Her All Along

Elise furrowed her brow. “But you’re so old.”

Whoa. “Tread carefully, Pipsqueak. He’s only four years older than me,” I said.

“I’m not old,” Ryan bitched. “You’re just mean.”

I barked out a laugh at that. So did Angel.

Elise rolled her eyes and tugged at my hand. “Whatever you say, big brother. We’ll go for a walk. You can reminisce about when the wheel was invented while Angel takes care of Grace. We’ll be back in like an hour.”

Ryan widened his eyes at me. “Do you remember when she was sweet?”

I smirked and opened my mouth to respond, but Elise beat me to it.

“See? Dementia’s setting in already,” she quipped.

“All right, that’s enough.” It was impossible to shake the amusement, especially after seeing that Ryan was at a loss for words, but it was time to de-escalate the situation. Quinns didn’t know how to stop. That was why people like Evelina, Angel, and I played a vital role in keeping the family peace.

After assuring Angel that we’d be back in an hour or so, I dragged a giggling Pipsqueak with me off the curb and across the street.

“My hell-raiser.” I kissed the top of her head and threaded our fingers together.

“Someone has to keep them humble,” she chuckled.

She wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Anyway. Where do you wanna go?” She released my hand to hug my arm instead. “I have you to myself for a whole hour. Let’s make it count.”

I grinned and patted her hand around my bicep. “We don’t need a direction, do we? Just show me around your neighborhood.”

“I can do that.”

I’d get more sight-seeing done after my trip. I wanted us to take Grace around the city, mainly for the nature and wildlife. She loved watching sea lions, and she loved the woods. San Francisco had plenty of both.

We’d already walked a bit on bustling Market Street, so Elise steered us toward a slightly quieter residential area where we could get at least a semblance of privacy.

It was a beautiful, historic district with Victorian rowhouses in bright colors.

“Do you like living here?” I wondered.

We walked under a tree along the sidewalk, and a bunch of lights and Pride flags adorned the branches. I supposed it wasn’t only a residential area. Stuck to the tree was a sign for a Realtor’s office.

“Somewhat. It can get so loud.”

I had been wondering about that. Elise handled noise and fast movement better than many, but she became overwhelmed after a while.

“I guess I’m glad I’ve gotten to try this out,” she said, “but in the end, I’m a small-town girl through and through.”

That made me happy. And trying things out was so important.

“Good thing we have a small town waiting for us.” I brought her hand to my mouth and kissed her knuckles.

“Very.” She gestured at one rowhouse’s stoop. “Can we sit for a minute? I think I hurt my ankle a little at work.”

“Of course.” A twisted ankle was nothing in the grand scheme of things, and yet I felt worry rushing in just because it was her. “Let me have a look at it.” I sat down first and patted my knee.

“It’s nothing bad. We just run around so much, and I must’ve sidestepped wrong or something.” She found her spot next to me, and she folded her right leg over my own right leg. She could’ve just sat down on the other side of me, but I guess with her dress being somewhat short, this was better. Now she could tuck herself into my arms too.

Perfect fit as always. I breathed easier when she was in my arms, a feeling that still took me by surprise sometimes. She wasn’t merely important to me; she was essential. She was vital for my own well-being.

“I love you.” I kissed her hair and slipped my hand down her ankle, rubbing it gently.

She sighed contentedly and placed my arm around her. “I love you more, Mister.”

Unlikely.

I squeezed her to me, letting the serenity of the moment flow through my system, and took in the little changes about her. Since she’d moved down here, there was something new every time we saw each other. Recently, it was fashion. More accurately, dresses from the fifties. Knee-length, full skirts. Significantly tighter up top. Today’s dress was black with white polka dots.

Kind of impossible not to notice how her breasts pushed together…

Fuck.

“You’re too enticing for your own good, Elise,” I muttered.

She peered up at me, first confused, but it dawned on her quickly, and it earned me a cheeky grin.

I dipped down and kissed that grin off her face. A surge of possessiveness took hold of me, as it seemingly did every fucking time she was in my arms. And her goddamn legs… Always so soft and smooth. I drew my hand up higher as I deepened the kiss and tasted her on my tongue.