Catie had no idea what had led Danny to this point, but his words made her think that the issue wasn’t with his body or his reflexes. It was in his head. “Danny,” she murmured as they reached their gate, “you might’ve been born into rugby royalty, but you put in the hard time doing the training, you played the games, you impressed the scouts. This isn’t some royal lineage thing where you were anointed because of your family name. You won your place with sheer hard work.”

Danny didn’t answer, his jaw grim.

They boarded the plane soon after, and from that point on kept any conversation light and suitable for public consumption. Catie, however, was determined to continue their earlier discussion once they landed, get to the heart of the matter. But it wasn’t to be, because when they walked out of the gate, it was to find Jake and Jules waiting for them with eight-year-old Esme and her toddler cousin, Joseph Connor, known to all as Connor.

Probably babysitting the little guy to help out Sailor and Ísa.

Esme screamed, “Uncle Danny!” and made a beeline for Danny while little Connor ran over to Catie. Guess everyone knew who each one’s favorite was, Catie thought with a grin as she bent to cuddle her nephew’s pudgy cheeks. Even so little, Connor had learned that he couldn’t run straight at Catie’s legs. Which was why Catie had zero patience for adults who didn’t understand simple courtesy.

“Hey, my cutie, cutie pie,” she said, her ovaries singing. She had no desire to have babies anytime in the near future, but gosh, Sailor and Ísa’s baby boy was adorable. Happy and smiley and with those little round cheeks. Catie had no idea how her sister and brother-in-law got anything done around him.

Then again, they’d already survived Emmaline’s cuteness—while Catie remained a total pushover for her niece. As she was for Connor. Prerogative of being a doting aunt.

After cuddling Connor, she rose with one of her hands holding his and leaned down so spunky and sweet-natured Esme could kiss her on the cheek. Esme had recently declared herself too big to be in anyone’s arms. The sole exception was her Uncle Danny, but then only for a moment or two when she got excited.

“Catie, I like your eyes,” Esme said with a sigh. “They sparkle like jewels.”

“I’ll show you how to achieve the effect,” Catie said, having received permission from Jules and Jake to teach Esme a few makeup tips. Esme was only little, so for now it was like painting for her, a kind of art. She wasn’t allowed to go out with makeup on and didn’t yet have a palette of her own, but Catie knew exactly the products she’d get for her when it was time.