“It’s true,” Shira agreed. “I hope you don’t mind, but Ben gave me your number. I’ll text you mine. Anything you need, I’m here for you. And I hope we can keep getting the cousins together. I didn’t have a family growing up. I really want that for Jonah and this one.” She patted her belly, her striking green eyes twinkling.
“Growing up, it was only my dad and me. I would love that for Katty.”
Ben’s hand slipped higher, spreading out around my waist and the front of my stomach. “Don’t forget scary Aunt Barb and crazy cousin Kylie.”
“They weren’t around when I was growing up.” I drove my elbow into his side. Since he was made of granite, there wasn’t a chance he felt it, but I did it anyway. “And they really saved me. Let’s lay off the name-calling.”
His rumble vibrated my spine. “It’s all in good fun. I bow down to Aunt Barb for all she’s done for you and Kat. And without Kylie, we wouldn’t be here, so I’m glad she’s crazy.” He squeezed my side, and I tried really hard not to be self-conscious since my body was about the opposite of granite. “Aren’t you?”
“Yeah, Ben. I am,” I said softly. “But don’t call her crazy.”
His chuckle brushed my ear. “All right, Mazz. Whatever you want.”
The way he said it shouldn’t have made my pulse skip. It had been a long time since a man had touched me like this, and I couldn’t remembereverbeing promised whatever I wanted. It was a powerful offer, even if he didn’t mean it.
And I wassurehe didn’t mean it.
Bea reappeared, leaning on the counter beside Shira. “How out of his mind do you think Roman is right now?”
Shira’s eyes volleyed from me to Bea before landing on her hands. “I’m sure he’s fine.”
My brow pinched. “Is he home? Next door?”
She nodded. “He is, and he really is fine.”
Bea huffed. “I doubt that.”
“He’s still on punishment,” Ben muttered.
I elbowed him again—a little harder. “If he wants to come over, you should let him. We’re moving forward, right?” I turned to Shira. “Does he want to come over?”
She nodded eagerly. “He would love to.”
“Then please invite him. Ben doesn’t mind.”
“I don’t?” he asked, deadpan.
“Nope.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Moving on, right?”
He glared down at me without a drop of heat, then sighed, resigned. “Fine. He’s off punishment, but, Shira, please remind him he’s on thin ice.”
She was already typing on her phone, but looked up with a smile. “Just added that to my text.”
“Good,” he gruffed. “As long as he remembers.”
It took all of thirty seconds before the front door swung open and a voice that sounded an awful lot like Ben’s called out to us. Ben sighed and took my hand, pulling me along with him to meet his brother.
The moment I laid eyes on Roman Wells, I stopped in my tracks. They really were identical. Same curls—though Roman’s were tamer—same height, build, face. There were differences too. Subtle, but if you looked, they were there.
Ben had a springiness to him, like he could barely contain the energy inside him, while Roman struck me as solidly grounded. Ben’s smile came on swift and hard, while Roman’s was a slow burn. Ben had a lump on his nose from multiple breaks, while Roman’s was crooked in a different way.
“Hi, Mazzy,” Roman greeted gently.
“Hi, Roman.” I walked up to him, peering at his features, and forgave myself. “I see why I mistook you for him.”
I hadn’t really known Ben then. All the differences I’d just cataloged had only become obvious after spending nearly every day with him over the past few weeks. I hadn’t seen any of that five years ago. That wasn’t my fault—or anyone’s.
A weight I’d been carrying lifted off my shoulders like it had never been there. Suddenly, I was free of half the guilt that had kept me in chains. It was so instant, my breath came in gasps. Then Ben slipped his broad hand around the back of my neck, steadying me with his firm hold.
