children.
It wasn't just the menfolk who cherished the females in town, and that was a fact.
Brian bit back his smile at the way all of the women fussed over the Rhodes sisters. His Carrie seemed to be relaxing into the pampering. Chloe looked a little unnerved by it. He supposed that was only fair, since she hadn't had the opportunity to meet most of them first.
Damn, he was proud of his family.
Aunt Samantha sat down on the other side of Chloe - after having given Andrew a good stare so that he would offer her his chair - and took Chloe's hand in hers. "I'm a mother whose sons have never 'played it safe.' Adam has always been the steadiest. Still, a part of me dreaded that the day would come when he would misjudge a situation. Today was that day." She paused and Brian was astounded to see tears in her eyes.
Samantha Kendall never cried!
Chloe appeared as flustered by her tears as Brian was. "Mrs. Kendall, I - "
"You call me Samantha, dear." She sent a sideways glance toward Andrew and Grant. Brian grinned. He guessed he wouldn't have to say a word to Kate. The way those two Jessops were hovering spoke volumes to those who understood the language.
"I know you feel as if you did something terrible today. I'm not going to tell you not to feel that way. It's not easy to take a human life, nor should it ever be. But while it was terrible, it was also the right thing to do. You saved my son's life today, and I'll never forget that."
Chase had been paying attention better than he had, for he brought another chair in from the dining room for Kate to sit on.
The woman generally considered by all to be the head of the combined families ranged herself beside Carrie.
She placed a hand on his woman's arm, but spoke to Chloe. "When you've recovered, we'll find you a nice place to stay in town. We always have room for more family." Kate nodded. "You know, I was thinking, the one thing this town has been missing is a good day spa. Maybe once you're settled, you'll have some ideas on the subject?"
Chloe looked from Kate, to Samantha, and then to her own sister. Brian didn't think that he imagined the way she seemed to relax. "I think I'd like that. I think I'd like that a lot."
Carrie's eyes were suspiciously moist. He figured his woman would need a really good snuggle. He met Chase's gaze and knew his brother felt the same way.
Now all they had to do was figure out how to graciously and with love show their family the door.
* * * *
Carrie stepped into the bedroom and closed the door behind her. "I guess I don't have to worry about her, the way those two are hovering." She grinned, because she found the devotion of Andrew and Grant Jessop to her sister to be so surprising and so...well, cute.
"Sugar, go ahead and worry. It's your right. But know they will take care of her. Is she asleep?"
"Yeah. The entire time I helped get her ready for bed she kept saying as it was only nine, too early to sleep. And then she was out a minute after her head hit the pillow."
"I bet those two Jessops are taking turns sitting with her, too." Brian made his way around the room lighting candles.
"Yeah. It's kind of sweet."
"It's a whole new thing to razz them about, sugar, that's what it is." Chase reached out and with one hand pulled the top sheet and blanket from the bed. "Now get your hot little ass over here. We need you naked and between us."
"What a coincidence." Carrie thought their guests - as sweet and wonderful as they all had been - would never leave. She walked right up to Chase and looped her arms around him. "I need you both inside me. Together. Oh, God, I need that so much!"
Chase gathered her close and she laid her head on his chest. Anything could have happened today. She knew Brian had been obsessing about what might have happened if she'd somehow walked into that trap Lockwood had set.
But did they know that she'd been frantic, not only for her sister's safety, but for Chase's as well?
She didn't know how she and Brian would function without him. In a very real sense he was the head of them.
"We want that, too. But we need