Page 56 of Talk Wicked to Me

“Why don’t you do that outside?” his mother suggested, and glanced at Emerson. “I know you’re careful about bringing Brennan around too many people, so I saved you a table overlooking the water. I figured the fresh air might ease your mind.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that. Oh. I almost forgot.” Emerson pulled a large cookie tin out of the baby bag and handed it to her. “I made you more of the chocolate-hazelnut cookies you liked so much, and I made iced dark-chocolate stars for Conroy.”

“You’re spoiling us,” his mother said.

“And we love it,” his father said. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

“It’s the least I can do. Your family has been spoiling me for weeks,” Emerson said. “I tried two new recipes and put a few of each in there, too. I’d love to get your take on them. The iced flower cookies with colored sugar on top are called orange blooms, and the hearts are cookies and cream. They’re Baz’s favorite.”

Baz cocked a grin, holding her gaze. “I love them all, but I do have a thing for your cookies and cream.” He hadn’t meant to make it sound so much like an innuendo, even if he felt it, but fuck. He loved the glimmer of shock and heat in her eyes.

“I’m sure we’ll love them all,” his mother said. “Emerson, have you given any more thought to the idea I mentioned?”

“A little, but I don’t know. It seems out of reach,” she said.

Baz wondered what idea they were talking about.

“We’ll talk.” His mother patted Emerson’s arm. “I’d better get back to work. Don’t leave without saying goodbye.”

“And don’t you leave without a kiss, woman.” His father tugged her into a quick, hard kiss. “Love you, baby.”

“Love you, too,” his mother said, and headed back to the bar.

“Uncle Baz!” Rosie’s chirpy voice caught him off guard. She was running toward him with a mile-wide grin, wearing a yellow bathing suit and purple shorts, her puffy pigtails bouncing above her shoulders. Junie was on her heels in a matching swimsuit and shorts, red ringlets framing her adorable face, with Leah, holding Leo, and Tank, following behind them.

“I’ve got Brennan,” his father said, taking the baby carrier seconds before Rosie launched herself into Baz’s arms.

“Uncle Baz! We went to the beach, and look what I got!” She dug into her pocket and pulled out two hermit crabs. “They’re helmet crabs!”

“Hermit crabs,” Junie corrected her. “You were supposed to put them back in the water. Papa Tank! We have to go back to the beach. Rosie stole crabs.”

“I didn’t steal them,” Rosie insisted. “I giving them a new home.” She cradled them against her chest. “I love them.”

Emerson looked at Rosie and Junie as affectionately as Baz knew he was. Man, he loved these girls.

“Hey, pretty girl! Look!” Rosie thrust her hand with the crabs in it toward Emerson and opened her palm. “These my helmet crabs. Their names are Wiver and Juju. Our Wiver’s in heaven. This is a new Wiver.”

Emerson’s brows knitted. “Those are beautiful names.” She glanced compassionately at Leah and Tank.

“My brother, River, passed away last year,” Leah explained, and Tank pulled her against his side.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Emerson said, sadness rising in her eyes.

“Thank you.” Leah smiled. “As you’ve just heard, he’s still with us in little ways.”

“Papa Tank.” Junie sighed heavily and looked up at him with an exasperated expression far too old for her young self. “We’re never gonna get them away from Rosie now.”

“It’s okay, Twitch.” Tank put his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll take good care of them. Don’t you worry.”

“Gwampa Connie, where did you get that baby?” Rosie asked. “Can he play with Leo?”

“That’s this pretty lady’s baby,” Baz said, putting a hand on Emerson’s back. “This is my friend Emerson. Emerson, meet Tank’s family. Leah, Junie, Rosie, and the little guy is Leo.”

“Hi,” Emerson said. “Rosie, my baby’s name is Brennan, and he’s a little too young to play with Leo, but maybe one day when he’s bigger they can play.”

“I like his name,” Junie said.

“Thank you,” Emerson said. “I like your curls.”