Page 96 of Nothing to This

With the women who’d saved her little girl.

“Okay,” she said.“If you’re ready for two inquisitive five-year-olds.”

“Jane will melt, I swear to you.They’ll have a lot more aunts before the night is over.”

“Jane?Collier?”

“She lives to care for people.Don’t be surprised if she cries.”

“Why would she cry?”

“She’s… too pretty.We’ll bring the party if you bring the babies.”Roxie showed both palms.“No liquor, no strippers.”

She laughed.“Are those Zairn’s rules?”

“God, no, he’d never put restrictions on me.And I’d never put them on him.We respect each other enough to know the boundaries.Boundaries, boundaries.”Roxie sucked in a belabored breath.“Listen to me, his words in my mouth.Don’t ever tell him I said that.”

Not much chance of her running into Zairn Lomond any time soon.She could see the appeal of Roxie though, how she won friends and brought a light, joyous air to the room.Not something she’d processed the day they met.

***

“It’s about the man, genius!”Roxie declared, seated on the floor between the couch and the coffee table.“Pick the man.Everything else gets worked out… Toria told me that.”

“You put up all kinds of barriers for Zairn, but he was there, waiting,” Jane said.“When you were ready.”

Jane, Roxie, and Lilya brought party food and decorations perfect for the kids.The little ones ate it up and loved dancing around the room with their new friends.Still, unfortunately, time marched on.As much as the twins would love to stay up all night, responsibilities waited for them tomorrow.Brenna nabbed bedtime duty and was currently watching a movie with them in Kye’s bed.The music was turned down, and the group had become more reflective, giving her a chance to get to know the women better.

“Z was in Tokyo when I was ready,” Roxie said, “or mid-air, whatever time zone.My man, the mind reader.”She sighed.“I rag on it, but I love it.”

“You love him,” Jane said.“The wedding will be spectacular!I can’t wait!”

“It better be.Most expensive favor I ever gave.”

A favor?What was the favor?

“I’m planning it,” Jane said, answering her unasked question.“No budget, no boundaries, just the perfect wedding.”

The front door opened and their, temporarily absent, last guest came rushing in: Roux Radley.

“Okay, I’m sorry, I’m back.”They all gestured to quiet her and she cringed.“Sorry.”

Kicking off her shoes, the woman came to the living room and dropped onto the couch.

“That was quick,” Jane said.

“Yeah,” Roxie agreed.“How did you get all the way to the apartment and—”

“We did it in the car downstairs.”

“He drove over here?”

Like it was no big deal, Roux shrugged and picked up her virgin wine from the end table.“He doesn’t do well by himself.”

“Rourke loves solitude, he hates people, though not as much as K2.You’re his exception, Roux, honey.”

“I’m not exactly another person in his view, in our view, it’s… complicated.”

“Never seen anything simpler.”