Ares dried off and took a shower, whistling as he got himself dressed and then brought up the email of all the charitable requests that were vetted by their legal team.It was that time of year and the requests were long, but he and Xander tried to give back as much as they could, quietly.The only thing that was missing was someone to enjoy the holiday season with.He wondered if Chef McNabb gave Josie the job yet and knew he wanted to go right to the source.Taking the stairs two at a time to the main living area, Ares smelled coffee and breakfast cooking.
“Morning, love,” he said to Harper.
She turned, smiling at him.“Morning.Want a buckwheat pancake?”
“Yes, please.”He fixed his coffee, brought it over to the table.
“Good morning,” Logan Maddox said, looking up from his rock climbing magazine.
“Touched base with Erik.Dax’s team is on the ground, no problems.”
“It’s a quick in-and-out job.,” Logan said.
“You’re not supposed to know about the job,” Xander called, coming down the stairs.
Logan snorted.“There are no secrets in this house.”
“I miss the days there were.”Xander nibbled Harper’s ear.She playfully swatted him away.
“Trying to cook here!”
“I know.Maybe I want to make it hard for you, Angel.”
“Can you make it hard for her after breakfast?I want those pancakes,” Logan said.“Fine, my co-Dom ruins all the fun.”
Logan snorted.“Hardly.”
Ares smiled.Harper handed him a cup of coffee from the fancy espresso machine and he sipped.“Perfect as usual.”
“She’s so talented.”Xander wrapped his arms around Harper again, and she batted him away while sliding pancakes on to a plate.
Ares chuckled, satisfied to be part of their morning ritual.It was filled with love and bonds of friendship that ran deep.He couldn’t imagine it any other way.He wasn’t jealous of his brother—Xander deserved all the happiness in the world and he’d never deny him anything—but his heart twisted with a pang of longing, of wanting his own person to glance at him the way “You know who’s not having fun?Erik.”Logan smiled like a cat playing with a mouse.
“Kayleigh’s had an easy pregnancy up till she entered the last trimester.”Harper passed Xander a plate, took one over to Logan, then gave Ares a plate with a stack of pancakes.“She’s been up pacing all hours.Her mood swings have been wild and she can’t seem to focus on anything.”
“Kayleigh had worked so hard to get it together,” Xander said.
“She’ll be fine after the baby.Gardenia and I are taking her to a spa today.”
“Is that today?”Xander ran his hands down her back, to her waist, and kissed her neck.
“He knows it is, kitten.You go and enjoy yourself,” Logan said.
“Thanks,” Harper flashed a grin.“Before I leave, Ares, you still need to pick a date.”
“A date for what?”Ares finished the last forkful of his pancake.
“Put some money down, make a guess on the calendar, and if you win, you get…what do you get?”Logan asked Harper.
“Nothing!You’re paying to play the game.We’re giving the money to Kayleigh because we know Erik won’t accept money.”
Xander snorted.“I’m getting tired of people rejecting my generosity.”
“Hey, you can give me more of it.”Logan closed his magazine.“I could use a new bike.”
“I already bought you a car,” Xander grumbled.
“And he loves it,” Ares said.“Have you looked at the requests?I want you to dress up as Santa this year and give out gifts.”
