SIX

Hearing more than Zane and Asher's voices, Olivia looked out her kitchen window and laughed when she saw her grandmother and sister give the Hawker men broad smiles. "Pray for mercy, boys; it's going to be a bumpy ride."

She closed the oven door, set the timer on her phone, and stepped out to the porch, wondering if the years the men had spent in the military would be enough. It didn't seem all that likely when she saw Zane run his hands over his short hair and give her Grams a pained smile. "Go easy," she muttered as she moved toward the group.

"Good morning, family. Why didn't you let me know you were stopping by?"

"And give you a chance to give these men a fair warning?" Grams trilled. "Not on your life."

"I tried," Lucy said firmly. "But she told me she wouldn't let me borrow her jewelry anymore if I did."

"Good to know where your priorities lay." She kissed her grandmother and then hugged her sister. "Have you all gone through introductions?"

"Of course," Lucy said with a smirk.

"Should I be worried that you two look like you're about to stir the pot and make some trouble?"

"Women who make trouble are the best kind," Asher commented. "And I, for one, am more than happy to get to know the Bennett women."

"And why's that?" Lucy asked as she gave him a slow once over. "You run out of hearts to break and need new victims?"

"Baby, I'm betting you have me beat by a wide mile when it comes to the heart-breaking business."

"Two peas in a pod," Grams commented. "It'll never work, and you'll bore one another in a week."

Olivia rolled her eyes and moved to Zane's side. "Well, now that we've got that worked out, would you two like to come in and leave these men in peace?"

"No," Lucy replied. "I want to know who's been feeding this man gossip."

Asher lifted Lucy's hand and grinned wickedly. "I don't need to hear tall tales to know that you've got all the men within a hundred-mile radius at your beck and call."

Leaning into Zane, Olivia watched Asher press a small kiss to her sister's hand and knew her grandmother was right. They were two sides of the same coin and would never work.

"Yeah, yeah," Lucy commented. "I've heard it all before."

"I think you boys should attend the park's annual Haven Spring Fair tomorrow. It's time to do your part to raise funds for the community center," Grams declared loudly. "Now that you're residents of our fine community, it's only right."

"I'm only visiting," Asher proclaimed before letting Lucy's hand go. "But I can write a check if I have to."

"Didn't Nan leave the home to all the Hawker boys?" Grams asked.

"Yes," Zane confirmed. We all own an equal share."

"Then that settles it," Lucy said firmly. "You two will come tomorrow and help out."

"Again," Asher said, "Can't a check be written?"

"No," Lucy replied with a sly smile. "And come to think of it, you'd be perfect for the kissing booth."

Asher dropped an arm around Lucy's shoulder. "Baby, if you wanted a kiss, all you had to do was ask."

"Eeeeew," Lucy pushed his arm off. "Get over yourself. I've done the pretty-boy thing one too many times. I'm going for substance and shared values on the next round."

"And if that doesn't sound like the most boring thing on the planet, then I don't know what does," Asher murmured.

"He'll do it," Zane stated firmly. "But have some crowd control handy in case a feeding frenzy erupts."

"Thanks, brother."

"Consider it payback," Zane answered with a smile. "You're due for some hazardous duty."

Grams clapped her hands. "Excellent. We will surely meet our fundraising goal for the new playground equipment with such a handsome boy."

Olivia took Zane's hand and swung it back and forth. "Do you want to do the dunk tank or come and help me with the face painting?"

"Neither."

"You have to pick one."

"Not a fan of crowds."

"Do the face painting," Lucy advised. "The water in the dunk tank is sketchy after the first ten minutes."

"Perfect, you can be my assistant."

"Really not a fan of crowds," Zane reiterated.

"But we'll be together, and I promise to protect you from all the people dying to get to know the man who's taming the Hawker ghosts."

"Pretty sure they're still running wild," Asher commented. "If the sound of the creaking floorboards last night was any indication."

"They've had free rein of the house for several years," Lucy said. "So, why would they give up their freedom without a fight?"

"Oooh," Olivia said, clapping her hands. "I should have Bea come out and smudge the house."

Grams nodded, twirling her strand of pearls. "Why not have a séance and see if she can get the spirits to stop by and reveal their plans? Maybe there's some agreement that you boys can come to with your dead relatives, so you can coexist peacefully."

"What the what?" Asher exclaimed. "Smudging, séances, agreements with dead people. No way."

"Way," she replied firmly. "My best friend Bea is a traiteur in training and comes from a long line of women who have the sight. I bet if you two play your cards right, she'll take the house on and get the energy realigned."

Zane crossed his arms. "I think we'll leave the energy where it is for now."

Olivia shrugged. "Okay, just let me know when you're ready."

"Is this the part where we pretend that's a real possibility?" Asher asked.

"Yes," she replied, watching her grandmother move in and begin what she knew would be nothing less than an entire interrogation. She glanced up at Zane and saw him frown. "What is it?"

"Liv, I don't think the fair is such a good idea. The kids may be freaked out by my scars."

Uncertainty swam in his deep green eyes, and she pressed her hand to his chest. "The kids are not going to care, and I bet they'll assume you're just some kind of superhero. Which, you kind of are since you've done the thing, so few have managed and put yourself in peril so that we at home don't have to."

"I'm no hero, Liv."

"Agree to disagree," she replied. "And for the record, I find you very attractive and don't think the scars detract from your appeal in any way."

"You are some kind of crazy woman."

"In a good way, right?"

"Yeah, Liv. In a totally good way."

"Excellent." Tuning back into Asher"s conversation with her family, she felt Zane's energy change and hoped he'd eventually consider opening himself up just a little bit.

Everyone deserved a bit of happiness.

Including the beautiful, tortured man standing at her side.