“Girl, I’m here for you anytime you want a hug. But for anything sexier, you’ll have to find a different stud-muffin.” He batted his eyeliner-rimmed eyes.

She laughed. And her mind immediately supplied a picture of Hawk’s rugged masculinity, how his solidly packed muscles flexed beneath his T-shirt, and the disconcerting way his steel-blue eyes could turn so gentle when he looked at Aric…or her. Now there was a stud muffin—and it was pitiful she should be thinking that.

With a wave, Felix headed back to his customers, and Kit went the other direction.

“Hey, people.” She greeted the women at the table. “Sorry I’m late.”

“No problem.” Frankie pushed a chair out for her. “I was hoping there wasn’t an emergency or anything.”

“No emergencies. Caz had a backlog of patients, and I didn’t want the last one sitting in the lobby alone, so I stayed until she got in to see him.”

“That’s what Regina does, and Caz really appreciates it.” JJ smiled her approval.

Audrey poured a glass from the pitcher of sangria and handed it over. “How is Aric doing with the summer school?”

“Really well. He’s handling it far better than I thought he would.” And hadn’t that been such an amazing relief? “Hawk leaving without warning was hard on him. He still keeps running down to the dock to see if he’s returned.”

Every time her son cried after visiting the dock, she wanted to yell at Hawk…and then she’d remember she was the one who’d driven the man away.

“I get it. I check the dock for his plane too.” Frankie shook her head. “Who would’ve thought that someone so quiet and—face it—grumpy, would make such a hole by leaving?”

As the other two nodded, Kit’s guilt increased, and she hastily changed the subject. “I’m so glad Aric has Regan at the school with him. He says she watches out for him. You should be proud of her, JJ.”

“She’s an incredible kid,” JJ agreed.

Audrey smiled “And just as protective as her daddy—and her mama.”

JJ flushed. “I never thought I’d love being a mother so much, and I’m so grateful mine was such a good example.”

“It helps. From the little I remember, my parents were amazing.” At the questioning looks, Kit added, “They died when I was ten, and I went to live with my aunt and her husband.”

Frankie made a face. “From what you’ve said about your aunt and uncle, they sound an awful lot like PZs.”

Which was why Kit had moved out of their place before even graduating high school.

Audrey wrinkled her nose. “Ew. I can’t imagine being raised by Patriot Zealot types.”