“I have no idea, but it smells amazing.” Isaac stopped Alain on his way by. “Boy? What are you making for dinner?”
“Dirty rice, Boudin, corn bread, spinach salad, since Chou don’t love greens.”
“Sounds so good and we’re hungry. How about you go finish making dinner and we’ll get the rest of Master Neil’s things, okay?”
“Yes, Sir, M’sieur. Be ready soon.” They watched Alain head back toward the kitchen, then went to the elevators. “How much is left in your apartment? Other than the very special chair?”
“The gun safe, the hunting board, whatever else furniture y’all want.” He copped a feel of Isaac’s butt.
“Don’t be a bad boy. At least not out here in public.” Isaac winked at him and got on the elevator. “We’ll finish up this weekend. The three of us can move everything but the safe, I think. We’ll have to call the professionals in for that one. Where should we keep it do you think?”
“It’s not attractive, so we can hide it anywhere. I just want my firearms secured.” He knew better than anyone how that could become an issue.
“Absolutely. Maybe at the back of the walk-in in the bedroom.” Isaac gave him a gentle, relaxed smile—one he hadn’t seen in a while. “You’re really moving in.”
“I am. I’m here to stay, ugly chair and all.” And he loved it—how happy Isaac was, how at ease Alain was. All of it.
“I’ll take it. All right. Let’s get this done.”
Alain had dinner on the table by the time all the boxes were in the living room and his truck was parked, and they all sat down together.
If it didn’t smell so damn good, he’d just fall asleep right here, but it did. “Looks amazing, Kitten, and it smells better.”
“Mmm…thank you, Chou. It’s good for a man that ain’t had lunch.”
“You didn’t eat lunch?” Isaac gave him a disapproving look. “Boy, you know that makes you grumpy. Do you need Alain to make you something to take with you tomorrow?”
“I got busy, Guapo. If you want, he can make me a sandwich, though. I’ll keep it at my desk.” He might not eat it, but it would make both his men happy for him to take it.
“You’ll do that, Alain, will you? Something easy to eat?” Isaac rubbed Alain’s shoulder. “I’d appreciate it.”
“Of course. You can have a sandwich. The bread is…well, it tastes better than it looks, for sure.”
“Taste is important.” He was not going to laugh. Not. “I’m sure the pretty comes with practice and all.”
“Andyou. I want you to eat it. Don’t waste Alain’s time, and don’t bullshit me. Hm?” Isaac was pointing at him playfully, eye squinting like he was trying to see through Neil.
“Hmm?” He made his eyebrows go high, eyelashes fluttering like mad, and his kitten cracked up, leaning back in his chair and letting it rip.
Even Isaac laughed too, the kitchen ringing with the sound and it was a while before any of them could breathe again. “The two of you…whoo! Naughty.”
“Not me, M’sieur! I’m good as gold!” Alain smiled at Neil even as he spoke to Isaac. “Y’all eat, now.”
“Yes,sir.” Isaac chuckled and picked up his fork a bite hovering near his lips. “So how was your day, little one? Mmm. So good.”
“I had so much fun! I shopped and explored, came home and made bread and straightened up. I watched silly television, listened to some music. Oh, I had the best cafe au lait at the little shop around the corner, too.”
It reminded him of listening to a wee little bird, happy and chirping away.
“Oh, I love that place. They make a nice cinnamon cappuccino. I’m glad you had a good day. It was beautiful out too.”
The dinner conversation stayed light, but he could feel Isaac’s eyes on him, his love always so perceptive.
“I ordered you your own credit card today, Alain. One with your name on it so you don’t have to use mine. Neil, I told him to keep your cash; he was worried about it.”
“Ah. I’ll take you to the bank too, kitten. Maybe I’ll have time Friday afternoon. If not, Saturday morning we’ll go, fair?” He wanted Alain to have petty cash, so to speak, but this week had him playing catch-up.
“Oui, Chou. I’m good. I am.”