Page 86 of Rafe’s Future

The invitation to join Alice and the team’s significant others was a pleasant but unexpected surprise. It had also come at the perfect time, since Rafe was holding a mandatory meeting with his team.

He hadn’t divulged the reason for the impromptu conference with his men, and Lena hadn’t pried. If he wanted her to know, he’d tell her. Until then, she was going to enjoy an afternoon being one of the girls.

“And by ‘dishes’”—Coulter’s fiancée, Alex Webb, intervened with a set of air quotes—“Shadow means Digger reorganized the entire kitchen.”

There was a collective gasp as all eyes at the table swung Alice’s way.

“Seriously?” Avery Morgan’s eyes grew wide.

Lena sent the sweet accountant a sideways smirk. “I’m with you. Organizing bowls and coffee mugs doesn’t exactly strike me as Digger’s usual M.O.”

“Uh, because it’s not.” Alice laughed.

Nicki McAllister took a sip of her coffee and swallowed. “I’m not going to lie, that totally sounds like something Ethan would do.”

“Beckett, too,” Evie Stone laughed softly.

“Oh, it gets better.” Alice held up a hand, letting them know she hadn’t finished the whole story.

“But wait, there’s more!” Alex announced in her best infomercial impression.

Another round of laughter ensued. Lena settled back in her chair with a smile, her to-go mug still steaming from the tiny opening in the lid. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so relaxed.

Oh, I don’t know . . . you seemed pretty relaxed this morning.

The memories of how Rafe had woken her up a few short hours before made it difficult not to blush.

Put a pin in it, Price. The man’s daughter is right there, for crying out loud.

Another sip of her hot brew helped conceal the grin she couldn’t seem to fully contain.

“And then”—Alice continued—“he also insisted on doing all the cooking while I was recovering, so he took it upon himself to stock the fridge.”

“That’s actually pretty sweet.” Evie shrugged.

“It would have been if he’d bought food that I actually eat.”

Rafe’s daughter earned another round of laughter with that comment, Lena’s included. It was oddly comforting, sitting with these women and listening to them talk about their everyday lives.

Husbands. Fiancés. Their respective jobs. All the little things that happened when none of them were busy trying to save the world.

She had spent most of her life surrounded by people who knew how to keep secrets, while these women seemed to have made an art out of sharing. And despite her being a decade older—or more—than the other women, they’d each been accepting of her presence. Almost instantly, they’d made Lena feel as though she was a part of the close-knit circle.

Avery shifted in her chair, one hand instinctively settling over her adorable baby bump. “At least Garrett hasn’t reorganized anything yet.”

“Give him time.” Alex gave her sister a look.

Avery laughed. “He’s actually been pretty good about the whole pregnancy thing. He’s excited. And nervous.” Her smile softened. “I think he’s still trying to wrap his head around the fact that we’re going to be responsible for an actual tiny human.”

Lena watched the expression on Avery’s face as she spoke of her husband. There was genuine happiness there, and it did something to Lena’s heart to know that “happily married” was still a thing.

“How have you been feeling?” Evie asked the mother-to-be.

“Good, mostly.” Avery shrugged. “Tired. Hungry. Like . . . all the freaking time.” A roll of her pretty eyes. “I swear, I eat breakfast, and I’m starving again an hour later.”

“That’s because you’re feeding two people,” Evie reminded her.

Avery grinned. “That’s what I keep telling Garrett.”