Elise was all that desire for something fine and beautiful, but come to life, because she was that way inside too. Such a good mother, competent, no-nonsense, but also whimsical and silly. s.e.xy that, the way she took care of her kid. Made him wonder what it would be like, to be a family with them, to come home to his girls every night. In loving her, he was a better person.

Part of him went cold a moment at how far he'd gone with her without even realizing it. And then he relaxed, warmed, understood it had been happening every single day since she'd touched him, just before they loaded him into the ambulance almost a year ago. He only worried that she didn't feel as deeply. If she didn't, he'd wear her down until she did. He knew without a doubt that he loved her and wanted to be with her, and her child. He'd wait until after all this legal bulls.h.i.t was squared away; he knew she'd need all her focus on that. Once that was taken care of, he'd be asking her to marry him.

He moaned softly when her fingers finally slid down and into her c.u.n.t, his breathing in sync with hers as they both dragged in a deep breath when she pressed two fingers up into her gate and then pulled them back out.

"I'm dying here, watching you," he said in a low voice. Her eyes opened slowly and focused on him. "This is so s.e.xy. Like the hottest thing I've ever seen."

Her mouth curled up into a smile as she blushed again. But she didn't stop the hand on her p.u.s.s.y.

Elise had never been so turned on in her life. Doing this for him, showing him something so intimate that she'd never shared it with anyone before, thrilled and t.i.tillated her straight to her toes. Even though her eyes were closed, she felt his attention, knew his gaze caressed her body, her nipples, where she'd buried her hand between her thighs-his eyes would be dark and stormy as he watched.

She opened her eyes again, wanting to see those eyes, and his gaze met hers. A ripple of awareness pa.s.sed between them, rolled through her with so much power it brought her to a very brief pause.

"Don't stop," he murmured.

So she didn't. Nor did she close her eyes. The way he looked at her then was so beautiful she couldn't tear her eyes away. Didn't want to, because it made her feel desired and loved.

o.r.g.a.s.m came, cell-deep, slow to expand through her body like honey. She wanted to curl into him and nap, letting him protect her while she did nothing but dream.

He swooped down and kissed her; barely reined hunger made him taste urgent and hot. His intensity woke her up, washed the languid away, replacing it with need. More. How much could she take? She wanted to have so much of him she overflowed.

"I just want you so much," she whispered against the skin of his chest, before biting.

He rolled, bringing her atop him. "Take me. I'm yours to take, Elise."

She pushed herself to sit, quickly positioning herself and sliding back onto his c.o.c.k. Still for long moments, she simply let herself feel the thickness of him buried deep. And then she looked down at him, mussed up, a big, s.e.xual man with an edge of darkness, and he reined it in for her.

His tattoos were so ridiculously s.e.xy. She'd say something like he didn't know just how s.e.xy, but as she began to ride him, rising up and coming down over his c.o.c.k, she knew he did. "You know what's one of the most s.e.xy things about you?"

He grinned up at her. "No, but I'm always ready to hear such things. Do tell."

She laughed. She often laughed during s.e.x with him. She'd never laughed with a man in intimate moments before. But with him, the happiness always found a way out.

"You know how hot you are. You know the tall, dark and handsome thing with the tats and the nipple ring is like sugar water to hummingbirds." She pressed down hard and circled her hips, grinding herself into him.

He sucked in a breath. "I like that move a lot. You're saying I'm vain but you like it?"

Her nails dug into his sides, and he arched into it, she knew, loving that bit of pain to spice the pleasure.

"I'm saying you understand your s.e.xual allure and you embrace it. You're a very s.e.xual man. Add the bad-boy thing to that and you're like catnip for women."

He laughed. "I think that's the best compliment I've ever received."

They fell silent, the only sounds the birds out in the backyard and the slap of flesh meeting. Having him inside her felt so good she luxuriated in it, taking her time, teasing him up, higher and higher.

"I'm going to die," he croaked out, his fists in the blankets. She knew he wanted to take over and leaned down to kiss him.

"Don't die. I need you here to f.u.c.k me."

He cursed low, and those hands landed on her hips, his fingers digging in to guide her movement, to speed her up and bring her down a little harder. She loved it when he did this, lost his rein and guided her just where and how he wanted. Still she was surprised when another climax blasted through her body.

He must have been too, because he nearly snarled as she contracted around him. He began to thrust up as he pulled her down against him. His upper body tightened as his muscles worked, and then with a long groan, he came.

"I'm starving." His voice was m.u.f.fled against her hair.

"I'll make you a sandwich. Meatloaf okay?"

He tipped her chin and kissed her. "Thank you. And you can tell me about what happened at the attorney's office. You think Rennie would like to go out to Chinese food tonight? I feel like taking out my two best girls."

He rolled from her bed, and she couldn't help but bury her face in the pillow he'd been on. She loved his smell. "I think she'd love it. You know how she feels about you." She got out of bed and he followed her into her bathroom. Rennie wasn't the only Sorenson who loved Brody Brown.

22.

Elise fell into the rhythm of making him a sandwich. He'd helped her wash and dry the tattoo and had shown her just how much of the gel to put on. Such a big man, but always totally gentle with her.

"They're trying to drag me back to New York. To a different county than where we were before. This one is where a lot of vacation homes for the rich and famous are located, so Frank and my new attorney-yes the guy was really good-think the Sorensons want to get me where they have a better chance at taking Rennie."

She put the sandwich on the table and followed with a gla.s.s of orange juice.

He took a big bite of the sandwich and looked across to where she sat, eating an apple because we can't all be men who can inhale four thousand calories a day and still be slim. Not that she was bitter. Not at all.

"Who'd have thought meatloaf would be so awesome? This is so good. Thank you." He took a drink. "I hate these people. Just on principle, but also because they're trying to hurt you and Rennie."

"Bill will handle most of the motions, with Frank helping out in New York. They're filing a motion to dismiss. And also to keep the case here in Washington where I live and where Rennie lives. Apparently they filed more papers today as I was talking with them both. Frank was going to fax it all to Bill and they'll get back to me."

He took her hand across the table. "It's going to be fine. You're a wonderful mom. Rennie is happy and healthy and thriving. And so are you, Elise. You grow brighter every day, more vibrant and full of life. You're making your own way here, and it shows. What can I do to help?"

"Thank you for being here for me. That's the most important part."

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be. I'm also available for things like babysitting if you need to be somewhere and your parents need a break or can't do it."

"You really do care about Irene, don't you?"

Confusion washed over his features for a moment. "Of course I do. Isn't it obvious?"

"She's my kid, I obviously think she's fabulous, so it's easy to a.s.sume everyone else does. But not everyone else does, of course. I'm just grateful she has people who care about her in her life. I can't let this case get dragged back to New York, Brody. I can't take her back there. I can't go back there. I'm here where things are good and right. We're good here. I don't want to look back over my shoulder again. And they're making me. I hate them."

He finished his sandwich, pushing the plate and empty gla.s.s aside to take both her hands in his.

"If you have to go back to New York, I'll be with you. At your side. I promise. There's no looking over your shoulder now. Only the future and it's all good. I have to ask you, are you going to reply to these allegations with how upset Rennie gets after the calls with them?"

"I've tried too hard to be fair. Even after this mess. I wanted her to have some contact and connection to her father. Ken wasn't always the man I had to kill. I loved him once. He loved me, I truly believe he did. So I wanted to honor that and let Rennie have that, because there will come a time when I have to tell her the whole story and I don't want her to hate him or me. I've made so many mistakes. Failed so many times." She covered her face with her hands.

"There are many words that come to mind when I think of you. Failure isn't one of them."

She tore her hands from her eyes and looked at him. "I have failed at everything in my life but dancing. I saved Rennie from Ken and I'd do it again. But I killed her father. I took her away from her paternal grandparents, but it was necessary. They are bad and wrong and they don't even love her. How can they not love her?"

He shook his head and took one of her hands back, holding it between his. "I don't know. It's impossible for me to understand how anyone could resist Rennie. And you did what you had to do, Elise. It was self-defense. You're not a failure because your exhusband was a crazy, f.u.c.ked up junkie. That's his failure."

"I am a s.h.i.tty daughter. I was a s.h.i.tty sister. I was a s.h.i.tty wife. I never really had any friends outside of the other dancers, and sometimes not even them, because the compet.i.tion for roles . . ." She shrugged. "I am a total failure but for two things. First is my dancing. I've been good at it since I was four and I've achieved all I'd ever dreamed of and more as a dancer. Later, but far more important, is Rennie. I've made mistakes, yes, but I've been a good mother, the best I could under the circ.u.mstances even if I'm not perfect. I've tried tried to be better at things, but . . ." She licked her lips, not finishing the sentence.. to be better at things, but . . ." She licked her lips, not finishing the sentence..

He moved quickly, sitting in the chair beside hers. "Do you honestly think you're a failure? Because when I look at you, when I know you, Elise, I don't see it. No, don't interrupt for a moment." He put his finger against her lips. "I see how you are with your parents; you're not a s.h.i.tty daughter. I see the little things you do for them both, the special tea for your dad's joints, the way you include your mother at your studio so she feels important, so you can share your love of dancing with her. What I see is not failure, but a family. They moved out here to be with you and Rennie because they genuinely want to be with you two. As for your brother . . . Tell me. You told me some, the highlights if you will. Tell me why you think you're a s.h.i.tty sister."

"College was when it all seemed to get out of control for him. He was always looking for more. He gorged himself on everything, which is part of why he was such an amazing performer. He went to keggers and got into minor trouble. But my parents always made excuses for him; he was the favorite, you see. I don't blame them for it. He was, he was like a dragonfly, flitting through your life, iridescent and magical. You couldn't take your eyes from him. I knew he'd started using speed, but I didn't tell on him. I should have right at the very start. I didn't and he died."

"He was how much older than you when he started using speed?" He looked at his watch. "When is Rennie due back here?"

"Five. My parents are going to a lecture at the UW tonight and then out to dinner with the speaker. He's one of my dad's old colleagues."

Brody nodded. "Okay then, we've got a while." He stood and drew her into the living room, where they snuggled on the couch. "He was five years older than me. He was twenty-one or twentytwo when it first started. He'd moved to the city. I knew, but I didn't say anything to my parents. And then I met Ken and it all went to h.e.l.l."

"Before you expand on your failures as a wife, why don't you tell me what a typical day was like for you when you were seventeen. What was your schedule?"

She glared at him. "Got up at five to get into the city for dance cla.s.ses in the morning. I'd finished up high school by the time I was sixteen. I graduated early. I always planned on taking college courses, but never got around to it. There was rehearsal for whatever production I was in at the time. More cla.s.ses in the late afternoon. I ended up moving into an apartment in Manhattan because the commute got to be too much."

"You lived on your own at seventeen? In New York City?"

"You raised kids at that age! I shared an apartment in a relatively murder-free neighborhood with three other dancers. My grandmother had left a trust; it paid my share of the rent until I joined the company, and, well, I was still dirt poor for some time to come. Funny though, poor as I was, it was such a magical time. I was on my own and doing what I'd always wanted to do. And then I met Ken."

"On to your failure as a wife then."

"Ha ha, it's all a joke to you."

"Do you really think that, Elise? I'm making light, yes, but it's not a joke that you've endured and survived and been so successful and you see yourself as a failure. I want to understand because I don't see it."

"Ken was"-she licked her lips-"the life of every party. He was color spatters on a canvas, mad creation at two a.m. and then back to bed, where we'd make love until I had to rush out to cla.s.s. What I learned over the happy times into the not-so-happy times was that he had no off b.u.t.ton. He never got enough. No matter what it was. And then the drugs with Matty.

"So I left him finally. I left him and he continued to get in trouble. I took him back when he kept clean. And that's when the condom broke and Rennie was conceived. You know the rest. He started using again. I kicked him out, changed the locks and eventually filed divorce papers. What a f.u.c.king idiot I was. I thought I could save him. I thought I could be the stability he needed to keep clean."

Brody listened to her, listened to how torn up she was at other people's failings. Knowing she considered herself a failure made him ache for her. He thought he'd be uncomfortable hearing about her ex, but he wasn't. Angry, yes; jealous, no.

"You can't do that for people. They have to do it themselves. Our dad was an alcoholic. He was found to be responsible, in part, for the accident that ended up killing both him and my mom."

"I know that now. I wasn't enough for him. A child on the way wasn't enough. Nothing was enough."

He turned to face her better. "You're not a failure for preventing other people from f.u.c.king up. You're not G.o.d and he didn't step in with your brother or Ken either. So if G.o.d didn't, why are you suddenly more powerful and responsible?"

"Do you feel responsible at all? For your parents?"

He swallowed hard. "Yeah. Sometimes. I was f.u.c.kin' glad to get out of that house. I loved my brother and sister and still checked in on them, but I was gone from the day-to-day ha.s.sle of my father. Not having to deal with the dread when he wasn't home in time for dinner, or the embarra.s.sment when he got too drunk to walk . . . it freed me. And then I felt like a traitor when they died. My last words with him were angry. He was a good guy once, when I was young. Why couldn't I hold on to those memories instead of the bad ones?" He shrugged. "But it's not my fault. He drank too much, period. And nothing I could have said would have been enough to make him stop. It wasn't about me. Just like your brother's overdose wasn't your fault. Just like Ken wasn't your fault."

"Maybe it's me though. That I drive people to it."

He laughed and kissed her. "Shorty, I'm here, aren't I? Successful business, just like you. Nary a need for crack or hookers. I do like to have lots of s.e.x with you, because, duh, look at you. But some people are driven to excess. It's not about anyone but themselves. Let go of all this guilt. You're not responsible for anyone but Rennie and yourself. Did you love your brother?"

"Yes. But I hated what he was like when he was tweaking. I resented him for not having the strength to stop. People kept saying he was sick, that he had a disease. I wanted to be understanding, but he left a b.l.o.o.d.y needle in my house! At some point I just sat up in bed and realized he'd never have a wife or kids or anything to sustain him and he was going to die. I think it was impossible to sustain him." She broke off, shaking her head. "I spend too much time thinking about what used to be."

Ah, there was something there. "And what about that? Do you want to be what you were?"

"No." She swallowed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "After, when I was in the hospital and they'd, G.o.d, they used a rape kit, I was doped up, covered in blood, freaked that Ken had given me something. Worried about Rennie and my parents. My father had to be sedated, he was so upset. It was a mess. But my mother kept saying to hang on so I could be just like new, just like I'd been before. Even when it was plain I'd never be able to dance professionally again, people kept saying they wanted to see the old me. I danced. It's what I did, who I was from three to thirty. I achieved more than I'd ever imagined. And then I had Rennie. But the rest was filled with chaos. I don't want to look back. I don't want to go back. When I look into my mirror every day, I don't wish I was that woman. I like my life here. It's normal. normal. Normal, and that's wonderful. Normal is a luxury." Normal, and that's wonderful. Normal is a luxury."

He took her face in his hands. "You don't have to be anything but who you are right now. Let go of what was. I don't want you to be who you were before. I want you to be who you are are."

She simply crawled into his lap and curled into him. He kissed her shoulder and they sat, enjoying the moment.

Deep inside, Brody processed all the things she'd just told him. Loved her for her strength, loved her for her guilt, even as he made up his mind to make it stop. He liked normal too, when it included this woman.

23.

"You're going to have to repeat that." Elise wondered if she'd heard Bill correctly when he recounted the allegations being made about her by the Sorensons.

"You heard me." Bill shook his head. "These people remind me why there are days I hate doing family law."

"Just be glad there's a whole country separating them from the rest of us. I am am dating someone. Brody Brown. He lives across the street from me, and yes, Rennie is exposed to him. But he and I have been together for a year, this thing between us is stable. He's a good guy. He plays catch with her, he goes to the zoo and the aquarium with us. Everyone in our circle is a good person. They might have tattoos or they're musicians. They're all good people. That's not unfit!" dating someone. Brody Brown. He lives across the street from me, and yes, Rennie is exposed to him. But he and I have been together for a year, this thing between us is stable. He's a good guy. He plays catch with her, he goes to the zoo and the aquarium with us. Everyone in our circle is a good person. They might have tattoos or they're musicians. They're all good people. That's not unfit!"

"Elise, I know you're not unfit. I know Brody through my son and I agree with your a.s.sessment of his character. I've looked over all the paperwork, I've read the reports, I've spoken with her teachers who tell me Irene is a great kid, happy, smart. They did say that once a month she's easily upset for a few days. Around the fifteenth."

"It's them them. They call her and she's a mess for a few days after. They tell her she's going to come and see them, to ask me to see them. They promise to take her to Europe and to let her ride horses. They give her nightmares. She's afraid they'll take her. I've never said anything negative about them to her, but they are a cancer in her life."

"Are you saying you want to move to end their contact with Irene?"

"I've given it a lot of thought. Yes. They're not a positive influence on her at all. I try to put a positive spin on it, but it's been nearly a year since we moved out here and it's only getting worse. They've begun to ask her questions about me all the time, to encourage her to ask me to let them do things they're not allowed to do. I sent a letter through Frank asking them to stop it. But they've now taken to calling my parents and threatening them; they call me too."

Bill sighed. "I tend to agree with your a.s.sessment about the negative effects of contact with them. The question is, do you want me to push for a dismissal and leaving status as is, or do you want me to answer this change in circ.u.mstance with our own? Pet.i.tion the court to cease all contact with her. It'll be more costly, and we'll most likely need some expert intervention here. Interviews, a.s.sessments, that sort of thing. But you'd have them out of your life and out of Rennie's life. If you choose to go this way, I'm fairly certain we can move the case here."

"Can I have a few hours to think on it? It's the fifteenth and I've got to get home to be ready for the call. Rennie's with Brody this afternoon. He took her and her friend Nina to the park. He loves my kid and she loves him. He's good for her. It's good for her to see men like him and my father. Steadfast men who don't hurt women or walk away from them."

"Look, I don't usually . . . If it were me, I'd think getting these people away from you once and for all, totally away, would be worth pursuing. And you'd have the added plus of using this attack on you to do it. Frank agrees, by the way."

She stood. "Thank you, Bill. I appreciate it. I'll leave a message on your voice mail later tonight which way I want you to go."

Brody hugged her when she got to the park. She looked around, wondering if someone with a camera was lurking. "Your mom and dad are at your place right now. They went to the deli, said they were making dinner. They said to tell you they were staying for dinner and then they'd go to the lecture. They want to be there when the Sorensons call."

"They worry, especially on the fifteenth. How's Rennie?" "She's burst into tears twice, but mainly she's fine. My G.o.d, Shorty, these people are making her physically sick." He looked so concerned it sliced right to her heart. Made her love him even more, if such a thing were possible.

"I know. I'd hoped it would get better. I try to be upbeat. I have a picture of them in her room; I encourage her to send them things, pictures she draws, that sort of thing. But she took the picture down before Christmas and she won't send them anything."