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    The Right One: The Johansson Brothers, #3
    The Right One: The Johansson Brothers, #3
    The Right One: The Johansson Brothers, #3
    Ebook161 pages2 hours

    The Right One: The Johansson Brothers, #3

    By Tressie Lockwood

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Jack Miller is having a hard time relating to his preteen daughter. Every time he opens his mouth, he frightens her. His answer to the problem is to keep his distance no matter how much it hurts. Then his life gets complicated when his daughter’s mom needs Jack to take care of his daughter full time. Jack’s way out of his depth. Luckily, his older brother has the solution—a nanny.

    In walks Nailah Deas, Jack’s ex. Jack can’t believe his brother would hire the one woman he can’t bear to see, the woman who told him she preferred another man over him. But Nailah has always had a way with his daughter—and a way with Jack. He wants to keep his distance with Nailah too, but how can he when she’s even sexier than she was five years ago? Jack is tempted to let Nailah be the bridge between him and his daughter, but he needs a wall to keep his hands from the woman who still owns his heart.

    His family hasn’t fully accepted him, and danger lurks around the corner. Soon Jack has to make a decision—take back what’s his or let it go forever.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTressie Lockwood
    Release dateNov 7, 2017
    ISBN9781386131106
    The Right One: The Johansson Brothers, #3

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      Book preview

      The Right One - Tressie Lockwood

      Chapter 1

      P apa, you have to sign this.

      Jack looked out from under the car he worked on, trying to get a bolt loose. The piece of crap was being stubborn. He noticed a pair of worn sneakers with a hole forming in the toe of the left. Hadn’t he given Ivy money for new shoes last month? Maybe it had been longer than that. He wasn’t sure.

      Sliding out from under the car, he grabbed a rag he’d been using all morning. What was that? he said. If she weren’t standing so close to the side of the car, he might not have heard Khloe’s voice at all. She whispered most of the time and stuttered when she got nervous.

      Her blue eyes rounded, and her lips worked without sound as she stared at him. His chest tightened. He hated when she looked at him like that, as if he would hurt her. He’d never raised a hand to her. Sometimes he could be terse or loud when agitated, but it wasn’t toward her. Why did she have to be afraid of him? He didn’t get her at all.

      I-I-I… she began and shoved the paper toward him.

      He took it, almost feeling relieved he could study the sheet instead of her red face, making him uncomfortable. The sheet was her math homework. Her teacher had attached a note saying she needed a parent’s signature to confirm they looked at it.

      Khloe’s grades were falling, and most of the time she skipped homework altogether. Jack wondered why the school couldn’t cut her some slack. After all, her mom was busy getting treatments for an aggressive form of cancer, and her dad...

      I won’t win any parent of the year awards—ever.

      He sighed. Some of the answers were wrong. Was he expected to give her the right answers or just acknowledge that he’d seen it? At least he was sure the sheet needed his signature. He pulled a pen from his pocket and signed then handed the sheet to his daughter. She stared at it, not reaching out.

      What’s the problem?

      Her short little nose, so like her mother’s, wrinkled. That’s when he noticed the grease smudge. Damn, he thought he’d wiped his hands good.

      No matter, he said. It’s not covering any of the writing.

      Her lids lowered over her eyes so he couldn’t see what she thought of his suggestion, and she took the sheet before turning away.

      I can copy it over, he offered. A craving for a banana came over him. After I get this bolt off.

      She didn’t respond but kept heading toward the wait area. He rubbed the back of his neck, imagining he was leaving more smudges there. This was impossible. It wouldn’t work no matter how much Ivy wanted it to.

      Jack!

      He tensed and spun to face his boss as the manager of the station headed toward him. No one had to tell him what was coming. He knew he was pushing it when he brought Khloe to work.

      I’m just about to get back to this car, Jack said. Don’t worry. I’ll get the repair completed on schedule.

      The older man frowned. That’s not a problem. I know you get your work done, and you’re the best mechanic I have. That’s why I give you a little leeway. He nodded toward the waiting room. This isn’t the place for kids, especially not back here. It’s not safe, and my insurance won’t cover it if she gets hurt.

      It’s one day, Jack growled. And she’s not a baby trying to climb into the pit.

      Yeah, she’s not a baby. Looks to me like she’s old enough to be in school.

      Professional development day.

      So leave her home.

      Jack rolled his shoulders. The longer they had this conversation, the less time he had to work on the car. Her mom thinks she shouldn’t be left alone right now. He decided not to explain why. It’s one day.

      One day? Didn’t you bring her in a day last week?

      She had a cold. Or stomach ache. Or…

      You don’t know? His boss looked doubtful of his fatherly ability, and Jack had to agree with him. The fact of the matter was he suspected Khloe wasn’t so much sick the week before but that she just hated school. He didn’t blame her, and he gave her credit for being bold enough to ask him if she could stay home that day. Normally, she didn’t even tell him she was hungry, and he would forget about food until he found her gnawing on whatever was in his fridge. Then he would order out.

      Yup, no award for me.

      I’ll take care of it, all right?

      The man shook his head. No. Find a babysitter, and don’t bring her here again.

      Jack blinked at him. What? You mean now?

      The hardass turned away as he spoke. I’ll get Larry to cover for you.

      Jack cursed under his breath. He knew this would happen, but he had hoped for more time to figure things out. Since the first day Ivy walked in his door and demanded he take responsibility of their daughter, he knew it would come to this.

      He was awkward with Khloe, and she was so shy it was painful, more so with him. They were like two strangers, but they had always had Ivy as an interpreter. If she died, Jack wasn’t sure how he could manage to raise his daughter—especially knowing Khloe’s heart would break at the loss of her mom.

      I must seem like the coldest bastard around.

      He strolled toward the glassed-in waiting room with his stomach muscles clenching. Khloe sat on one side of the small room in the seat farthest from the other occupants. Her head down, she laced her fingers together and stared at them. Jack wondered what went through her mind, but he hesitated to ask. Not when she started stammering and he pushed too hard or got impatient. Would they ever meet on common ground and be easy with each other?

      Khloe.

      She jumped. He spoke too abruptly.

      Y-yes?

      He tried dialing down the intensity. Come on. We’re leaving.

      She didn’t question him but gathered her backpack and stood. Tall and slender with long blonde hair, she drew eyes to her even if she didn’t want to be seen. Even Jack admitted to himself as she moved ahead of him that his daughter was beautiful. One day she might know it, and he hoped she would raise her gaze from the floor then.

      Are you sure about this? Brand asked.

      Jack reached into the bag of bananas he brought with him to Brand’s office. His fingers curled around nothing, and he frowned. The bag was empty. All the peels were tossed into the trash on the side of the desk.

      I’m here aren’t I? he snapped, more irritated that he didn’t have any more bananas than his brother’s question. I made the decision, so that’s all there is to it.

      Brand slammed a fist on the desk and stood. That’s not all there is to it, damn it! You’re telling me you want me to arrange for Uncle Reinhart to take custody of your daughter.

      It’s not official. I can’t do official without Ivy’s consent.

      Regardless, Khloe is already dealing with her mom possibly dying. Now you want to take away her dad as well and just give her to an uncle she’s met once or twice?

      He wants her.

      And you don’t?

      That’s not the point. Guilt stirred in Jack’s gut.

      Brand moved around the desk and sat on the edge. His proximity agitated Jack, but he kept the reaction off his face. The way Brand read into his motives almost every time they met drove Jack insane, but he could deal more easily with Brand than the others.

      I’ll visit her, Jack offered.

      Brand snorted. Good of you. How about Marianne?

      She has four kids, and the finances aren’t always there.

      So you want to take advantage of Uncle Reinhart’s money?

      Jack bit back a grunt. I don’t give a damn about his money, but he wants her. He has a good place. She won’t go hungry. He stopped, heat rising in his cheeks.

      Brand leaned closer, and Jack sprung up, putting space between them. He turned his back and gazed out the window as he worked to shake off embarrassment. Just as he thought, Brand was insanely perceptive.

      You’re having trouble feeding her?

      No!

      Brand waited for him to continue.

      He drew in a calming breath and blew it out then faced his brother. My money is good. It’s just that… Well, I’m not cut out to be a dad. That’s all. Without Ivy… He’s better, all right? I met him. He seems like he has a good head on his shoulders, and he’ll give her everything she wants.

      Except her dad.

      She doesn’t want me.

      Brand’s voice softened. As painful as it is to watch the two of you together, I can tell she loves you. And you, well, I assume you love her or you’d keep caring for her half-assed until her mom can take over again. It wouldn’t occur to you that she could be better off.

      Jack bit down on his jaw. He wasn’t responding to that load of sentimental mess.

      Sure, Uncle Reinhart will spoil her financially, but he’s thick in business right now, setting up that new corporation with Arik. There’s no way he can give her the personal time she needs. The maid and cook are out of the question.

      Jack’s shoulders slumped. He’d thought he had come up with a good solution. When he barged into Brand’s office demanding to see him without calling first or making an appointment, he assumed they would wrap up everything within about fifteen minutes and he could get back to work.

      Brand sat at his desk again and tapped on a few keys on his keyboard. He read whatever it was he brought up and nodded. Okay, I can make some arrangements.

      With who? Jack demanded.

      Brand grinned. You care?

      Just say it!

      The idea of her staying with Uncle Reinhart is a good one. I wasn’t saying we should trash it. The question is her daily care, so I’m thinking a nanny. If you will trust me, I’ll make the arrangements. I already have some ideas. But if I do this, Jack, you’re going to have to commit to coming to see Khloe and taking her out—regularly. I don’t care if you have to shake and tremble like a crack addict. If you don’t, I’ll bust your head.

      Jack sneered. If you think you have the balls, come at me.

      Brand didn’t move, but neither did he appear afraid. Jack recognized the kind of simmering anger in Brand that told him his older brother was under constant control of a beast Jack didn’t want to mess with.

      Fine. I don’t need your threats. I fully intend to visit her.

      Good. Brand smiled. If you think I’m tough, you should talk to Shawnita. She would have already ripped your head off.

      I met her on the way in, Jack growled. She let me have a few choice words for coming without making an appointment. Why did you hire her as your assistant?

      Brand grinned, apparently proud of his wife. "Because I love her mouth—and every other part of her luscious body. And because I needed a new one. When I’m ready to eat, I can have my wife…er…I mean eat with her."

      Yeah, I’ll bet.

      Brand leaned back in his chair as if he thought about eating his wife. Jack tried not to let jealousy take hold. He hadn’t had a lover in a while, and with Khloe and Ivy to deal with, it didn’t look like he would get action soon. Not unless he wanted a one night stand.

      I was hoping I could get back to work, Jack said. If Khloe can go to Reinhart’s today, I can pack her stuff and bring it over later.

      Brand

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