“Our bananas were turning so I rescued them. Rue loves bananas. You know that, right?”
“Yes, I know that. I was gonna bring him one.”
“This is better.” He taps the island. “It’s still warm. Put a little butter on it, and…” He kisses his fingertips. “Chef’s kiss.”
“You’ve been hiding these skills.”
Colson laughs, shaking his head, his long tresses flowing around him. “No, just no inspiration until now. I can’t cook for shit and I’ve only baked a few things, but banana bread reminds me of good times.”
Specter kisses his husband’s cheek as he rubs his back.
“I’m sure Rue will appreciate it,” I say. “It smells amazing.”
I slice a couple of pieces of the banana bread, butter them, then stack them on a plate before filling two mugs with coffee. As I do, I watch Specter and Colson in their happy little bubble of domestic bliss. Specter is the last person I saw settling down besides myself, but look at him now.
A little bubble of hope swells in my chest. Could I have that with Rue? It’s still so new, and I hardly know him, but I know he makes me feel things I never have before. Sure, there’s protectiveness, but it’s deeper than that. He has a calming effect that’s better than any drug I could take. I just want to make him happy, and even though I don’t have the first clue how to do that, I’m a smart man. I’ll figure it out.
“Thanks for this, Colson.”
He nods, smiling at me. As I’m walking out, Ghost brushes past me, sniffing the air.
“What is that delicious scent?” he asks.
“Colson made banana bread,” I say.
“Oh man, that’s my favorite.”
Phantom stumbles past seconds later. His dark hair is a mess and he’s only wearing loose sweatpants. I always thought he was the hottest among us, in a pretty way. While most of us have more of a rugged appeal, Phantom looks like he should be modeling. He says the same thing of me though.
“Hey, man,” he says. “You working tonight?”
“No, I grabbed an assignment last night.”
“Done?”
“Oh yeah. It was quick and dirty.”
“Just the way you like them.”
“Yep. What are you up to?”
“Stalking some dude who embezzled from a family business.”
“His family hired us to take him out?” Specter asks.
Phantom shakes his head. “No, he’s not part of the family. He just worked there. I guess he went underground once he suspected they knew. No one can find him. Law enforcement was involved, and they even hired two PIs.”
“So now we’re on it,” Ghost says, digging a piece of banana bread out of the pan. “Sucks to be that guy.”
“You make any progress on finding him?” I ask.
“Nah. Just got the case. I’ll find him though.”
“Let me know if you need help.”
“I will. Ghost is coming out with me tonight. Was gonna ask if you were bored but I forgot you have a man now.”
The urge to downplay my status with Rue doesn’t even rear up on me, so I just smile. “Gotta get the coffee to him before it cools down too much.”
