“You keep looking at me like that, and I’m going to toss you over my shoulder and take you into the pantry.” His voice was low, but she had to close her eyes a moment as the idea of what they’d do in the dark of the pantry flashed through her brain.

“If you want, I can take her off your hands. Since the burgers need turning and all.”

Surprised, Elise turned and nearly smacked into someone. A very good-looking someone. Christamighty, where did all these hot people come from?

Brody put one hand on her shoulder while he flipped the burgers with the other one. “Yeah, I think not. Cope, this is Elise. Elise, this is Ben’s brother, Cope.”

“Ben is that one there, holding Erin’s hand,” he said, responding to her confused look.

At least the hotness made sense if he was related to that one.

“Ah, yes. Okay, Erin told me about him earlier, but I haven’t met him yet.”

“We’re getting ready to play cards. Do you play cards?” Cope flashed a smile, complete with a dimple. This guy was a real bad boy. His grin was pure sex and he knew it. It charmed her.

That’s when she saw the lush brunette approach. “Don’t do it unless you’re good. They’re a very cutthroat bunch.” Elise wondered just who this woman was, given the way Brody’s body had tightened and he’d actually stepped closer to Elise.

“I spent a lot of time touring and waiting around backstage. I’m pretty good at cards and pool.” She held out a hand after wiping the condensation from the bottle on her pants leg. “I’m Elise.”

They shook hands and it was fine, but Elise’s internal radar was flashing red. This was a woman who’d meant something to him once. Still did, if her presence meant anything, and she had no reason to doubt that. The people there were close-knit. They knew each other, this group. She got the feeling Brody Brown didn’t do the important things halfway. He might come off as laid back to the extreme, but Elise saw his focus, saw the way he interacted with people. He’d be the type to take care of the things he valued. And the people. One of these days, he’d make some woman an exceptional husband and co-parent.

“I’m Raven.”

The woman had a smile on her face, but if Elise wasn’t mistaken, an air of challenge lurked there. Great, probably an ex- or not so ex-girlfriend.

“Elise and her little girl live across the street. She’s the one who helped him when he got hit,” Erin explained as she came up with Ben. “I saved us a table right there.” Erin pointed.

Cope leaned back against a nearby ledge and sipped a beer. “Pool, huh? We play every other Friday at the pub just around the corner from the shop. You should come along sometime.”

“Thanks for the invite. I don’t have a lot of Friday nights free. I have a little girl, so I stick around home a lot.” She didn’t have the free time they did, but it was still nice to be asked.

“When she’s not working in her studio. You should see her dance. It’s pretty freaking amazing.” Brody touched the small of her back. Just a casual touch, but it relaxed her a bit.

“Momma! I’m hungry. Can we eat?” Rennie led the charge of the pack of children she’d been playing with.

“I’ve got a platter of burgers and dogs right here,” Brody called out to a cheer.

“I’ll get that.” She took it and looked over to the kids. “Why don’t you all come over here to this table where the plates are so you can grab something?”

In the midst of the chaos of grabbing hands and pleased sounds from the kids, another woman came to help. “I’m Maggie, Arvin’s wife. Those two are mine.” She pointed out her kids.

“Elise.” She motioned to Rennie. “That one is mine.”

“I’ve seen you dropping her off at school in the mornings. If you ever want to take a morning off, or if you need to trade off, let me know. I teach at the school. Fourth grade. So I’m there anyway.”

The two women, along with another mom and a dad, got the kids situated, and it wasn’t until she’d moved back, standing in the autumn sunshine, that Elise realized it had been four years since she’d had a barbecue with friends, two since she’d really had close friends of any type.

Rennie and Nina had become fast friends in the way only girls their age could. A year ago, Rennie had been prone to nightmares about losing her mother. And now she could be in a backyard, eating freshly cooked burgers and giggling with a girlfriend. Elise had done the right thing to leave and move west.

“Here, you forgot this.” Brody handed her the plate with her salmon, and he’d added some pasta salad on the side. “You’ll waste away if you don’t eat.”

She looked up at him, knowing the smile on her face made it pretty obvious there was more between them than just being friends. But he made her happy and she genuinely liked him. Judging by his return smile and the way he squeezed her hand, he wasn’t feeling too shabby either.

“I’m pretty sure I’ll be okay, but I can’t turn down lunch.” She let him lead her to a table nearby where the kids had settled, and they both sat along with Erin and her two men. Two. Awesome.

“This is a great yard.”

“Thanks. It’s been a project for the last several years. I take something big each season and do it. The most recent thing was the water feature near the back corner. I like working with my hands.”