He was . . . blunt. Surprising. She didn’t quite know how to take the things he said.

“Is that what you like then? Easy?”

He took her drink, placing it on the table next to his. He held her chin so she couldn’t look away. “If I wanted easy, I wouldn’t be here with you now. Easy is overrated anyway. I like prickly. Defensive. Blunt. I want you.”

She swallowed, thrown by the heat of a blush working up her neck.

“Easy is boring and you’re anything but boring.”

Before she could reply, the doorbell rang. “The food. I’ll be back.”

She stood along with him. “I’ll get plates and stuff.”

Raven didn’t know why she was like this with him. Off balance. She liked to tease her romantic partners, to play. But this was different.

He made her blush. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d actually blushed over anything.

He brought the food into the kitchen, humming as he poked into the containers and saw what was inside.

“Here, let me make your plate.” She’d paid attention, knew what he liked.

He stepped to her, pulling her close. “I like that you pay attention. I like that you serve me.”

She swallowed hard. “I like it too.” What else was there to say? She could have lied, but she tried not to. And the look on his face when she told him that pleased her to her toes.

When they sat, he pulled her chair close by hooking a foot in the rung at the bottom. He brushed the hair back from her face and then picked up a spring roll, feeding it to her.

Everything in her stilled.

“I like taking care of you.”

His voice was soft. But intense. In command.

“I wager it doesn’t happen often.”

She licked her lips. “I’m a grown woman. I can feed myself.”

“Of course you can.” He fed her a bite from his plate.

He took a bite or two and then fed her again. Forkfuls here and there. Nothing overwhelming. He wasn’t forcing her to eat.

“Have you ever been to Paris?”

“Twice. I like to travel.” She shrugged. “I doubt it’s the Paris you visit though.”

He raised a brow her way. “Oh? And how so?”

“I’ve never stayed in a four-star place before. I like pensions and cheap, off-the-beaten-path places. Not because I’m so edgy.” She laughed. “But because when I first started traveling I had no money and it was all I could afford.”

He snorted. “I do like four-star hotels, I can’t lie. Luxury isn’t overrated. You said you love travel. Where else do you go?”

“I love Hawaii. There’s something about just walking out the door and it being perfect outside. The air always smells good. The water is always gorgeous and warm so you can play in it all day long. The food is plentiful and cheap.”

He laughed. “Cheap? It’s as expensive to eat in Hawaii as it is in Paris.”

“There are so many roadside stands, barbecue grills and hole-in-the-wall places to eat in Hawaii. If you go to the tourist places, it’s expensive. If you buy a lot of milk, yes, it’s expensive. But when I’m there I eat a lot of fruit and local stuff.”

“I think I need to take you to Paris, four-star style. And you need to take me to Hawaii, roadside-stand style. I have a house in Maui.”

“You do? A friend has a condo there and he lends it to me a few times a year in exchange for my working at his shop. I used to go more often. But since Alexander I find myself spending a lot more time here.”

He fed her another bite and sat back, eating as he listened to her speak awhile.

“You’re close with him.”

“He’s precious to me. Erin is like my sister. She’s the person on earth I’m closest to. And Alexander, well, he’s impossible not to love. He likes me around so I’m around.”

“It’s important to children to be surrounded by people they love and can trust. It’s a gift you’re giving him.”

“It’s the other way around really. I never thought much about kids one way or the other. Until him. When she got pregnant it was an odd time in my life. I didn’t know how it would change our friendship. I was selfish.”

“Worried you’d lose your friend, that’s not selfish. That’s human.”

“It was selfish. I can own my flaws. I don’t need anyone to make excuses for me.”

He loved how her chin jutted out. Defiant.

He fed her another piece of bread. Her eyes closed just a bit as she enjoyed the taste.

“Anyway, she had a rough time. Her pregnancy was hard. There were things going on with Ben’s family and it upset her. I stayed to run some interference when I could. Though she’s surrounded by people who love her so it would have happened anyway, I suppose.”

He knew Erin’s brothers adored her and were protective. But he was sure this woman did all she could to help her friend get through her rough time.

“Anyway, when he was born I was there. In the room. It was . . . it was amazing. And she was a f**king queen to have done it. And then Alexander was in the world. I traveled like I usually did, but I found myself coming back more often and for longer stints of time. It worked out for Brody so he could take more time off to be with Elise because then they got pregnant and had Martine.”

She downplayed how important she was to people.

“By the time Alexander had his first birthday I figured it would be best if I bought a place up here. He’s my little dude. Then Poppy came. Lucky for the kid, she’s more like her mom than her dad. But I like kids. Other people’s kids even better because after a few overnights with Alexander, I don’t know how Erin manages it on four hours’ sleep.”