“All right. Have fun then. Give my boy a kiss for me.”

She heard the grin in his voice. “You got it. And one for me too?” “Cheeky.”

“That’s me. All cheek.”

“This is more true than you know, Mister Brown.”

He lowered his voice. “You know what that does to me. Now who’s the rogue?”

She laughed, delighted by him and this playful thing they had.

“I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. By the way, I picked up Psycho and A Nightmare on Elm Street for our viewing pleasure.”

She blushed that he knew her so well. “The original, right?”

“Of course! Miles and I are doing a Resident Evil marathon tonight. We’ll miss you.”

“That was offsides!” She loved zombie movies with an insane level of glee.

“I know. But how else can I lure you over to my house tonight? You have a key and the gate code. Come to me, English. I miss you in my bed.”

“It’s been two days.”

“And then you go being prim and you know my perspective on that. Two days ago I f**ked you from behind. Remember that. Your hair wrapped around my fist.”

The words were quiet. Meant for her only, and they filled her with that slow punch of longing only he ever seemed to create. And fill.

“Have a lovely dinner with your friends. And then come to me. I’ll be up late. Tell me you’ll come.”

“I don’t know. Will I?”

He laughed. “Oh yes. As many times as I can manage.”

“I might be by later. I want to be here for a while yet. I’ve not seen my friends a lot lately and Mary’s made an Indian food menu to die for. Also I’ve promised an excursion tomorrow before I was to meet you and Miles.”

“I’ll take you however I can get you. Be with your friends. I’ll be here either way.”

Yes, she was getting the feeling that was a very true statement indeed.

“That must have been some conversation,” Jules murmured when she came back to the table.

“Stop that, you.”

“Thought so.”

“He’s out and wanted to kit Miles up for the trips. He asked first.”

“Our boy is learning after all. And you said?”

“I agreed. He did ask and Miles does need it and he is Miles’s dad.”

“Good girl.”

Adrian knew she’d come to him. Heard the assent in her voice when he spoke with her earlier that evening. And still when he saw the panel light up indicating someone was entering the front gate, relief flooded through him.

When she came to him like this it did something to him.

He and Miles were watching the second Resident Evil movie still, so she’d be able to catch Extinction with them.

“Your mum is here,” he murmured to Miles, who turned with a smile.

“Cool! She can catch the next movie from the start. Though we’ve seen it a few dozen times.”

“I’m going to see if she needs help with her bag.”

Miles rolled his eyes. “I know you two are together. You want to kiss her. It’s all right with me.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah. Why not? She thinks I don’t know how much she does for me because I’m only thirteen, but I see it. I want her to be happy and find someone she loves. And it’s good that it’s you. She and I already had a talk about you. You know she worries more than she needs to.”

“Loves? Do you think?”

Miles laughed. “Dude, I thought you were all cool-hand rock star and stuff.”

“Your mother makes me nervous. In a good way,” he amended quickly.

“She doesn’t bring men around. She doesn’t date much. She lets you get away with stuff she’d shoot someone else in the face over.”

“Christ, she’s going to kill me when she hears you say that. Stop with the shooting-in-the-face references.”

Miles laughed and Adrian realized he’d been playing with his dad the way Brody had with him and hell, the way he had with Brody. “I got it from one of the Mummy movies. So you know it’s her fault anyway.”

Adrian choked back a laugh. “Fine. I’m going to get your mum alone so I can kiss her and be mushy. I’ll be back in a few. Don’t start without us.”

“Done.”

He headed up the stairs and heard her key in the front door. She came in looking perfectly cool and elegant with her hair tied back, wearing a bright red sweater and gray pants. Her scent hit him when he got close. Just a small hint of flowers and spice.

“You made it.” He swooped in and kissed her soundly.

She licked her lips, enjoying one last bit of him and undoing him in the process. “I did. I even brought you and Miles some leftovers.” She held up a bag that he took from her hands.

“Your son told me he knew we were together and he was fine with it.”

She blinked up at him. “He told me the same thing. That boy of ours is a smart one.”

“Come on. You’re just in time for Extinction. Let’s bring back some food and drinks for Miles. Will you sleep in my room tonight?” He surprised himself by asking, and then realized how much he wanted it.

“Your bed is a lot bigger than the one in the guest room. Though I should warn you I do have to meet my friends at ten for shopping. They believe I need three swimsuits for our trip.” She rolled her eyes and followed him into the kitchen were she began to make plates for both him and Miles.