"Please, Kinsley, it's none of my business. I'm simply bringing you to him."
"Always has to have a lackey doing what he could so easily do." Kinsley appeared in the doorway with that statement, and I felt tension ebbing into my neck.
"Why are you yelling at Noah?" I asked calmly.
"Because you were too far away. Why is he fetching me to interview someone?"
As she stood there with her arms crossed over her breasts and heat staining her cheeks, I reminded myself she was carrying my child. It meant she was sacred, and I needed to treat her with respect. Not carry her upstairs and redden her ass with a paddle for being a brat.
"We'll need a nanny soon, Kinsley. I thought you'd want to help me decide who's right for our child."
"You thought? You didn't bother to ask if I wanted a nanny in the first place. Why am I not capable of caring for Finn myself?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "It makes sense to have someone on hand who can step in if you need help."
"I don't want staff raising my child, Burke Gallagher. I want him raised by you and me. Isn't that the point in keeping me here? Because you want him for your blood running through his veins?"
My heart was beating entirely too hard. "Why are you against the idea of hiring someone to help?"
She took a step toward me and pointed her finger in my face. "You didn't answer my question. Do you want to raise your son, or is the point of all this so you can own Finn? Is he some sort of object to set on a high shelf, to admire but never touch? Is that it?"
Turning away from her, I went back to my liquor cabinet and poured another whiskey. I would not spank her, no matter how she egged me on, but it was dearly tempting. When I'd gulped down another shot, I made my way behind my desk. It seemed best to put space between us with the way my palm itched.
"Kinsley, I assure you I don't want to be standoffish with Finn." It struck me that each time she'd used our baby's name, it made him all the more real. "He's my child, and that means everything to me. I don't want to hire any warm body to supervise him. I want someone who can give you a break when needed. It's that simple."
Sinking into one of the leather chairs, Kinsley rubbed circles over her belly and stared me directly in the eyes. "No."
Frustrated, I groaned and barely resisted throwing my glass at the fireplace. "Are you just used to giving me that answer without thinking? Why can't I hire a nanny?"
"I believe I've already stated why not. Maybe you grew up in an impersonal atmosphere, but giving our child everything doesn't have to include a fancy au pair. Just a mother and father who are present in his life."
"It could include both."
Rolling her eyes, she shifted in her seat. "If I had any money, I'd bet you just how long it'll be before it's second nature to hand him off and pretend he doesn't exist."
"You have money. I made sure of that."
"Your money, not mine."
With a grim smile, I said, "What's mine is yours."
She laughed. "That was very convincing."
"Are you trying to antagonize me?"
"No, but it is rather easy."
Folding my hands on top of my desk, I looked across the expanse of it at her bland expression. "You didn't object to Wyatt."
"He's here on a trial basis."
"You don't object to the maid who cleans your room."
"It's your house." She shrugged. "Besides, I clean it, not her."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not a hypocrite."
