“Bennett,” he answered shortly. His lips immediately curved upward. “Dan? Hey, man. How the hell are you?”
Eden waited patiently while Alex continued the conversation with the man named Dan.
“Seriously? Yeah. That would be great. Um…hang on just a sec. I need to check something really quick.” After tapping the mute command on his screen, Alex turned to her. “This is my buddy, Dan. He and I were Force Recon together. I haven’t seen him in like four years. He’s in town for business and wants to meet for lunch.”
Eden completely understood. “That’s fine. I’ll just stay here and keep going through the files.” She turned and started to go back inside, but Alex’s hand on her wrist stopped her.
With a chuckle, he said, “I’m not ditching you, Eden. I meant the three of us could have lunch together.”
“Oh.” She smiled back at him. “Okay.”
“Dan?” Alex made sure his friend was still there. “Yeah, that works. Want to meet us at Gino’s?” He waited a beat and then, “Yep. Still in the same place.” Alex looked at his watch. “Sounds good. We’ll be there in about ten.” There was another short stretch before Eden heard him say, “See you in a few.”
Shoving his phone back into his pocket, he glanced over at her. “You sure this is okay?”
“Of course. I’d love the chance to meet someone who knew you back then.”
Understanding crossed his face. They started walking down the steps and to his Cherokee. “Pretty sure I see where this is going, but if you’re planning to pull a bunch of embarrassing stories from Dan, think again. That man’s as loyal as they come.”
“Fine. I won’t ask him what you were like back then.” Eden nudged him playfully. “I’ll just shake his hand.”
Looking appalled, Alex frowned. “That’s completely unfair, and you know it.”
“I’m just saying, if the man offers his hand, it would be rude of me not to take it.” Eden gave an innocent shrug. “After all, I can’t help what I see,”
With a set of narrowed eyes, he pretended to glare. “You said you could mute your gift, right?”
Eden grinned. “If I want to.”
Alex shook his head but smiled as he put his arm around her shoulders. “Trust me. For both our sakes, you’ll probably want to.”
Ten minutes later, Eden and Alex were standing inside Gino’s Pizzeria, scanning the tables for his friend. When Alex raised his hand in a half-wave, Eden knew he’d spotted the other man.
Weaving between the tables, they made their way to a booth at the back of the restaurant’s dining room. Sliding out to greet them was the man she assumed was his friend.
He was tall and muscular, but not in a bulky way. His short, dark hair and even darker brown eyes were the perfect compliment to his chiseled features. Add to that a set of thick lashes any woman would die to have, and Dan Romeo was one attractive man.
“Hey, Dan.” Alex gave the other man a tight hug. After doing that whole, slapping-the-back thing guys did, the two parted. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”
“You, too.” Dan smiled. Shifting his gaze to hers, the handsome man held out one of his large hands. “Dante Romeo. But everyone calls me, Dan.”
Mentally steeling herself—because that’s what she always did when meeting someone knew—Eden took the man’s hand. Dozens of intense images immediately filled her mind.
Dan and Alex dressed in camouflage. The two men playing soccer in a dirt field with a young boy overseas. Fire. Swirls of greys and blues filled her with a sense of sadness and grief, making Eden’s heart break for the loss the two men had experienced.
The grief was soon replaced by brilliant colors of joy and happiness. Pinks and reds surrounded the image of a beautiful, auburn-haired woman with emerald eyes. Eden instinctively knew she was Dan’s wife.
The next picture flashing behind her eyes was much more personal. It was of Dan and the woman together in a passionate embrace. Eden quickly pushed the intimate memory aside, out of respect for the couple’s privacy, another trick she’d recently learned.
In the next moment, Eden was suddenly filled with a sense of horrific pain and overwhelming fear. Through Dan’s eyes, she witnessed the same woman from before being shot right in front of him.
The metallic scent of blood filled her nostrils. Eden could actually feel the warmth from the sweet woman’s blood seeping between Dan’s fingers as he pressed his hands against the wound to help stop the bleeding.
Panic, pain, and grief threatened to consume Dan’s past self. In turn, those same emotions struck Eden. Like with the other images, however, she used the skills she’d taught herself and pushed it all back.
Thankfully, the negativity quickly morphed into relief, followed by a sense of peace and belonging. Of never-ending love and a marriage made to stand the test of time.
To Eden, the connection she’d made with Dan felt as though it had spanned over several minutes. In reality, the entire exchange lasted mere seconds.
