He laughed and kissed her. “You fit in just fine with us and we with you. You don’t have to like her, and if you’d prefer I not hang around her outside work, I can do that. It’s not unreasonable, and why wouldn’t you have that right? I’d be pissed if some dude kissed you.”

For some stupid reason, she liked hearing it. “You’re an adult. You have to manage your own life. If I worried about every woman you came into contact with, I’d spend all my time worried. If you want to cheat, I can’t stop it. I’m leaving that choice up to you.” My, how mature she sounded. If he cheated on her, she’d be devastated. She’d also kick his ass. But she’d be devastated while she did it.

“You’d spend all your time worried? Am I that much of a flirt?”

“No, you’re just very attractive on every level I can think of. Good-looking, you have a great job, a great house, you’re funny and smart.” She shrugged. “What woman doesn’t like those things? You’re in a tattoo shop; I’ve seen the way people look at you. So shhh. But I can’t give over to worry. You’re an honorable man, so I have to simply trust you to make the right choices. I learned a long time ago, the hard way, that you can’t live anyone else’s life for them. Ultimately, we’re all responsible for our own lives and the choices we make, or don’t.”

“I make the choice to be with you every day. Can’t say I’ve been sorry.” He traced one eyebrow and she sighed softly. “You’re a lot kinder than she gives you credit for. But . . . not a pushover either.”

“Some people mistake kindness for gullibility or being a pushover. If she tries to kiss you again and I see it, I won’t be as nice.”

He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “It totally turns me on to see you jealous.”

She turned, her mouth just shy of his. “Everything turns you on. You’re fabulously easy that way.”

“Ha.”

“Indeed.”

26

Brody knocked on her door while balancing two bags of food and some coffee. She opened, and the fear and stress on her face went straight to his gut.

“Hey. I figured some breakfast might be warranted.” She let him in, and he moved past her parents to drop the bags on the table. And then he hugged her, tight. “It’s going to be fine, baby. I promise you.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” she mumbled, and he marveled at how she bucked up, standing straight and smiling up at him. “Sorry. Got a bit maudlin. I’m glad to see you. Thanks for breakfast.”

“Erin sent Ben over with it all. He sends his love and so does Erin. She also says you have to call her as soon as you hear anything.” He looked around Elise to her parents and smiled. “Hey, you two. Have some food, please.”

Martine kissed his cheek idly as she passed by. Paul nodded his head and looked back to Elise, worry on his face. “Rennie get to school okay this morning?” Brody put milk and sugar in a coffee and handed it to Elise. “Eat or I’ll tell Erin.”

She laughed. “You’d toss me under the bus?”

“To get you to eat? You betcha.”

She grabbed a bagel breakfast sandwich and took a bite. “Thank you. I’ll thank Erin myself later. Yes, Rennie got to school fine. She doesn’t really know what’s going on, and I want it that way. It took her a week to get over the interview she had to do with the expert.”

He wanted to see these people, to look into the eyes of the people who’d use a child the way they had. So he could punch them.

“You clean up nice.” She smiled, looking up and down.

“Meh. This is one of Ben’s suits.”

“Meh? You look very handsome.”

“So do you. I mean, you look beautiful. Responsible. That color is really pretty on you. Um, so although I know I look awesome in this monkey suit and all, I’d really like to go to court with you today. To be at your side. I won’t even punch either one of the Sorensons.” He drew a big X over his heart. “I promise.”

She wasn’t fast enough to hide the flash of surprise and the tears. Her father handed her a handkerchief and she mopped up.

“I didn’t mean to upset you. I just . . . I just want to be there for you and for Rennie. You’re my girls.”

“I’m not. Upset, that is. I’m just very thankful right now. For you and my parents, for my friends. I could have done this alone, I’d have survived. But I’m glad I didn’t have to. The Sorensons, they’re not nice people. You don’t have to expose yourself to that.”

Her mother gave an undignified snort, but her parents moved to another part of the living room to give them some privacy.

“I can handle not nice. I’m not feeling so nice toward them myself. They’re trying to make it out like I’m a bad guy. Like I don’t care about you or Irene. When I do. You’re safe with me. I want the judge to see that. Unless you think it’s bad. You can’t see any of my tats or anything.”

She hugged him tight. “Even if you could, it wouldn’t make you anything but what you are. A good man.”

“Your man,” he murmured against the silk of her hair.

“That too. If you’re sure, then yes, I’d appreciate the friendly face and the backup in there.”

Brody looked over her head, at her father, who sent him a nod of support. He’d do anything for her; he needed her to understand it, needed everyone to understand it. He couldn’t wait until this damned stuff was over with, so they could move forward. He wanted to tell her he loved her, he wanted to sleep at her side every night. He wanted all this external stuff stowed away so he could spend the rest of his days loving Elise and Rennie.