“I’ll take her.” Stepping forward, he held out his arms. Katie stretched into them. Still watching Sydney, he rubbed his cheek over the baby’s head and settled her with a natural ease on his hip. “Come here.” Before Sydney could respond, he cupped a hand behind her head and pulled her against him for a long, blood-thumping kiss. Well used to such behavior, Katie only bounced and gurgled.

Slowly he slid away, then smiled at her. “I’ll come back for the beer.” Juggling Katie, he swaggered out, slamming the screen door behind him.

“Now.” Nadia took a dazed Sydney by the hands. “You make deviled eggs.”

The sun was just setting on the weekend when Sydney unlocked the door of her apartment. She was laughing—and she was sure she’d laughed more in two days than she had in her entire life. She set the packages she carried on the sofa as Mikhail kicked the door closed.

“You put more in here to come back than you had when you left,” he accused, and set her suitcase down.

“One or two things.” Smiling, she walked over to slip her arms around his waist. It felt good, wonderfully good, especially knowing that his would circle her in response. “Dyakuyu,” she said, sampling thank you in his language.

“You mangle it, but you’re welcome.” He kissed both her cheeks. “This is the traditional greeting or farewell.”

She had to bite the tip of her tongue to hold back the grin. “I know.” She also knew why he was telling her—again. She’d been kissed warmly by each member of the family. Not the careless touch of cheek to cheek she was accustomed to, but a firm pressure of lips, accompanied by a full-blooded embrace. Only Alex hadn’t settled for her cheeks.

“Your brother kisses very well.” Eyes as solemn as she could manage, Sydney touched her lips to Mikhail’s cheeks in turn. “It must run in the family.”

“You liked it?”

“Well…” She shot Mikhail a look from under her lashes. “He did have a certain style.”

“He’s a boy,” Mikhail muttered, though Alex was less than two years his junior.

“Oh, no.” This time a quick laugh bubbled out. “He’s definitely not a boy. But I think you have a marginal advantage.”

“Marginal.”

She linked her hands comfortably behind his neck. “As a carpenter, you’d know that even a fraction of an inch can be vital—for fit.”

His hands snagged her hips to settle her against him. “So, I fit you, Hayward?”

“Yes.” She smiled as he touched his lips to her brow. “It seems you do.”

“And you like my kisses better than Alex’s?”

She sighed, enjoying the way his mouth felt skimming down her temples, over her jaw. “Marginally.” Her eyes flew open when he pinched her. “Well, really—”