Janet's elbow nudged Shawn gently, her whisper meant to temper his enthusiasm. “Remember, Jessie comes from a wealthy family and is an important friend to Melissa. Let's not cause any discomfort."

Shawn's sheepish grin acknowledged the reprimand.

Meanwhile, Jessie, nursing a sore arm from her vaccinations, sensed an undercurrent of tension.

Despite Melissa's effort to maintain normalcy, Jessie picked up on subtle changes in Marcus.

His shirt collar lay undone, and there was an unmistakable glow about him, a clear indication of the couple's recent escapades.