Then again, Brody got him best too, so it was really just about the way his brother saw right into the heart of the people he loved. “I didn’t say I was in love with her.”

“You didn’t have to. It’s written all over you. Please, Adrian, give me some credit. When have you brought a woman to any of our holiday stuff?”

“Well, she’s Miles’s mom and all. I can’t very well not invite her. I mean, of course I have feelings for her that are way more than just being Miles’s mom. But she’s different from those other women on every level.”

“Exactly. Also, you say you don’t know why she holds back and then you say you invite her here because she’s Miles’s mom. Now, you and I both know you’d invite her regardless, but how can she know for sure until she knows you better?”

“Fine. Yeah, yeah, you’re right.”

Brody grinned. “Yeah, boy, I am.”

The men had washed up after the meal while Gillian headed out onto the large patio with a glass of wine to join Erin and the others. This was a very good deal, she thought, given how much cake and frosting Alexander had smeared all over himself and his high chair.

Todd had disappeared to clean the boy up. Gillian really liked Erin’s husbands. Both men clearly adored their child as much as they adored Erin. Both were active, involved fathers, and Alexander thrived because of it.

“Have we talked you to death?” Erin asked, somewhat teasingly.

“How can we not?” Ella smiled reassuringly in Gillian’s direction.

“My friends are a lot like you all, actually. I was thinking of having a winter mixer at the house to introduce them to you.”

Erin’s smile turned up a thousand watts and she leaned in, taking Gillian’s hands. “That would be awesome. From what Adrian’s told us about your friends, I’m excited to meet them.”

“They’re all quite curious about you all since I’m spending more time here. They love Miles and he talks about you nonstop.”

“You too, Adrian says. Anyway, I’m sure in their place I’d be just as curious. Though you’re a woman with her head and her priorities straight. I’d wager they trust that too.” Elise was always so reassuring.

“Oh, Raven’s here.” Erin waved at a lush, ridiculously beautiful woman making her way to the patio.

Adrian had mentioned this woman in cautious terms as a close friend of Erin’s who had a no-nonsense personality that rubbed some people the wrong way. As she studied those lazy cat eyes of hers and the swell of her mouth, Gillian noted the closed expression that had bloomed at the sight of Erin.

For some reason that appealed to her. Maybe it was that this woman who swept outside and into a hug with Erin wasn’t entirely snug up in the family either. Maybe it was the hesitation Gillian saw on Raven’s face, but there was an affinity.

Raven turned and looked Gillian up and down. Her gaze was appraising, eyes narrowed. She was being judged. Which irritated her to no end until she finally spoke.

“Can I help you with something?” She kept her accent smoothed, haughty.

Raven startled, her smile brightening. “Awesome. You’re a bitch under the surface. Nicely done.” And she held her hand out. “I’m Raven and you’re Miles’s mom. I’m glad to know you.”

She smiled, taking Raven’s hand for a moment. It was an odd way to say it, but Gillian was sure she’d meant to say exactly what she had said. Gillian had apparently been under some sort of test and had passed by not taking any shit.

She could deal with that sort of blunt.

“I’m Gillian, the aforementioned mother of Miles and admitted bitch under the surface.”

“We should move to sit down and speak with the others or they’ll continue to hold their breaths that we’ll get along. You’ve probably heard that I’ve got a little bit of a reputation.” Raven linked her arm with Gillian and pulled her to the nearby swing to sit.

“Now then.” She handed Gillian the glass of wine she’d set down when Raven had first entered. “Hey, Ella. Elise.” She smiled over at Erin. “Loving that shade of purple.”

Erin grinned back. “It’s so totally grape soda.”

“Where’s the young master? I come bearing presents.”

Before anyone could say anything else, Rennie crept out onto the patio, a giant grin on her face.

“Irene Brown, how have you been, girlfriend?” Raven waved her over.

“Did you go snorkeling in Mexico? You said you might. Did you? Did you see dolphins? Did you know the salmon is my favorite animal? They smell the dirt, you know, from where they were born? That’s how they get back home at the end. Isn’t that cool? Imagine that. Did you see sea turtles like the last time?”

“I can see I should have a slice of pie or perhaps even cake, before I enter into the telling of my tale. But I want to find out more about Gillian. Can we work something out?”

All this said with Gillian right there.

“Are you trying to con me into getting you a slice of pie?”

Raven sent a raised brow toward Elise, who sighed, though with some amusement. Adrian had told her some about Raven and Brody’s long-past romance and the trouble she’d given Elise when they’d first gotten together.

But Elise’s body language wasn’t tight. Her smile toward Raven just a few minutes before had been genuine, so some sort of accord must have been made.