Page 79 of The Science of Attraction

I wasn’t about to walk away, but I didn’t see any miracles in our future either.

Still, for the next couple of weeks as the clock ticked down, and for as long as we could manage after, I’d believe in the impossible right along with him.

CHAPTERTWENTY

Liam

We were showeredand dressed by the skin of our teeth when Holden’s ute pulled in beside the cottage bang on seven. There was a lot of clearing of throats and loud talking and even some hammering on the front door before it slowly eased open and Zach stuck his head inside with his hand over his eyes.

“Is it safe?” He peered between his fingers, clocked the two of us making breakfast in the kitchen, and flung the door wide. “The coast is clear,” he called to the others and the four men bundled inside, grinning from ear to ear.

“Do we need to re-pile or get any furniture professionally cleaned?” Zach wandered into the kitchen and stole the piece of toast Jules was buttering.

“Hey!” Jules slapped the back of his brother’s hand with the flat of his knife and made a grab to retrieve the toast, but Zach was too fast and scooted into the lounge with his ill-gotten gains.

“Have a seat.” I waved everyone to the table. “We raided your fridge and cooked bacon and eggs for six.”

Holden’s eyes popped. “Really? Cool.” He grabbed a chair and made himself comfortable while Gil looked at his boyfriend in disbelief.

“You’ve had breakfast.”

Holden pulled his boyfriend down for a kiss. “Your homemade fruit and muesli and wholegrain cheese muffins were delicious and... healthy, as always. But this is bacon and eggs, baby. The power breakfast of the Mackenzie Basin. A meal steeped in history and tradition. It would be rude not to.”

Gil slapped Holden up the back of the head and turned to me. “Two slices of bacon and two eggs, that’s it.”

Unseen by Gil, Holden held up four fingers and I had to laugh. Gil turned and grabbed Holden’s hand, only to find himself pulled onto Holden’s knee. “I love it when you get all bossy on me.”

I flicked a glance to Jules who mouthed the wordsme too, and my cheeks blew hot.

Zach snorted. “Aw, look at you two. It’s so cute.” He eyed Jules and shook his head. “But also, really fucking weird seeing my big bro all gooey-eyed over a guy. Like I’ve walked into some parallel universe.”

“Oh my god. Sit before you get yourself in even more trouble.” Luke manhandled Zach into a chair while sending me an apologetic look. “Just ignore him.”

“It’s fine,” I reassured him before turning my attention to Zach. “But you might wanna give that nice mat of yours in front of the fire a really good clean, just saying.”

Zach’s eyes bugged. “Why? What did you do?” He spun to check the gorgeous cream wool rug that looked damn spanking new. “Did you—no, you wouldn’t dare. I left blankets on the footstool, for Pete’s sake. And you had a perfectly good bed.”

Jules barked out a laugh and Zach’s gaze narrowed.

He made a slow turn to face his brother. “You better not be fucking with me. That thing cost a fortune, and it’s the only design Luke and I could agree on.”

Jules waggled his brows and slid a platter laden with bacon and eggs and toast onto the table. “And very comfortable it was too.”

Zach scowled, his gaze flicking between Jules and me. “What does that mean?”

Luke’s hand clamped over Zach’s mouth. “They’re just messing with you.”

Jules’ eyes danced. “I have two words for you, brother. Cherry lube. Really?”

Holden and Gil groaned, but Zach’s face lit up. “Yes! I hoped you’d read the label. Was it everything you imagin?—”

Luke slapped his hand over Zach’s mouth again. “Time to eat, buttercup. I’ve got a full day ferrying tourists all over the Mackenzie and you’ve got a meeting with those people from the assistance dog trust.”

Zach grumbled something about boyfriends who think they’re so damn funny, but he did as he was told. I loaded a plate, settled at the table, and let the conversation buzz around me. I thought again about our plans, about how much I liked these men, and about how the chance to get to know them better would be something special.

“What would you say about doing a consult for me before you leave the district?” Gil asked when I pushed my empty plate aside. “It’s for a retreat client coming in a couple of months.”

“Sure.” I wiped the grease from my lips with a napkin. “As long as they sign a consent, their doctor agrees, and both the doctor and the client will talk with me. I can’t do much without the last two. What’s the issue?”

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