Page 63 of Peyton's Price

Liam dismissed that with a flick of his fingers. “He’s always been happy-go-lucky, with the exception of that time he didn’t know where Tahlia was, but now they’re together, he’s…different.”

“You’re not blaming her?” Peyton didn’t understand. Tahlia was the sweetest, kindest woman she’d ever met, with the possible exception of Maggie. Peyton was lucky to call her a friend.

“No. It’s just that since they got together, he’s so…so…”

“He’s what?”

“Religious. Like church on Sundays rain or shine—and not because Thalia is making him go either.” Liam scratched his head. “It’s all him. I think she’d rather sleep in on Sundays. He even goes on Wednesdays sometimes, too. It’s weird. I wasn’t even sure we had all been baptized until Trick checked on it so the archbishop would perform the service at his wedding.”

Peyton frowned, checking Matthias’ reaction, but the other man simply shook his head. “I don’t know the man well enough to comment.”

“Well, I do,” she protested. “Patrick may have found God, but he’s still Trick. He loves you, and he’s just as loving and open-minded as he ever was. He would never attend a church that tried to change that about him.”

Liam wasn’t convinced. “That’s easy to say, but I honestly don’t know how he’ll handle this sort of relationship.”

He reached for the champagne bottle again. “But let’s worry about that later. We should hammer out a few other details, like a traveling agreement. Sooner or later, I’m going to need to check on our hotels. Trick and Maggie are covering everything adequately now, but Thalia is six months pregnant. Trick is going to want to stay home with her the closer she gets to her due date. And he won’t be able to travel at all once the baby is born.”

“I’m happy to point theOrmen Langein the direction of whatever continent you need to visit,” Matthias offered.

“That’ll help, but sailing around on this island isn’t going to cut it. We’re going to need to fly sometimes.”

Matthias expression soured.

“You’re not afraid to fly, are you?” Peyton asked.

“No, but I find planes…pedestrian.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Liam smirked. “TheOrmen Langeis amazing, but it’s too slow. I’d like to make a rule that we don’t spend more than a few days apart unless we absolutely have to—a week at the most.”

Peyton decided to pour herself a glass of champagne. “I like this rule.”

“It’s a fine rule,” Matthias conceded, patting the fabric of his chair as if he were telling it goodbye. “Very well, I agree. But, sometimes, we may need to take a break from each other, too. I propose that Peyton keeps her stateroom next door, and you get one across the hall. By default, we’ll stay in mine, since it’s the biggest, but none of us should be afraid to speak up and tell the others we need some time alone when we need it.”

“I don’t like that rule,” Liam growled.

“But it’s smart,” Peyton interjected. “Thank you for suggesting it,” she told Matthias.

“A natural peacemaker,” he observed.

“She learned running interference for her drunk of a father.”

“Liam,” Peyton warned. “Do not harsh my buzz by bringing up my dad.”

Matthias sniffed. “Why don’t we add that one to the rules?”

“Agreed,” Liam muttered, watching her out of the corner of his eye. “And we need to discuss something else. Birth control. We haven’t been using anything. And since we haven’t, I’d like to skip the condom route. I never had anyone bare before, and I don’t want to go back—not with you.”

He took her hand. “I can assure you that I’m completely clean. Like I said before, it’s been a while for me. I got a complete workup after Matthias.”

“Thanks for that.” Matthias laughed.

“I know where you’ve been,” Liam sniped. “And I’m fine. You’re obviously clean, too. Otherwise, you wouldn’t run the risk of me killing you for touching Peyton, but pregnancy is still a concern.”

Peyton’s lips parted. “It’s, uh, taken care of.”

“It is?”

“I’m taking some shots.”

---