,” I say quickly. “But Quinn is here helping. She’s going to stay with me for a while, until I can find a nanny.”

“Oh,” she says, surprise in her voice. “That’s awfully generous of her.”

“Yes, she’s very generous,” I say, my gaze on her ass as she sits Daisy in the bassinette we bought yesterday. But suddenly my mind is on other things, like how generous she was with her mouth, her body last night in the kitchen, in bed. Shit. The last thing I want is a boner while I’m talking to my mother.

“Quinn is such a lovely girl. The kind of girl you need in your life, Jonah.”

“She is in my life, Mom. She’s always been in my life.”

“You know what I mean. Anyway, who’s the mother? Why did she just leave the child with you? How come she never told you about her before now? Are you even sure she’s yours, Jonah?”

“She’s mine, Mom.”

“Do you plan to marry the girl?”

Jesus, I knew it would lead back to this.

“Listen, just go enjoy your vacation. We’ll all talk when you get back, and I’ll answer all your questions.”

“Are you sure, Jonah? We can catch the next flight and be home by tonight.”

“We’ve got everything under control. I’ll fill you in when you get home. Right now, just go and have fun. I insist, Mom,” I say, a little more force behind my words.

“Well, if you insist.”

“I do. Have fun, tell Dad I said hello, and I’ll talk to you later.” I slide my finger across the screen to end the call and glance up to find Quinn watching me.

“How did that go?”

“I managed to talk her into not coming home.”

“I thought you’d want her here.”

“Yesterday I did, but now I have you.” I slide my hand around her body and drag her to me. Heat moves into her cheeks. “I’m dying to know, Quinn.”

“Know what?” she asks, as I put my hand between her thighs.

“What you’re wearing under here,” I say, and leisurely slide my hand upward until I find her bare, wet…completely ready for me again.