He blinked at her.

“I’m sorry. I . . . It’s like telling you stuff has loosened my tongue.”

He took her hand, his fingers tangling with hers. “Don’t apologize. I’m glad you’re sharing with me. I can’t get past that initial moment of rage when I hear how you were treated when you were at your most vulnerable.”

“So I come from a bunch of assholes. There are already a lot of assholes who had kids and fucked them up. I’m not sure I can overcome my DNA to not do the same. I mean, can you imagine me at a PTA meeting?”

He grinned. “I totally can.” He shrugged. “I’ve seen you when you talk about Alexander. I know you love him, and from what I understand, he loves you right back. Seems to me what your situation was had a lot more to do with how they acted, not their biology. Hell, Charlotte, my ex-wife, her parents were really involved when she and her siblings grew up. And she’s a terrible mother. It’s not always biology, Raven. Some people are just, as you so eloquently put it, assholes.”

“Anyway, I don’t know. I have a studio apartment and I like to travel. Having a baby isn’t in the cards for me.”

But he could see her holding a baby. Their baby. He didn’t say that out loud, not wanting to scare her away and also needing to process, yet again, how fast this was all moving. He wasn’t impulsive. He was the type of man who took forever just to decide what to order off a menu. But the way he felt for Raven was apparently outside all the rules in his life. The way he felt for her simply was. He knew it as sure as he knew gravity existed and that he had to pay his taxes.

“Do you . . .” She shook her head and went back to eating.

“What?”

“Never mind.”

“No way, you don’t get to do that. Do I what?”

“Do you want to go with me? To this Halloween thing tonight?”

It was the first time she’d done the asking, and he liked it.

“Yeah. I’d like that. I want to get to know your friends better. I’m sure Daisy and Levi will be there. I know Daisy and Gillian are close. She’s got pictures of Poppy and Miles all over her and Levi’s house.”

“Okay then. I need to go home for a while. I really need to exercise. I’ve done nothing but eat too much and drink a lot of beer since you came along. My clothes are going to get tight.”

“Want to go kayaking with me and my brother Eli?”

Warily she considered that. “I don’t know.”

“He’ll like you. I told him about you earlier this week. He’s sort of feral himself.”

“Don’t you want to do the brother thing? If you spend a lot of time with me, you’re going to figure out I’m sort of a bitch.”

He laughed, having to put down his cup of coffee before he started to choke.

“Gorgeous, I figured that out weeks ago. I’m still here.”

She pulled her phone out to check her calendar and noted she had several bookings starting in just a few hours and lasting until about an hour before the party. She frowned. She’d told Maggie, the woman who ran the shop, that it was all right to give her appointments, so it wasn’t like anyone had done anything wrong. The business was good. She liked having money in savings. But, she had to admit she liked the idea of spending time with Jonah and meeting his brother.

She looked up from the phone and shrugged. “Apparently I’m going to be inking people for many hours today. I’m sorry. I love to kayak though, so if you want to in the future and feel up to having me along, I’d go.”

“That’s a deal.” 

“Nope. Wait.” He gave an imperious look her way before he got out and walked around to her side to open her door and give her a hand out.

Then he kept her hand and she didn’t quite know what to do, so she let him.

The place was awash in kids and it made her smile.

Erin was out on the large lawn with them and she looked up, waving. Alexander looked to see what his mother was doing and caught sight of Raven, his little face lighting up.

She let go of Jonah’s hand and bent to grab Alexander up into a hug when he came running her way.

“You’re here, Auntie!”

“Of course I am.” She kissed his cheeks, hugging him again.

“I missed you. We have candy.”

“Dude, candy? I’m really glad I came now. Would you like to meet a new friend?”

“Sure!”

She turned to face Jonah. “Alexander, this is my friend Jonah. He’s Levi’s big brother.”

“Yo, Jonah!”

Jonah grinned; all that imperious masterful Dom stuff had melted away in the face of this little boy. “Yo, Alexander. Raven told me all about you. I have to admit I ate some of your Goldfish. I promise to replace them before you come over again, though.”

Alexander, in a very fine Brown imitation, narrowed his eyes for a moment before he stuck his hand out. “Okay.”

Erin approached, holding Poppy, who clapped when she saw Raven.

“Hello, there, Jonah.”

Poppy leaned out, toward Raven.

“Hang on a minute, baby girl. Alexander is with Raven, then it’s your turn, all right?”

Poppy frowned but seemed satisfied for the time being.

“Dang, you’re like the Pied Piper.” Jonah winked and Alexander laughed.

“I’m glad you brought Jonah. Levi is around here somewhere. Mary and Damien got here a few minutes ago so Gillian is out back with them.”

Alexander was done being held so Raven put him down and he tore off. “Pop!” Ben and Todd came around the corner. “Daddy!”

“Yeah, poor kid, no one loves him.” Erin turned back to Raven before she pulled her into a hug, Poppy still in her arms. “Hello you. I called you twice yesterday.”

“I was really busy. Loooong day, and not now, I’ll tell you later. Now give me that baby before she jumps from your arms.”

Poppy squealed, tipping her head back, utterly confident that Raven wouldn’t drop her. That meant everything to Raven.

Erin took up next to Raven. “Let’s go around to the back. Martine has her tricycle and is riding all over the place so watch your toes.”

Jonah put an arm around her shoulders as they walked and Erin shot her a look, waggling her brows at the choker Poppy was eagerly trying to grab.

“Not for you. That’s my pretty. Don’t break it.” Poppy frowned. “I know, it’s super hard to be you.”

Then she grinned, clapping her chubby little hands.

“The jig is up, sweet girl. Auntie Raven knows your game.” She kissed Poppy’s nose. “It’ll be our secret.”

Out back, the vista overlooked the water in a sweeping and rather breathtaking view. Adrian had designed the house for Gillian as a wedding present. It made it more difficult to think he was an uptight asshole when he was so good to his wife and children.

Gillian turned, a huge smile on her face when she caught sight of Raven.

“I have no idea why she likes me so much,” she said in an undertone to Jonah, who snorted.

“Because people can see past your crusty exterior and know there’s a big heart in there.”

Emotion swept through her like wildfire as she tried to hold it together.

Erin squeezed her arm, leaning close to speak quietly. “You and I totally need to catch up. Don’t even try to get away without it. I’m glad you’re here and I’m glad you brought him. Also? Nice necklace.”

Poppy loved Raven, but she adored her mother and at the sight of her, she reached out to Gillian, who caught her up with a smile. “Hello, darling. Have you brought Raven to us? Nicely done.” She gave Raven a quick hug and looked to Jonah. “Hello you. Your brother is just over there. There’s cider of the mulled and child-friendly variety.”

Jonah kissed her so quickly she didn’t have the time to be stern. Instead she smooched him back, blushing.

“Would you like a glass?” He was so gentlemanly. She never knew how to deal with it, but it made her belly all fluttery.

She nodded.

“Be back in a few then. Good to see you, Gillian.”