She stiffened and he put his cup down, concerned.

“Everything all right?”

She took a deep breath. “Yes. Fine.”

“Liar. Is it the foster care stuff?”

“I am not opposed to foster care.” She said it so carefully, so very stiff.

“You sure you didn’t go to law school? That answer was pretty classic. These kids need help. There aren’t enough homes for them. No one should have to spend their childhood bouncing from place to place.”

“No, they shouldn’t.”

Then he got it. “You were in foster care?”

She looked down at her plate for long moments and he was sorry he’d followed up because while he wanted to know her, he didn’t want to cause her heartache.

“I was, yes.”

The food arrived and she busied herself dishing things up, asking him what he wanted and how much. It seemed to smooth them both a little.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She waved it away. “I was in and out of foster care from four to seventeen. So I know firsthand that kids shouldn’t bounce around from place to place. It’s nice that you’re trying to help.”

He wanted to say more but the look on her face told him she was done talking about the subject.

“So how about you come over Friday night? For the first tattoo installment. I promise you dinner and well-made martinis.”

She pulled her phone out and checked her calendar. In some women he’d have suspected it was an affectation made to appear busy, but he saw plenty of things written down. And then got annoyed that she didn’t say yes right away.

Which then annoyed him that he’d expect something like that.

“Friday works. I can come over at eight thirty.”

“Good. Do you have days off?”

“Yes, usually one weekend day and one weekday. It gives Brody time with his family if I spot him on the weekends. Why?”

She used her chopsticks like an expert. He liked the grace with which she moved. And the way she seemed to step in and help her friends.

“Come spend the day with me. We can go see the leaves. Drive up north a bit, have a nice meal, drive back. Do you like jazz?”

“I like most kinds of music. Especially live.”

“There’s a place. In SODO. Big band jazz. We can stop off at the house and then go for a drink and some music.”

Her face lit and he was glad he’d suggested it.

“Yes. I’d love that.”

“All right then. I have some work Saturday, but I have Monday off.”

“Okay then.”

He wanted to push it a little. “You should wear red. I like you in red. And your hair down.”

She looked him over as she ate for long moments. “All right.”

Raven liked how he backed off after she’d told him about being in foster care. She liked how he’d opened her door and pulled out her chair. It had been . . . odd, yes, odd the way a thrill had rushed through her when he’d told her to wear red and leave her hair down.

If another man had said the same thing, in the same bossy tone he’d used, she’d have gotten up and left the restaurant. But he wasn’t another man. And her pussy seemed to really like it when he got bossy with her.

Probably something she should get therapy for, like everything else in her life, but a girl needed a few issues, right?

He insisted on paying and she let him. It was thirty bucks anyway. He insisted on walking her back, her hand in his as he spoke about this or that, nothing serious or heavy.

He shielded her body with his own, walking on the outside, moving in front of her if a crowd came walking from the opposite direction. It was courtly. Gentlemanly.

No one treated her that way. But he did.

It shouldn’t have mattered. It was just manners. But it did. And she wasn’t sure if she wanted it not to matter more than she liked that it did.

At the door to the shop he paused, pulling her out of the doorway. He pulled her close and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Thanks for sharing your time with me.”

“I’m glad you came out. I know it’s not exactly near your office.”

He shrugged. “My office is in the north part of downtown. It’s really only about ten minutes away. And.” He paused, bending down to kiss her, warmth rushing through her system at that contact. “I like seeing you.”

“Like fried food.”

Confusion washed over his features. “Hm?”

“I really like it. But it’s super bad for me. And yet, I can’t get enough. You’re like egg rolls.”

His confusion was replaced by a rather rakish grin. “I’m way less fattening.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. See you Friday at your place, then.”

He let her go, hauling her back once more for another kiss before finally opening the door.

“Just gonna watch you walk away. Your ass is spectacular.” He said it quietly, his breath brushing against her ear and sending a shiver through her. 

Raven looked up from the client she’d just finished working on to catch sight of Erin coming through the door with Alexander on her hip.

When he saw Raven, his face lit up and he clapped. “Auntie!”

The thing about three-year-olds was that they didn’t judge you. Oh well, they did, but for stuff like not having Goldfish crackers in your cabinets. So she always was sure to have Goldfish in her cabinets, because hello.

She’d never understood this about children before Alexander had been born. Raven had always tended to avoid them before that. But when he’d come along, she’d fallen in love nearly instantly.

Alexander, like his mother, was simply impossible not to love. And so she’d given up trying to keep any walls around her heart and it had been one of the best decisions she’d ever made.

Being with Alexander was always so awesome because he accepted her. The way she was. Not the way he thought she should be. There was something comforting in that.

She thanked her client, a guy she’d done work on for nearly ten years, and moved to where Brody had intercepted Alexander, swinging him up high and then bringing him in close for a hug.

He giggled, joy simply radiating from him. “Bo, Bo, Bo! Yo.”

Raven laughed at what a big old softie Brody was.

Erin grinned up at her brother, watching the way Alexander crawled up that chest with absolutely no fear.

“He’s going to give me a heart attack. He’s not afraid of anything.”

Brody snorted. “Welcome to my world. You and Adrian aged me at least fifteen years, and you’re both still around today. Uncle Brody isn’t going to drop this kiddo.”

“No way, Bo!” Alexander kissed his uncle’s chin, tugging his beard.

He wouldn’t, Raven knew. He was just that sort of man.

“It’s probably also that his dads are so gigantic he has no idea that’s not the norm.” Raven put her head on Erin’s shoulder a moment as they watched Alexander.

“Could be. How are things?”

“Not bad at all. Seems to be my week for visits from people at the shop, so I can’t complain. You?”

“Groovy. Want to come to Red Mill with me and the young master? He sat straight up in bed this morning and shouted, ‘Rings!’ I took that as a suggestion we come grab you for a lunch date.”

Brody handed him over to Raven and he latched on, hugging her neck and giving her sloppy kisses. She squeezed him back, loving his weight and the way he trusted her to hold and not let go.

Erin kissed his elbow. “What say you, baby? Can Auntie come along for burgers and rings?”

He let go enough to lean back and look up into Raven’s face. He grinned, showing a neat row of straight white teeth. “Sure. Yes!”

“Awesome. It’s a date then.” She swung him to her hip and he held on, playing with her hair as she checked her appointments. “I’m free for another few hours.”

“I wish it wasn’t so cold already or we could make a picnic of it.”

“Ah well, it’s always a picnic when we’re together.” She kissed Alexander’s forehead.