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Charlie whooped and handed her the moccasins with a bow. “Welcome to the family, Rissa.”

Then he headed into the kitchen with the others, leaving her stunned.

Burke slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. He kissed her hair and then tilted her chin up so he could see her eyes.

His gaze nearly exploded with tenderness and maybe more. Maybe that love she craved?

He used his thumb to wipe a tear from her cheek. “I hope that proves we want you to stay. All of us, not just me.”

She gulped back her tears and leaned up to kiss him lightly. “Thank you.”

He grinned. “Well, you probably have Amber to thank for it, but I heartily approve.”

She laughed at his honesty. He wouldn’t lie or take credit that wasn’t his due. In fact, he usually avoided that as well.

Instead of letting out the words bouncing in her soul, she kissed him again. “Thanks anyway.”

Seth poked his head into the mudroom. “Cut out the sloppy stuff. Dinner’s hot, and I’m not letting you ruin that.”

Laughing, they followed him into the dining room. Soon, they were passing plates of pierogies and cabbage rolls along with veggie side dishes and homemade cheese rolls.

Charlie helped little Ella fill her plate with a scoop of pickled vegetables made from shredded beets, onions, and carrots. Everyone watched out of the corner of their eye as the toddler eyed the mix.

Rissa had learned that Ella ate everything except carrots. Seth had prepared them in dozens of recipes, but nothing had clicked. Ella used her little fork to scoop up the combination.

Silence descended on the group, but she was too entranced with the colorful vegetables to notice. She put the scoop in her mouth and chewed.

When she picked up another forkful, the room released a collective breath. Mara’s voice was a happy whisper. “Start talking, everyone, so she doesn’t realize she’s been tricked.”

The conversation resumed, but a quick check proved everyone continued to watch Ella.

After her third bite, she turned her attention to the pierogies Charlie had cut up for her. Seth laughed. “I declare victory in the carrot wars.”

At the word, Ella looked at him. Her lips pouted, and she looked from him to her plate and back.

Seth laughed. “It’s delicious, my little fusspot. Keep eating.”

With a laugh, everyone turned their attention to their plates. Burke bumped Rissa’s shoulder with his. “You can’t beat the drama and excitement level of a family dinner.”

She laughed. “Agreed. This is perfect.”

It was. It really was.

After he’d walked Rissa back to the Q Lab and everyone had headed to bed, Burke couldn’t settle. He headed to the makeshift office he’d set up in the library and turned on his computer. He checked his accounts and did some work, but he was still restless.

He wanted to head out to the Question Lab and join Rissa in her Murphy bed, but they hadn’t moved beyond kisses yet, and he wasn’t pushing her. Not ever.

Burke paced the room, thinking about too many things at once. Normally, working the numbers helped settle his brain. Curt could answer for Burke’s loss of that comfort, too. He figured the peace that came when he was balancing accounts would return, but for now, it was just a job. Still one he enjoyed, but not one that brought him that peace. Hopefully, that would return as he put Curt’s betrayal behind him.

Burke studied the room as he paced. Had Jay spent much time here? Knox had explored the house when he’d first arrived, but they’d all been so busy, Burke wasn’t sure how in-depth those searches had been.

He moved to pull Jay’s books off the shelf. Fox had owned four of the same books on Abenaki history. There were also books on pioneer times, indigenous mythologies and religions, farming, building, and environmental issues. Jay had eclectic tastes, like his brother.

Burke flipped the books open, finding a few notes written in the margins, the same way Fox had done.

Proof that the Abenaki always had their heads on straight.

Good idea.