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Authors: Cindy Spencer Pape
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while.”
“I’ve heard their stuff. They’d be a good fit,” Jase added.
“Go,” Greg told them. It wasn’t up to him, anyway. George managed the kitchen and booked the bands while Greg was in charge of the bar and the books. It was still early enough to catch a set pretty much anywhere. “We could use some new sounds.”
Both men took the time to hug Fee good-night and renew their congratulations. Greg tried not to snarl. Odd, how even having his mated and gay brother touch her raised Greg’s hackles.
“I’m going upstairs to change and take a bubble bath,” Lana decreed as they left. She, too, kissed Fee’s cheek. “I really couldn’t be happier, cuz. We’ll talk in the morning, okay? Ten-ish? Mani-pedis and hair appointments are definitely in order before the big night.”
Fee nodded as if in a daze and stared after Lana’s retreating back. Greg moved up behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders, which were taut with strain. “I think we need to talk.” He automatically began to knead her tense muscles.
“Yes.” She sagged against his hands. “What do—?”
“Upstairs.” The short walk might give him time to figure out what to say. “And don’t worry about the mess. I’m calling a cleaning service in the morning to finish the work.”
“And the guard service Des mentioned?” She turned her face up to look at him, and the lines of fatigue around her eyes about broke his heart.
“Already done. There are cars in the front and back, watching on a twenty-four-hour basis. Tomorrow morning, they’ll upgrade our alarm system and locks. When we reopen, they’ll have a guard stationed inside.”
“Good.” When he headed toward the stairs, she followed, shutting doors and turning off lights as they went. He liked that she obviously felt so at home here. When she paused outside her apartment door, though, he tugged on her hand. “Let’s go up to my place. I have better beer in my fridge than you keep in yours.” And he had condoms. She probably didn’t. Come to think of it, maybe that made it safer to talk in her place. As much as he wanted her, he should probably wait.
“But I have a bottle of elven wine that Elise sent me.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ve been saving it for a special occasion, or a really rough night.”
“And this probably qualifies as both,” he added. “Fine.” He stood back and let her unlock her door, but preceded her inside, just in case.
He’d been in Fee’s apartment before, of course, but tonight he looked at it with fresh eyes. It was pretty bare. He’d provided some basic furnishings, but she’d been allowed to bring almost nothing with her from her previous life to personalize the place, and her salary as a waitress didn’t lend itself to extensive interior decorating. Still, she’d managed to make the big, mostly empty flat look something like a home. A landscape of Faerie held the place of honor on the living room wall opposite the windows. A gift, he assumed, from Meagan, since no way could Fee afford one of her paintings.
“From Aidan and Elise,” she murmured. “As a thank you.”
He didn’t have to ask for what. Seeing Fee almost bleed out on Aidan’s floor was imprinted in his brain. Since Elise owned the gallery that sold Meagan’s paintings, the gift made sense. A few of Jase’s pottery pieces also dotted the room. A soft aqua-tinted vase in one corner held ivory silk lilies and a cream-colored bowl on the cheap wooden dining table was filled with green apples and pears. Pillows in pale greens and blues decorated the plain cream faux-suede sofa, and a couple larger ones made for additional seating on the floor. It was plain, but it suited her sleek, elegant style without being cold or uncomfortable.
Most of all, it smelled like Fee. Sweet vanilla and peach overtones filled the apartment, and Greg squirmed to keep his jeans from cutting anything off.
“Have a seat.” She gestured to the sofa and
“I’ve heard their stuff. They’d be a good fit,” Jase added.
“Go,” Greg told them. It wasn’t up to him, anyway. George managed the kitchen and booked the bands while Greg was in charge of the bar and the books. It was still early enough to catch a set pretty much anywhere. “We could use some new sounds.”
Both men took the time to hug Fee good-night and renew their congratulations. Greg tried not to snarl. Odd, how even having his mated and gay brother touch her raised Greg’s hackles.
“I’m going upstairs to change and take a bubble bath,” Lana decreed as they left. She, too, kissed Fee’s cheek. “I really couldn’t be happier, cuz. We’ll talk in the morning, okay? Ten-ish? Mani-pedis and hair appointments are definitely in order before the big night.”
Fee nodded as if in a daze and stared after Lana’s retreating back. Greg moved up behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders, which were taut with strain. “I think we need to talk.” He automatically began to knead her tense muscles.
“Yes.” She sagged against his hands. “What do—?”
“Upstairs.” The short walk might give him time to figure out what to say. “And don’t worry about the mess. I’m calling a cleaning service in the morning to finish the work.”
“And the guard service Des mentioned?” She turned her face up to look at him, and the lines of fatigue around her eyes about broke his heart.
“Already done. There are cars in the front and back, watching on a twenty-four-hour basis. Tomorrow morning, they’ll upgrade our alarm system and locks. When we reopen, they’ll have a guard stationed inside.”
“Good.” When he headed toward the stairs, she followed, shutting doors and turning off lights as they went. He liked that she obviously felt so at home here. When she paused outside her apartment door, though, he tugged on her hand. “Let’s go up to my place. I have better beer in my fridge than you keep in yours.” And he had condoms. She probably didn’t. Come to think of it, maybe that made it safer to talk in her place. As much as he wanted her, he should probably wait.
“But I have a bottle of elven wine that Elise sent me.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ve been saving it for a special occasion, or a really rough night.”
“And this probably qualifies as both,” he added. “Fine.” He stood back and let her unlock her door, but preceded her inside, just in case.
He’d been in Fee’s apartment before, of course, but tonight he looked at it with fresh eyes. It was pretty bare. He’d provided some basic furnishings, but she’d been allowed to bring almost nothing with her from her previous life to personalize the place, and her salary as a waitress didn’t lend itself to extensive interior decorating. Still, she’d managed to make the big, mostly empty flat look something like a home. A landscape of Faerie held the place of honor on the living room wall opposite the windows. A gift, he assumed, from Meagan, since no way could Fee afford one of her paintings.
“From Aidan and Elise,” she murmured. “As a thank you.”
He didn’t have to ask for what. Seeing Fee almost bleed out on Aidan’s floor was imprinted in his brain. Since Elise owned the gallery that sold Meagan’s paintings, the gift made sense. A few of Jase’s pottery pieces also dotted the room. A soft aqua-tinted vase in one corner held ivory silk lilies and a cream-colored bowl on the cheap wooden dining table was filled with green apples and pears. Pillows in pale greens and blues decorated the plain cream faux-suede sofa, and a couple larger ones made for additional seating on the floor. It was plain, but it suited her sleek, elegant style without being cold or uncomfortable.
Most of all, it smelled like Fee. Sweet vanilla and peach overtones filled the apartment, and Greg squirmed to keep his jeans from cutting anything off.
“Have a seat.” She gestured to the sofa and
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