“I’m not uncomfortable. When I think of the things I want the most in the world, you’re it. All of it. A best friend and partner for me and a dad for Rennie. I can’t believe you’re real.”

He kissed her again and nipped her bottom lip. “I’m real and we’ll be a family. Just like you two deserve and I’ve wanted for a very long time.”

“I love you like cupcakes,” she said, laughing.

“Wow, that’s a lot of love. And as a plus, you can lick me anytime. Now, what do you want and where do you want me to do it?”

“That sounds dirty.” She didn’t even complain when he carried her back into his shop and people cheered.

“That can be arranged. The dirty part. But just now I mean the tat.”

He sat her on the table.

“I was thinking a swan, you know, from Swan Lake?” She drew up her shirt. “Right here on my belly and side.”

“Hm. Yes, that would be nice. Can I make a suggestion?”

“Of course.”

“You’re a phoenix. You’ve been down and have risen up, survived. You’re beautiful and fierce and ethereal.” He traced over the skin of her belly and side. “I have something I drew up.” He reached over and pulled a sheet of paper from a drawer and opened it. It was amazing. Beautiful.

“Oh. Brody, this is . . . Wow. I’m blown away.”

He smiled. “Good. I’m glad you like it. I’d put the head here.” He touched her left side. “And trail the wings across and up your other side. It would be mostly red, with some black and gray. It’ll take some time to get it all finished, but I think it’ll be gorgeous.”

So much better than a swan. “And it matches yours. I mean, the design is different, but . . .” She shrugged, blushing again.

“I hope you never stop blushing. It makes me so hot. And yeah, I thought the connection was nice. I got mine when I started raising Erin and Adrian.”

“And mine will be about you too. And about Rennie and new steps. A new life you’ve been part of since nearly the first. I don’t . . . I don’t want me and Rennie to be yet another thing you have to take care of. I don’t want to be a burden to you.”

He kissed her in front of the whole shop and she didn’t care one bit. “There’s a difference between a burden and a responsibility. A family is a responsibility. You’re my family. But you’re not a burden. I love taking care of you, I love it. It makes me happy.”

“Okay. Okay, I just wanted to be sure, because once we’re married, you’re not going anywhere.”

“No kidding. Now, let’s get moving.” He looked at his watch. “It’s nearly dinnertime and Rennie will be home. You go on back and I’ll stop by Red Mill and grab everything.”

“Why don’t we just spread out a blanket on your back deck then? You know how much Rennie loves your tiki torches.”

“Oh, Rennie loves them.” One of his eyebrows rose and she hugged him.

“Okay so I love the tiki torches. Sue me. Or don’t, I’m pretty done with courts.”

“How much time do we have before Rennie is back?”

She sighed happily. He was hers. For real. “Not enough time for sex.”

He cursed. “Okay, tonight then.” He kissed her again and her toes curled. “Here.” He handed her a key. “To my house. Let yourselves in if I’m not back. I’m going to stop and get champagne too. We have a lot to celebrate.”

Brody heard her before he saw her. Heard Rennie’s laugh, full of joy, totally unaware that anyone had tried to do her mother harm. And he closed his eyes a moment, sending out thanks for that.

He came into the backyard and saw his girls there, laughing, kicking a ball, all that pretty pale hair flying as they ran. His, and nothing had ever felt better.

“I hear some ladies might be hungry.”

“Brody!” Rennie ran across the yard and up the steps of his deck. He had to drop the bags quickly to grab her instead, hugging her close.

“Hey, sunshine. I missed you today.”

She held his cheeks and gave him a kiss. “Your mustache tickles. Mom said we’re all going to the beach this weekend. Can we fly kites? There’s a kid in my class who flies kites. I think it sounds cool. Do you think it sounds cool? Do they have pink kites with sparkles on them? If not, I could probably be okay with a yellow kite. As long as it’s not green. I don’t really like green unless it’s pickles. I like pickles.”

Elise shrugged at him as if to say, Get used to it. But he was, and all that droning chatter was just fine with him.

“We will find you a pink kite with sparkles. I think kite flying sounds like a wonderful idea.”

He put her down and sat on the blanket as Elise began to set out all the food. How wonderfully f**king normal it was. He kissed Elise’s cheek and stole an onion ring from her plate. She whacked his hand but laughed.

“Rennie,” he said, looking to Elise, who nodded, understanding he planned to broach the subject of their getting married.

“Yep?” She had ketchup on her chin. Elise handed her a napkin and she mopped it up with a grin. Brody wondered if it was possible to love anyone as much as he loved Elise and Rennie just then.

“What would you say if I asked your mom, and you of course, to marry me? We’d live together and you two would be my family.”

Her eyes widened and she jumped over the food into his lap. “For reals? Would you be my dad? I had one, but he wasn’t very nice. He made Momma cry. Mom and I are good.” She tipped her chin up proudly, and his eyes stung to hold back his own damned tears. “We’re good, but we could make you happy in our family.”