“Yeah? Well, I guess it’s okay that you may have punched him over that.”

Jonah laughed. “Well, to be fair, we always united against anyone who tried to hurt our family and friends.”

“That’s what family does.” Daisy shrugged and flounced off to help Mary in the kitchen.

Raven looked down at her hands.

He kept stroking her skin.

Erin glanced his way and then back to Raven. The storm had passed and Raven pulled her gaze from her hands and back up to Erin.

Brody spoke again. “Make sure to take photographs of the back. Step by step. For the book.”

Raven nodded at Brody. “I did.”

“The book?”

“Raven is being featured in a piece about tattooing. There’s a short film with it too. Anyway, they’re using some of her bigger pieces. From her design for you, I think it would be a good one.”

“You saw it?”

“Of course I did.” Brody gave him a look that told him he was dumb for thinking otherwise.

Jonah didn’t quite know what to make of the closeness between Brody and Raven. It was totally and utterly clear Brody Brown adored his wife. They had a connection so strong, so tangible, it was nearly a physical thing. Brody was protective of Raven. Like he was of Erin in many ways.

But it rankled that she had this history with another man.

Stupid. He had an ex-wife he had a kid with. It seemed hypocritical when Raven didn’t seem overly bothered by his ex. But there it was. Jonah figured he wasn’t entirely reasonable when it came to Raven.

“I show all my work to Brody. He’s a great sounding board. He tossed out a few of my sketches so you should be thankful.”

“I’m sure they were just as amazing as the others.”

Brody raised one brow and Elise blinked, hiding a smirk behind her hands.

“She’s a pretty amazing artist. I’m sure all the designs were good. I’m sorry I didn’t see them all.”

Brody sipped his drink, clearly taking Jonah’s measure. All around them pockets of laughter and conversation rose and fell, ebbed and flowed. These people, all of them, had a deep connection to one another. He liked it. Wanted a place in it. But he had to deal with this man sitting a few seats down, who clearly saw himself as Raven’s protector. Jonah wanted that job.

“She is. I agree. But it’s a process. Design, I mean. Some ideas don’t make the cut.”

Raven put her hand on Jonah’s arm. “Some of the designs he tossed out, as an example, would have been too large on your back, or too small. Because you’re doing black and gray, the balance is really important. You’re too . . . elegant . . . No, that’s a feminine term, I think . . . Anyway, all that ink wouldn’t have fit you. Not your personality or your body type. It’s why I bounce ideas off him. He’s been doing this longer than I have. He’s better at it.”

On one hand, he liked that she explained. On the other, he hated that she was defending another person to him. That she’d feel she had to, that he was being a pissy fool, that she’d said anyone was better than her.

“You’re the best.” He kissed her again and she sighed.

“You’re going to ruin my reputation as a hard-assed bitch,” she murmured against his mouth as he pulled away.

“You’re not a hard-assed bitch.”

She laughed. “I am. Thank you for the compliment. I am good at what I do. But it’s okay to admit he’s better. He’s like . . . he’s amazing. Gifted. You’re born with that potential. I’m good, I’m not gonna lie. But he’s in another league.”

“I don’t want you to put yourself down.”

She paused, looking at him for long, quiet moments. “I’m not. This is real life, Jonah. There will always be people who are better than you at things. Richer people. People with nicer houses. Skinnier people. Whatever. That’s life.”

He softened, smiling at her. “All right. You have a point.”

The first course came out and he leaned back as he ate, watching her interact with the others. She was open with Erin and Brody. Open with Gillian. But with the others less so. She was friendly, yes. Asked questions here and there, but it was clear she was uncomfortable on some level.

That bugged him.

His phone rang and he saw it was work related.

“I need to take this. I’ll be back shortly.” He paused to kiss her temple and then moved outside to answer.

“He was not happy with me.” Brody grinned at her like a total loon.

“He didn’t like it that she said you were better than she was. I thought it was sweet.” Elise patted her husband’s arm.

She’d never had anyone like him. He touched her. A lot and not in a creepy, hey-let’s-fuck-all-the-time way. He touched her like he couldn’t not touch her. Like he wanted people to know they were together. Which was odd. He was possessive but in the best sense.

And then he was mad when he thought she’d been putting herself down. That made her nervous. She knew how to deal with people who liked her well enough to have sex and hang out. But this was more. He was more.

“I noticed that.”

“You are better than I am at tattooing.”

“Ah, but he reacted like a man protecting his woman reacts.”

“I’m no one’s anything.”

Brody shook his head. “You’re wrong about that. This guy is going to show you just how wrong.”

“If you’ll let him,” Erin interjected. “And you should. He’s gorgeous. And he digs you.”

Raven scrubbed her hands over her face.

To her surprise it was Ben who spoke next. “Leave the poor woman be.” He smiled Raven’s way and she shoved back her impulse to snarl. He was being nice and she really should learn how to accept kindnesses from people. Plus he was Alexander’s dad and she never wanted to give them any cause to get in the way of her seeing that boy.

“Creeps me out when everyone is nice to me. Like I’m sick or something,” Raven mumbled, getting up and heading to the ladies’ room.

Erin watched her friend go. “Be back.”

Brody nodded her way and Elise leaned into him, understanding as well.

Erin knew Raven was nervous. She hadn’t wanted to come to Delicious at all, but Erin had pushed it. Knowing. No, wanting her to understand these people could be better friends if she just let them in. Wanting them to know Raven was so much more than what she appeared on the surface.

Erin caught up to her just inside the bathroom. “You all right?”

Raven broadcasted her annoyance in her stance and the look on her face. But Erin had known her a very long time and it didn’t put her off. Raven could be fierce, of course, but she was all façade when it came to Erin and Brody and those she let inside.

“Just had to pee. Been a long time since I needed an escort for that.”

“Don’t be a bitch. I know this is a little much. I admire your restraint. You haven’t snarled at a single person. The sex must be really good to keep you so calm.”

Raven groaned as she turned to wash her hands. “I’m fine. I’m not going to punch anyone. Yet anyway. Stop provoking me.”

“I live to provoke you. God, stop being a joykiller. Let me have my fun.” She softened. “He’s nice.”

“Sometimes.” Raven looked confused by that. “Other times he’s bossy and he likes to tie me up and use a slapper on my ass.” She blurted it and looked quite vexed that she had.

Erin tried not to smile but it was impossible. “I like the slapper.” She shrugged. “I like being tied up too.”

“Don’t you think it’s weird that I do? Am I that fucked up that the first guy who does this to me gets me all hot?”

Erin wanted to hug her, but she also knew it would have made Raven really uncomfortable and on the verge of losing her shit, which she clearly worked so hard to keep together. So she kept her distance.

“You think it makes you fucked up to like being tied up? I guess I’m in big trouble then. Does he do it against your will?”

“No! Do you think I’d stay with someone who did something I didn’t want done?”

“Nope. Which is why I don’t think you’re fucked up. Or, well, I do, but in the way that everyone is fucked up somehow. So why do you think that? Because adults who should have protected you when you were a kid didn’t means you shouldn’t like a little rough-and-ready fucking? Puh-leeze. That’s bullshit. That was abuse. Is he abusing you?”

“No. You said it yourself, he’s a nice man. Mainly. He’s also bossy and annoying. He’s nosy and in my business and doesn’t like being told no. He’s very stubborn.”

“Thank God or he’d have dumped your grumpy ass by now. No matter how cute it is.”

“This is a mistake. You know that.”

“Why? Because he likes you on a deeper level than how you look? Because he demands your monogamy? Because he touches you like he thinks you’re precious? You don’t think it’s obvious to anyone with eyes? I’m checking him out, wanting to see how he is with you and he’s . . . enchanted by you. He listens to you when you talk. He’s got that super alpha male thing where he touches you to be sure everyone in the room knows you’re with him. But not in a douchey way like he owns you. Tell me please, how that is a mistake? Unless being with someone who wants you for longer than five minutes and a few orgasms is a mistake? God, do you have so little value in yourself that you’d think those jerkwads you banged in the past were better than this?”

“Fuck off.”

“Whatever. I know you. No one else but a guy like him would work out. Because he won’t let you put him off with that attitude of yours.” Erin allowed herself a touch of Raven’s hand then. “He values you. Like you should let someone value you. It’s about time you let someone in who isn’t me or a kid.” She went into the stall.