Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(53)

“The boys. Jack’s squad. We’re done for today. We need their laughter. Trust me.” And with that command, Mel snatched up the baby and Shelby grabbed David. They made their way across the street to the bar.

They were barely in the door when Mel found herself instantly whirled around by Tom Stephens, while Josh immediately grabbed David out of Shelby’s arms and hefted him into the air to check his weight.

“Shelby, meet Josh Phillips,” Mel said a little breathlessly. “He’s a paramedic from Reno. And this wild man is Tom Stephens, a news chopper pilot from the same place.”

With an arm around her shoulders, Tom said to Mel, “I know you’ve had a bad couple of weeks, sweetheart. Anything I can do to make it better?”

She patted his chest and said, “Just miss him with me, Tom. That’s all we’re left with right now.”

“Aw, baby—you know no one wanted to see the old boy go. I bet wherever he is, the fishing’s good.”

“Given his surly behavior, the fish might be fried where he is,” she joked. “I’m glad you’re here. We need some of what you boys have. This bar has been really quiet. Well, except for the pounding.”

“Well, we don’t exactly specialize in quiet.” He laughed and took Emma out of her arms. “Let’s have a look at our girl. Whoa, she’s putting on some weight. Thank God, she looks like you, Mel. I’d hate for her to have a face like the ugly mug you married.”

“I think he’s very handsome,” she said.

The alarm of their arrival had somehow been sounded, probably by Jack from the phone in the kitchen. It brought out Mike, Preacher, and from the general’s house, Walt, Joe and Paul. By five o’clock the men had all gathered and the neighbors were starting to show their faces—the Carpenters, Connie and Ron of the corner store, Joy and Bruce, Harv, the county lineman, Hope McCrea and finally, Muriel St. Claire.

Mel’s delight wasn’t as pure as it might have been ordinarily, but her mood was lifted by their presence. At a little after five, Luke Riordan made his appearance and Mel noticed that Shelby’s eyes took on a very familiar glow. The early-evening gatherings at the bar had been extremely subdued since Doc’s passing; even Shelby grieved. But with the presence of the marines, everything seemed just a little bit better.

Luke was welcomed by the brothers and drawn in with friendly approval. The conversation quickly turned to missions and commands as they compared notes, trying to figure out if they had mutual friends or had served in common battle arenas at the same time. Then more women began to arrive and Luke watched curiously as the men greeted each one as if she could be a sister or girlfriend. When Paige came out of her quarters with the new baby, the tot was passed around from man to man, each of whom took her close and affectionately, praised her beauty and snuggled her like any fond uncle might. Her son, Christopher, was soon riding on various shoulders while Paige was being embraced.

Brie came in from the RV behind the bar, her home until her house was finished, and damned if each one of those men didn’t have his hands all over her belly like he’d been the one to put that baby in there. After a quick feel, they’d compliment Mike on his excellent potency. “You got her cooking a good one here, brother,” Josh said. “Baby, you are more gorgeous than ever!” said Tom.

Then came Vanessa and Nikki and the whole process was repeated again, with bone-rattling hugs and sloppy kisses. It was a whole new experience for Luke. Even in his own family of biological brothers, he hadn’t seen anything like it. But it interested him, the way these men behaved toward each other’s women, as though it was expected. As if they idolized each other’s wives as much as their own, treating them with a fondness that was hardly superficial; an intimacy that was at once deep and completely respectful. The trust was implicit; the affection appeared genuine. The security they felt in their relationships was obvious.

Luke had never lived in this kind of world.

Preacher was poaching fish, steaming rice and vegetables, putting out snacks. The man’s typically serious expression had turned happy and his grin was bigger than Luke had ever seen. Drinks and food were served, the noise grew louder as the evening grew later. Then slowly, the women began to disappear to take care of their children.

Luke had gratefully allowed himself to be pulled into the brotherhood. It scratched an itch he’d had for a while; he’d been missing his own military brothers. But when he noticed that the women had begun to depart, he stole a glance at Shelby. Mel had put on her jacket and with Jack’s help with the children, she made her way out of the bar, leaving Shelby momentarily alone.

Their relationship had just started heating up when Doc died. In the couple of weeks since he’d had his arms around her now and then, but she only laid her head on his chest and sighed heavily, tired and sad. The load of Doc’s passing had been heavy, both emotionally and workwise. It derailed what would have been a serious seduction from him.

Luke went to her before she could leave or get caught up in conversation with someone else. When he approached her it gave him a lift to see her smile.

“I haven’t seen as much of you as I’d like,” he said.

“It’s been a difficult time. Are you doing okay?” she asked.

“Busy. I’ve gotten a lot done without you to distract me. Tell me about you.”