He heard her voice just then as she came out of the house. Natalie’s joined it as they laughed. Paddy and Ezra both relaxed and then Ezra realized he was having the same exact reactions as Damien and Paddy.

Which only meant he liked her and she was his girlfriend. He cared about her like they cared about the women they...loved. It was just in a different place in the continuum, that was all. He could like her and not freak out that he was liking her. This feed store business was handled and he needed to let it go. For the time being anyway.

And then he moved to her because there wasn’t anything else in the world he’d rather have done.

* * *

HE SLID AN arm around her shoulders and hers went around his waist. As if they always did that in front of everyone. It was exactly what she’d needed. He made her feel safe and special.

“Will the animals be all right?”

“Yes. It’s handled.” Ezra didn’t say what happened but whatever had been done, she knew he’d never be strolling over to dinner if his animals were in danger. “They’re safe and so are you.”

He held her a little closer and it did make her feel a lot better though her worries and fears for herself weren’t anything he could protect her from. No one could.

“By the way, I forgot to say earlier how much I like that shade of red.”

“Thanks. That’s a new shirt. I like how it’s all snug across your shoulders like the cotton is just, Oh my god how can I not always be laying myself all over Ezra Hurley? Probably rocks and weeps in your closet when you don’t wear it.”

He laughed. “You’re wearing a new shirt, too.” He dipped, pressing his lips to her ear. “From my angle I can see the edge of your bra. I can tell I’m going to like it.”

She smiled in the dark as they headed up the road to Paddy’s place but they wended around and ended up approaching from a direction she hadn’t before, coming in through the French doors leading into a first floor sitting room Paddy had put three pinball machines in.

“I can really go for a few games of pinball after dinner,” she told Ezra as they went down the hall and out into the open kitchen living area.

Full of people all shouting surprise at her.

She skidded to a halt, truly surprised.

“It’s not a birthday party but we do have cake. It’s a we-are-all-so-proud-and-thrilled-for-all-the-great-stuff-going-on-for-Easton-Galleries-and-her-owner party.” Natalie hugged her.

Two of her dearest friends came toward her, pulling Tuesday into a hug. “You’re here. You look so pretty.” Jenny stood back after a kiss on the cheek. Jenny was a third-grade teacher and lived in Seattle with her wife, Zoe, who was a biologist and the next kiss was from her.

As was a whispered, “Holy crap, that’s Ezra? He’s like a nuclear testosterone bomb wrapped in velvety smooth hot man skin.”

Tuesday looked back over her shoulder at him. He stood just about three feet away talking to Damien. “Right. You should see him naked and sweaty.”

They all laughed and she turned to Natalie, hugging her again. “I know you’re responsible for all this. Thank you. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend tonight at this point.”

“Mary did all the food.” Natalie looked around.

“She’s at the front door with my parents, Nat,” Paddy called out.

“Ezra?”

He came over, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. She leaned into him a little. “This is Zoe Marsden and Jenny Dan. Guys, this is Ezra Hurley.”

“Ah, two more of this infamous 1022 you both speak of so often.” He shook hands with both women. “Really nice to meet you in person.”

“Thanks. You, too. You guys have a pretty spread up here.”

“There she is!” Sharon came in with Michael and Mary. Mary mouthed I’m sorry when Sharon barreled in and hugged Tuesday.

Michael shrugged. “So I figured, hey, I’ll have the time to get past what happened down at the feed store. I’ll tell my wife what happened. Rail about it. She’d send me out to chop wood. I’d chop wood until my arms hurt. I’d feel better and we’d come on over. But silly me, I forgot I’m married to a stone-cold viper when it comes to people hurting people she cares about and while I did go out and chop wood, your mother paced the kitchen getting herself all worked up and called down to talk to Shelley, who told us she and her dad had fired Gary and sent him packing. Apparently he’s the kind of guy who is always making promises he never bothers to keep anyway. He’s bounced around and this is the last of his relations in the West so he’ll be heading east this time.”

Jenny and Zoe looked confused. “What are you all talking about?”

Which led to a retelling of the story with added outrage.

Tuesday stood at the outer edge of it, glad they all cared so much but exhausted by it all at the same time. There was only so much she could say or feel or do about it.

“Come with me.” Ezra eased her from the room, grabbing a platter of sliders on the way. They sneaked quietly out to the front porch where he brushed off the glider so she could sit.

Out there in the dark, they said nothing. He rocked them back and forth slowly as they ate sliders and she rested her head on his shoulder.

They stayed out there until she heard her name a few times.

He stood and she took his hand. “Sorry about my mom. She didn’t mean to cause all that in there.”

Tuesday blew out a breath. “I know. She just wants to help. It’s all right. It was too much for a little while but you pulled me out here with your shoulder and some sliders. I’m better.”