Sex, carpentry and first grade, he thought as he moved over to start trimming the window. A man never knew what kind of mix was going to stir up his life.

“He’ll love this.” Kate examined the fierce, snapping jaws of the plastic predator.

“Dinosaurs are a no-fail choice.” Annie rearranged toys that didn’t need rearranging, and slid her gaze toward Kate. “That Jack O’Connell’s as cute as they come.”

“Mmm.”

“His father’s not shabby, either.”

“No, they both ring the bell on the cute scale. And yes, we’re still seeing each other.”

“I didn’t say a word.” Annie folded her lips. “I never pry.”

“No, you just poke.” She tucked the dinosaur under her arm. “That’s what I love about you. Now, I’m going to go back and say hi to Mama before I go.”

“Want me to wrap that beast up for you?”

“No. Wrapped it’s a gift. Unwrapped I can sneak it in as a research tool for his school project.”

“You always were a smart one, Katie.”

Smart enough Katie thought, to know what she wanted and how to get it. It had been two weeks since she’d made love with Brody for the first time. Since then they’d had one other evening alone and a handful of hours here and there.

She wanted a lot more than that.

They’d taken Jack to the movies, shared a few meals as a trio, and had engaged in the mother of all snowball battles the previous Saturday when a solid foot of snow had fallen.

She wanted a lot more than that as far as Jack was concerned, too.

She knocked on her mother’s office door, poked her head in.

Natasha was at her desk, her hair scooped up and the phone at her ear. She curved her finger in a come-ahead gesture. “Yes, thank you. I’ll expect delivery next week.”

She tapped a few keys at her computer, hung up and sighed. “Perfect timing,” she told Kate. “I need a cup of tea and a conversation that doesn’t involve dolls.”

“Happy to oblige. I’ll even make the tea.” Kate set the dinosaur on her mother’s desk before turning to the teapot.

Natasha eyed the toy, then her daughter. “For Jack?”

“Mmm. He has a school project. I figured this might earn him some extra points, and be fun.”

“He’s a delightful little boy.”

“Yes, I think so.” Kate poured the hot water into cups. “Brody’s done a wonderful job with him—though he had terrific material to work with.”

“Yes, I agree. Still, it’s never easy to raise a child alone.”

“I don’t intend for him to finish the job alone.” Kate set her mother’s cup on the desk, sat down with her own. “I’m in love with Brody, Mama, and I’m going to marry him.”

“Oh, Kate!” Tears flooded Natasha’s eyes even as she leaped up to embrace her daughter. “This is wonderful. I’m so happy for you. For all of us. My baby’s getting married.”

She crouched down to kiss both of Kate’s cheeks. “You’ll be the most beautiful bride. Have you set the date? We’ll have so much planning to do. Wait until we tell your father.”