Page 63 of Protected from Torment

Now I feel like I’m one of them.

Not that Tyler and I are at the same stage in our relationship—we’ve been dating for less than a month, after all, and talk of love isn’t on the table yet—but if things keep going as well as they’ve been, I could see us getting there one day.

How crazy is that? After six years alone, absolutely certain I’d spend the rest of my life that way, I’m suddenly contemplating a future with someone.

No, I amend silently. Not just contemplating. Hoping. Because this thing with Tyler is special. And I don’t want it to end.

As the conversation hits a lull, Rafe’s voice rises loud enough for all the guests to hear him. “If I could have everyone’s attention,” he says. “I’d just like to make a quick toast.”

All across the back deck, chatter diminishes and heads swivel towards him. “I’ll keep it quick,” Rafe adds. “Not like Cole and his speeches.”

Apparently, there’s a running joke among the Blade and Arrow family that their founder, Cole, tends to ramble whenever he gets up to talk. And according to Tyler, Cole’s daughter, Clara, has taken to calling him out on it. “Last time I was visiting the New York branch,” Tyler told me the other day, “Clara told Cole to hurry up so they could have dessert. We were all thinking it. But she’s got Cole wrapped around her little finger, so she got away with it.”

“Get on with it, then,” Indy teases.

“I’m trying to,” Rafe shoots back. “So.” He turns his attention to Webb and Noelle. “I just want to say how happy I am for you guys.” He smirks. “Even if you did go off and get married in Antigua without inviting us.”

“We didn’t plan to,” Noelle insists. “But once we saw the beaches and the sunsets… we couldn’t wait.”

Webb kisses Noelle before adding with a laugh, “Once Noelle agreed to marry me right there and then, I wasn’t giving her a chance to change her mind.”

“As if I would,” she retorts. “I love you, Webb Anders. And I couldn’t wait to be your wife.”

Webb beams with pride. “My wife,” he announces, lifting Noelle’s hand above her head and giving her a little spin. “The most amazing woman in the world.”

“Aww,” Bea says. “You two are so perfect for each other.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Tyler adds. He lifts his glass. “To Webb and Noelle.”

A chorus of To Webb and Noelles follows. Glasses raise into the air.

“To Webb and Noelle,” Rafe repeats. He flashes a warm smile at the two of them. “I’m so honored to call both of you family. Congratulations.”

Congratulations ripple across the room as glasses clink together. Webb kisses Noelle and dips her dramatically while she giggles.

Tyler turns to me and taps his beer mug against my goblet of water. His gaze seeks out mine. As the conversation around us shifts to a comparison between the weather in Oregon, Texas, and New Mexico, Tyler pulls me to the side and asks me quietly, “How are you doing?”

I take a sip of my water while I collect my thoughts. “I’m good,” I reply, realizing I truly mean it. “Really good.”

His eyebrows arch up. “Are you sure? Because you can tell me if you’ve had enough.”

“I’m sure.” I set my glass on the table nearby and take his hand. “I was a little nervous at first. But once I talked to everyone, I didn’t feel nervous anymore.”

Tyler frowns. “You should have told me, Mel. We didn’t have to come.”

“Not come to your friends’ wedding party?” I shake my head. “There’s no way I would have asked you to miss it.”

Tyler sets his beer down. He catches Webb’s eye and gives him a tiny chin lift. Then he leads me towards the stairs that lead from the enormous wooden deck at the rear of the Blade and Arrow house and down to the yard below. Once we reach the grass, Tyler turns me to face him. The setting sun casts shadows across his strong features, and his eyes are dark with concern.

“I don’t want you feeling uncomfortable,” he says solemnly. “I’m sorry if you felt pressured into going to this party. I should have thought. Of course it would be hard for you, meeting new people, and with Owl and Stone here⁠—”

“But I wanted to meet your friends,” I interrupt. “Yes, I was nervous about it. Especially with Owl and Stone being former Night Stalkers, too. I know they didn’t work with Vince, but they knew him. So…” I shrug. “I was a little nervous about what they’d think of me.”

Owl and Stone weren’t based out of Fort Campbell, like Webb and Vince, but they’d met during trainings and missions overseas. So when I found out they were coming for the party, I’ll admit, I was scared. What if they knew what I did and were angry at me for it? What if they didn’t want to bring their wives to Blade and Arrow because I was here?

But how could I not come to the party when I was invited? Especially when I’ve gotten to know Tyler’s friends as well as I have in the two weeks I’ve been here? We’ve played games together—including the much talked about extreme Jenga, which was as fun as I’d thought it would be. Before leaving for their trip, Noelle took me on a tour of her theater in Williston. Webb taught me how to play his favorite game, World of Warcraft. Yara showed me the workshop she uses to build her inventions, including some of her top-secret projects. I baked with Bea. Watched documentaries with Eden while Amanda napped.

And Tyler. In the two weeks since I arrived at Blade and Arrow, he’s become so much more than just a man I’m dating. He’s become—dare I say it?—my closest friend. I’ve shared things with him that I haven’t told anyone else. I’ve confessed nearly all of my secrets, and he’s told me his.