They’d gone to the diner around the corner from the clinic where Dani and her staff ate all their meals. Some people were still nervous about walking around in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, but Dani had never had a problem, even after midnight.

If she’d had any qualms before, she felt as safe as a vault walking around with Diesel Kennedy. The big man had held Joshua’s small hand in his enormous one as they’d walked. It made her heart hurt.

But it still changed nothing. Their lunch had been cozy, and Dani would be lying to herself if she didn’t admit that she’d pretended it was real, that she and Diesel and the boys were a family. But it was a fantasy, and a dangerous one at that.

She couldn’t get too comfortable with the man. She would not lead him on. She’d been accused of being thoughtless and cruel by the last man in her life. She wouldn’t be cruel to Diesel Kennedy.

Joshua sat back in the booth across from her, patting his stomach as he leaned into Diesel’s huge arm. “I’m gonna bust,” he said, his signing considerably slower than it had been before he’d eaten. His eyes were drooping sleepily. “I ate all my burger and my vegetables.”

Michael shook his head. “Fries are not vegetables.”

“Potatoes,” Joshua insisted. “Right, Coach?”

Diesel’s lips twitched. “Well, technically potatoes are vegetables, but they generally don’t count as nutritious. Especially when they’re fried. But it’s okay to treat ourselves every now and then. You’ll need to eat some legit veggies later.”

It was a good answer, Dani had to admit. “Can you fit ice cream?”

Michael shook his head. “No. I’m stuffed. Joshua needs to wait, too.”

Joshua frowned. “Do not.”

Michael gave him a look. “Remember what happened the last time you ate too much?”

Joshua grimaced. “Okay, you’re right.” He looked up at Diesel. “Can we have some ice cream later?”

“We can,” Diesel promised.

“Should we bring food for Mrs. Moody?” Joshua asked, clearly stalling.

“No,” Diesel told him. “She had to go home, remember? She can get her own lunch. But that was thoughtful of you to ask.”

Dani was about to agree when her phone buzzed and she checked her messages. “Maddie Shafer and Officer Cullen are back,” she told the boys. “They want us to meet them.” She lifted her eyes to Diesel. “I texted them before we left that we’d be taking the kids out for food.”

Joshua seemed to deflate before their eyes. “Did the police lady arrest Mom?”

“I don’t know,” Dani answered honestly. “I guess we’ll find out when we talk to them.”

Joshua drew a deep breath and glanced at his brother. “I don’t want to go back. But Michael can’t go back.” His lip trembled. “She hurts him.”