Raven touched his arm, but he stepped back. Her mouth firmed. “You’re making a mistake. People like us aren’t made for monogamy.”

“No. People like you aren’t. And that’s fine, I’m not judging. But I’m also not you. Now, please, go before this turns even more ugly.”

She stomped off, and his client sat down with eyebrows raised. A regular, so at least Brody didn’t have to play get-to-know-you when he just wanted to see Elise, to know how she was. She’d be done with her call by that point but would have had to rush to her studio to teach her afternoon classes. He hadn’t had time for a call and had barely glanced at her text that she was okay and would talk to him tonight about the details.

“She’s going to try to f**k you over,” Adrian said, making himself at home by sitting at Brody’s workstation.

“No, she’s not. It’s over. Why are you here?” He turned back to his client and they spoke about what he wanted. Brody began to set up.

“Fine way to talk to your baby brother. I came in to have you touch something up. I could just go somewhere else where they deal with rock stars and are nice to them.”

“No one in this town would touch my tats, smartass.” He grinned up at his brother and then got to work.

“After that, I need to run out and grab something for Rennie. She’s been out of sorts lately. I know she’s picking up on everyone’s anxiety.” Adrian flipped through a magazine and chatted idly with Brody’s client as he worked.

“You like her, don’t you?” Brody kept his eyes on his work, but Adrian knew he was talking to him.

“Rennie or Elise? I like ’em both. Elise is wonderful. She’s quick and clever and she’s good for you. Aside from being beautiful, she’s nice to be around. Soothing in a way. Rennie? How can you resist her? I’m looking forward to watching her grow up and being the uncle who spoils her.”

“She’s already spoiled,” Brody said with a laugh, and then he looked up and met his brother’s gaze. “I’m looking forward to watching her grow up too.”

She bustled around the house, cleaning up the stuff Rennie had tossed on the couch when they’d come in. It was a way for Elise to keep her mind off her legal issues. She needed to wind down after the day she’d had.

Rennie had had dinner with her grandparents, who’d just dropped her home half an hour before. She’d taken a bath and done her homework and now was finally asleep. Brody was supposed to have come over earlier, but there’d been a disaster at the shop and he had to stay to deal with it.

She tried to push back her agitation. He wasn’t at her beck and call. He had a business to run and she understood that very well. If the pipes had busted at her studio, she’d be there dealing with it herself too, that’s what you did. Anyway, just because she loved him didn’t mean she wasn’t stupidly aware of the rules they’d set out a year before. She was his girlfriend, she knew that, and she knew it meant way more than just sleeping together. It had made her happy, the way they’d been growing closer over the last months, knowing he cared about her that much. And she did know it; he was good to her and Rennie, there for her, and not just for sex.

But she also knew it wasn’t a declaration of love.

She sat and then got up again. She should just go to bed. Drink a glass of wine, read a book and go to bed. Damn, she needed him. Needed his arms around her to reassure her, and that was so bad. It was like eating cookie dough. You know you shouldn’t, but you can’t help it. Cookie dough was a fine idea, though, she thought, heading for the freezer.

She didn’t want to need him. She hadn’t needed anyone a year ago, and that had suited her just fine. But he’d come into her life, and from the first moment she’d laid eyes on him she’d been fascinated. It had been so much more than sexual from the first, and it had grown until he was rooted in her life.

Bringing the dough, a spoon and the bottle of wine and a glass, she trundled into her bedroom and changed into pajamas before pouring a glass and feasting on cookie dough while watching reality shows.

Her phone rang, waking her up from her dough/wine nap, and she nearly spilled it as she scrambled to grab it and answer.

“Did I wake you?”

She smiled at the sound of his voice as she sat up. “It’s okay. Is everything at the shop taken care of?”

“I’m right outside your front door. If I knocked, would you let me in?”

“On my way.” She hung up the phone and hurried toward the door, but not before a quick check in the mirror showed her to be reasonably non-haggy.

He stood there, as promised, looking tired, but he smiled when she opened the door.

“You’re just what I needed to make this day end on a high note. Much better than it’s been the last several hours.” He hugged her, surrounding her with his scent and heat, pulling the stress and fear from her until all that remained was the warmth of being held by him.

“Come in. Are you hungry?” She locked up and then led him into the house.

“I am. I’m sorry I’m so late. I know you had a rough day, I wanted to be here for you.”

“Sit.” She waved to a chair at the table and he sat with a long sigh. “Want a burrito? I made them for dinner for myself. Rennie went out to pizza with my parents, so there are plenty of leftovers.” She put a beer in front of him and he took her hand, pulling her into his lap.