“And now here you all are. It’s nice that you’re all in the same city.” She looked back to Brody. “That’s a testament to you, I think. It had to be hard at your age.”

He shrugged. “It was what needed to be done. I did it. I love them, they needed me.”

Her smile melted as she cocked her head. “Aren’t a whole lot of men like you. Too bad.”

“All the more of me to share.” He grinned and shrugged.

She laughed, the sound delightful. He liked her. His other neighbors he enjoyed, some he tolerated, some he disliked, but he didn’t really seek out any of them to hang with. It didn’t hurt that she wasn’t a chore to look at either.

He and Adrian hung out for another hour or so before standing to leave. Rennie had gone upstairs, and Adrian scampered quickly back to Brody’s place, leaving Elise alone with Brody on her porch.

“Thank you for dinner.”

She smiled up at him. “Thank you for coming to dinner. It was nice, having company. Rennie had a great time too.”

He stepped closer as they stood in the shadows, a broad column near the steps shrouding them from the street. “Elise, I think I’m going to have to kiss you because I can’t stop thinking about it.”

She blinked up at him and nodded. “I think you should.”

He wanted to lay her out on the grass, the stars above, the scent of lilacs heavy around them. Wanted to kiss her long and slow for hours, until he could do nothing more but slide into her body as she welcomed him.

But that was not going to happen. Not that night, at least.

Instead, he bent his knees as she tiptoed up. With no more than fingertips cupping her chin, he leaned down those last glorious inches and took her lips with his own. He’d meant to slide into it, to take it slow and give her a sweet smooch.

Instead, the moment her taste met his lips, a fire banked within him. He needed more and settled in, coaxing her mouth open, sliding his tongue along hers, only barely resisting his desire to cup one of her br**sts, though his palm felt the phantom press of a wanton nipple.

Her breath chased her tongue into his mouth, her hands, small and soft, lay palm open on his chest. So f**king good, the kiss was so good he wanted to do it for hours and hours. Instead, he heard Rennie call her mother’s name and she stiffened.

He stepped back with great regret. “Thank you again, Elise. Good night.”

She nodded, looking sort of stunned. Which was good, because it meant he wasn’t the only one feeling totally punched in the gut by desire. He walked down her steps and waved, catching her eye as she went back inside. She smiled, returning the wave, and then closed the door.

On his porch he turned and looked toward her place. The front windows were open, and he saw through to her stairs, where she jogged up, smiling, clearly talking back and forth with her daughter. The sight brought a lump to his throat.

“I like her. She likes you too.” Adrian nudged the screen door open with the toe of his sneaker.

“She’s so not our type.” Didn’t matter one bit to his cock, though.

“Our? I don’t share women. Most certainly not with my brother. Anyway, she didn’t look at me that way. She looked at you that way. I’d totally make a run on the very lovely Elise, but I figure you’d hurt me if I tried. Even when you’re trying to pretend you didn’t just totally make out with her on her porch.” The look Adrian sent him made Brody want to laugh. Instead he rolled his eyes as his brother shooed him out of the way and locked up. “Call Erin. I’m going to take a shower.”

Adrian strolled from the room and Brody realized that would be the end of his hot water for at least forty-five minutes.

“You have a f**king mansion! You’re here eating my food and using my hot water!”

“You love it,” came the faint, amused reply.

He grumbled the entire time he dialed Erin’s number. Smiling.

Elise sat on her porch and read. It had been a very long while since she’d had the time and inclination to do it, but her life was different, better now, and she’d vowed to enjoy the quiet moments more than she ever had before.

Rennie was across the street two doors down, helping Mrs. Cardini. Elise’s daughter and the neighborhood matriarch had created a bond. Rennie loved the elderly woman and that dog of hers. The three were currently pulling weeds, drinking lemonade and having a grand time. Elise knew she could trust Mrs. Cardini with her daughter; she’d visited enough with the woman herself to know she’d raised six sons, four of whom lived within a two-mile radius. But it was hard to let go, and Rennie could be a handful, so she gave them some space but kept close enough to intervene if a problem developed.

“I see Rennie has joined forces with Mrs. Cardini. Everyone better really watch out now.”

Brody.

Elise put her book aside and looked up at the man who’d spoken. “Hello, Brody Brown. Yes, Rennie and Mrs. Cardini are pretty much the exact same person, only at different stages of life. I think they’ll keep each other out of trouble.”

He sat next to her on the porch swing and they both looked across the street. “You hope, anyway. But just in case, you’re keeping an eye to be sure.”

“Busted. I’m not judging or anything. Please don’t think that. I know Rennie is fine and all. I just like to be around in case I’m needed.”

He took her hand like it was the most normal thing in the world, instead of something that sent threads of pleasure through her each time his thumb slid over the sensitive skin at her wrist.