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He took my hand. “You’re a girl in a family of boys. From an evolutionary biology standpoint, that’s hard to fight. But it sounds like there’s more.”

“Oh, there’s always more!”

He settled back on the sofa and pulled me into his arms. “Then tell me. So I can learn and not be such a hard ass when it comes to protecting Mabel.”

I rubbed a hand along his chest. “I doubt anything I say will change that.”

He nuzzled his lips along my temple, giving me space to sort through my emotions.

“When I was a kid, I wasn’t good at sports. Hatch was already there, the heir in waiting, but I think my dad wanted to raise a family of genetically enhanced superstars.”

“His own hockey team, huh?”

“Right. But I was clearly the weak link. Clumsy, uncoordinated, not champion material.”

His hand rubbed my arm, soothing in all the right ways. He didn’t jump in and invalidate my feelings, and I almost wished he had so I could put a mark in the Lars con column.

“Once the twins were born, I think Dad was relieved he didn’t have to encourage me to be sporty. He could move on to the kids who would be successful.” I sighed. “I’ve always felt a bit different from them. I like books and art and music. Conor used to joke I must be adopted.”

“That had to hurt.”

“A bit. You said your dad gave you a hard time when you didn’t measure up. My family didn’t give me a hard time. Not entirely. I did it to myself, I suppose.”

“We’re our own worst enemies.”

I smiled against his chest. “We are. My brothers didn’t mean to, but they would inevitably treat me as different to them.

Being a girl, not really into the same things, not as strong as them.

And because I don’t have a clear vision for my life, it adds fodder to the story of me.

Aimless, weird, needs-to-be-cared-for Adeline. ”

“Well, that’s bullshit.”

I raised my head. “It is?”

“Do you believe that about yourself?”

“No. Well, sometimes.” Tell me something different.

“The Adeline I know is kind of a dick.”

Not the kind of pep talk I was expecting.

“Okay.”

“In the sense that you are bossy as fuck. You’re take charge when you need to be and all soft power when the moment calls for it.

You’ve got this moral streak that keeps you and the people you care about on the right track.

Plus you knew exactly what to do to steer me in the right direction.

Not just with Mabel but standing up for myself and showing people that I’m not like Sven.

I didn’t want any PR soft soap, but you figured out a way to draw me in because you’re?—”

“Sneaky?”

“I was going to say persuasive, but sneaky works. A good type of sneaky. Manipulative in a way that I was already doing your bidding before I even realized what was happening. That takes a special kind of quiet strength.”

That made me a bit giddy. “Or perhaps you were vulnerable to anyone who would tell you what needed to be done.”

“Perhaps. Or you could take the compliment and recognize your strengths and how you could use them.”

“I like babies, but I don’t think it’s a vocation.”

“I’m not talking about being a nanny, though that’s another amazing thing you’ve got going for you. Not only did you step up for me, but you stepped up for your parents. Taking time off from college to help with Tilly.”

Only because I didn’t like being away from home.

“And seeing you with Tilly and all those other kids at the party, playing music, showcased another of your talents.”

My first instinct was to deny. “That’s just for my sister.”

“Yet every kid there loved it.” He kissed my temple. “Adults, too.”

“Not sure I can make a career out of that.” Yet the idea gave me tingles. “Could I?”

“Who knows? But maybe it’s worth exploring.” He ran a finger over my jaw. “You don’t have to decide it all now. You’re still so young with so much potential.”

His voice held a note of melancholy. Because I was young, full of potential, or something else?

Before I could ask, his brow lined. “We didn’t get to discuss this last night?—”

“Not much talking, if I recall.”

“No.” His lips twitched as we both indulged in a sexy memory. “Before you seduced me in my jersey, you vixen, I talked to my agent. They found Vicki.”

“Oh, that’s good. Right?”

He blew out a breath. “It is. We still have to get her to the negotiating table but it’s a start.

I have to be realistic here. I don’t know what’s going on with her, but we need to figure things out, for Mabel’s sake.

I can’t rely on this patchwork of solutions or expect you to be here forever. You have a life to start, Adeline.”

I swallowed my emotion. I could say I was happy to stay on as long as he needed me, but that would sound desperate.

Like I was trying to insinuate myself into his life, taking that crush and magnifying it now that I had the leverage of his need for childcare.

He was here, making suggestions for my career path, telling me that Mabel’s mom might be back in the picture soon.

Anyone with a brain could join those dots.

We had never discussed anything more than a day at a time. We had barely discussed it at all.

Take the hint, Adeline Kershaw. Take the hint.