Her gaze shifting to Nico, watching as he swallowed down the treat. His grumpy expression remained locked and loaded; no change there. Huh. Red meant love, lust, passion. All her customers adored her charged-up Valentine’s adults-onlyofferings. Canary turning a faint red when he tried those treats. Any deeper shade, he had a tendency to hump himself to death. To be honest, it wasn’t pretty when that happened.
Yet, Nico Yanez appeared entirely unaffected. Still grumpy and businesslike. In his all black ensemble, jeans, shirt, and boots, with his dark short hair, five o’clock shadow dusting his chin and grim expression, he reminded Gigi of a wild west gunslinger. “You mentioned a party?” His tone clipped.
Didn’t he know you were supposed to make small talk first? Put the client at ease. Only then did you broach the opportunity and begin getting an outline and scope?
Lucy opened her mouth, pausing as three more loud thumps sounded from overhead. Clearly her husband was confusing nap time with roughhousing time. Shaking her head in exasperation, Lucy continued talking. “Asher’s first birthday.”
Seriously? Aunt Lucy thought they needed six months to begin planning a birthday party for a one-year-old? Some streamers and several cupcakes would surely pass muster.
“There will probably be about six hundred of us.”
Oh.
“The Valhalla side of the family makes a big fuss of milestones. Especially turning one. There’s a whole ceremonial passing over of a flaming sword to the infant. And Odin will insist upon giving a speech.”
OH!
“The halls of Valhalla are humongous, not to mention dark and drafty. It’s going to take a lot of decorations to make it party-ready. I’ve already booked a couple of relatives who specialise in illusions, so that just leaves the food and beverages. Honestly, that child is never going to get any sleep.” Lucy muttered the last part as a few more thumps sounded overhead.
Gigi had turned on her tablet and was already busy making notes and outlining a few potential ideas, biting back a smugsmile as Nico pulled out a crumpled bit of paper, jotting down a few notes of his own with a chewed up pencil.
“Nico. I thought barbeques would be easiest. And the Valhalla lot are notorious carnivores.”
Thump. Thump. Thump. Someone heavy was making their way downstairs.
“Meat. Meat and more meat. And when it comes to the salads. Perhaps they could contain meat? No one will touch them otherwise. I… Oh, Gunther.” Lucy’s gaze was fixed upon her husband as he entered the kitchen, blood streaming from a raised hand now missing a digit. “Not again.”
Again? Again! Gunther Valhalla often roughhoused with his six-month-old grandson and lost a finger? Yikes.
“I found it this time.” Gunther was beaming. The man was a demi-god. His father, Odin. Seven feet in height, his muscles burdened by even more muscles. Capable of shooting lightning bolts out of his eyes. And yet somehow he’d lost a tussle with his baby grandson.
“Thank the Merciful Lady.” Lucy grabbed a nearby clean container, holding it out to her meld mate.
Gigi wincing as Gunther dropped his finger into it. Ick. Um, yes, she should go. When there was blood, it was clearly time to make a hasty exit. Problem was, Aunt Lucy was currently bustling Gunther towards the Portal just off the kitchen and blocking the way.
“I don’t know why you have to fuss; it’ll grow back on its own.” Gunther rumbled.
“And you’ll do nothing but moan and groan the entire time. No, we’re going to the hospital, and Nell will reattach it for you.” Lucy opened the Portal door, shooing her reluctant husband inside with an impatient hard glare. Seeming to remember at the last moment that she had visitors. “Oh. We’re going to have to re-schedule. I’m so sorry about this.”
A thump sounded from the second floor. In no way ominous at all, given there was only a six-month-old baby up there.
“Hadleigh and Vaughn are due back within the hour. Poor Asher must be completely exhausted. No doubt you’ll just be able to scoop him up and tuck him in for his nap without any trouble.”
“Au—”
“Must dash, Gunther’s finger isn’t going to reattach itself.” On that note the Transportal door closed.
Well, that consult had gone to hell rather quickly. A record, even for her family and their eccentric ways. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Okay, watching Nico Yanez saunter towards the Portal was no hardship. The man had a way of filling out black jeans that should come with a warning.
“Meeting’s over, and I have a business to run.”
And she didn’t?
“Besides, that kid is your sister’s aunt’s three times removed cousin’s nephew. Which makes him your blood relative and not mine.”
Was Mr Grumpypants cracking a joke? Who knew he had it in him? “He’s my second cousin. And Aunt Lucy didn’t actually specify which one of us was supposed to scoop up his exhausted personage and tuck him in for his nap.” Another heavy, ominous thump sounded. What in the blazes was the baby doing up there? Moving furniture? “I’m thinking if we team up, perhaps we can herd Asher towards the nursery.”
