Erin bustled around, filling the dishwasher and starting it, wiping down counters while Ella mopped up.

“Thanks, Erin. But I’m going to the beach with my family for a few days.”

“Oh, that’s right, you have vacation. Good! Have a nice time and you’ve got my cell number if you want to talk. I’m your friend, you know that, right?”

Ella hugged her as they walked out together.

“I do. I’ll see you in a few days. Have fun tonight.” Ella waved, and when Erin turned to go to her car, Brody leaned against it.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m working on it. Every day I work on it. A year ago I would have lost my shit. Two years ago I would have had to go home for the day. Baby steps.”

He hugged her and she let herself be comforted.

“Not baby steps at all. You don’t give yourself enough credit. Still, I’m going to kick your boyfriend’s ass at pool. You should wear a tight shirt or something to distract him.”

She burst out laughing, thankful for his presence in her life, not knowing what she’d do without him.

“I’ll see you later.”

17

“Wow, this is some place,” Erin said as they pulled into his parents’ driveway a few days later. The large two-story house sat on about an acre filled with trees and all sorts of plants his mother had planted over the nearly forty years they’d lived there.

“Lots of love here,” she said softly as he parked behind DJ and Renee’s minivan.

He looked at it, trying to see it through the eyes of a kid who hadn’t been able to run all around the large yard, climbing the trees and watching the stars from the roof, but he couldn’t. It was simply his home.

He glanced at her as he pocketed his keys. She wore a pair of shorts and a sleeveless shirt that buttoned down the front. Her hair was tousled but not spiky and at that particular moment, he realized she’d played down her otherness for his family. She still had her sense of unique style—she wore it like a second skin—but for all intents and purposes, she could have been a cop’s wife any day of the week instead of a woman who’d won Grammys and headlined Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza.

“Don’t you dare get out.” He sent her a warning look as he slid out on his side and moved to open up the door to help her from the truck. “Now then.” He kissed her quickly and she blushed.

“Don’t be all grabby in front of your family or I’ll neuter you.”

He laughed. “Spunky.”

“Yeah, that’s me all right. Should we leave the ice chest with the food here in the car since we’re going to be driving to the boat?”

“Good idea. Ah, there’s my sister Liz peeking through the front windows. My mom will be hopping around in there, so let’s go before she bursts.” He took her hand. “You look beautiful and they’re going to love you.”

“Hope so,” she mumbled as he tugged her toward the door.

“Todd! There you are. Come on in and bring your lady. Your mother is about to pass out in there,” Todd’s dad called out as he walked around toward the porch.

“Dad, this is Erin Brown. Erin, this is my dad, Dean Keenan.”

Erin smiled at his father as he took her hand in his. “It’s very nice to meet you finally. Todd’s spoken of you a lot. Even Cope and Ben sing your praises. You put a smile on my son’s face. I like that.”

“I like that too. It’s good to meet you. Todd speaks of you all so much, I feel like I know you already.”

“Is that you, Todd?” a voice called from inside and Todd and his father both laughed.

“Come on then, honey.”

Holy moly was this nerve-wracking. His dad had a crew cut and had cop written all over him. More than Todd ever did. But his eyes had danced when he’d taken her hand and he’d been very kind to her.

Now she had to meet Todd’s mother. Oy.

“Hello! Oh, you’re Erin, I’m so glad to finally meet you.”

No hand-holding this time. No, Lorie Keenan pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek.

“I’m Lorie, Todd’s mom. Look at you! You’re every bit as pretty as Todd has told us. I saw you on a DVD, you know. Mercy, that’s our oldest granddaughter, she brought it over a few weeks ago when she got home from college for the summer. Just finished her first year down at Evergreen. She may come out today. Not, of course, to be with her grandma, oh no. But you’re something worth the visit apparently.”

“Mom, slow it down, you’re going to scare her to death.”

Erin looked to the woman standing beside Lorie.

“I’m Renee, DJ’s wife. The other Dean, that is. Junior.” She laughed. “Mercy’s my daughter and apparently you’re the coolest girl rocker ever.”

Erin laughed and shook Renee’s hand. “I do try. It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Keenan, Renee. Thank you for inviting me today.”

“And Liz is my sister,” Todd said.

“And she can say hello if you give the woman some space.” Liz, looking very much like her mother, grinned. “Hi, Erin. Welcome. I hope you took a Xanax this morning. The rest of the boys are out back.”

More noise as the house filled with people. Ben and Cope both gave her a hug and a kiss before DJ, Todd’s oldest brother, said hello, followed by Joe, the next youngest son.

“Mom and Dad are out at the marina already,” Ben said, explaining his parents’ absence.