Not so reserved. The man turning over the top as he tussled with Gage and Juni, swinging them around like rag dolls.
“Now who’s your strongest uncle?” he demanded to know, his tone playful.
“Uncle Jud!” Gage cackled when he said it, clearly knowing he’d given the wrong answer, and Juni giggled adorably when she shouted, “Uncle Trent!” at the same time.
Logan feigned the biggest gasp.
“What? How dare you? And it’s my birthday? What is this madness? You know I’m the strongest of the Lawson brothers. Trent and Jud just look big. But your uncle Logan is pure muscle.”
He squeezed them tighter as if to prove it.
In it was care. Every movement done with caution so neither of them would be hurt.
“You’d better watch it, or Uncle Jud is gonna take you down!” Gage shouted as he scrambled around, trying to get his little arms around Logan.
From where Jud was leaned against the back of the couch next to his wife halfway across the room, the giant man lifted a beer in the air and shouted over the din of voices and the music that played at a low volume. “That’s right, Gage in the Cage. You pin him for me, then I’ll be over to take care of the rest.”
“Wow. Just wow. Why do you always gotta be so violent?” Logan taunted just as Gage was climbing over his shoulder and jumping onto his back.
Jud cracked a grin and tucked Salem closer. “Someone has to take care of punks like you.”
Horrified offense took over every line of Logan’s face, clearly faked, all while he was being climbed like he was a jungle gym in the middle of a playground.
“I’m wounded.”
Jud scoffed with a smile. “I’ll show you wounded.”
I tried to hold a laugh, not to get too comfortable, but it was really hard to do when it felt as if I’d stumbled into a safe space. Where it was joy and light and life. Different than anything I’d ever experienced. Better than anything I’d ever imagined.
Logan tossed a soft smile my way and slowly set the kids onto their feet. “All right, all right, everyone off, Uncle Logan needs to make the rounds.”
“I’ll destroy you later.” Gage giggled the words as Logan flipped him around onto his feet.
“I’m sure you will.” Logan laughed, ruffling his fingers through the child’s hair before he turned to me and stretched out his hand. “Come on. Let me introduce you to everyone.”
Uneasiness climbed through my consciousness, that reminder that I didn’t belong, that I shouldn’t get too comfortable, that this was absolutely reckless, coming here like this. But it felt too good to let Logan slip his fingers through mine, to act as if I were his and he were mine.
Casually, he led me to Jud who stood and gave me a bear hug the second we approached.
Welcome.
Salem, whose blue eyes twinkled and danced with this mischief that was still somehow kind, pushed up from where she had been leaned against the couch. She reached for my hand and squeezed. She was different than Eden, a little harder around the edges, I guessed, as if she’d been through more than any one person should be expected to.
Her hair was black and pin-straight where it brushed around her shoulders, and she gave off a naturally sexy vibe that somehow came off sweet.
“So, you’re still hanging out with this guy, huh?” It was a tease of affection.
Logan gave her a giant hug. “Yeah, yeah, you know you love me the most. Just keep pretending.”
Stepping back, he pointed at her belly. “Tell me I’m getting another niece because the last thing we need around here is another Lawson boy to bust my balls.”
“Hey, I bust your balls, Uncle Logan.” Juni was clearly offended.
Her mom covered her ears, but not nearly in time. Laughing under her breath and shooting daggers at Logan, she glanced at her daughter. “Don’t listen to anything that comes out of your uncle Logan’s mouth, Juni Bee. He’s a terrible influence.”
Logan stretched out his arms. “What are you talking about? I’m a great influence.”
“Hardly,” Jud grunted before he took a swig from his bottle of beer.