Chapter 12 #3
Iago pursed his lips, tilted his head. “Can I sit with you in the kitchen while you’re working, at least?”
“Absolutely. I’d love that.” Oh, this was going to work. “You’ve got Xavi for decaf on command. We could run into Secret Springs and have lunch and talk about the future.”
Iago grinned at him. “You make it really, really hard to tell you no.”
Wonderful. He was here for this. “Let me call the ladies at the hotel and grab some things. You go pack a bag for three or four days, and we’ll just have a good time together.” Xander did feel calmer now that there was a workable plan.
He knew that there was room at the hotel. That was one of the perks he had— so long as there were rooms, and there always were rooms, he could borrow one.
And he would serve Iago breakfast in bed. And soup on demand. and they could lounge in bed together and learn about each other and love on each other…
Yeah. That was perfect.
He beamed at Law. “Good idea, buddy.”
“I live to serve. We’ll be up for dinner night after tomorrow. Make it good.”
Xander nodded soberly. “I can do that.” He would make a roast dinner with Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings.
“Good deal.” Colton came to clap Iago on the shoulder.
“Why don’t you go back to your place and pack a bag?
I know you want to hang out and work, and I honestly don’t think there’s anything here that’s going to be a danger to you, but I can also tell it’s freaking Xander out.
” Colton glanced at him and gave him a wink.
“So go enjoy yourself, and if we need you we’ll tag you in. ”
Iago nodded. “I can do that, but what we really should do is have Xander pack a bag, and then we’ll take your car to my house. I can pack too, and then we can drive up to the pass. Yeah?”
“Sounds like a plan. Come on babe, let’s get you away from the hole in the kitchen, and I’ll pack some stuff real quick.” Xander grabbed Iago’s hand and tugged him out of the room. Nobody whacked open any drawers or cabinets or threw things off shelves at them, so he figured this was a good idea.
By the time they were on their way up to the hotel at the pass, he’d called the ladies to warn them he was coming, and he’d texted Xavi to make sure there were some decafs waiting for them when they got there.
He figured they would start their lazy vacation spa time together with a yummy latte. If he needed to, he could make Iago soup in the kitchen at the hotel.
Iago sighed, leaning back against the car seat and closing his eyes. “God, what a whirlwind.”
“I’m sorry, baby. I sure didn’t mean to involve you in this mess.” Reaching across the console to grab Iago’s hand, Xander felt really awful. This was supposed to be a great time of discovery and fun, and he knew they had plenty of opportunity for all of that while Iago was pregnant.
They’d only just gotten the positive test like yesterday, but at the same time he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.
“You take too much on your own shoulders.” Iago squeezed his hand.
“It’s not your fault that you were doing renovation, and weird stuff cropped up in your house.
This is a town riddled with that sort of thing and apparently riddled with mine shafts and hot springs pools.
That invites all sorts of activity in its own right, all that subterranean stuff. ”
Did that even make any sense? He wasn’t sure. “Yeah, but I didn’t have to have this all crop up when you and I were trying to get to know each other and navigating a pregnancy.”
“What you have to remember is that all of that came second.” Iago was laughing at him now. “You started the house renovation first, so, if anything, I’m the one who threw a monkey wrench in the works.”
“You’re too damn good to me, babe.”
They parked, picked up their lattes before headed into the hotel.
Tori was sitting at the front desk, a little one sleeping in a cradle behind it. “Hey, guys. They’re still working on your house?”
He nodded, feeling pitiful. “They are. I can’t wait until everything is figured out.”
Iago offered her a nervous smile. “How old is your little one?”
“Twenty months.”
“Wow. I— Wow.” Iago looked stunned, and Xander got it.
In less than a year, they would have a baby.
Less than a damn year.
“I really appreciate this, lady.”
“Of course. You have the suite. No one is booked for it. Enjoy.”
“I intend to.” He took the key and led Iago up the stairs. “You okay?”
Iago nodded, shook his head, nodded again.
Poor love.
He was going to make this better, dammit. He was.
Xander opened the door and smiled when he saw the ladies had put a little basket of waters, fruit, and chocolate out for them.
“So, what do you want to do first?”
“Is it going to sound awful if I say I want to take a nap? We were a little stressed there for a while.”
Xander grinned at Iago, reaching down to tug his own shirt off. “Personally, I think that sounds like a great idea.”
He could so go for some touching and some reassurance for himself that Iago was okay, and everything was going to be just fine.
Iago watched him, chewing on his lower lip, eyes bright. He didn’t move to undress though, and Xander raised an eyebrow at him as he undid his pants. “You going to get naked and get in bed with me?”
“I am, but first I’m going to watch. I think I’ve earned the right.”
“Listen to you, invoking your boyfriend privileges already.”
“Pregnant boyfriend.”
Xander snorted. “True that.”
“So yeah, definitely my privilege.” Then Iago kicked off his shoes.
Xander was fascinated by the sight of his soft feet. He didn’t know why they just looked really amazing to him. It made his heart beat faster.