Page 119 of Perfect Composition

“You got it, Ava.”

Austyn comes up and wraps her arms around me from behind. “Already on a first-name basis with the locals, Mama? This bodes well.”

“I’d say so. If your mother…” But Carys never finishes the thought. Instead, she begins making her way toward the back of the coffee shop with the same determined stride used the first day I met her. She walks up to a table filled with men and shoves one of them in the shoulder. Then she jabs the one across from him in the chest with her finger.

“Uh-oh. I’d better go see what that’s about,” Angie says before she flies after her boss and friend.

One of the men at the table leans slightly until his eyes focus on me. They’re a deep penetrating green set in one of the most striking faces I’ve ever seen. His mouth moves, and within seconds, another devastating stranger whirls around, this one with dark eyes and dark hair. Carys slaps her hands on the table, and though her lips aren’t moving, the flush riding her cheeks is getting darker. Green eyes slides out of the booth and shifts her to the side.

Before making his way in my direction.

“Keene, honey, do you need anything?” Ava calls out.

“Not quite done yet, Ava. Just need to talk with a few people.” And judging by the way his stare hasn’t left me or Austyn, I have a good idea of who he is. I slide her behind me and glare up at the taller man.

He notes the action before his bearded face breaks into a wide smile that softens every chiseled feature. “Dr. Kensington, Austyn, my name is Keene Marshall. I’m one of the founding partners of Hudson Investigations. It’s a pleasure to meet both of you face-to-face.”

My heart skips a beat. This man’s company has investigated every nuance of my life from before I was born, and here he is, drinking coffee inmycoffee shop. “Are you following me, Mr. Marshall?”

“Actually, no. My family and I live here in…”

I turn to Austyn. “Forget about decorating. I need to move.”

“Dr. Kensington, if you would join us for a cup of coffee, Caleb and I would be happy to explain.”

“Who is Caleb?” Austyn pipes in.

“The other founding partner in Hudson Investigations.” Before I can reiterate my desire to move, Keene holds up his hand. “Please. Just a few minutes. We don’t want you to feel uncomfortable in a community that has accepted us and our families.”

All men can lie; God knows I’ve learned that. But maybe it’s the way his face softened when he spoke of his family. I nod shortly. “Five minutes.”

He steps back and gestures for us to precede him. “This way.”

When we arrive at the booth, I’m so glad I did. There are children squished everywhere inside. “Daddy, did you ask Ms. Ava for more hot chocolate?” an adorable dark-haired, blue-eyed angel asks.

“No, Kaylie. I didn’t have a chance. Can you monsters be nice enough to greet Dr. Paige and Ms. Austyn first?” Keene asks.

There’s a cacophony of “Hi, Dr. Paige” and “Hey, Ms. Austyn” from what must be a set of twins on the other side of the table. The dark-eyed man holds out his hand. “Caleb Lockwood. Nice to meet you, Dr. Kensington. Let me do some quick introductions. My three: Laura, Jonathan, and Charles. Keene’s three: Kaylie, Valerie, and Regina.” He points as he introduces the children.

I wrap an arm around Austyn. “My one and only, Austyn.”

Austyn bumps my hip. “Never say that, Mama. You’re young enough to have more.”

“That’s what we call our Mama. Mama,” one of Keene’s youngest says in awe.

I loosen up enough to ask her father, “Is your wife from the South?”

He nods at Caleb. “Ourwives’ family is. We married sisters.”

Carys grins, her earlier pique with Keene and Caleb obviously forgotten as she leans on the booth behind Caleb. “As a client, one of my favorite events each year is visiting the monstrosity of a farm you all live on and seeing how the family’s expanded.”

“You all live together?” I ask incredulously.

“Separate houses,” both men say simultaneously.

“Probably because none of them could handle their brother-in-law for long stretches of time,” Angie ventures.

“It would be like you all living with Beckett. And might I add, we consider our brother-in-law, Jason, a saint.” Keene slants a wicked grin in my direction. “If you’d like to be nominated for canonization by my security team, fix whatever is wrong with Beckett. Please. The reports they’re sending in is that he’s a stinking mess.”