“You wear a mask with most people. You don’t think I can see it? Not with me, no,” Natalie reassured before Tuesday could argue that point. “I’ve known you pretty much my entire adult life. You’re the strongest personality I know. You wear your skin easily. You leave people alone as long as they don’t mess with you and you do your thing regardless of what people think.

“But even before Eric died I watched you put on that friendly but polite mask with people. You show them what they want to see, but really to keep them away. The real Tuesday is something only a few people ever get to see. You show that Tuesday to me.” Natalie paused, pressing a hand over her heart as she had to blink back tears. “That Tuesday is like the dragonfly on your body. You’re incredible. And special and talented and wonderful. Fragile and vulnerable for all that beauty, too. You show that Tuesday to Ezra. You love him, Tuesday. It is different than what you had with Eric because you were different then. Eric was different than Ezra definitely. It doesn’t make your love for Eric less that you feel the way you do about Ezra. But even if you loved Ezra more or better or whatever, it doesn’t matter to Eric. It matters to you. So here’s my bottom line. I want you to be happy. I want you to be in love and for it to be the very best possible love. I want you to accept that you deserve it.”

“You’re going to make me cry. And then he’ll know and worry.”

“He loves you, too. You should see how he looks at you, Tuesday. I don’t want you to cry. I want you to dance and joyfully accept this experience. What it’ll mean next year? Who knows? We both know how fast life can change. But come back to the world once and for all. You’re too special and wonderful not to live as you were born to.”

“I’m in love with him.” Tuesday closed her eyes.

Downstairs she heard the low bass of a conversation between men. Loopy had gone down already so they’d be expecting Tuesday and Natalie any moment.

Natalie hugged her. “I know. It’s awesome. Let it be awesome.”

“Mainly I feel nauseated. I’ve been in love. I’ve been serious about someone. I’ve been married and talked about having a family with someone. Love isn’t a new territory. But this thing between he and I? It’s so intense. Supercharged and sex laden. I can’t believe I’m saying this out loud. But I’ve never in my life come as hard as I have since Ezra entered my life. He just does something to all my parts. To my brain and my heart and all the good stuff boys like, too. He makes me feel like a goddess in bed.”

“You can take a look at the man and know that. I mean Paddy does the same thing. It’s a Hurley trait I bet. Mary talks about it with Damien and you’ve seen Michael and Sharon together—he does it for her in a big way.”

“I have to go. He’s going to wonder where I am.”

“We’ll talk more soon. I love you, Tuesday. I’m thrilled for you. For us both.”

“I love you, too. By the way, borrow that red sundress from my closet for wherever Paddy is planning for you.”

Ezra waited for her downstairs. He took her duffel and then the large kit that held all her work tools and supplies for the pieces she needed to work on that night. She didn’t argue; they were heavy and he liked to lug stuff around for her.

“See you guys later.” She waved and Nat blew her a kiss.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

THEY’D MADE DINNER together in his kitchen. They worked well as a team even though she spoiled the animals as badly as he did, tossing cubes of ham for the omelet he was about to make for them to Goldfish, who loved her best and got quite pissy when Tuesday didn’t visit regularly.

They’d eaten it out on his back deck and now she’d ensconced herself at the large worktable in his office, creating a bracelet of some sort.

Music played in the background—and thank goodness she loved music as much as he did—and furry creatures passed through the space from time to time. He puzzled through a spreadsheet for the ranch on the other side of the large room they currently shared.

It worked. Normally it took effort to be around people. He constantly had to measure his responses to those outside his very small circle of family and friends. He didn’t need that with her. She didn’t need his attention every moment. Though, he thought with a snort, she pretty much had it. She took up his thoughts all day long.

She worked with an intensity he respected because he saw it in himself and his brothers. Adjusting, tightening, loosening, she tinkered until it was right. It fascinated him and made her so beautiful to his gaze.

Even better, she’d changed into her pajamas, which were little more than boy short panties and a T-shirt with a ferret dressed like a ninja on it. All sorts of skin was exposed to his gaze. The strong curve of each calf, the power of her thighs, that breathtaking dip after the swell of her hips and then, the breasts. She had no bra on so the outline of her nipples was visible through the material.

He loved her neck and shoulders. Breathtaking femininity flowed through the harder outline of muscles put there by a woman who enjoyed using her body. Who pushed herself. Her throat, where he knew her pulse beat strong and her scent lingered as if it waited just for him.

Her lips, pursed as she worked on something very detailed, drew his attention next. She’d taken her makeup off and it didn’t matter because she was gorgeous either way.

She wore glasses while she worked, but this pair was sturdier than her day-to-day pair. They magnified the lush, dark sweep of her lashes and the dark brown eyes.