Although, I quit competing when I broke my ankle in Greece. I was perfectly fine to continue, but Mom lost her mind when I phoned her from the hospital on Santorini.
I learned my lesson. Do not tell Mom what I’m doing. She can know where I am but not what I’m up to. It’s better this way. She still thinks skydiving is dangerous.
I dig my phone out of my pocket to respond to the message. Except it’s not a message, it’s an email. From the lab where I took my paternity test.
My heart races as I stare at the notification. What if Adele isn’t mine? What then?
I’d have to let her go. To return her to her mom.
My stomach clenches at the thought of returning Adele to the woman who abandoned her. What kind of person abandons their child? It doesn’t matter. I’m not letting Daisy raise Adele.
Adele has captured my heart. I am not letting her go. Paternity be damned. She is mine.
I open the email and scan it.Statement of results. The genetic markers strongly support the conclusion that the tested male is the biological father. Probability of paternity. 99.9%. Indicates a high probability of paternity, with a conclusive result.
I drop the phone in my lap and rock back in my seat. Adele is mine. She’s my daughter. My baby girl. I don’t have to give her up.
I can’t wait to tell Sloane. She believes in me. Believes I can be a good father.
But she’s at work and my brothers are waiting on me. I climb out of the car and start for the door but then I remember my good luck charm.
It’s the Raider brothers’ monthly poker night and a good luck charm is required. Eli has a set of teeth he used to scare us with when we were young. Rhett has a bowling shoe, which is weird, but whatever. Jaxon has a Chia pet he claims resembles Elvis. It doesn’t.
Miles has a rabbit’s foot that definitely is not from a rabbit. And Kai has a pickle in the jar he calls Mr. Crisp.
I’m the only one with a ‘normal’ good luck charm. I snatch the taxidermized squirrel in a cowboy hat from the front seat before heading for Eli’s house.
“Someone’s happy tonight,” Kai says when I enter the house.
“He must think he’s going to win.” Miles snorts. “Delusional.”
“Or he’s happy because he kissed Sloane,” Eli says.
Rhett rubs his hands together. “Pay up, suckers.”
Jaxon pushes his glasses up his nose. “I didn’t bet against Sloane and Zane getting together. I wouldn’t bet against Zane. He’s been staring at her with lust in his eyes for years.”
I can’t deny it. Sloane is the most beautiful woman on Smuggler’s Hideaway. Naturally, I’ve been lusting after her. I’m only a man.
But Sloane isn’t the reason I’m smiling. And I’m not discussing my relationship with her with my brothers anyway.
Hold on. I don’t have a relationship with Sloane. She’s my nanny.
And we kissed. We would have done a lot more if Adele hadn’t interrupted.
Adele! She’s the reason I’m happy.
“I got the paternity results back.” I rock back on my heels.
“And? Is Adele yours?” Eli asks.
Rhett scowls. “I don’t care if she is your daughter biologically. She’s your daughter. End of.”
Rhett would say that. He adopted two children since Dakota has health issues and was wary of bearing children herself. Plus, she was in the foster system. She wanted to foster children. Instead, they ended up adopting the first two children they fostered.
“Dude,” Miles grumbles. “Don’t keep us in suspense.”
I can’t hold it in anymore. My smile stretches from ear to ear. “Adele is mine.”
