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“Fucking hell.”
There was no way it was meant for me. GQ, Jesse Evans, was my former SEAL team commander and head of EHM Security. He knew good and well that I wanted nothing to do with Greer. And if this was meant for me, I refuse to do it.
When the home screen came back into view, I logged in and opened my email once again. But the same infuriating message stared at me.
Appointment with Greer Rowan to firm up the next assignment.
Why the fuck did Greer need private security? And if he did, he sure as fuck didn’t need me, of all people.
Against my better judgment, I clicked on the email. As I read, my nostrils flared, and my stomach churned as an intense level of irrational anger grew.
No.
Not fucking doing it.
Dreamboat could do it. He’d do anything to avoid being here with the new hire. I stood and stomped my way down the hallway to GQ’s office.
But the sound of Olivia’s sweet laughter quickly deflated my ire. Jesse’s daughter was cute as hell. Even though it was biologically impossible, Livie looked just like her daddy. My best friend and former SEAL Team Commander and his husband, Dominick Rossi, had adopted her last year. And when she wasn’t in school, he and his Pirates place kicker husband traded off time with the little girl.
When I reached his doorway, GQ looked up at me with an expression I knew well. It didn’t take him long to read my face, because his smile slipped a little.
“Hey, Dare. What’s up?”
Olivia looked over at me and her eyes lit up. Bounding from the chair at the kid-sized table in his office, Livie came running at full speed. I opened my arms and scooped her up.
A little more of my anger slipped away as I lifted her into the air.
“DD!” she yelled, as she launched herself into a big hug around my neck. Her soft blonde curls were everywhere and tickled my face.
“Hey, Livie girl. What are you doing here today?”
She giggled and pulled back to look at me. She placed both her hands on my cheeks and gave me a look. “Daddy said he needed me, and Papa is helping Uncle Cooper with the horses. I wanted to go, but Daddy needed me more.”
My eyes shifted to Jesse, who sat back with a smug ass look on his face. The asshole knew I wouldn’t lose my shit with Livie here.
“Really?”
“Uh-huh. He said you missed me.”
The smile I rarely wore anymore crept onto my face as I flipped her Daddy the bird behind her back. “I have missed you, Livie girl.”
I leaned forward and smacked a big loud kiss on her cheek right before she attempted to blow a raspberry on mine. It came out more like a squeak, making us laugh.
“Livie baby, I think Uncle DD needs to talk business with me. Want to finish your picture for Nonna?”
Olivia wiggled, and I put her down. “Okay, Daddy. Can I give it to her today?”
“Yeah, baby. We’ll drop it off on the way home from the stables.” He got up and rounded his desk, stopping by my side. GQ ran his fingers over her soft curls. “I’m going to talk to Uncle DD in the lobby.”
My favorite six-year-old nodded and climbed back into her chair to color.
A little more of my anger ebbed as I watched him fall more in love with his child. Olivia had brought so much happiness to him and Dominick. Turning to me, he held both his hands up, like he was trying to soothe a caged animal.
And maybe, when it came to Greer Rowan, I was. He brought out feelings I’d tried to bury and memories I wanted to forget. My friends knew minimal details about what happened between us, and that he was my older brother Carter’s best friend. So, when I was forced to be around him for work, I remained indifferent. Sometimes it didn’t work, and I ended up being an asshole. But every time I dared look at him, I could see the pain in his eyes.
“Hang on a minute, Dare, before you blast me.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “That’s pretty low of you to use your daughter as a human shield.”
