He feathered my hair. “You’re so damn cute.” His Aussie accent might’ve dimmed slightly during his almost year in Canada…but not much.
“Where would you like me to put the curry puffs?” Adam rolled his eyes—quite accustomed to his husband’s antics.
“I’ll snag them from you and take them to the kitchen. Make yourselves at home. No eggnog.”
Dean snorted. “You remember, eh?”
“How can anyone possibly forget that you both love eggnog? Seriously.” I headed to the kitchen with the tray.
Lucia was arranging a spread of pigs in a blanket on a tray to go in the oven. “Oh, wieners! My favorite.”
My favorite nephrologist groaned.
I snickered. “Oh, Adam’s here. With Dean in tow.”
“I’ll have to go say hello to the newlyweds. Christmas feels like a million years ago.”
“True that. They missed the New Year’s party because, you know, honeymoon.”
“It’s a thing, Quinton. Sometimes there are occasions that are more important than your parties.”
I huffed. “Liar. Take that back.” I hissed like a cat.
She laughed. “Oh God, you’re adorable. Mama’s spring rolls are just about ready to come out of the oven.”
“Oh, thanks for the heads-up.”
“No problem.” She grabbed a tray of cheese and crackers with dip. “Later.” With that, she sailed out of the kitchen.
I gave a quick thought to the family hanging out upstairs in my bedroom. They’d been well-fed, and were waiting for the signal from me. On that thought, I tried to time out when to grab the crab dip. One of my most popular dishes.
In walked Maddox, Ravi, and two men I didn’t know.
Maddox wore his plaid shirt—red-and-black checked. The outfit suited his auburn hair and beard. He had stunning blue eyes as well.
“Okay, seriously? You and Dean matching?” I turned my attention away from the yummy lumberjack ginger and pivoted to his scrumptious tan-skinned husband. “At least you’re wearing hearts.”
Ravi grinned and held his arms out. “You know it.” His red shirt was covered in white hearts. “Glad I got the night off work.” Ravi, like me, was a nurse over in Abbotsford. But whileI rotated, he worked in the pediatric department. “And with the twins at Maddox’s sister’s place, we’re free.” He looped his arms around Maddox and grinned.
They had three-year-old twins. Better known as demon children.
No, that wasn’t true. Victor was an angel—Violet was a mini hellion who was way too smart for her own good. In November, she’d attempted to flush her stuffed toy down the toilet.
The men had new flooring in their bedroom after the flooding…
“Your sister is doing babysitting duty?”
“Hillary is extracting a huge payment—she’s dropping her twins, Alannah and Alexa, as well as Oliver, at our place for all of next weekend while she and Steve enjoy a ski vacation in Whistler.” Maddox’s cheeks went ruddier. “I do not want to think about what my sister is going to be getting up to.”
I laughed. Then pivoted my attention to the couple behind my friends. “I’m Quinton. Welcome to my Absolutely Amazing Valentine’s Shindig.”
The taller man, with long blond hair, and model good looks, stuck out his hand. “Archer Chamberlain. This is my partner, Gideon. Thanks for inviting us.”
I should’ve recognized the man earlier. I’d seen his picture, after all. The one Archer had taken of Gideon and the kids.Be cool. Just because this is Leo’s Gideon, doesn’t mean you get to lose your shit.“So glad you could make it.” I eyed Maddox who gestured to Ravi with his chin.
Ravi blinked. “Oh shit. I didn’t tell you at work this week…did I?”
“Um…I’m going to have to saynoon that one.”
