The Redo (Winslow Brothers #4) (68)

“So…she’s a little lady. But, like, a very professional little lady,” he comments. “Shit, this is the most professional baby I’ve ever seen in my life. Is she famous? Did you steal a famous person’s baby? Wait… Don’t even tell me this baby is a mobster.”

“Yeah, Thatch,” I retort with a roll of my eyes. “She’s a mobster baby who’s here to collect.”

He looks at me. Then back at Izzy. “I ain’t sleeping with no fishes tonight, honey. I can tell you that.”

Izzy just keeps sleeping.

“And whatever dark world Remy has found himself in,” he continues, “I can tell you, I can’t join in. My wife is far scarier than a mobster. She’d literally castrate me if I became someone’s drug mule or some shit.”

I stare at him. “Are you done?”

“I think so.” He smirks. “Wait…unless that baby is connected to my wife and she’s sent you here to try to slyly convince me that another kid is a good idea. Then I’m going to have to ask you and your professional baby to leave.”

“Her name is Izzy, and I’m doing her mom a favor.”

He eyes me suspiciously. “So, she’s not in the mob?”

“No.”

“And you didn’t steal her?”

“Also no.”

He scoffs. “Well, fluff, this story is far more boring than I was hoping.”

“You’re insane.”

Thatch just grins. “Would you and your baby like to take a seat?”

“Only if that means we’re actually going to converse about investments.”

“You wound me, Rem.” He feigns a pout. “You act like I’m not the most entertaining friend you have. Which, you and I both know, I am.”

Despite my better judgment, I sit down in one of the chairs across from his desk, but I’m surprised when, instead of walking back around to his big leather throne, he sits down beside me.

And then he proceeds to carefully pull Izzy out of the carrier and cuddle her tiny body in his big arms. One sniff to the top of her head and he grins.

“Ah yes, honey. You have that addictive baby smell.” He sniffs her head again like some kind of fucking addict.

“You do realize you’re being really weird right now, right?”

“Hell if I care.” He shrugs. “You can’t bring the cutest boss baby in the whole wide world into my office and not expect me to hold her. Do I know her mom?”

“No.” I shake my head. “She’s an old friend from high school, actually.”

“Is she married?”

“The baby? No.”

He snorts. “Her mom.”

“No, Maria is not married.”

“Oh, so…it’s Maria?”

“Yes.” I roll my eyes. “Her mother’s name is Maria.”

He grins at me like a fucking lunatic. “And this Maria isn’t married… Is she engaged?”

“No.”

“Is the father involved?” he questions, and I shake my head.

“No, but it’s a really long story that I’m not going to get into with you because it’s none of your business.”

“So…you’re taking care of Maria’s baby. A woman who is an old friend but is also single…and you’re protective over her business? I take it back—this is starting to get very interesting.” He waggles his brows. “Give me the scoop, Rem. I’m all ears.”

“There’s no scoop.”

“Oh, there’s scoop. I can tell. We’re already well on our way to my two favorite tropes of all time—friends-to-lovers and second chances, baby.”

“You have to stop reading romance novels, bro.”

You might think I’m kidding, but I’m not. Thatch is a lover of romance novels. Hell, I’ve heard rumors about a book club that my brother-in-law Wes was even roped into, but I’ve still yet to get the real truth out of him.

Thatch laughs like I’ve just said the most ridiculous thing in the world. “Get real, son. Besides my wife’s t-i-t-s and p-u-s-s-y, there’s nothing better in this world than a good romance novel.”

In order to achieve the entire reason Thatch had me come to his office today, I know I’m going to have to get this crazy train back on the rails. “So…are you planning on holding the baby the entire time we’re sharing information, or should I put her back in the carrier?”

“Fluff that,” he huffs out on a snort. “I’m not giving up this little cutie until I have to.”

“You say Cassie is the one who wants another baby and you don’t,” I retort. “I call bullshit, bro.”

“Yeah, well, I’m calling bullshit on you too, bro.”

I quirk a brow. “Excuse me?”

“You don’t think I noticed the careful avoidance. The pointed distraction you just provided. C’mon, Rem. I know what’s up.”

I roll my eyes. But also, I ignore the metaphorical carrot he’s dangling in front of my face. One comment about what he just said, and I might as well settle in for a three-hour tour.

So, I do the only thing that’s going to prevent me from having to tell Maria I can’t bring Izzy home tonight because we have to sleep in this lunatic’s office because he won’t shut up. I pull my phone out of my pocket and hold it up toward Thatch and Izzy.