Free Protect Me by Lacey Black Page A

you look up family in the dictionary, you’ll probably see their group picture.  
    “Lia, so I know we just met, but I’d love it if you would join us at the wedding,” Erin says from across the table.  
    “Oh, thank you so much for the invite. I’m not sure of my plans, but I will definitely try to make it,” I reply uncomfortably as I shift in my seat.  
    “Well, if you have nothing else to do, just know you are welcome to come. I would love to have you there,” she replies with a friendly smile.  
    “Thank you,” I say, choking out the words in a quiet whispering sound.  
    It’s been so long since I’ve had friends. I had friends in college. Not many, but a few. That was years ago. Before Garrett. Before Garrett ran them all off.  
    “How do you like working at the bakery?” Will asks, breaking me out of my sad little stroll down memory lane.  
    “I love it. I actually worked in a bakery for a few years, back in college,” I tell him.  
    “It’s one of the reasons I hired her,” Avery chimes in. “With Sandra taking a step back to care for her mother, I needed someone with experience and who wasn’t afraid to jump in with both feet. I could tell Lia was my girl about thirty seconds into the initial conversation that turned into a job interview.”  
    I blush at the compliment, concentrating hard on the peas I’m moving around on my plate. I’m not used to being paid so many compliments. Between Nate, Avery, and Mrs. Stevens, it’s almost too much for me to take.  
    Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Brooklyn scoop peas from her plate and place them quickly and quietly on Travis’s plate next to her. I try hard to not smile - really, I do - but I couldn’t help the full-watt smile that breaks out. Just when I’m about to let loose the giggle I’m struggling to contain, the front door bursts open in a rush. Two of the biggest men I’ve ever seen rush inside. Cops. My breath quickens in my chest as I gasp for air, dropping my fork onto my plate with a clank. No one seems to notice, though, as all of the attention is drawn towards the doorway. The way the entire room lights up, I realize quickly that this must be Avery’s husband and brother.  
    As the two men stroll aggressively into the dining room like they are on a mission, Brooklyn jumps up and takes off running. “Daddy!”  
    The dark haired one that I assume to be Avery’s husband, Maddox, dips down and scoops the little girl up. “Hi, princess. Are you being a good girl?” he asks before placing a big kiss on her cheek.  
    “Yep! I’m almost done eating my peas,” she tells him innocently.  
    “Good girl,” he replies, placing another kiss on her forehead, before depositing her back into her chair.  
    The tall blond walks over to Erin, bends down and places a passionate kiss on her lips. She seems stunned at first, but eases into the kiss affectionately. It doesn’t take but a few seconds and I find myself looking away with red cheeks.  
    “Get a room,” Will states from beside me.  
    “If I had time, I would,” he replies with the barest of breaks in the kiss.  
    “Lia, this is my husband, Maddox,” Avery says, just before Maddox places an equally passionate kiss on her lips.  
    “Knock it off,” the blond growls as he rises to his full six foot, three inch height.  
    “I’ve been married to her for a year and a half, dude. We have a son. It’s time to acknowledge that we kiss,” Maddox says earning another menacing growl from the other.  
    “Ignore the testosterone in the room, Lia. That’s my oldest brother, Jake,” Avery says as Maddox tries to keep Ryder from smashing more peas in his nose.  
    “Hey. Nice to meet you, Lia. Are you here with Will?” Jake asks with a raised eyebrow, earning a slap to the stomach from Erin.  
    “No,” I reply.  
    “She’s here as my guest,” Mrs. Stevens chimes in. “She works at the bakery and I wanted her to meet the ladies,” she adds before