“My students have a week off and Rennie is going to a playdate with my parents and Nina. They’re going to paint pottery after school.”

“It’s good she has them here. I’m glad you have them here too. I’m also glad I have you to myself for a while. Now, head next door and I’ll be over in a few.”

He watched her leave; the graceful way she moved shot to all his best parts.

Next door at the café Erin owned and ran, Elise slid into a seat at the short coffee bar and ordered a decaf mocha. Erin slid a plate with a gorgeous blond brownie her way.

“Bless you. And curse you too. I’ve eaten so many of these I had to give Rennie a twenty to cover it for the bake sale.” Elise took a bite and watched Erin make the drink. “I’m getting Brody to tattoo me,” she blurted.

Erin’s brows rose and her mouth curved into a sly grin. “Really now? Like today?”

“Yes. I just had this idea for a tattoo. But it was too big to be my first one. I’m a total wuss. I needed a training-level tattoo. So I thought about Rennie and what she’s like and I decided I’d like a little bee. Right here on my wrist.” She held it out for Erin to see.

“That’s a fabulous idea! Oh, it’s perfect for her, she’s such a little bee. Brody’s work is like beyond wow. What do you want the other tat to be? The non-training-wheels tattoo?”

“A swan. From Swan Lake? On my hip or just above it. Then again, if I get pregnant again or stretch too much, will it look yucky?”

Erin hitched up her shirt. “I’ve been pregnant once before and you can see here, on my sides there, the tattoo from my back trails up my sides and over my hips, and it still looks good. I just made sure to keep it hydrated with lotion and out of direct sunlight. Anyway, you’re an athlete, Elise, you’ll be fine if, or when, you and Brody have a baby together. I’m sure I’ll stretch now, although I’m not in my early twenties like I was with Adele. And just in case you haven’t noticed, Ben and Todd are huge. This baby is probably going to be gargantuan.”

Sharp longing sliced through Elise. “Me and Brody having babies?” She knew her voice sounded funny. “I know he’s not interested in a wife and kids and stuff. I mean in the future. Or if I just break down and do it myself. Maybe I’ll borrow one of your dudes since you have so many.”

Erin tipped her head back, laughing. Despite the grape-KoolAid-colored hair and the piercings and tats, Erin’s beauty still remained very feminine.

“Elise, shut up. Brody loves you. Haven’t you noticed it yet? Duh. And, just a clue here, you love him too. After this mess with the custody is over with, you both can stop pretending and get moving with the rest of your life, which includes marriage and babies.”

She blinked at Erin several times, afraid to speak, afraid to believe her.

“Hey dude.” Erin waved, and Brody came in, sitting next to Elise and spreading out a few pieces of paper with designs of bees on them.

“Coffee me up, sister,” he said to Erin and then turned to Elise.

She saw the one she wanted right off and pointed. “This one. It’s perfect.” The bee was fat and fuzzy and Elise could imagine the throaty little buzz it would make. He’d done little broken lines behind it to indicate movement. Just a bit, a little loop-de-loop. It was Rennie.

He grinned and kissed her, hard and fast, leaving her struggling to breathe.

“That’s the first one I did. My favorite too. Mmm, chocolate and brownie.”

“Here. I added a bit of orange zest to yours.” Erin slid a cup to him and he took a sip, sighing happily.

At first glance, she’d thought he was the dark and broody bad boy type. But underneath it, he was actually a man who was able to find joy in most things, be it riding his motorcycle on a sunny day or a little orange zest in his mocha. He wasn’t a Pollyanna, but his basic personality setting seemed to be intense yet pretty happy.

“You ready?” He took her hand and kissed her wrist, sending shivers through her.

“As I’ll ever be.” She hopped off the chair and tossed some money on the counter and raised a brow right back at Erin, who pushed the money back toward her. “No. We’ve had this discussion before.”

She’d been taken into the heart of the Brown family, and heavensto-Betsy did it feel good. Safe. Protected. Still, she was totally going to pay for the coffee.

Brody laughed. “Erin, take the money. We’re going to ink this pretty girl right now. I’ll see you later.”

He put an arm around her and steered her toward his shop. He bustled her to the back and had her sit before squirting stuff on her wrist and then transferring his drawing to just where he wanted it.

“You’re very bossy. In some men, no, in most men, it would be annoying. Frankly, even in you it can be annoying. But I love to see you with your siblings. They love and respect you so much, you’re all so close. It’s good.”

He looked up, grinning.

“You look like a pirate.” Her voice had gone thick as his nearness and his beauty affected her.

“I do? And me without my parrot or eye patch.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s the loot-and-pillage smile that worries me. Or, okay, I’m lying; not worried as much as curious.”

“I’m totally going to loot and plunder.” His eyes had gone hooded, dark.

“Only if you promise to pillage too.”

He laughed. “You have my solemn promise. Now try to be still.” He put her arm across his thigh. “Just relax. Think about being ravished and stuff.”