Entitled, Roz thought, as long as she corrected the mistakes and didn't repeat them.
She put on a fresh shirt, skimmed her fingers through her damp hair as she studied herself in the mirror. She could still look good, damn good, if she worked at it. If she wanted a man, she could have one—and not because he assumed she was dim-witted and had a depthless well of money to draw from. Maybe what had happened with Bryce had shaken her confidence and self-esteem for a little while, but she
was all right now. Better than all right.
She hadn't needed a man to fill in the pockets of her life before he'd come along. She didn't need one now. Things were back the way she liked them. Her kids were happy and productive, her business was thriving, her home was secure. She had friends she enjoyed and acquaintances she tolerated.
And right now, she had the added interest of researching her family ghost.
Giving her hair another quick rub, she went downstairs to join the rest of the crew in the library. She heard the knock as she came to the base of the stairs, and detoured to the door.
"Logan, what a nice surprise."
"Hayley didn't tell you I was coming?"
"No, but that doesn't matter. Come on in."
"I ran into her at the nursery today, and she asked if I'd come by tonight, give y'all a hand with your research and brainstorming. I had a hard time resisting the idea of being a ghostbuster."
"I see." And she did. "I'd best warn you that our Hayley's got a romantic bent and she currently sees
you as Rochester to Stella's Jane Eyre."
"Oh. Uh-oh."
She only smiled. "Jane's still with the boys, getting them settled down for the night. Why don't you go
on up to the West wing? Just follow the noise. You can let her know we'll entertain ourselves until she comes down."
She walked away before he could agree or protest.
She didn't pry into other people's business. But that didn't mean she didn't sow the occasional seeds.
Logan stood where he was for a moment, tapping his fingers on the side of his leg. He was still tapping them as he started up the stairs.
Roz was right about the noise. He heard the laughter and squeals, the stomping feet before he'd hit the top. Following it, he strolled down the hall, then paused in the open doorway.
It was obviously a room occupied by boys. And though it was certainly tidier than his had been at those tender ages, it wasn't static or regimented. A few toys were scattered on the floor, books and other
debris littered the desk and shelves. It smelled of soap, shampoo, wild youth, and crayons.
In the midst of it, Stella sat on the floor, mercilessly tickling a pajama-clad Gavin while a blissfully
naked Luke scrambled around the room making crazed hooting sounds through his cupped hands.
"What's my name?" Stella demanded as she sent her oldest son into helpless giggles.
"Mom!"
She made a harsh buzzing sound and dug fingers into his ribs. 'Try again, small, helpless boy child.
What is my name?"
"Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom!" He tried to wiggle away and was flipped over.
"I can't hear you."
"Empress," he managed on hitching giggles.
"And? The rest, give it all or the torment continues."
"Empress Magnificent of the Entire Universe!"
"And don't you forget it." She gave him a loud, smacking kiss on his cotton-clad butt, and sat back.
"And now you, short, frog-faced creature." She got to her feet, rubbing her hands together as Luke screamed in delight.
And stumbled back with a scream of her own when she saw Logan in the doorway. "Oh, my God!
You scared me to death!"
"Sorry, just watching the show. Your Highness. Hey, kid." He nodded at Gavin, who lay on the floor. "How's it going?"
"She defeated me. Now I have to go to bed, 'cause that's the law of the land."
"I've heard that." He picked up the bottom half of a pair of X-Men pj's, lifted an eyebrow at Luke. "These your mom's?"
Luke let out a rolling gut laugh, and danced, happy with his naked state. "Uh-uh. They're mine. I don't have to wear them unless she catches me."
Luke started to make a break for the adjoining bath and was scooped up, one-armed, by his mother.
Stronger than she looks, Logan mused as she hoisted her son over her head.
"Foolish boy, you'll never escape me." She lowered him. "Into the pj's, and into bed." She glanced over
at Logan. "Is there something ..."
"I got invited to the ... get-together downstairs."
"Is it a party?" Luke wanted to know when Logan handed him the pajama bottoms. "Are there cookies?"
"It's a meeting, a grown-up meeting, and if there are cookies," Stella said as she turned down Luke's bed, "you can have some tomorrow."
"David makes really good cookies," Gavin commented. "Better than Mom's."
"If that wasn't true, I'd have to punish you severely." She turned to his bed, where he sat grinning at