“Why’d he pick only shit color combinations for me?” Hawk muttered. Like pairing purple plaid shorts with a garish orange-paisley shirt. The combo’d made Hawk’s eyes bleed.

A corner of her mouth tipped up in a smirk. “Because I only put a few shirts and bottoms in the drawers—all of which work no matter what gets mixed with what. I hide the other clothes and change them out now and then.”

Hawk lifted an eyebrow. “You’re sneakier than you look.”

“I have mad mommy skills.” Her luminous brown eyes lit with laughter and struck him speechless with their beauty.

She frowned. “Were you looking for Bull?”

“No. Fetching you. There’s food at Mako’s.”

“Oh. Huh.” Her frown deepened. “I guess sitting and stewing about things isn’t a good idea.”

They were a lot alike, weren’t they?

Clothes on, Aric fastened the Velcro straps on his sneakers and ran over to Hawk. “I’m hungry.”

To hear Aric demanding food like a normal kid made Hawk’s day. “Me too.”

“Me three. Let’s go.” Kit turned and winced.

“You’re hurt.” He put a hand on her shoulder, felt her tense before relaxing.

“Not really. My ribs are sore from climbing a ladder. And throwing things…”

“Throwing things?” Aric asked.

Hawk winced. Perhaps not a good example for a child. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to know his mother wasn’t defenseless. “She threw stuff at the bad guys to keep them from hurting anyone. Pretty damn brave.”

Aric’s eyes went wide. He’d seen the PZs hurt his mother and figured she was defenseless. Powerless. The kid was too young to realize he was the reason she hadn’t fought back.

They walked together over to Mako’s place and were greeted by everyone there.

The meal was a good one. Craving Mexican food, Caz had gone for a fix-your-own meal. There were platters of warm tortillas, crispy taco shells, a spicy beef-and-bean mix, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, and guacamole. The health-nuts, who sure didn’t include Hawk, made themselves taco salads. The kids went for tacos.

After having some nachos, Hawk had a couple of burritos and one of Bull’s beers.

To his surprise, he felt all right, despite the crowd. Audrey, Frankie, and JJ were good people. And he liked having the children close where he knew they were safe. Same with Kit.

Yeah, he felt better. Although the night wouldn’t be a good one. It never was after he killed someone.

While eating, everyone offered a summary of their day, good and bad. Caz told about the mother who’d brought him a homemade strawberry pie for treating her daughter last week. He caught hell from Bull and Gabe for sharing it with his medical staff rather than bringing it home.

JJ got laughs from telling about the traffic jam—in their two-block town—caused by a moose and baby.