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And privacy to shift.

“Of course, the first investment would be decent internet, so you can talk to people. No need to go traveling if you don’t have to, right?”

Jake pulled Doc to him and kissed him, slow and sweet.

“Have I told you how happy I am to have you as my mate?”

Doc’s eyes gleamed. “Not in the last two hours, so I might need to hear it again. For reassurance.”

Jake rested his forehead against Doc’s. “They’re not going to let me disappear into the background. Youknowthat, right?”

“Tough. This is your reward for thirty years plus of putting up with Geran hospitality. You get to kick back and relax. Like I said, let others take the lead in any battles to come.”

Jake was hoping for an end to hostilities.

A new beginning.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

EVE KNEWthe second she glanced at her phone for what had to be the third time in about ten minutes that it was one time too many.

Hashtag placed his tablet on the coffee table. “Okay, what’s going on?”

She blinked. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She’d tried not to make it too obvious.

Duh. Hashtag noticed everything.

“Have you had news from the adoption agency? About Logan?”

“Not since the last time we talked about it. They said it shouldn’t be long now.” The waiting was driving her mad.

“And I don’t suppose you know what’s going on outside on the patio either.”

Eve frowned. “What do you mean?” She’d been so preoccupied with the imminent arrival that someone could have driven a tank past the French doors and she wouldn’t have noticed.

“Mrs. Landon has set up a whole load of tables. It looks great out there: tablecloths, glasses, silverware…. A bit too fancy for a cookout, so something’s going on. Is it because Aelryn and his mates are here?”

They’d arrived the day before, along with their guest and much to Horvan and Dellan’s surprise. The fact that Rael had a room ready for the mates should have let them know it wasn’t exactly an unplanned visit.

Rael did a stellar job of blockingthatthought.

Roadkill stuck his head around the door of the living room. “There’s a car pulling up outside. Are we expecting visitors?”

Eve was on her feet in a heartbeat. “Yes.” She hurried out of the room and through the hallway, arriving at the front door just in time to see—

Jamie and two humongous bearded men climbing out of a taxi. The car groaned and went up several inches after the last man stood.

Eve would hate to pay for that car repair.

They towered over him, one older, with a buzzcut shaped into a peak at the front, the sides of his head shaved, the other with dark brown hairswept up from his face, and both of them with broad shoulders and arms, their skintight tees stretched over acres of rippling muscle.

Almost as tight as the jeans they’d poured themselves into.

Oh my.

Down, girl, Roadkill admonished.

Don’t tell me you don’t find them hot.