Leah ran her finger down the center of his chest. “And you came to their rescue. Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
Aria walked over with Rosie. “Hi, Leah. It’s nice to see you again.” Her voice was as soft as a feather.
“You too,” Leah said. “Sorry to barge in like this.”
“Don’t be. I love seeing you and the girls,” Aria said as Rosie petted her long hair. “I’m just waiting for Zeke to get here.”
“What’s he coming in for?” Tank knew damn well why his cousin was coming in for the fourth time in as many weeks. Aria was several years younger than Zeke. He’d tutored her when she was in high school, and he’d been protective of her ever since. Before Aria had come to work for Tank, Zeke had taken it upon himself to help Tank and their families and friends understand her anxieties and had schooled them in ways to help her feel more comfortable around them.
“I’m working on his forearm,” Aria said.
“Mind if we watch?” Tank asked. “Junie wants to see how it’s done.”
Aria shrugged one shoulder. “Fine by me.”
“Zeke!” Rosie pointed to the front door as Zeke pulled it open. She wriggled out of Aria’s arms and ran to him.
“Hey, Rosie Posey.” Zeke’s eyes locked on Aria as he picked up Rosie, his broad shoulders straining against his T-shirt. He was tall and fit from years of hiking, biking, running, and working construction with his father and Zander, and he turned heads everywhere he went. But Zeke wasn’t just good-looking. He was smart and supremely thoughtful, thinking of ramifications to others before taking action in any part of his life.
The way he was looking at Aria as he sauntered over confirmed Tank’s suspicion that his protectiveness toward her was turning into something else.
“How’s it going?” Zeke said, looking from Tank and Leah to Aria.
“I’m almost ready.” Aria held up one finger. “I just need one sec.”
Zeke watched her walk away and gave Leah a one-armed hug. “I didn’t expect to see you guys here. Where’s your other mini-me?”
“Getting a tour from Gia.” Leah pointed to Junie sitting in Gia’s tattoo chair.
“You don’t mind if we watch Aria do a few minutes of your tat, do you?” Tank asked. “Junie wants to be a tattoo artist for Halloween, and I want to show her how it’s done.”
“Sounds good to me. I just came from helping Grandpa Mike find his Dracula cape.” Mike wore his Dracula cape to Trunk or Treat every year. Zeke tickled Rosie’s belly. “I hear Grandpa has a fan club.”
Rosie giggled.
“The girls love visiting him,” Leah said. “We’ve stopped by a few times.”
“He enjoys your visits.” Zeke bounced Rosie. “What are you going to be for Halloween?”
“Tinky Bell!” Rosie pointed to Tank. “He Petey Pan!”
Zeke eyed Tank with amusement. “Do they make Peter Pan costumes big enough for him?”
Rosie nodded. “He buyed tights!”
“Tights?” Zeke laughed. “Dude, this might be the best Halloween ever.”
Tank smirked. “Rosie, tell Zeke what you want him to be for Halloween.”
Rosie tilted her head from one side to the other, looking at Zeke. “Boo!”
“Your doll with the skirt?” Zeke’s brow furrowed.
Rosie nodded, wide-eyed. “Please.”
Zeke looked pleadingly at Tank.
Tank chuckled. “You can’t get that two-letter word out of your mouth, can you?”
Leah covered her mouth, but her apple cheeks gave away her stifled laughter.
“I’m secure in my manhood. Sure, Rosie,” Zeke said. “I’ll be your favorite doll.”
“Yay!” Rosie hugged him.
“What’re you going to be, Leah? Wendy?” Zeke asked.
She eyed Tank with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. “I have a costume in mind, but it’s a surprise.”
“Zeke!” Junie ran up the aisle and plowed into his legs.
“Hey, Junie bug.” Zeke ruffled her hair.
“Did you thank Gia?” Leah asked. She was always reminding the girls to use their manners.
“Yes.” Junie looked up at Zeke. “Are we going on a hike?”
Rosie said, “I hike!”
“I would love to go on a hike.” Zeke set Rosie down as Aria waved him over. “But right now I have to get a tattoo. We’ll have to figure out a time that works with your mom.”
The girls badgered Leah about going on a hike as they followed Zeke to Aria’s work area. Tank grabbed two more chairs and stopped in Gia’s work area to thank her for showing Junie around.
“No problem. She’s a great kid, and I wasn’t kidding, Tank. They’re good for you.”
“Yeah, they are.” It felt good to say it aloud. He brought the chairs into Aria’s work area and set them down.
“When, Mama?” Junie asked. “Awia, we’re going on a hike!”
Rosie cheered, “Hike! Hike!”
“Shh. Inside voices,” Tank urged, though he had a feeling it was a losing battle when they were that excited.
Cait walked out of her work area, heading up front with her client, and Rosie yelled, “Cait!”
Cait waved. “I’ll see you in a minute.”
Rosie wiggled in delight. “She comin’ back!”
“Zeke, are you sure you don’t mind taking the time to hike with us?” Leah asked.
“Absolutely. I promised the girls,” he said, watching Aria set out her ink.
“Mama,” Junie said exasperatedly. “Wickeds always keep their pwomises.”
Tank loved that she knew the value in that statement, and by the approving look Zeke was giving him, his cousin did, too. “Lee.” He motioned to a chair, and as she sat down, he lowered himself into the other one and patted his lap. “Come here, girls.” The girls climbed onto his lap.
“What day works best for you, Zeke?” Leah asked. “I’m not back to work yet, so we’re pretty open, but mornings are easier for the girls than later in the day.”
“We’re finishing up a job this week. I could go Saturday around ten if that works for you,” Zeke suggested. “We can pack a lunch and eat on the trail.”
“Saturday?” Junie asked hopefully. “Can we, Mama?”
“Please,” Rosie pleaded.
“Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll make lunch,” Leah said.
Tank knew the perfect place to take them. “Zeke, remember the half-miler?”
A smile stretched across Zeke’s face. “Hell yeah. That’d be a great first hike.”
“What’s the half-miler?” Leah asked.
Tank leaned in and kissed her cheek. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”
“Tank, I’ll park at the end and meet you at the trailhead,” Zeke offered.
Leah looked excitedly at Tank. “You’re coming? What about work?”
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I’ll make it happen.” He hugged the girls. “Someone’s got to carry these little-legged munchkins when they get tired.”