Chapter Thirty-Nine
Jett
“Anyone home?” I called as I entered the kitchen. It was pretty late. Today had been a hard day at the station, so after work I’d gone to the head spa, gotten a spicy snack, grabbed a few things at the market, then spent hours at the gym.
I put the food away and went upstairs. The bedroom was quiet.
Even though Brennan wouldn’t be home until tonight, this morning I’d still made the bed the way he liked it.
Well, I added the stuffies from Grace and put them on the pillows.
He’d done that the first day we’d had them, before he had to leave for his business trip.
It made me smile that Brennan had gone from wanting her out of the house to giving the stuffie she made him the place of honor on the bed.
The idea of her, Spencer, and Riley making everyone stuffies had been a fun one.
Riley had given Spencer one in a tux, and Evan’s wore a shirt that said I Love My Little Sister.
Grace had made Wes a girl hippo with a recorded message.
Spencer had made one for Riley in a goth outfit, complete with a backpack with bat wings.
Grace had put away hers without showing anyone, but I had it on good authority from Evan that hers wore lingerie and had a spicy recorded message from Spencer.
Had Grace recorded Brennan or me a message? Huh. I grabbed my boxer bear and squeezed every limb–and the ass. No message. I did the same for Brennan’s. When I squeezed the left foot, I was rewarded with her soft voice saying, You’re such a good boy.
Amazing. He probably didn’t even know it did that. Should I tell him? Hmmm.
I showered and changed. There was a text from Spencer.
Spencer
I have to rush off to take care of a production facility emergency. I’ll be back.
Oh. So, he wasn’t home. Grace was probably with Evan and Wes. Evan was going to stay with Wes tonight so I could have Brennan to myself when he got here. Okay, so I could have him for a while. Evan would probably crawl in with us at some point.
Riley was upstairs in the third-floor sunken living room playing video games. I waved; she waved back but seemed very busy shooting zombies.
I went downstairs and found Grace trying to drag an enormous cardboard box across the living room.
“Grace.” I went to help her. “You’re not with Wes and Evan?”
She shook her head as we dragged it outside, where the recycling went. “Alone time. I was with Spencer, but he had a work emergency.”
“I’m sure you can join them,” I remarked as we went back inside, not seeing a scenario where she wouldn’t be welcomed by those two.
“Later, after they’re asleep. I don’t want to interrupt them. All the stuff Evan and I ordered from CoCoCozy yesterday came today. I was just working on getting the guest rooms set up.” Grace frowned. “Should we freshen up the guest house? Just in case?”
Just in case of what? Honestly, we should probably turn it into an art studio for Riley.
“Maybe, but not tonight.” I followed her into the creepy doll guest room, which had a hutch for her dolls, a daybed covered in shopping bags, a little table with small chairs, a toybox, a bookshelf, and a beanbag. Okay, the toybox was in pieces, and not all the chairs were put together.
No more cardboard, though. She seemed anxious, flitting around the room, gathering up trash and putting it in a sack. I should help her, but I wanted to have the food ready by the time Brennan came home.
“I’ll help you assemble furniture tomorrow. Hey, how would you like me to teach you to make something? You can have some,” I offered. Considering she’d worked in a bakery, she’d probably find it interesting.
“You’re going to cook this late at night?” She nearly tripped over the furniture pieces and did a little hop to keep her balance.
“It’s a good way to occupy myself when I’m waiting for Bren,” I replied.
Taking her hand, I led her into the kitchen. She washed her hands and put on a frilly apron with peaches on it while I started getting everything out and putting it on the counter.
“We’re making pork buns. Well, not from scratch, I bought the char siu at the market.” I got the barbecue pork from the fridge.
“Oooh, I’m excited.” She grinned.
We chopped the pork, and I showed her how to make the filling. Then we started on the dough. I wasn’t sure why Evan had bought a stand mixer, but it sure made some recipes a lot easier. I’d never suggested it because Brennan was anti-counter-clutter.
Taking out a pot and the bamboo steamer baskets, I started boiling water so we could steam the buns.
“Next step.” I showed her how to make the buns, pleating them like my grandmother had taught me.
“Like this?” Grace asked, showing me her handiwork.
“You catch on quickly,” I praised.
We lined the baskets with parchment paper, placed the buns inside, and then put them over the boiling water to steam. My phone buzzed.
Brennan
On my way home.
I texted him back.
Me
I can’t wait to see you.
“He’s on his way.” I couldn’t help but grin as I loaded the dishwasher.
“Thanks for teaching me,” she said as she wiped the counters.
We cleaned up, and I grabbed us beers. Grace told me all about her dress alteration and preparations for the party next weekend.
“I’m nervous about meeting Spencer’s mom. Have you met her?” Grace took a sip of beer.
“She’ll love you. Ilena’s a force of nature but considering she’s an artist with a professor husband and raised Spencer, she has to be,” I chuckled. Oooh, would she cook for us?
“Okay. What about everyone else?” Grace frowned.
“I’m sure it will be fine, Grace,” I assured.
The door from the garage opened, and Brennan stumbled in, looking tired and a little worse-for-wear, his suit a bit rumpled as he pulled his rolling bag behind him.
“Jett.” His face brightened as he put his briefcase on the kitchen chair and pulled me into his arms.
“Bren.” I let his pine scent swirl around me, comforting me, and sent all my love through the bond. For a moment I let myself melt into his arms, savoring a quiet moment together.
The timer buzzed.
“The buns are done.” Letting go of him, I went over to the stovetop and checked the buns.
“Hi, Grace.” Brennan hugged her, and I didn’t miss how he melted a little as she snuggled into him.
I set the steamer basket on the table. “I made pork buns.”
“Ooh, you did? I thought I smelled food.” Riley popped up behind us, reached in, and grabbed one. “Ooh, hot.” She bounced it between her hands.
Grace handed her a paper towel.
“Thanks. Hey, Bren.” Riley added another to the paper towel.
“Hi, Riley.” Bren smiled at her. “Yes, I got you something. But you’ll have to wait until the morning.”
“Sounds good to me.” She added one more bun to her pile. “Laters.” Riley disappeared with her food.
“I’ll take mine to go. Good night.” Grace pulled Brennan down to her and gave him a tentative kiss.
“Good night, Little Butterfly.” He held her to him for a long moment.
“Thanks for the baking lesson.” Grace kissed me, grabbed her food, and left.
Brennan washed his hands, poured himself some bourbon, and sat down at the table. “That trip was a lot. But I got a lot accomplished, and I’m here now.”
“I think it’s time that you and Terrance start training people to help you,” I said as I took a bun.
“It’s the personal touches that make this company.” He frowned and grabbed one.
“Then train them to do all the other things, so that you can handle the things only you can. You have amazing people who’ve been with you for a long time.
People you trust who would love, and probably deserve, the promotion.
Also, no one blinks when Terrance handles things instead of you.
You and Terrance should each have someone, or someones, that you slowly bring in to do the same.
You two are no good to the company burned-out,” I replied.
I’d seen Terrance burn out before, back when he was keeping the company from sinking after Brennan’s car accident.
“These are so good.” Brennan reached for another.
“Thank you.” Leaning over, he gave me a kiss.
“You’re right. It’s time. I know the company could handle it if I step back, so I should make sure everyone is in place if I should choose to do so.
Step down? Never. But step back a little eventually so I can do more with our family foundation? Yes.”
“I’m so proud of you for saying that.” I gave him another kiss. “How did everything go with the estate? Didn’t you just land your first event booking?”
“Speaking of people who deserve promotions, yes, our new acting manager for the estate and acting event coordinator were perfect. The ballet will be hosting their gala in the gardens in September.” He took a drink of bourbon.
As we demolished the buns, he told me more about his trip, and I told him about my week. He helped me clean up.
“I love it when you stay up for me and make me food. It’s so silly, and a little antiquated, but it’s so nice to come home to that.” Brennan pinned me against the refrigerator, his lips smashing to mine.
The thing was, he did the same for me after a late night at the station or making me food after a tournament as I took a shower. It was nice to come home to someone–and it wasn’t even about the food, it was about thought and care.
Kissing him back, I told him all those things with my lips.
His kisses were that of a starving man, as he pressed into me, letting me know just how much he missed me.
“Sweet baby cheeses, get a room.” Riley came back into the kitchen. “Any food left?”
“No, sorry, we ate them all,” I replied. We hadn’t made that many.
“Oh, okay.” She took a bag of chips and left.
“Mmmm, should we get that room?” Brennan continued to keep me trapped against the fridge as he kissed me again and again.
The heat building between us was all-consuming.
I kissed him back, adding a little push as I grabbed his chin. “I’d like that very much.”
“Mmmm, I’m glad to be home.” Brennan’s head lay on my chest as we cuddled in bed.