“What do you mean?”
She pushes my chest. “I mean, it’s clear that you were thinking with your dick here, Henley.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I glare down at my younger sister. “Contrary to what you might think, the only thought going throughmy mind when I hired her was that I needed help and she knows more than I do.”
Dilynne mimics my stance. “You know you can’t sleep with her.”
“Yes, Dil. I’m very aware. Besides, she’s not going to be here for long.”
Dilynne drops her arms to her sides. “What do you mean?”
“She’s only here temporarily. She applied for the seasonal job at the lodge, and she plans to be gone by Christmas.”
“And what will you do then?”
Pushing my hand through my hair, I stare down the hall. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. I mean, look at my house.” Turning back to her, I fan my arms around the room and the stacks of boxes, bags of clothes and toys, and half-built furniture. “Cut me some slack here, will ya? I just became a dad overnight.”
Dilynne sighs. “Fine, but you and I both know that this girl is beautiful, and not being able to keep your dick in your pants is what got you into this situation in the first place.”
I flash my sister a deadpan stare. “Thank you for that.”
Smiling proudly, she pats me on the shoulder just as I hear the sound of Elodie coming back down the hall. “Just speaking the truth.”
“Still need help?” I ask Elodie when she comes into view.
She tucks her long, dark hair behind her ear. “Yes, please. There’s only a few more boxes.”
Glancing at my sister, I say, “Do you mind keeping an eye on Remy while I help Elodie?”
Dilynne looks at the baby. “Uh, I guess. Not sure what to do with her, though.”
“As long as she’s not crying, just leave her.”
Dilynne nods. “Got it.”
I follow Elodie out to her car. “Sorry about my sister, by the way.”
Elodie chuckles. “She seems harmless,” she says as she opens up the trunk of her car, revealing a few small boxes and another duffle bag.
“Uh, Dilynne is the furthest thing from harmless. Seriously, I love her, but she’s a lot to handle.”
“Women don’t really like to be told that,” Elodie counters, lifting one eyebrow.
“Trust me, it’s true when it comes to my sister.”
“Have you ever considered that maybe she’s just self-sufficient and aware of who she is, andyouare the one who’s a lot to handle?”
I stare down at her, transfixed by the challenge in her voice. “Look, we’re getting off topic here. All I’m saying is, don’t feel the need to entertain her. And if she tells you any stories about me, believe less than five percent of them.”
Elodie huffs out a laugh. “That basically means she’ll tell me anything I ask, won’t she?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Based on this conversation, I have a feeling you two will get along just fine.”
“Well, she is Remy’s aunt, so it would be good for me to get to know her, right?” Elodie loads the boxes into my arms and then grabs the duffle bag, slamming her trunk shut before heading back up to the house.
When we walk back inside, Remy is fussing in her high chair, and Dilynne is standing right in front of her, pinching her nose closed with two fingers.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
