Doors weren’t open to the public yet so there weren’t too many people inside. He smiled as Jill Scott faded and was replaced by Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Maps.”

And then she came around the corner and he exhaled hard and fast. Paddy whistled.

Her attention had been on the woman walking along next to her but at Paddy’s whistle she turned their way.

Christ, she was beautiful. Warmth and pleasure at the sight of her rushed through him and his muscles, which had felt locked for weeks, finally eased. Ten days without seeing her had made him hungry for the sight of those curls and the upward tilt of her mouth.

Her tits. Rude or not, he couldn’t stop looking at the glory of them showcased at the front of her dress. Her very short dress exposing miles of gorgeous leg.

Tuesday looked to Paddy. “Your adulation has been appreciated and duly noted. Your girlfriend is around the corner.”

Paddy kissed her cheek on his way past and then she was all about Ezra.

She looked him up and down, pleasure on her features enough to make him preen a little. He took her hand, turning it to kiss her wrist, breathing her in.

Then he tugged and she came into his arms like he’d been thinking about her pretty much nonstop since the last time they’d been together.

“Hi there, Ezra Hurley. You’re quite handsome this evening.” She smoothed a hand down the front of his shirt and tie.

“Beauty, I don’t have the words to do justice to how you look. Sexy. Gorgeous. Juicy. Curvy. Strong. Smart.”

“And that’s just the front.” She turned, exposing the line of her back before facing him again.

All the spit in his mouth had dried up and she knew it. Joy surged through him as she smiled, clearly happy.

“You don’t even need words with that expression.”

“Later on, I’m going to lay back on my bed and watch you strip out of this pretty little dress. You can keep the necklace on. And the shoes.”

“It’s been ten days since you’ve made me come. Well, in person.”

He groaned. How could he have thought it was possible to resist this pull between them? Moving very close, he pressed his mouth to her ear. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“That I masturbated thinking of you?”

He swallowed hard and dragged the edge of his teeth over the shell of her ear before he stood back. “I need to think about gelatin salad with raisins and carrots or I’m going to walk around with an erection and everyone will think I’m a creep.”

“They’d all be jealous it was all mine.” She indicated the gallery. “Want a tour?”

“Yes.”

She’d shown him around the space and he’d got himself a plateful of appetizers when there was a commotion at the doors, which she’d locked after he and Paddy had arrived.

Tuesday came out toward the front doors. “We’ll be opened in about—”

Her voice cut off so abruptly he turned, alarmed.

The people just outside continued to pound, yelling.

“What on earth?” Natalie came out. “Oh shit. Tuesday, don’t open it.”

Ezra had already moved to put himself between Tuesday and the front doors but those words from Natalie only underlined his resolve.

“Who are those people? Do we need to be calling the cops? Is there someone I need to punch?”

“It’s Eric’s parents,” she said quietly. “I can’t risk them making a scene closer to the time we open.”

“There are ways I can make that a reality.”

They pounded on the glass so loud he worried they’d break it. He turned quickly, very close to the glass. “Back off or I’m calling the police.” He already hated these people for upsetting her so much. He only had so much patience and it was gone.

The man pulled his hand back as if he’d been scalded but the woman looked him straight on and pounded with her rings.

“Let’s deal with this right now.” Paddy moved toward the doors, ready to aid Ezra in protecting Tuesday from the people out front, who obviously had anger issues.

“I’m unlocking.”

Natalie touched Tuesday’s arm. “Don’t let them in here. You don’t know what she’ll do.”

“This is bound to be wrapped up in my changing my name back to Easton. I’ve had multiple incidents with them recently. No, not since I blocked her number so get that look off your face.”

“I’ll have any look I like, Tuesday Marie Easton. I told you they were awful and poisonous. Call the cops. You don’t owe them anything.”

Ezra had never seen Tuesday and Natalie arguing. He didn’t want them to be upset, but since he was in his head and all, he hoped they kissed and made up.

“Open up, you whore!” Tina Heywood screamed.

Natalie’s eyes widened and then her expression went very hard. “She did not just say that.”

“Enough.” Tuesday stood taller. “I’ll talk to them outside. Call the cops only as a last resort.”

Ezra put an arm around her shoulders. “Nope. We’ll talk to them outside. And if that woman calls you a whore again we’re going to have an issue, her husband and I.”

“They lost a son.”

Natalie reached past Tuesday and banged on the door right as the woman had, sending Tina scrambling back. Natalie’s normally sweet voice was flinty. “You touch that glass again and I’ll punch you in the throat—you hear me, Mrs. Heywood?” She turned back to Tuesday. “You lost a husband. Tragedy doesn’t give you a blank check to be awful. You loved him more than they ever did. They don’t get to call you a whore because Eric got cancer. Fuck her. If they care so much why do they only contact you to hurt you? You don’t owe them anything. They’re nothing to do with you anymore.”