Another

“Don’t gloat. It looks bad on you.”

“Nothing looks bad on me, and you know it.” He laughed at my scowl but sobered. “Talk to her, Ian.”

“I know, it’s just been crazy, and I’m just trying to be as helpful as I can without getting in her way.”

“She isn’t your parents, Ian,” Erik said, nailing the issue on the head. “She’s your partner in this and if you want more from her, then talk to her. Let her know.”

I tried to swallow past the knot of nerves strangling my throat. Carina laughed when I made jokes, but she also glared a lot. It was fifty-fifty on the reaction I’d get from her. What would her reaction be when I told her I wanted more from her? And what kind of more did I want?

“Yeah, I’ll think on it.”

“Good. And on that note, I have a phone call to make.”

Erik stood and headed out, opening the door to Hanna about to knock on the other side, her fist raised in the air. He gave her a quick hug and explained his meeting before walking away.

“Hey, Ian.”

“Hey, Hanna. Come on in. What can I help you with?”

“Can’t a girl just come say hi to a friend?”

“Any time you want,” I answered, smiling. Her dark, shoulder-length hair swayed when she sat back in the seat Erik had just vacated.

Hanna was like a sister to me, and I loved her like family. I always made time for her, giving her the attention she deserved. She was a bit of a recluse after what she’d gone through, so I always tried to be there for her, but it went both ways. We were friends, and she was there for me as much as I was there for her.

“How you hanging in there?” she asked with a warm smile.

“Well, I’m currently stuffing a sub in my face as fast as I can while I bounce a baby with my foot. So, things are going well.”

She laughed and looked down at Audrey who had woken up at some point and now had a thumb in her mouth. My heart melted a little more each time I watched her little lips work around that tiny thumb. God, I loved her.

Her big eyes looked around as she kicked her legs and remained quiet for the first time all morning while I wasn’t holding her. That chair really was magic.

Hanna wasn’t immune to her baby magic either because she was out of her seat and crouched over Audrey in a second. “Oh, my god. I’ll hold her. She’s begging me with those gorgeous eyes.”

Hanna picked her up and cradled her, burrowing her face close to Audrey and taking in her baby scent.

“So, how’s life, Hanna?”

“I can’t complain.” She took a moment to look up and smiled. She was beautiful—she looked a lot like Erik—but still beautiful.

“Dating anyone?” I asked, using a stern, deep voice.

That made her laugh. “Hardly.” She shrugged. “I’m kind of caught on someone else anyway.”

“Oh, really?” I waggled my brows, but then sobered. “Best to not pursue that and stay single. Erik and I would have to beat up whoever lusted after his baby sister.”

“Ian, I’m twenty-three years old.”

“So, you’re still Erik’s little sister.”

“I’m hardly a little girl.”

“Whatever you say, Little Brandt,” I said with a wink. “We’ll always protect you, even when you’re fifty.”

“There’s a vision,” she deadpanned but laughed.

“We’ll beat him up with our old-man canes.”

She dropped her head back and laughed just as Carina came strolling around the corner into my office.

I couldn’t stop my smile from growing even more. She looked radiant in her flowy dress and boots, a section of those legs I’d told Erik about, displayed perfectly. Her hair was down and curled, and for the first time since we came home, exhaustion didn’t cling to her.

I waited for her to smile back, but her face was blank. It was almost like she was frozen with her hand on the door jam, taking in Hanna with Audrey. For a second, I saw an emotion similar to the one I saw in the bar that night she was drinking over Jake, but it was gone before I could blink.

“Hey, Carina,” Hanna greeted her.

“Hey,” she responded, giving Hanna a cordial smile. “How was she?” she asked me.

“Perfect. How could she not be? She takes after Daddy.”

That same reaction she always had—the Carina-responding-to-Ian reaction—relaxed shoulders, reluctant smile, and eye roll. This time there was even a little laugh and a shake of her head. Like she knew laughing would encourage me, but she couldn’t stop it if she tried.

“I was just holding her while he ate,” Hanna explained, handing Audrey over after Carina had lost her jacket.

“Thanks for helping out.”

“Anytime. She’s beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Carina answered politely.

“Well, I’ve got to head back. See ya, Ian.”

“Bye, Hanna. Stop by to say hi anytime.”