"What are you going to do?" Pete asked.

"I'm taking legal measures to make sure Nicole is financially noted as my daughter. There shouldn't be any question of custody, but I'm addressing that, too, just in case. "

"I meant about the woman. "

Gil shrugged while measuring out batter onto a hot griddle. "I've known Anabel for three years, and I'll admit I've thought about her in a lot of different ways. "

Pete bobbed his eyebrows and Sam grinned.

"But not once did I ever consider her the type of woman to marry. "

"Why not?" Pete asked.

"Did you see her earrings and that d.a.m.n tattoo?"

"d.a.m.n tattoo," Nicki repeated, making Gil groan and giving both Pete and Sam a chuckle.

"Sweetheart, you can't say d.a.m.n." Nicki just stared up at Gil until he sighed. "Do you want to go look out the patio doors at the birds?"

"Birds!" Like a flash, Nicki left the dubious enjoyment of Gil's foot to study the backyard. He'd have finger and nose prints on the gla.s.s, but Anabel knew he wouldn't mind.

From his position at the stove, Gil could still see Nicki, but now that she was out of hearing range, he had more freedom to talk to his brothersa"much to Anabel's discomfort.

Gil shook his head. "The thing is, I kept thinking about the influence she might have on Nicole. She's not like any mother I've ever seen before, that's for sure. "

And then, with a thoughtful frown: "She even has a belly b.u.t.ton ring. "

"Yeah?" Pete's interest rose. "Those are s.e.xy. "

"You think everything on a female is s.e.xy," Sam pointed out.

"And you don't?"

Ignoring Pete, Sam said, "You don't have to marry her to keep your own child. "

"I have to do something with her. But it's a complicated situation, so I'm not going to rush things. "

They discussed her like an inanimate object instead of a person. Anabel had heard enough. Pasting on a smile, she stepped into the kitchen. "My d.a.m.n tattoo is part of a business agreement. "

Spatula in hand, Gil jerked around to face her. His gaze was cautious, concerned. "You were listening in?"

"Nasty habit of mine, I know. Almost as bad as wearing body jewelry. "

"Anabel." He sounded very put out with her.

She turned to Pete and lifted her shirt a bit. "There it is, that offensive belly b.u.t.ton ring. Disgraceful, isn't it?"

Pete's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. His gaze stayed glued to her stomach. "Um, cute. "

"Thanks, but don't you mean s.e.xy?"

Chagrined, he said, "Somehow I think it's in my best interest not to answer that. "

Sam crossed his arms over his chest and rested back in his chair. "And you all thought my romance was entertaining. "

Gil wasn't amused. "Put your shirt down, Anabel. "

"Why? Am I embarra.s.sing you?" She dropped her shirt, but only because she saw no point not to.

"No, but Pete is bright red. "

She rolled her eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was explain herself to Gil and his brothers, but her situation didn't afford her the luxury of pride. "I do web page designs. It was about the only thing I could figure out that'd pay enough and still let me work from home so I could be with Nicki. Most of my work is for small businesses, and those include some that are just starting out. I let Dixon, the guy opening the tattoo shop, practice on me. He tattooed my arm, took pictures, and we used those to put up at his shop and on the website that he hired me to do. Same thing with the jewelry. Dodger gave me the earrings and the belly b.u.t.ton ring to advertise his business. He didn't have to hire a model, and I got paid to design his website. "

"So you didn't even want the tattoo?" Sam asked.

"I had never really thought about it, but no, I wouldn't have spent the money on a tattoo because my budget was too tight." She traced a fingertip over the delicate flowering vine. "But now I kinda like it. It suits me. And we know it helped Dixon get new business because it's his most requested design. "

Pete said, "Got anything else pierced?"

She shook her head at the same time Gil said, "No, she does not. "

Sam leaned over to Pete. "Gil's going to serve you for breakfast if you don't pipe down. "

Gil turned off the stove. In very precise terms, each word carefully enunciated, he said, "You're telling me that pictures of your belly are on the Internet?"

Anabel couldn't help but laugh. "Is that the only part you heard?"

"Are they?"

"Yep. I got body parts flashing all over the Web. "

Gil fell back against the sink counter. "Dear G.o.d." He looked incapable of doing or saying more.

Sam pushed from his seat and relieved Gil of the spatula. "You're burning our breakfast." Like an expert chef, he began filling the plates that Gil had set out. "And for the record, I like her tattoo, too. It's not like she's got a giant rattlesnake or the words 'I love Killer' emblazoned on her arm. It's tasteful and feminine. "

"Maybe I'll suggest that Ariel get one. "

"Try it, and I'll kick your a.s.s." Sam turned to Anabel. "Ariel is my wife, and she's dying to meet you and Nicole. In fact, I'd be surprised if she and my mother didn't finagle an invite for later today. "

Pete interrupted to ask, "What's the url for the sites where you're at?"

Gil rounded on him. "Forget it, Pete. "

"All right, all right. Sheesh. No reason to breathe fire on me. "

Sam began serving up breakfast. "Hey, Nicki, Uncle Sam has your pancakes ready. "

Gil glared at him. "Way to hog all the credit. "

"Hey, I gotta make a good impression while I can. "

Nicki came barreling back into the kitchen, jabbering ninety miles a minute about the birds and pancakes and uncles who cooked. She felt right at home with Gil's brothers, so Anabel gave up. After all, it was just her feelings that were hurt, and she had to get over that real quick because it was bound to happen a few more times. She'd known from jump how Gil felt about her. Just because he enjoyed s.e.x with her didn't mean he'd suddenly have a personality transformation. They were as different as night and daya"except in bed. And Gil could certainly find another woman to fill that role if he chose to.

She'd have liked to tell him to go to h.e.l.la"but she couldn't She couldn't even really argue with him because it might mean she'd lose Nicole. An ominous dread had skated down her spine when he said he planned to take legal action to bind Nicole to him. If she didn't make headway soon, he'd probably kick her out and she'd lose Nicole as well as Gil. She couldn't let that happen.

But what could she do?

Suddenly Gil was beside her, the consummate gentleman, holding out a seat for her with one hand and offering a cup of coffee with the other.

Anabel would never understand him. "Thank you." He kissed her forehead, saying very softly, "You're welcome. "

Nicki grinned and reached up for him. "Tank you." Gil lifted her into her high chair, then kissed her, too, before reaching for his own seat. When he turned around, Pete puckered up as if waiting his turn, but Sam wielded the spatula like a weapon, saying, "Keep those lips on the females. "

Nicki thought they were hilarious; Anabel just thought they were nuts. Breakfast, she discovered, was a circusa"and quite thoroughly enjoyable. The brothers were anxious to hear all about Nicole's preferences and peccadilloes, but they asked just as many questions about Anabel. As far as she could tell, Gil's brothers had no problem with her at all. Now if only Gil would feel the same.

After his brothers had gone and the kitchen was cleaned, Gil pulled Anabel into his arms. "Hi. "

She blinked at him. Gil knew she was very uncertain, that she had no idea what the future might bring. Well, she'd just have to go on wondering for a little longer. He was no dummy; he'd already decided that Anabel deserved more than a trial run, and more than a marriage of convenience. How to convince her of that was the question plaguing his mind. He didn't want her to feel like a convenience, not when she was so much more. He had a plan and he'd stick to it.

"Can I have a kiss?"

Her brows came down in suspicion. "Why?"

"Because I enjoy kissing you and you look s.e.xy as h.e.l.l this morning. "

Ever the doting mother, Anabel glanced around for Nicole.

"She's busy dressing up a near bald doll with crayon marks on her face. Ugly thing. "

Anabel grinned. "That's her baby. "

"So she told me. It looks older than dirt. "

"It's not that old. I gave it to her for her first birthday. "

Gil wasn't surprised, but he was touched. Again. "Perhaps," he whispered, "that's why it's a favorite. "

Anabel's smile faded in nostalgia. "A few months ago, the little rat decided it needed makeup, and she did a job with her crayons. Then she decided she didn't like the look after all and insisted I wash the poor thing. Most of the yarn hair fell outa"but Nicki still takes that doll with her everywhere. "

Without waiting for permission, Gil caught Anabel's chin and tipped her face up. Deliberately, he kept the kiss tender instead of s.e.xual. It wasn't easy.

"Do you like my brothers?"

She dropped her forehead to his chest. "The more important question is whether or not they like me. "

"They doa"not that it matters. I don't have to have their approval for anything I do." He held her shoulders and bent his knees to see her face. "Besides, what's not to like?"

She snorted at that. "Body jewelry? Tattoos?"

Gil grinned. "What else have you traded on the Internet? Nothing too risque, I hope." He rubbed his thumb over her lips and his voice dropped. "You haven't traded this pretty mouth, have you?"

She slugged him in the stomach, but he held her so close that it was an ineffectual punch. "Nicki's old room was painted by a mural artist that I worked for. I used her room as the background for the website. She had birds and trees on all her walls. It was beautiful. I've had different hairdos to help advertise for a beautician friend." She ran a hand through her short curls. "I remember you came around once when it was red. "

"Yeah. I liked it. "

"You did?"

He just grinned. He wouldn't tell her yet that he liked everything about hera"even her belly b.u.t.ton ring. He needed to show her first. "Why don't we take in a movie? Would Nicki like that?"

"I don't know. I've never taken her before. "

Because she couldn't afford it? Gil decided they'd spend the day out. He wanted to give Nicki everything she didn't have, to watch her experience new things with him. But he was also driven to treat Anabel to a few luxuries, as well. She'd given much of herself and it was time she got something in return.

A few hours later, at the matinee show, Gil began questioning his wisdom. With so many kids in attendance, the chattering was nonstop. "I've never been to an afternoon movie before," he remarked to Anabel over the drone of crying babies, fussing toddlers, and cajoling moms. "I'm not altogether sure I like it. "

She leaned into his shoulder and laughed. "You're just disappointed that you can't make out. "

"True." Then he whispered, "But there's always tonight." He felt Anabel's shiver before she could move away.

They had lunch at McDonald's, but by then Nicki was getting cranky. Her constant whining was trying, more so because Anabel looked horrified that his little angel wasn't being all that angelic.

"She's tired," Anabel explained.

"And loud," Gil agreed. "But she's also a toddler and I suppose they all get this way on occasion. "

Anabel rushed to give Nicki another french fry. "Just some of the time. "

Gil shook his head. "Don't sugarcoat the reality. I can take it. Besides, it doesn't matter how she fusses, I can still see that you're an excellent mother. "

Wary hopefulness darkened her eyes. "You really think so?"

Gil lifted Nicki from her high chair. "Of course. And I think I'll make an adequate father once I get the hang of it. "

"You're already a wonderful dad and you know it. "

She sounded disgrunded about it, making him fight a smile. "Thank you." He hoisted Nicki up to his shoulders. She liked that enough that they got her out of the restaurant and into his car with nothing but cheers and squeals of happiness.

But once in the park, she fell asleep on theblanket they spread beneath a shading tree. Gil smoothed her short dark hair. "I wanted to show her the different birds. "

"There'll be plenty of other days for that. "

"Thanks to you." He picked up Anabel's hand and kissed her palm. Together they leaned back on the tree, still holding hands. It was peaceful. And nice.

They were a family.

Gil hadn't realized how much was missing from his life until Anabel showed up. After his father's death, he'd buried himself in his work. At the time it had been a necessary escape, a way to cope with his grief. But he was done with that. He was ready to move forward.

On the drive home from the park, Gil considered all the changes that still needed to be made. Anabel could use a minivan to replace that heap she currently owned.