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Roadkill snickered.Our mate does. I think his ass is puckering looking at them.

Hey! I’m just… admiring. From a distance.

Jamie waved when he saw her. “Hey, I thought no one except Rael knew we were coming.”

She chuckled. “He didn’t say a word.”

He grinned. “In that case—surprise!”

Eve glanced at Jamie’s companions, then gave a sniff. She gaped. “Oh gods, you found your mates, didn’t you?”

“There’s no hiding anything from you, is there?” Jamie gestured to the older of the two men. “This is Shawn.”

The younger guy gave a short bow. “And I’m Brandon. Based on what Jamie’s told us, you have to be Eve.”

“Got it in one.” She gave Jamie a huge hug. “It’s good to see you again.” She stood aside to let them enter as Rael rushed to greet them.

“You made it.” Yet more hugs were exchanged, and then Rael led them toward the living room, from which filtered the sound of music, soon replaced by shouts of delight the minute they entered.

Eve lingered by the front door.

He should be here by now.

Right on cue another taxi pulled onto the driveway. As it came to a stop in front of her, she spied a familiar face in the back seat. Eve dashed forward to open the door for him.

“Victor! Thank you for coming.” Then she got a better view, and her stomach clenched.

The man looked awful. He’d lost some weight; his cheeks were sunken and his eyes listless.

Then she recalled he’d only recently arrived from the UK, and he’d probably gotten no sleep during the flight.

That’s bound to make anyone feel worse.

Victor climbed carefully out of the taxi, and she watched yet another car return to its usual position.

Jamie’s mates are big, but Victor….

He cocked his head toward the house. “Very impressive.” He frowned. “Is that music I hear? It sounds like a party. I had no idea I would be interrupting,” he murmured. “I’ll come back another time.”

“Uh-uh.” Eve grabbed his large hand. “You’re staying here. Trust me, you’ve arrived at the perfect time.” The taxi driver opened the trunk, and Eve took Victor’s bag before he got a chance. “And it’s not a party, just a gathering of family and friends.”

“But I am neither,” he protested.

Eve knew she was tall, but even she had to crane her neck to look Victor in the eye. “Victor,” she said in a low voice. “Please… trust me?”

He stared at her for a moment, then nodded.

She dragged him indoors. As soon as he stepped into the hallway, his head snapped up and his nostrils flared.

“What…. What is that odor?”

She wrinkled her nose. “What do you… oh. Youdidsay you have a great sense of smell. Why don’t you follow it to its source?” Anticipation bubbled up within her at the thought of Victor’s surprise.

As though in a trance, Victor stumbled forward, and Eve opened the door to the smaller sitting room. Victor caught sight of its occupant, and his eyes widened. “Irena!”

His eight-year-old sister launched herself at him, and Victor held her against his massive frame. He kissed her hair, murmuring words Eve couldn’t make out as he cradled Irena to him.

He met Eve’s gaze, tears streaking his cheeks. “Where did you find her?”