“But you love them.”

“Mostly. But not when they’re cockblocking me.”

She grabbed her bag. “Do you want to drive over there or walk with the bags?”

“Get in. We’ll drive over since there are so many bags.”

* * *

HE WATCHED HER for hours. Seeing her in a new light made her even more beautiful to him. But he couldn’t get the look on her face as she’d nearly lost it out of his head. Or the way she’d yelled and then apologized for it.

She was so afraid to fight with him, and he didn’t know what to do about that. Because he wanted her to feel safe yelling if she had to sometimes. Wanted her to realize he wasn’t going anywhere if she lost her temper from time to time. He’d been sort of a butthead, anyway, even though he was just expressing worry.

At the same time she’d unburdened herself to him. She’d opened up and trusted him with a piece of her story that had exposed her hurts and fears. In that act she gave up control in a different way. He could hurt her with what she revealed, but she did it, anyway. Letting go.

The longer they were together, the more he understood what a huge gift that was. Her confession that no one had ever wanted to make things better had nearly brought him to his knees.

She was made to be cherished. So that was what he tried to do, and he bungled it up sometimes. But they got past it when it came to that. And it was a victory every time they disagreed, and she didn’t run off or close up.

That trust she showed was as intimate as the clasp of her body around his when they made love.

But it was the issue of her father that had him the most perplexed. She didn’t want the man in her life, and that was all Paddy needed to know. From what he’d witnessed that afternoon, she was truly better off without a man so petty and vindictive.

Paddy wanted to know about the mother, too, but Natalie was fragile just then. He could see it in her features. So he waited. He’d be what she needed.

They’d started eating when Ezra showed up. He’d gone to Portland for the day and was more relaxed than he had been when they’d worked that morning before they’d gone on their ride.

Paddy didn’t know exactly what Ezra did when he left for hours. He knew his older brother wasn’t using again. But he got something there that he needed because he came back calmer than when he’d gone.

Ezra clicked with Natalie. He and Mary were close, but there was a certain synchronicity between his big brother and Nat. The addiction thing tied them together in complicated ways. Ezra reminded Nat that recovery could be good and lasting and true. But he reminded her that her father hadn’t done that. And Paddy was pretty sure Ezra saw in Natalie the sum of all the shit he’d done to his family and friends when he was an addict, as well as someone who understood his struggle in a unique way. Maybe through her, Ezra could see himself as a better person than he gave himself credit for.

Natalie smiled as Ezra came into the house. She watched as each brother adjusted himself in their little family ecosystem. It was adorable and also a little awe-inspiring that they had such rhythm.

Ezra gave Mary a kiss on the cheek and grinned at Natalie. “Hey, you.”

“Hey, yourself. You’re finally here when Tuesday is around.” And even better, he looked ridiculously hot in a black turtleneck and worn jeans with well-worn cowboy boots.

Tuesday came in from the front room where she’d been watching something with Vaughan, and she and Ezra seemed to freeze up a moment when they caught sight of each other. Natalie’s brow went up for a brief moment, but she held back a smile.

“Tuesday Eastwood, this is Ezra Hurley. Tuesday is one of my oldest and dearest friends, and I swear she was beginning to think we made you up because every time she came up here you were off doing something or other.”

Ezra shook Tuesday’s hand, and the stack of silver bracelets she wore jingled.

“Nice to meet you. Natalie talks about you all the time. You have great hair.”

Everyone stared because Ezra was normally gruff, sometimes smooth, but never blurty.

Tuesday’s smile, though, well, she was clearly pleased. It was the throaty purr of a woman who’d been flattered by a man she was interested in. “Thank you.”

They dropped their hands, but it took several more seconds before everyone started talking again. Damien called Ezra from the other room, and he seemed to have to tear himself away, saying he’d be back shortly.

Natalie followed Tuesday into the kitchen. “Dude.”

Tuesday just smiled. “What?”

“You have great hair?”

Tuesday touched her hair. She’d forgone the braids she’d had for the past few years and let it grow out into her natural curls. Her hair was fantastic. Big and bold and f**king gorgeous.

“Clearly the man recognizes great hair when he sees it. Now, until you got all titillated by Sir Hotness and his clearly wonderful taste, you were upset about something. What’s up?”

Natalie sighed. “Bob was at the grocery store.”

“What? Are you kidding me? What happened?”

Natalie told her quickly, and her friend just shook her head. “That is some kind of f**kery. But I’m glad you told Paddy more about the situation. He’s good for you.”

“Yeah. He is.”

She walked Tuesday out and told her she’d see her at home in a few minutes.

* * *

“I NEED TO get working.” Paddy brushed a fingertip over her chin.