Greta’s face breaks into a beautiful smile. “Hey goose, you have a fun night?” She walks around the counter and pulls the boy into her arms. The little boy beams at her.

Okay. So when she said complicated, it was because she’s a mother.

“Mom,” another voice calls. A blonde girl of about six wraps her arms around Greta. She kisses her, then pulls back, crossing her arms. “Milo forgot his hat, he’s gonna get a cold.”

“You’re not my boss,” he cries. “Mommy, tell her she’s not my boss!”

“Hey, kids, calm down.” A man with a burly ass beard gives the kids a stink eye. “Let your mom breathe--she’s still working.”

I take a hard look at this man who just showed up here like this. She said she wasn’t dating anyone, but fuck, is she married? I look at her ring finger, and see that it’s bare--and this guy has a shiny new band on his. Maybe he’s her ex?

“Thanks so much, Clive, I really needed a break.”

“Let me guess, you stayed here all night baking?”

Her cheeks heat up and she laughs nervously. “Uh, something like that.” She flashes him a fake smile. “Where’s Hazel?” The kids wait for Maggie to finish serving Torin and Jonas and then she helps the kids with their treats.

Torin and Jonas look over at me as if asking what gives. Hell if I know.

“Hazel just went to grab something in the candy shop,” the big guy tells her. “After the kids eat we’re going to get some Christmas shopping done until you’re off.”

“Wow, sounds great.” Greta raises her eyebrows and looks over at me, where I’m standing with arms crossed. Not saying I’m intimidated by the guy, but I do want to know his intentions.

“Who are you?” he asks gruffly.

“I’m Ansel. A friend of Greta’s.”

The guy shakes his head. “Not possible. I know all her friends.”

“God, Clive,” Greta huffs, pushing the man away. “Intense much?”

The guy shrugs his shoulders, laughing “What? You know I keep tabs on my older sister.”

“Do you always have to tack on the older part?” She scowls.

I cock an eyebrow her way. “This your little brother?”

“Yeah, Clive’s my brother. He and his wife Hazel had my kids last night.”

I nod, relief washing over me. She wasn’t trying to keep anything other than the fact that she was a mom from me.

She’s the epitome of the entire package--which may be jumping to conclusions--but you can learn a lot about a woman when you sleep with her. Hell, when she screamed my name last night it told me everything I need to know.

“So how do you know my sister?”

Knowing the kids are out of earshot, I say what I want. “We’re dating, Greta and I.”

Her mouth drops into a perfect O.

I like that look on her.

“Dating?” She shakes her head. “Uh, you sure about that, Ansel?”

“Oh, I’m sure,” I tell her, walking toward her, ignoring Clive altogether.

She purses her lips. “I don’t exactly remember you asking me out.”

“It’s what I was trying to do,” I tell her. “But you kept making excuses. Something about things being complicated.”

“Aren’t they though?” she asks, jutting her chin to the table where her two kids are eating glazed donuts.

I shake my head. “I’m not scared.”

She presses her fingertips to her forehead. Quietly she asks, “Are you messing with me?”

Her eyes are filled with so much sincerity that it makes me want to scoop her up in my arms and lock her away from anything in the world that might scare her. Might hurt her.

I want to protect her.

“I don’t play games.”

She smiles, lifting her eyes to meet mine. “You just lose bets?”

“Something like that.”

Her eyes are soft and welcoming and I lean closer, wanting to memorize everything about her.

“Uh-hum,” Clive coughs. “Kids are present.”

Greta jumps back, pressing her lips together as if it’s necessary in order to hold herself back from kissing me.

“So tonight? Five o’clock. Dinner?” I ask.

For a moment, I think it’s going to be an easy yes, but then she looks over at her kids. Wistfully she sighs, “I don’t have a sitter--”

Maggie sweeps in, cutting her off, apparently listening to the entire conversation, along with her brother.

“I’ve got the kids tonight. I’m vying for Auntie Of The Year at the moment, and need to step up my game.”