Page 60 of Protected from Torment

We walk past the two embracing couples and into the house. As we enter into a large living space with two-story windows and a giant fireplace on one wall, a voice calls out, “Melissa! You made it!”

Another couple emerges from the hallway adjacent, both of them smiling at me. The man is tall and dark, with an intense gaze and stern features. But his smile is warm. When he looks at the woman beside him, his expression softens. Across his chest is a baby sling with just the top of a dark-haired head poking out.

A different pain pokes at me, but I steadfastly ignore it. No, I tell myself. You knew Rafe and Eden had a baby recently. You’ll just have to get past it.

The curly-haired brunette, who I’m assuming is Eden, rushes across the room towards me. “It’s so nice to finally meet you,” she continues. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

I can’t help feeling uneasy at the way she says it. I know she doesn’t mean it in an ominous way. It’s just how my mind works. But I work up a smile that I hope looks real and say, “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

Eden exchanges a quick glance with Tyler before adding, “All good things, of course. Tyler’s been talking about how great you are, and how smart⁠—”

“Eden,” Tyler interrupts. His cheeks are slightly pink. He glances at the baby and asks, “How’s Amanda doing?”

“Oh!” Eden beams. “She’s amazing!”

Rafe joins Eden’s side. He extends his hand to me and says, “Hi, Melissa. I’m Rafe. Glad you could make it.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I reply as I take his hand. “Thanks for having me.”

Unhappy at being left out, Oscar butts Rafe’s leg with his snout. Then he thunks back on his haunches and lifts his paw for a shake. Rafe looks down at Oscar and laughs, then shakes his paw. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“Your dog is gorgeous,” Eden enthuses. She leans in to give me a quick hug, then offers her hand to Oscar for a sniff. But he bypasses the getting to know you stage and licks her hand instead. Eden giggles. “And very friendly.”

“He is,” I agree. “Sometimes too friendly.”

“No such thing,” she replies easily. “So. I’m Eden, and this little one—” she angles her head at the baby in the sling— “is Amanda. She’s just two months old, so she’s still in her sleeping a lot stage.”

Rafe gives a wry chuckle. “During the day is what Eden means. At night, it’s a different story.”

“She’s adorable,” I say, peeking at the sweet face tucked against Rafe’s chest.

“She is,” Rafe agrees as he gazes at his daughter adoringly. “Takes after her mom, fortunately.”

“Melissa!” another voice calls out from behind me. Turning, I find Bea and Noelle coming towards me, both of them smiling, as well. “Sorry I didn’t say hi right away,” Bea adds apologetically. As soon as she reaches me, she pulls me into a hug. “I got distracted by Indy. But I’m so glad to meet you.”

“Me too,” Noelle says. “Webb’s told me so much about you.” Her attention shifts to Oscar, who’s gazing up at Noelle with his best pay attention to me expression. “And this guy. You’re a handsome man, aren’t you?”

“Are we the last to the party?” a vaguely familiar voice asks. As soon as I find its owner, I recognize him as Ace, who I met briefly during one of the team’s conference calls. He’s joined by a tall brunette with a friendly smile, who I immediately identify as his fiancée, Yara.

“Hey, Melissa,” Yara says as they draw near. She doesn’t hug me, but instead extends her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

Ace—who’s easily a foot taller than me, and probably twice my weight—takes my hand and gives it a gentle shake. “Hi. I’m Ace.”

“I know,” I say, immediately feeling foolish about it. “I mean, from the meeting…”

“Of course,” Ace agrees. “How was the trip?”

Tyler puts his arm around my waist and draws me to his side. “It was long,” he answers for me. “Even with the direct flight, it was still over six hours. I’m thinking I’ll take Mel for a quick tour, just so she feels comfortable here, and then we’ll head back to my place to rest for a while.”

There’s a silent moment after he finishes talking.

Eden and Rafe exchange a quick glance before turning back to us, both of them looking inordinately pleased.

Yara and Ace smile at Tyler like two proud parents.

Noelle and Bea beam.

“Why is everyone looking at me like that?” Tyler asks, slightly pink-cheeked. “You asked.”