Page 40 of The Refiner

“A deal?” I arch a brow. “What kind of deal?”

He looks at Tatum on his chest. She’s abandoned the bottle, preferring to sleep contently on her Hulk of a daddy. “A deal that I realize I want to see through.”

Ugh. Why is he so annoying?

“Are you going to tell me what this deal is, or should I just get used to you speaking in code?”

The faintest smile appears on his face. “Do you trust me?”

That’s easy. “No.”

“Do you trust Piper?”

“Of course.”

He nods. “Then help me honor my promise to her.”

Does he not hear himself? “A promise that you won’t tell me.”

“A promise I won’t tell you yet. But I will. I just need to make a few calls first.”

“But then you’ll tell me?” I arch a brow. “After you call some people?”

He pulls in a deep breath, seemingly finding his conviction. “Yes. When I get things settled, I’ll tell you the whole story. I just need you to stay. I don’t know what I’m doing with Tatum, and I could use your help.”

He just had to dangle the baby and a mystery in front of me.

“I must admit your negotiation skills are quite impressive.” I shoot him an unamused glare. “You know I would do anything to find out your dirty little secret.” Even if it meant spending more time with him.

He flashes me a sly grin. “That’s not why you’ll do it.”

Listen to him acting like he knows me. “Be careful, Dr. Potter. I’m not my sister.” His cuteness won’t work with me.

“Exactly.”

After making a deal with Manipulative Dr. Potter, he left the hospital, leaving me to entertain Tatum. Tatum’s doctor said she was doing amazing (I expected nothing less out of a McKellan woman) and would be discharged tomorrow, meaning she’s going home. Given that Tatum was a surprise for Astor and me, we had nothing whatsoever in terms of baby supplies to care for the little gremlin.

But Piper did.

When I went to her house to shower, I noticed she had a whole nursery set up in what was once her guest room.

Tatum will never sleep in the nursery my sister designed, but Astor and I agreed she could use everything her mother bought. Piper would most definitely want that.

I just couldn’t be the one to do it.

But I should have known Prince Astor would try to get on my good side and volunteer to take down the nursery and move it into his house.

In the coming days, I will need to pack up all my sister’s things and decide what to do with all of it, but today is not that day. I was happy to send Astor to do what I couldn’t.

I don’t know how he will accomplish moving an entire room in one night, but he has brothers and money. I’m sure they’ll pay someone to get it set up before we bring Tatum home tomorrow.

“Ms. McKellan?”

“Yes?” I glance up and smile at Tatum’s nurse, Carly. Unlike the other nurses, Carly seems immune to Astor, so, right now, she’s my favorite.

“I see you got her quiet.” She nods to the little girl on my chest.

Apparently, Tatum loves this kangaroo care. I’d even say she loves kangaroo care more with me than with Astor. “Yeah, she wasn’t all that impressed with Dr. Dad’s rock-hard pecs. She prefers more of a pillow top.”

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