this old man.”
Lang feinted with a lunge, Corbin jumped back and Justin laughed out loud.
Hope’s gaze met Ivey’s. Males, they silently agreed, had a very different way about them.
Corbin did hasty introductions all around, then ended with, “So what do you think, Lang?”
“That you have great taste in women.”
Ivey choked.
Corbin said, “True, but I meant about your nephew.”
“My nephew. Damn, I love the sound of that. I’m getting all choked up now.” Belying that statement with another grin, Lang closed in on Justin. “You’ll have to forgive your uncle his excesses, but what the hell? I come from a family of huggers, okay?” Without waiting for Justin to agree, he swung him up and into a wide circle, making Ivey dart away and causing Justin to laugh hard.
Patting Corbin’s arm, Ivey said, “I’ll let you boys get to it,” and she walked over to Hope.
“Stay for dinner,” Corbin offered. “Both of you. If I know my brother, he’s starving. And I’m finding that Justin is an empty well. I could order up some pizzas. They deliver out here, right?”
“They do,” Ivey said, but deferred to Hope on the invitation.
Hope hated to be the party pooper, but it couldn’t be helped. “Thank you, but I’ve got a lot of stuff to unload.”
“She’s staying the night,” Ivey volunteered, while missing Hope’s subtle gesture that she should go along. “The rest of her things will be delivered over the weekend, but until then, I’ll help her set up what she has with her.”
Lang had surely noticed already that her passenger seat and the entire rear of her small hatchback was packed full. Rather than comment on it, he lifted Justin’s arm, lightly squeezed his biceps, and said, “Yup, plenty strong enough.” He held out his arms. “That means you have three strappin’ menfolk here willing to help, so just tell us where to put what.”
“And once we’re done,” Corbin added, “we’ll all go over to my house for pizza. Deal?”
Hope could see that Ivey wanted to but was holding back so she didn’t put Hope in an uncomfortable position. The funny thing was that here, with the brothers’ laughter and open affection, she didn’t feel as on edge as usual. “I could eat,” she finally said, surprising Ivey, though the guys didn’t seem to realize how rare it was for her to socialize, even in a small group. “Thank you.”
“And since Maurice is already fed and napping again,” Ivey said, jumping on board, “you can count me in, too.”
Hiking up his loose shorts in a take-charge manner, Justin strode forward. “Ready when you are.”
* * *
It was the first time Ivey could recall seeing Hope relax around men. But then, Corbin and Lang continually heckled each other with good-natured insults while paying a lot of attention to Justin, praising him on everything from his strength, his speed, his intelligence and his good looks, which they both made clear had been inherited from them.
They were so relaxed together, it appeared to relax Justin, too.
Each time Hope laughed, Ivey wanted to grab her up for a tight celebratory hug. She’d give a lot to see Hope live a carefree, happy life. Her peace of mind had been stolen from her at the sensitive age of seventeen, and until today, it seemed a permanent mark had been made on her psyche.
Now she was flourishing right before her eyes. Ivey couldn’t have been more thrilled.
“Everything okay?” Corbin asked, nudging his way into the tiny kitchen to help empty a few more boxes.
She gave him an easy smile. “Yes, actually.”
His gaze lingered, grew warm. “You look pleased about something.”
“I am.” Peeking around him, she saw that Lang, Hope and Justin were getting the last few boxes from the car. “I’ve never see her like this.”
“Comfortable with men?”
Very perceptive. “You and your brother are so casual about everything, I think it’s difficult to be stressed.”
He tugged on one long crimped curl that had fallen loose from her topknot. “One of these days, you’ll tell me about her.”
“Yes, I think I might.” It was strange, but in such a short time, she trusted him.
His attention dropped to her mouth. “What would you think if I kissed you before the evening ended?”
Oh wow. “Seriously?” Awareness flooded her system, setting her nerve endings alight. “I’d think that was pretty awesome.”
They heard footsteps coming up from the garage, so Corbin brushed his fingers over her cheek and stepped back. “Soon, then. Maybe when I walk you to your car tonight?”
The fast way she