“Isn’t it?” Havoc said.
“I have no problem being in Remi’s in the short term, but I don’t want to live there permanently. And I don’t want to be on the first street off the highway. I want Giada and the boys tucked away in here safe as can be. Nobody’s building on the river — only Brandt and Hellen have their houses back there, and I’d prefer not to live right on the water even if there was space.”
“You don’t want to build back there anyway. Little biting ass baby gator children snapping at your toes when you try to wade in the river.”
Ronan laughed.
“You laughing, but wait until they make your toes bleed.”
“They don’t bite me. Collette and Juliette are darling babies. They just happen to shift into alligators like their father,” Analise said.
Havoc pretended to snarl at her.
Ronan laughed again. “I have to admit, those are two beautiful little girls, and with both Hellen’s and Lucien’s attitudes, there are some up and coming boys out there that are in for a serious heartbreak.”
“Without a doubt,” Havoc said. “Hey, here’s a thought. Why don’t you build between the pool and Emmalyn and Barron? There’s more available space between her and the pool, than me and the pool. And it would put you across from us though catty-cornered, and could be more easily watched than right next door. Between the pool and Emmalyn’s there’s about four acres give or take that she keeps just to have it, while I got shit built for the kids in mine.”
“I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. It’s so obvious. I didn’t even consider that side of the street,” Ronan said.
“Because you’re thinking, I want my mate safe. I want to live by my brother,” Analise said.
Ronan smiled. “Probably.”
“So, live by me but across from me. Tell you what, if she won’t sell you any of her land, I’ll figure something out. But go ask her. She doesn’t have anything on it. She just keeps it wild.”
“You know? Now that I think about it, I’d rather live across from you, I think,” Ronan said.
“Well, go talk to her. She took a page out of my book and bought land on either side of her house, and behind, but I think it was just to show me she could because I wouldn’t sell her any of mine.”
“If not, I could always build over by the creek, out past Bane and Janie. I know Kaid offered the land when we all started growing up, but so far everybody’s moved over here,” Ronan said. “Except Daisy, and she’s got Joby’s old house so she could stay near her parents.”
“Naw. You building over here. It’s just a question of where.”
“Let me go talk to Emmalyn because I’d really rather be where I can look out of my door and see y’all. Not to mention I could look out of a window and see Emmalyn and Barron, too. That feels safe to me.”
“You know Emmalyn has become the Mrs. Kravitz of the neighborhood? She’s always watching everything and making sure nothing and no one is near that shouldn’t be,” Analise said.
“Mrs. Kravitz?” Ronan asked.
“Bewitched… nosy neighbor,” Analise said.
“Ah! Okay. Yeah. Y’all are a little older than me but I kinda remember that show.”
“Seriously? They’re on rerun on every classic cable channel,” Analise said. “And we’re not that much older!”
“Sure you are. And I don’t have time to watch. I’m usually studying.”
“How are you going to be a mate and a father when you’re always studying?” Analise asked.
“I don’t know. But I will.”
“Go talk to Emmalyn. If she says no, we’ll go see what needs to be marked out to give you room between us and the end of the street,” Havoc said. “And don’t stress how you’re going to do it all. You’ll do it.”
Chapter 7
Ronan knocked on Emmalyn’s door. As opposed to the noise and activity of Havoc’s house, it seemed to be quiet inside.
The door opened and Emmalyn leaned on her door as she held her cell phone to her ear. She winked at Ronan as she finished speaking. “Mmhmm. Hmpf. Okay. Thanks for the heads up. I’ll call you later.” She ended the call and stepped forward, hugging Ronan. “I hear you want to be my neighbor.”
