Page 51 of Dragged Home for Christmas

Elliott’s gleeful chuckle made him jump. “Well, it’s about time.”

Mike turned his head to look at him. Elliott appeared smug as fuck. “You got something to say?”

Elliott grinned and pointed to their joined hands.

Ashley let out a squeal. “And you didn’t tell me? Some bestieyouare.”

Elliott laughed. “We’ve been laying bets on how long it would be before you two got your act together. I said Thanksgiving, so I win.”

Sam shook his head. “Sorry, honey, but this has been a thing for a week now.”

His eyes narrowed. “Dammit. That means Ant wins again. I swear that girl has a crystal ball or something.” Then his eyes gleamed. “Jim waswayoff. He said you reacting the way you did after we all—”

“Tried your luck?” Mike suggested.

Elliott pinked. “Yeah, that. Well, Jim thought it was a case of the lady protesting too much. He figured Sam had gotten lucky after all, and that you two were doing the horizontal mambo that first night.”

Sam roared with laughter. “I wish.”

Mike blinked. “Really?”

Sam’s sexy grin turned his insides to mush. “Honey, have you any idea how utterly gorgeous you are? Walking away from your room that night was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” He chuckled and leaned in to whisper, “And it was probably the hardest I’d ever been too, right up to the moment we started getting hot ‘n’ heavy on my bed.”

“Hey guys?” Elliott gave them a mock glare. “I can’t hear whatever it is you’re whispering about, but I can make a guess. I have delicate ears, y’know.”

Sam covered his mouth to muffle his laughter.

“And I don’twantto hear it,” Ashley protested.

Mike gave her a pointed stare. “Do I complain when you drool over a certain police officer? Hmm?”

She gasped. “I donotdrool.”

Sam snorted. “Honey, we’d need to buy shares in Kleenex just to keep the place stocked up so we can clean up after you.”

“Can we stop discussing boyfriends?” Elliott demanded. “Especially when I’m getting nowhere with a certain artist.”

Mike’s heart went out to him. “Just keep being you. He’ll soon see what a wonderful man you are.”

Jim poked his head through the door. “In case any of you missed it, there’s a brunch going on today. So will you all move your asses and jump to it?”

Mike gave a salute. “Sir, yes sir.”

They had a roomful of people to feed.

Mike had no idea how many people had turned up. The space had been stretched to capacity, and a lot of diners had sat on the edge of the stage when they ran out of chairs. The tables had been covered with food: in addition to all the dishes supplied by the caterers, guests had brought bowls of potato salad, garlic bread, rolls, cheese, slices of turkey and ham, deviled eggs, and boxes filled with cake. Talk and laughter filled the room, and the sight of so many people sitting together, enjoying good company, made Mike’s heart soar.

Nick would have loved this.

Phil had offered to play the piano while everyone ate, and Anthony kept him supplied with food.Sorry—Miss Dixx, I should say. Apart from Jim and Mike, the others were in drag, mingling with the guests, making sure everyone had enough to eat, and replenishing glasses with water, fruit punch or soda. It tickled Mike to watch Miss Dixx feeding Phil by hand, and judging by his enraptured expression, Phil was more than happy with that arrangement.

I see. Like that, is it?

Cherry Popp was in fine form, sashaying between the tables, making jokes and offering suggestive comments—out of earshot of any kids—that had everyone laughing and quite a few guests blushing. Mike had to laugh when she sat in the lap of one of Patrick Murphy’s off-duty buddies who’d joined him for the brunch.

Ashley’s expression was all too obvious:Sit in Patrick’s lap, and you’re one dead queen.Then Mike caught sight of Stephan Yeager’s face as he stared at Cherry, and in that one moment he glimpsed the truth.

Elliott might not have all that long to wait until Stephan makes a move.

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