It hadn’t been enough to make us all comfortable with having her there, though. Over four days, we had gradually warmed up. Even the toughest of my guys softened up when she was around. It was interesting.
“You think she’s unhappy here?” I asked. “Go over there and play for a while. You’ll see. She’s fed well, she has fun. We’re even trying to help her keep up with her school work. You should be able to tell if we’re doing a good job…Teach.” She scowled at me, like she could have ripped my head off and been happy about it. I couldn’t help picking at her—it was too much fun watching her flip out. She always tried to hide it, like she couldn’t let go of what was inside her. I wondered how much fun it would be to break down that icy wall around her.
She took my advice and went over to the middle of the room, where Gigi was kicking Traci’s and Erica’s asses at Candy Land. They started talking, and I heard Jamie asking the girls questions. I knew she would be impressed with them. They didn’t look like the smartest girls in the world—because they weren’t—but they had a strong instinct when it came to kids. They liked taking care of Gigi, too. I even thought I saw a little shade getting thrown Jamie’s way. They were jealous of her tightness with Gigi.
I grinned to myself, even though female drama usually got on my nerves. Who the hell had time for it? I left them to it, pouring myself a drink before I went back to my office. I had to think things over.
Flash followed me. “Who the hell is that?” he asked, whispering until we were alone.
“Gigi’s teacher.”
“What, complaining that she missed school?”
“Worried, more like.” I watched through the half-open door. Jamie and Gigi laughed together, and Jamie hugged the little girl. “I think she really cares about her. A relief. I didn’t think anybody did before she came here.” I knew what it felt like to have nobody care about me when I was a kid. I didn’t know my daughter, but I didn’t want her to feel that sort of pain.
“And she came here for her? What, did Rae tell her where she was taking the kid?”
“I don’t think so. I think she figured it out. She wanted to find her.” I heard the admiration in my voice. I couldn’t help it. I didn’t think people like her actually existed outside of movies and TV shows. People who cared about other people. She walked into the clubhouse like she belonged there. She wasn’t even afraid. I had to give her credit for that.
“What’s she gonna do? Tell the police Gigi’s here?”
“I should fucking hope not. I already told her I don’t want the kid in a foster home. You know that’s where they’ll throw her.” Then I thought about it and relaxed. “No, she won’t do that. Because she wants her.”
“So why not give her over?”
“I can’t do that.” I couldn’t explain it. It wasn’t that I loved the kid, that I felt an instant bond with her the minute we met or anything like that. She was mine. Nobody took what was mine. And wanted what was best for her, too. Foster care wasn’t best. Being with her teacher wasn’t best. She needed her father. If we were her family, that was the way it was gonna be. She could do worse than us.
“You’re always the one who says you don’t want any complications. Here you are, pulling one into your life. What’s up?”
“I can’t tell you why. You would understand if you were me.” I finished my drink. Gigi and Jamie were still at it out there, laughing, starting a new game with the girls. The girls still looked a little chilly toward Jamie. I grinned.
“Traci and Erica don’t like her very much,” I muttered, nodding.
Flash laughed. “Yeah, well, she’s a different kind of girl. They don’t know what to do with her.”
That was the truth. She was as different from the girls who hung around the clubhouse as night and day. She was smart as hell, for one thing. A teacher had to be smart, I guessed. They probably thought she was a snob, like she thought she was too good for them. She dressed in nice clothes, didn’t wear a lot of makeup. There were earrings in her ears that I would have bet were real diamonds.
“She’s hot,” Flash admitted.
“Yeah, she is. I’m not blind.” I wanted to take her the second I laid eyes on her. It was just a basic need. I didn’t have to think about it. It was just there. She was fucking gorgeous, hot as hell, her body begged for me to touch it. My hands wanted to feel her curves. I shoved them in my pockets.