They did, and he and his brother ordered food and headed to a booth when one opened up.

“The server was giving you the eye.” Levi lifted his glass. “Still got it, even for an old guy.”

“I fucked her once. Right after the divorce.”

Levi snorted. “Damn.”

“It was all right. She made a lot of noise, but I don’t think she really meant it.”

“Maybe you need me to show you where everything is?”

Jonah snorted. “I know where everything is. I never felt compelled to call her again. Because as Raven points out, I’m an asshole.” He laughed.

“She said that?”

“As it happens, she was making a very good point.” He explained it to Levi, who shrugged and nodded.

“She’s pretty smart. But sort of . . . wild. You having a midlife crisis or something?”

“Fuck off. You’re shacked up with a girl nearly half your age.”

“Dude, there’s a lot to be said for midlife crises. Mine came with a hot artist with tits that defy gravity. What’s not to like? I have all my hair and I’m in love.”

“A crisis implies there’s something wrong you need to make up for. This isn’t a crisis. It’s the opposite. I feel totally clear for the first time since Carrie was born. I’m head over my ass in love.”

“Love? Jonah, you’ve been seeing her what? A month?”

“Not quite. But I’m not a teenager. I’ve been to the rodeo, so to speak. I know what infatuation is. I know what lust is. Lust was me fucking the server over there. This woman gets to me. Not because she’s gorgeous, though certainly that’s a bonus. Not because she’s insightful and intelligent, talented, artistic. Not just because she makes me feel like no one ever has in bed. There’s a connection with her that I’ve never, ever had before. I click with her. She . . . I don’t know how to put it into words that do it justice, Levi. But she makes me feel. She makes me work harder than I ever have with a woman. Goddamn, she’s defensive. Bitchy. Sharp and prickly. But so vulnerable. Fragile. The sum of her is irresistible.”

“So you’re going to save her? Is that it? Be the guy who’s done what no one else has?”

“First of all, Dr. Phil, I already have done what no one else has. I listen to her. I accept her. But I don’t take her shit. And I don’t let her push me away. I’m not with her because I’m some fuck-drunk frat boy who has a hard-on for ink and piercings. She’s something else. More than I ever thought I’d find in a partner. She’s a grown-up. She listens to me. She sees things in a way most never will. I don’t need to save her. She’s a woman who’s done plenty of her own saving. She’s endured a lot.” He sipped his drink.

“I’m just saying it seems sudden. You’re not a sudden type of guy.”

“Isn’t love really about someone being something no one else has been? Isn’t that what you have with Daisy? What you didn’t with Kelsey? What I never did with Charlotte? Isn’t it about that connection that clicks and settles down all that noise in your head? She excites me. She challenges me. I’m on fire when I’m with her. Not just the sex, though, wow. She’s that part inside I never knew I’d been missing. But now that I’ve found her, I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

Levi dug into the sandwich he’d ordered. “Wow. Well, congratulations then. For what it’s worth, I like her. Though she’s prickly, no doubt about it.”

“Now I just have to convince her I’m in it for the long haul. A lot of people have failed her in her life.” Jonah paused, wiping his mouth. “This is going to make us both uncomfortable, but here goes. You’re into the D/s stuff right? I mean, we’ve skirted around it . . .”

Levi nodded. “It wasn’t something I was really able to get into with Kelsey. I dabbled before Daisy. But she, Daisy, I mean, she just—it works with her. You and Raven?” Levi ate a while as he thought. “I’d be careful around any possible stuff that might bring up her abuse. I’m assuming she’s got some in her background and that’s what you were referring to.”

“I don’t want to say too much about that. She’s given me her confidence and I can’t betray it. But it hasn’t been an issue. Her sexuality is strong. She’s vibrant. She knows what she wants and I have zero doubt that if she didn’t want it, she’d let me know. This isn’t therapy for her. Or me for that matter. She needs . . . a strong hand. She needs to let go of all her control.”

“So you’re going to take her in hand?”

“Not in a paternalistic sense. Like I said, she’s a grown-ass woman. But all her bullshit notions about what a relationship is, what it means to be with someone, they need to be broken apart. She submits, holy shit, she gives over and it’s like everything just feels perfect. I need to break down her defenses, so she knows she can count on me.”

“That makes sense. Bind her perhaps?”

“I can’t believe we’re having this discussion.” Jonah snorted, taking a few hearty gulps of his scotch.

“Ha. You started it.”

“I’m going to collar her.”

Levi sat back. “Really? I can’t imagine she’d go for that.”

“Not to own her. But I think she needs that underline on my commitment. It’s a declaration from me, a tangible one. I think she needs to be peeled open, layer after layer, and since we really click sexually, I think that’s our key.”

Levi nodded. “I can see that. But I’d be sure my first-aid kit was stocked. Just in case she sees it differently.”

Jonah snorted. “She’s dangerous enough to kick my ass if I push too hard.”

“Hot though. Daisy undoes me when she’s like that. So, when are you seeing her again?”

“She’s coming over next week to do some more on my back. But I’m trying to get her to agree to be my date for the museum benefit this weekend. You and Daisy will be there, right?”

“Yes.” Levi gave him a look. “You sure about that?”

“Why?”

“Don’t give me that face. Mother is going to be there. Have you told her about Raven yet?”

“I’m a forty-two-year-old man. I don’t run my romantic life past my mother. Anyway, she and I are having lunch before the board meeting on Thursday so I was planning on it then.” He shrugged. “I mean to make Raven part of my life. I’m telling Carrie about her this week. I wanted to do it face-to-face, but she’s getting ready to go to Paris with her friends and I wanted her to know before I took her around anywhere she’d come into contact with Mother.”

“How do you think Carrie is going to react?”

“If she isn’t happy for me, I raised her wrong.”

“True. It’s not like you’ve been bringing all manner of random chick around since you and Charlotte split. Mother, on the other hand . . .”

“Whatever.”

“You know I’ve got your back. You kicked my ass when I messed things up with Daisy. We want you to be happy like we are. And in case you’re wondering, those are her words. I’m more prone to bad words and threats to keep you in line.”

Jonah grinned at his brother. “Hopefully it’ll be all right.”

Raven lay on her belly, dancing a plastic horse around as Alexander made growling sounds with his.

“Dude, horses don’t growl.” Ben grinned at his son.

“Mine do.” Alexander nodded once and went back to growling and prancing.

Raven tried not to laugh.

“Good thing you came over. Brody and Elise will be here in a few minutes with Marti and Rennie.”

Alexander clapped. “Yay! Pizza!”

“I was thinking tacos.”

Alexander got serious for a moment and then nodded. “’Kay.”

“Want some help?”

“You’re not going to try to beg off?”

“You’d only guilt me into staying. I haven’t seen the girls in a few weeks, anyway.”

Erin liked the change in her friend. It had been a very long time coming. But Raven seemed comfortable with Elise at long last. And maybe even herself.

“Ben, you need to take over horse duty.” Raven handed the plastic horse to him and he settled in with Alexander.