“You just know everything, don’t you?” She gave him a light shove into the hall. “Girl talk.” After slamming the door, Melodyput her back against it, “What in the world happened last night? I missed out on all the action. Did someone really hit you?”
“Honey, it’s nothing to fuss about. What he did to me is nothing compared to what Atticus did to him.”
She tugged on the collar of her oversized tie-dye tee, which she wore over a long-sleeved black shirt. “I didn’t even get to hear about your visit to the Relic. Everything okay?”
Overwhelmed by all the concern, I rubbed her arm reassuringly. “You’re so sweet for asking. I’m absolutely fine—nothing to worry about. All this drama over nothing.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Well, if you thinkthat’sdrama, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” Melody took my hand. “Follow me.”
As we headed downstairs, I thought about how energetic and fierce Melody was, so it wasn’t surprising that she would have volunteered to guard us pregnant ladies.
She skipped ahead of me and smiled over her shoulder. “Hurry!”
Archer breezed by, and when he noticed me at the base of the stairs, he put his arm around me. “Don’t tell a pregnant woman to hurry.”
He escorted me into the living room, and I got butterflies, uncertain what the excitement was about. The fragrance hit me first—a heady floral scent I knew all too well.
Once I passed the fake trees that bordered the sectional by the hallway, I got the full view of the room. Some of my packmates stood to the right by the massive stone fireplace, and they were watching me like a hawk.
I gaped at hundreds of roses in vases, spread across the room. On the coffee table, accent tables, windowsills, around the hearth, and even on the mantel.
Someone sure got lucky, I thought.
The men in our pack loved competing with each other in the romance Olympics. Recently, Archer hired violinists to play at acatered sunset dinner for Cecilia. Two days later, Tak gifted his mate with the loveliest turquoise stones I’d ever seen.
“What’s the occasion?” I asked. “And who’s the lucky lady? Melody?”
Lakota immediately covered his face.
Hope plucked a red rose from a vase. “You are. These came for you this morning.”
I blanched and searched the room. “Where’s Salem?”
Archer scratched his shoulder. “It wasn’t him. Show her the card.”
Melody waltzed over and flourished the white card.
I read it aloud. “You deserve all the beautiful things. Mr. Rain.”
Melody rocked on her heels. “You madequitethe impression last night. In all the years I’ve known Atticus, he’s never done this for a woman. Not that I’ve seen.”
“Surely it’s a mistake.” I stared at the roses—a deep shade of red with no imperfections on the petals. No dark spots, no dried edges.
The door flung open, and a very naked Virgil sauntered inside. The black cat tattoo on his lower right leg always made me laugh. “Holy cannoli! Who bought out the flower shop?”
Melody plopped onto the sofa with a rose. “Atticus.”
He jerked his head back. “The Vamp? That was sweet, but I’ll have to tell him I’m not interested.”
Archer threw a pillow at him. “They’re for Joy. Probably because of what happened last night.”
“Oh.” He rubbed his forehead. “Last night was a trip.”
“Literally,” I added. “Do you remember anything?”
Virgil stroked his scruffy chin. “Drinking with Krys, then Mercy chasing me with a belt.” Virgil suddenly blinked with surprise. “I forgot about the slap heard round the world. Are you okay?” He headed toward me, arms wide.
Archer cut him off. “Don’t hug her until you put some pants on.”
