She knew they were both still in the house. She’d nearly willed them not to leave, though she doubted it was necessary. If they felt half the magnetic pull she felt, they wouldn’t be able to leave her behind.
She glanced at her watch. Mimi had said the baby would come “tomorrow,” and in true Mimi form, it was just after midnight.
Melinda shoved off the wall and padded down the hallway. She had no idea where her shoes had gone. Hopefully someone grabbed them from the yard earlier.
When she rounded the corner and stepped into the great room, she stopped and soaked in the view. Keegan and Trace turned from the front window to face her. Their expressions were serious.
It didn’t escape her notice that they were enormous presences in any room, both of them pushing six feet while she barely reached five feet on a good day.
Keegan spoke first. “I hear crying.”
“Yep. It’s a girl. They named her McKenna.”
“Ten fingers? Ten toes?” Trace asked.
Melinda nodded.
“You must be exhausted.” Trace made the first move to step in her direction.
She shrugged. “I didn’t do any of the work.” She glanced down at her dress. It wasn’t even wrinkled. “My job was to hold Rebecca’s hand and provide moral support. I’m pretty sure Miles and Griffen paced a hole in the new carpet, though.”
Trace laughed. “Imagine that. My brother. A father.”
Keegan reached for her hand. “How did you know the baby was coming? You started running even before Carlie called for you outside.”
Melinda lifted her face to meet his gaze. She glanced back and forth between Trace and Keegan. “I’m intuitive.” She shrugged, not wanting to have this conversation right then.
“Griffen told us you have a gift.” Keegan squeezed her hand. “I’m looking forward to learning more about it.”
“You will. Trust me.” Melinda glanced around. They were the only three left in the great room. It was spotless. Her mother and Trace’s mother must have spent the entire time cleaning up from the party while bonding. Already there was no evidence anyone had been there. All grandparents had made their way toward the baby as soon as the wailing began.
“Is there anything else you need to do, hon?” Keegan asked.
Melinda blew out a breath and shook her head. The tight ball in her stomach gripped tighter as she watched the concern on his face. They’d just met. For their species, it was a done deal, but it still unnerved her.
Even though both men treated her with such consideration, she was scared out of her mind.
“Are you okay with going back to my house?” Keegan continued. If she wasn’t mistaken, he held his breath after he spoke.
Melinda was a ball of nerves. On the one hand, of course she was going with them. She was going anywhere they wanted to take her for as long as they wanted to stay there.
On the other hand, she’d never been more stressed in her life. Most importantly, she had a secret to divulge that was going to make both men’s eyes widen with disbelief. She wasn’t looking forward to it, but there was no way to avoid it either. One way or another, she had to tell them.
She nodded.
Trace reached her first and took her hand gently. He gave a light tug and lured her toward the front door. “Keegan has his own house just south of Cambridge. I live in town in a condo with my brother Zach. Doubtful we’ll go back there anytime soon.”
“I should go by my place and get some things. But that would be kind of a long drive in the wrong direction…” She thought about this for a second and realized there was no way she could sit in a trapped car with these two men that long. It would kill all three of them.
“Whatever you need, we’ll get it tomorrow, or run out to a store.” Trace squeezed her hand tighter and pulled her closer.
“Okay.” She nodded. “Did anyone grab my shoes?” She glanced around.
“Right here.” Keegan held them up with one hand. “Do you have a purse somewhere?”
She pointed to the table by the front door. Keegan spun around, grabbed it, and opened the door. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll follow you,” Melinda said.
Trace halted her with a quick tug on her hand. “Mmm. I hate that idea. Let’s leave your car here and come back for it tomorrow.”
She took a deep breath, a mistake on her part if she wanted to hold her ground, because every inhale filled her with more and more of these two men. She shuffled from one foot to the other. She really needed the time to think and regroup. This was serious. A huge step. Bigger than either man knew.
Trace cupped her face and tipped her head back. “Come with us in my truck, baby. Please.”