Crazy for Her(46)

No way.

Regan grabbed his ear and he smiled down at her. He hadn’t spent any time with Maria when she was born because he’d been twelve and finding excuses to stay away from home. Between Lovey Dovey, her johns, and a screaming baby, home was the last place he had wanted to be. It wasn’t until he’d realized his baby sister was neglected and half-starved that he took an interest.

Now, looking at the precious girl in his arms, he wished he could turn back time and appoint himself Maria’s protector from the day she was born. And as long as he was at it, he could wish for a different mother and even a loving dad, or at least the name of his father.

“I’m gonna gobble you up.” He lifted her tummy to his mouth and blew raspberries.

She screamed in delight and pushed her stomach against his mouth. “Wont.”

Obliging her, he blew on her belly as he opened the door. She banged on his head, bouncing up and down. Logan laughed and swung her up in the air, while at the same time noticing Maria and Mrs. Jankowski standing in the middle of the kitchen staring at him as if he’d just stepped off a spaceship from Mars.

“Hello,” he said, reaching behind him and taking Dani’s hand, pulling her next to him. “This is Dani Prescott, and this little imp is her daughter, Regan.”

Mrs. Jankowski eyed him, then Regan and Dani, and he would swear there was a calculated gleam in her eyes. Not surprising, as he’d never brought another woman home with him, and she’d understand the significance of Dani now standing in his kitchen.

She walked up to Dani and hugged her. “Welcome, my dear.”

Dani grinned and gave herself over to Mrs. Jankowski’s motherly embrace. Logan glanced at his sister in time to see her lips thin before she smiled. He recognized that look. What was her problem?

Mrs. Jankowski turned her attention to Regan and charmed her out of his arms. Ignoring the fuss being made over the baby, Maria came and hugged him.

“What’s wrong, brat?” he whispered.

“Nothing. I just missed you, and I’m so glad you’re home.” She took his hand and pulled him a few feet away. “Are you back for good?”

Something was bugging her, and he would find out what when they had some private time. “No, just here for a few days, why?”

Her gaze fell on Dani. “So you’re going back with her?”

“Yes.” The emphasis Maria put on the word “her” gave him his first hint. He’d been the only anchor in his sister’s life, the only thing she could depend on in their house of horrors. She was acting like a territorial cat. He dated now and then, and it had never seemed to bother her. Why now?

Dani came to his side. “Hi, Maria. I’ve looked forward to meeting you. Logan tells me you’re going to study law. I’m impressed.”

“Then you know more about me than I know about you. Logan hasn’t told me anything.”

He was going to strangle his sister. Opening his mouth to apologize for her behavior, Dani stopped him from speaking by putting her hand on his back and pressing her fingers against his spine.

“No problem, anything you want to know, just ask,” she said to Maria. Her gaze swept the room. “You and Logan have a beautiful home, and I’d love it if you’d take me on a tour. If the rest of it is anything like this amazing kitchen, then I’m dying to see it.”

Maria was going to refuse; he could see it in her expression. He narrowed his eyes. Her chest rose in an annoyed sigh. “Sure, why not?” She walked out, not waiting for Dani.

Not trusting Maria to play nice, he started to follow.

Dani shook her head. “No, stay here. Give me a few minutes alone with her.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what her problem is.”

“She’s afraid I’m going to take you away from her.”

“Well, that’s just stupid,” he muttered as Dani left the room to join Maria.

“It’s the way you look at her.”

He’d forgotten Mrs. Jankowski was in the room. “How’s that?” he asked, joining her at the table.

Regan had fallen asleep and Mrs. Jankowski gently rocked the baby. “Like—”

Buchanan entered with their suitcases. “Where you want these, boss?”

Damn, Logan wanted to know how he looked at Dani. “Just put them in the hall, and we’ll sort them out later.”

“Sure, just call me a mule.”

“I like jackass better.”

Buchanan snorted and disappeared. Logan turned back to Mrs. Jankowski. “What did you think of her?”

“From the few minutes I spent with her, she seems nice.” She peered down at Regan. “And this little one is a cutie pie. You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”