“That’s very helpful. I’m sure the baby will be very happy to have such wonderful cousins who know all the good stuff already.” Vaughan winked, amused. Probably because the girls had pestered Damien, which would have amused him.

“Remember Damien and Mary are going to need quiet so use your indoor voices and don’t make a pest out of yourself when you’re at the ranch.”

“Uncle Damien says we can come over anytime.”

“That was said the first day we arrived,” Vaughan said, also meaning that might be different after several days with their chatty girls.

But he looked amused. The way the brothers seemed to enjoy nothing more than fighting with one another was mediated by the intense love and connection they all shared.

“Uncle Damien needs some experience. We’re just helping.” Vaughan’s expression was mischievous.

“Vaughan Hurley, you troublemaker, you.”

He laughed, as did their daughters, who loved it when Mommy and Daddy teased one another.

* * *

HE STAYED UNTIL it was time for Kelly to leave to get the girls to dance class. He hugged them all, saving Kelly for last.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams. And make sure everything is locked up tight.” Vaughan said the last quietly, making sure the girls didn’t overhear. “Don’t let him inside again, all right? Not without me here.”

Kelly didn’t think Ross would ever hurt her. He rarely even raised his voice when he got angry. But her interaction with him earlier had left her skittish. She nodded. “Okay. Drive safe and have a good time.”

“Hey, Legs, I sure love you.”

She blushed and he kissed each cheek and then her mouth. There was giggling from the car.

“I love you, too.”

“Take care of my girls.”

“Always.”

He watched them drive away and Kelly shoved all her fears as far down as she could.

After she deposited the girls at their classes, she headed to the coffee shop she hung out in until class was finished. She had some tea and looked over things usually, handled her email and that sort of thing. But before she could, her phone rang.

“Hello?” The number was from the same area code as the ranch but it wasn’t Vaughan.

“Kelly, it’s Sharon Hurley. I just wanted to call to touch base about dinner. Make sure you aren’t allergic to anything.”

Kelly looked at her screen again, just to be sure, but it really was Sharon.

“I’m not allergic to anything. But thank you for asking and for the invitation.”

“I should have invited you myself. I realized that after Vaughan left. It was rude. Not the only rude thing I’ve done over the years. We’ll talk more when you’re here. It’s not an over-the-phone thing.”

“All right.”

“See you and the girls on Wednesday, then.”

“We’ll bring wine and something nonalcoholic to drink,” Kelly surprised herself by saying.

“Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.”

Moments later after she’d hung up, Kelly was still looking at her phone as if it might bite. But Sharon had sounded sincere. Even a little friendly.

It was the first time since she’d met Sharon that the other woman had ever admitted her behavior had been rude.

Could it actually be that this might work after all?

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

VAUGHAN, KNOWING HE had to bow to the inevitable, called Kelly. He was supposed to go home that night but it was looking iffy.

“Hey you.”

He smiled at the sound of her voice as she answered. “Hey. I’m still in a meeting. Once this one is over, we have another one with marketing. I’ll be here at least three more hours.”

“Oh.” He heard the disappointment in her tone. “All right. It’s already seven, though. You should stay at the ranch instead of driving back so late.”

He knew he should, but he didn’t want that.

“Don’t miss me yet?”

She was quiet awhile. “I miss you enough to scare myself here and there. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’ll have lots of times when you need to be away because of the band, or the ranch, or whatever.”

“Scared?”

“I got used to you being gone. I remember what it feels like to be left by you. It’s not a place I want to go back. And now I’m used to you being around again and I’m afraid of never feeling it again. Which is why you need to stay there tonight.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“Most of my brain knows that. I also know that since we’re making a go of this, we have to deal with your work. I can’t worry about it all the time. What’s the point of being with you if I had to do that? Anyway, that’s just a stupid worry. Mainly I miss the way you smell when you first wake up. Your skin is all warm and you’re snuggly. The sex part that follows is also something I miss. I’ll get both when you come home tomorrow. Which you will because I’m not driving over to your parents’ for dinner without you.”

She made him laugh, which made him want her more.

“She called last night. Your mom.”

Surprised, Vaughan paused a moment. “And everything is okay?”

“Surprisingly yes. It’s not fixed by any means, but having her call means something to me. It felt like she was trying.”

Relieved he didn’t need to bail anyone out of jail or go yell at his mother, he spoke again. “I’m glad to hear it.” And holy shit, he was.