Holiday Cheer from Andrew Grey and Amy Lane

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

GREGORY WAS both keyed up and nervous. After work for the past two days, he’d spent his evenings with Rhys getting ready for the party. They baked quiche shells, cake layers, and savory cream puff shells, and made dips that could keep. He had checked that all the arrangements were set and had hired a server to help make sure the food portion of the evening would go smoothly. Gregory closed his trunk and thanked his lucky stars that even though it was cold, it wasn’t snowing, but that was in the forecast for that night.

“Ready?” Rhys asked.

“Yeah. I’ll meet you there.” Gregory got into the car and slowly drove to the venue, which was a private party space next to one of the lodges. He unloaded everything into the kitchen area and waited for Rhys. Once they were ready, Gregory went out front to where the tables had been set up with tablecloths and place settings. He got the centerpieces and favors placed before trimming the tree in the corner with the baguettes.

“They look sort of bawdy-cute that way,” Rhys said when Gregory was just finishing up.

“Yeah, they do, and the room is spectacular. Festive and not overdone. The entertainment can be over there to do his thing. And I have a table for the cake right there.”

“I’ll bring it out.” Rhys went back and returned with a stand. They had changed their minds, so Rhys had done a two-tier cake with smaller layers for height and dramatic effect. It was in the same candy theme as the other decorations.

“We have an hour before the party,” Gregory said, as his phone vibrated. “Annalise is on her way. She’s coming with the baby.” Gregory smiled as he looked over the room to check that everything was perfect.

Rhys slid his arms around Gregory’s waist and leaned in close. “Don’t worry. Everything is going to be delicious, and the ladies will have a good time.” He kissed his temple. “I need to go finish traying up the food, and I’ll instruct Marcus on how he should serve. Come on back and get the breads so they can be on each table. We can also start setting out the trays on the buffet so you and I can see their reactions and then have a party of our own.”

Gregory followed Rhys into the kitchen, got the cheese tray laid out, and brought it out as Annalise came in with one of her friends carrying the baby carrier. He set down the tray and watched as she scanned the room.

Her gaze paused on the tree, and her mouth fell open. “What the heck is that?”

“What do you mean?” Gregory turned to her. “We made them as ornaments instead of one for each place, but I thought it was cute. There are baguettes at each table.” He turned and showed her what they’d done, but Annalise’s expression didn’t alter one bit. If anything, her eyes grew more thunderous.

“Was this your idea?” She stepped closer, and Gregory wondered if she’d lost her mind.

“What do you mean? It was on the list. I may have changed a few things because Rhys had some really good ideas, but I did all of the things you had on your list.” He hurried away, his heart racing. He hadn’t imagined the whole thing—he knew that. Rhys had seen the list as well. In the kitchen, Gregory got out the file and strode back. He handed her both pages of the list.

“See, this is my list.” She held up the first page.

“But what about that page?” Gregory asked, and she pulled it out and read it over.

“Where did you get this?”

“It was in the folder you gave me. The baguettes were on the list, so Rhys and I made them as ornaments. I think they’re sort of funny. We added the faces to give them personality.” At this point he didn’t tell her that as they were finishing them, they’d made up penis voices and had dick-to-dick conversations.

“That’s Jonathan’s writing.” She pulled out her phone and began texting. She must have gotten an answer right away, because she raised her gaze to the ceiling. “Apparently my husband, who is going to get it when I get home, thought the idea would be funny, and he wrote up the item and stuck the sheet in my folder for me to find. He didn’t know I was going to give it to you….”

“So the whole Santa-hatted penis baguette thing wasn’t your idea?” Gregory asked, and when Annalise shook her head, he lost it completely. “Well, you have a dick baguette tree now, so you might as well make the most if it. The ones on the tables can be eaten, but these are just for decoration. They’re a little old to eat.”

Annalise was still scowling.

“Oh for God’s sake, lighten up. The room is beautiful and the food is amazing, and I’ll have you know that I helped make all of it.”

That had his sister doing a double take. “You’re kidding?”

“Nope. Oh, and your quiche recipe needs more regular store-bought eggs to work. At least that’s what Rhys said.” Gregory put his hands on his hips. “We worked hard to put this together, and look at that cake… and everything else.”

She did and nodded, and then her lips curled upward. “It is beautiful, Greggy. And I love the candy theme you did. The centerpieces are better than what I would have done.”

Rhys came out of the kitchen carrying trays of savory filled cream puffs and placed them on the table.

“Annalise, this is Rhys. He helped me get all this together, and he’s the one who made the cake.”

Rhys came over. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He shook her hand. “Gregory has done a great job with this party. I really hope you’re pleased. Sorry to run, but I need to get the rest of the food out before everyone else arrives.” He headed back to the kitchen, and Gregory caught her gaze, cocked his eyebrows the way he’d seen Rhys do on occasion, and waited for her response, almost daring her not to like it.

“It’s beautiful, Greggy. It really is.” Her gaze softened and her shoulders relaxed. “I’m just going to kill my husband when I get home.” Of course, she wasn’t serious and seemed to be seeing the humor in the situation.

“Nope. You’re not allowed to do that. He was a tiger, making sure you got rest and standing guard over you and the baby. Speaking of which….” Gregory lowered his gaze to the carrier where the sleeping little girl rested. He reached down and gently removed her, cradling the little bundle to him. “You’re so pretty. Such a sweet little one.” He held her, the warmth seeping through his clothes and going right to his heart.

A click sounded off to the side where Rhys had his camera out and had snapped some pictures. Gregory crooked his finger, and Rhys came over.

“Isn’t she precious?”

“I know. You want one of your own someday?” Rhys said, and Gregory thought for a few seconds before nodding. “More than one?”

“Two should be perfect, I think, and a house with a backyard for them to play in.” He was having fun, and all wrapped up in seeing his new niece.

Victoria began to fuss, and Annalise took her to get her fed while Gregory helped Rhys get out the last of the food as the ladies began to arrive.

Cynthia squealed a little and was all smiles when she saw the room, and purposely gave Gregory a hug. “I love the tree,” she whispered to him, and if Annalise had been there at that moment, he’d have flashed her a smirk. Instead, he hugged Cynthia a little tighter.

“I’m glad.” Gregory introduced her to Marcus. “He’ll be taking care of service tonight.”

“You aren’t staying?” She half pouted.

“Nope. You’re getting married soon, and I have my own new man to spend some time with. I’m sure Annalise and Marcus can handle anything from here.” His heart rate already sped up at the thought of some alone time with Rhys. “You have a good time, and I’ll see you at the wedding, I’m sure.” He kissed her cheek and went into the kitchen, where Rhys was packing up his things.

“I went over everything with Marcus, and he will handle it from here. The dishes and everything belong to the hall, and I have all my tools packed up. So I think you and I can hit the road.” Rhys’s smile was wickedly delightful and sent all kinds of blush-worthy thoughts racing through his mind.

“Thank you both,” Annalise said as she came into the kitchen with Victoria sleeping on her shoulder. “Greggy, you did an amazing job. You too, Rhys. I know a lot of this—”

“It was Gregory,” Rhys said quickly, interrupting her. “I guided him and helped, but he was determined to make this nice, and he put in the time to get it done.” Rhys once again slipped an arm around Gregory’s waist, standing next to him. It was amazing how much taller Gregory stood with Rhys next to him, knowing he had support and someone to watch his back. “He deserves most of the credit.”

More voices drifted in from the other room, and Annalise went to greet them as Gregory and Rhys went out the back door and to their cars. “I’ll meet you at the house?” Rhys asked.

“Yes.” Gregory got in his car and drove the couple of miles back to Rhys’s home, parked behind him on the street, and went inside, where he found Rhys putting his tools away in the kitchen.

“Were the baguettes really just a joke item your brother-in-law added to the list?” Rhys asked as he turned out the kitchen lights when he was done.

“I guess so. I thought Annalise was going to pop a gasket, but she came around, and Cynthia liked them.” The hilarity of the whole thing was almost too much. “I have to admit, making them was one of the best activities we did.”

Rhys came closer. “What was the best one?” he asked, his voice a little deeper and rougher. Gregory came closer, giving him his answer in the form of a kiss, which Rhys returned with energy and gusto. “I think we should take this upstairs.” When Gregory nodded, Rhys took him by the hand to lead him up the stairs. “You’re shaking.”

“I guess I’m a little nervous,” Gregory admitted once they reached the landing.

Rhys tugged him into his arms. “Why? This isn’t the first time you and I have done this.” He nuzzled a little closer. “Remember the night alone in your dorm room? You had that loft setup. It was like we were in our own little cave, and—”

“Yeah, I do. Things changed a week after that.”

Rhys held him tighter. “I know, and that was my fault. But we’re both older now, and we aren’t stupid college kids. I know what I want.” He gently guided Gregory’s gaze upward. “I want you.” Rhys captured his lips, and Gregory gasped at the ferocity, holding Rhys just as intensely. Rhys guided him out of the hall and into a warm bedroom with a huge bed.

“Oh my,” Gregory said. The bedroom was luxurious, with thick bedding, and when Rhys gentled him down onto the mattress, its softness wrapped around him and he whimpered.

“Decadent, isn’t it?” Rhys whispered in his ear.

“Uh-huh,” Gregory moaned, and further discussion was cut off by Rhys’s lips. There was something familiar about being with Rhys, but exciting too, like discovering a toy that you’d lost and never thought you’d see again, and suddenly it was there and you really missed it. Only in this case, the toy got better… oh so much, eye-rollingly, knowing-just-where-to-touch better. “I think I know what I want for Christmas this year.” He groaned loudly when Rhys gave him his present early.