Broken Open. Lauren Dane

SEVEN

      TUESDAY ENTERED THE ROOM, drawing his attention. She moved like music. A long stride and yet she made it look like dancing instead of ground-eating purpose.

      She wore pert cat-eye glasses and when her gaze found his, the big brown eyes behind them warmed as their connection sizzled.

      He hadn’t even thought of heading to her before he was doing it.

      “Hello,” she murmured once he’d reached her.

      He kissed her, again before even thinking about it. She curled her fingers around his forearm to hold him closer for a bit longer.

      “That’s better. Hello to you, too.”

      “You do know how to make a girl feel welcome.” Her smile sobered. “How’s Maddie?”

      “We spoke to the doctor about an hour ago. If all continues the way it is now, they’ll discharge her in the morning. She’s managed to get Vaughan to promise a whole bunch of stuff once she’s home—like a pro.” He looked over her shoulder to where Mary smiled up at his father. “I hear you guys came with lunch. Thanks for that.”

      Tuesday waved a hand and the bracelets on her wrists jingled. “Wasn’t me. That was all Mary. I just came along for the ride.”

      He leaned in very close. “Well, remember you and I have just that very thing on the menu later.”

      Her fingers tightened on his arm. “I never forget a promise, Ezra Hurley.”

      Damn she spun him around. Something deep inside him had roused, slowly filling him. It was so good. Hot and sticky.

      “Tuesday, it’s so good to see you, honey.” His mother came over and pulled Tuesday into a hug. He hid his annoyance at having to let her go. His mother winked at him once she broke the hug with Tuesday.

      Sharon Hurley was sneakier than any secret agent the country had ever produced. She had a master plan in that head of hers—Ezra knew it. And the thing was, his mother knew he knew.

      “Nice to see you, too, Ms. Hurley.”

      “I know I told you to call me Sharon.” His mother looked up to Ezra. “Maddie is tired and needs to rest. Kelly has invited us all over to her house to eat all the stuff Mary brought so I’ll see you there.” Sharon’s mouth flattened just a tiny bit. Ezra knew his mother didn’t like Vaughan’s ex. Never did really.

      But he also knew his mother respected the job Kelly had done raising Maddie and Kensey. Yes, Vaughan was involved. Ezra’s baby brother was a damned good father and he loved his daughters with all he was. He saw them frequently, as often as he could.

      And yet, when he toured, it was Kelly who was there every single day. Kelly who gave up a lucrative career in modeling to stay near and raise the girls near their father. Kelly who dealt with the daily slog that parenting could be.

      So his mother would be civil because she, too, loved those little girls and it was in everyone’s best interests to pull together.

      And, Ezra hoped, because his mom knew her opinion of Kelly wasn’t fair. It was set back when Vaughan had first left and didn’t tell the whole truth of the situation. Over time it was clear to anyone who bothered to really look that it had been Kelly who’d stepped up from the start and done what needed doing.

      After one last hug, his mom headed toward Natalie, and Tuesday turned his way again. “I know this is a family thing. I’m going to head into Portland for a while. Do some stuff. I’ll see everyone at the arena later.”

      He shook his head, not pleased at all with the idea of her going off anywhere. “No, I want you there. Natalie will want you there. If Nat does then Paddy will. My mother—you’ve met her so you can imagine how often she gets her way—will think I did something to upset you and drive you off. She’ll harass me forever about it. Have a heart. Do it for me, Tuesday. Do it for Maddie.”

      Her eyes widened. “You’re diabolical. Maddie’s not even going to be there.” A smile hinted at the corners of her mouth and he gave in to his.

      “But it’s for her. And you know, it’s neighborly, too. You haven’t even met her mom yet.”

      “I’m sure she’s superexcited to meet some random friend of her ex-husband’s brother’s girlfriend. She probably has it on her bucket list.”

      “You should know I find a dry sense of humor one of the sexiest qualities.” He stepped closer. “It’s already four-thirty. We stay for a while, then the band has to leave for sound check anyway. Plus, you’re driving home with me. Paddy drove in with me so he can ride home with your blonde roommate there.” He tipped his chin in Natalie’s direction. “Did you actually even throw this idea past her? I doubt it or she’d be pouting all pretty like.”

      Tuesday shook her head. “I did, and she said all the stuff you did. You’re as bad as she is.”

      “Maybe. But my kind of bad comes with orgasms.”

      Her smiled bloomed. “True. You do come in handy that way. Though I think I need more research. It’s really the only way to be sure.”

      “You keep saying I’m trouble but it’s really you. I’m going to be thinking about the way you felt on my tongue all night long.”

      “You’re going to pay for that.”

      “I sure as hell hope so.”

      “We should go. Everyone is leaving now.” Her voice had gone breathy and he liked that. A lot.

      “Be sure to eat your vegetables today. You’ll need your strength later,” Ezra told her as he led her out of the waiting room in his family’s wake.

      Natalie turned, trying to catch Tuesday’s eye, but she caught Ezra’s instead. He shook his head, waving her off. “I have it. She’ll ride with me.”

      Natalie’s brow rose but before she could say anything else, Paddy caught her around the waist and steered her out.

      Hurleys against the world. Fuckyeah.

      * * *

      TUESDAY HAD TO suck in a surreptitious breath to calm herself after Ezra got her all hot and bothered.

      Again.

      He and Nat thought she hadn’t seen their little exchange. She had, but because it was also in line with her own plans, she wasn’t going to argue. And he did come out and say he liked to be in charge. Tuesday needed to see how that worked and if she liked it or not.

      The sex part definitely passed muster. What they’d been able to finish anyway.

      He paused at an SUV and she gave him a look. “No sports car today? Did I let you see my boobs too early?”

      He laughed and she felt a little more in control.

      “I had Damien and Paddy with me. Paddy’s boots were a mess. And then we got into a shoving match.” He opened the door of his SUV for her. She hopped up.

      Honestly. “You got into a physical fight with your brother. Because he had dirty shoes?”

      Ezra grunted as they all made their way out of the parking lot.

      “You’ve met my brother. Don’t you want to punch him sometimes?”

      She snorted. “I want to punch all sorts of people. Pretty much all day long every day. I have five siblings—it’s not like I don’t know what it’s like to want to hit a brother or sister in the face. But I refrain. They do. Usually. Though my two oldest brothers got into a fistfight at Thanksgiving dinner three years ago. So dumb. My dad let them at one another in the backyard while the rest of us ate dinner. My mom didn’t speak to my brothers and my dad for weeks.”

      “Six kids. I have to meet your mother.”

      Diana Easton would love Ezra Hurley to the stars and