Mercy held her arms wide, just as Abigail had. “Not a scratch.” Then she stood up when Rafe rushed into the kitchen, letting herself be swept up into his arms.

Swallowing hard, Liza looked away. She was so happy for Mercy—her friend absolutely deserved all the good things life could bring. But at the same time, it was hard to watch when she knew she’d never have that.

“Thank you, Jeffrey,” Irina said into the phone. “You will put your mother back on the phone now.” She waited, rolling her eyes when Liza met her gaze. “Geri, I think we’re going to have to sit our children down for a little talk. Can you come for dinner and bring Jeffrey?” She smiled. “Of course Cameron is welcome, too. Tell his father he can pick him up here.” She ended the call and grimaced. “Zoya has some explaining to do.”

Rafe derailed Liza’s thoughts by sitting next to her, engulfing her in a huge hug before she could say a word.

“Thank you,” he whispered fiercely. “Thank you so much.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Liza said, patting his back.

“Yeah, she did,” Agent Rodriguez butted in. “And we’ll hear all the details in three, two, one—”

“Hello?” Tom called from the front door. “Anybody here?”

Liza stiffened. He was here already. She hadn’t expected him so soon. They must have used the flashing lights to beat traffic.

“In the kitchen, Tom,” Irina called back. She stood up and put the kettle on. “Who wants tea?”

Liza raised her hand immediately. “Special tea?”

Irina laughed. “You got someone to drive you home?” Because Irina’s “special tea” was infused with cannabis.

“I’ll take her,” Tom said. “She’s on my way,” he added jokingly.

His entry was as different from Rafe’s as day from night. There were no hugs. No comfort. He hadn’t even asked Liza if she was all right. He’d just breezed into the kitchen with his partner, Agent Croft, a woman who was somewhere in her late thirties or early forties. She was supposedly good at her job, which meant she’d watch Tom’s back.

She was also single. Liza had asked.

Liza hoped that Tom’s back was all the woman was watching, but it didn’t really matter, did it? He’s not yours. And I’m not going to let him take me home. She didn’t want to be trapped in a car with him right now, not after watching Rafe and Mercy together. It hurt enough knowing she’d never have that. Not with Tom, anyway. “Just Earl Grey, then,” she amended.

Irina glanced from her to Tom, then shrugged. “As you wish. Liza, if you want to stay here tonight, you’re welcome.”

“Thanks, but no,” Liza told her. “It’s my turn to walk Pebbles.”

The young Great Dane was the only decision Liza had known Tom to make on impulse. The pup had needed a home, having grown too big for the family who’d originally adopted her.

Tom had taken one look at the Dane’s big brown eyes and was a goner, but he’d worried that he might not be home enough to care for a dog. Liza had pledged her help and now their schedules were synchronized around Pebbles’s meals and walks. The dog was a big slobbery pain in the butt with whom Liza had fallen into insta-love.