Charlotte gave him a smile over her shoulder, never faltering in stirring the pot. “Soup and cornbread. I found a really good tomato-based vegetable soup recipe online. I figured I’d take some out for Bo, and add ground beef for the rest of us.”
Great idea, allowing them to all sit down together, eat the same thing, giving Bo something vegetarian, while everyone else got to eat meat. Charlotte hadn’t yet tried to introduce bacon into the household, but the way she and Bo connected, she likely wouldn’t get the same raised eyebrow treatment Lucky received whenever he suggested pork.
Now wasn’t the time to talk about such matters as having a brother’s partner’s baby. There had to be a Southern joke in there somewhere. “Hey, kiddo.” Lucky approached his nephew cautiously. Not too long ago he’d have gotten a sarcastic cut down.
Ty didn’t look up from his homework, merely lifted a hand in greeting. He’d definitely mellowed since he and his mother moved in. He’d started making friends at his new school, began showing progress in the boxing ring with Uncle Lucky, and he took Moose on afternoon runs. He’d also finally made the soccer team when a forward relocated to another district.
And had begun dating, of all people, Lucky’s work nemesis’s daughter. Thank God the girl took after her mother in temperament and looks, instead of asshole Keith.
Yes, Ty had lost his “I hate Uncle Lucky” attitude. So far, Bo had managed not to say, “I told you so,” but his expressive face said the words often enough with a mere smirk.
The fact remained, Ty liked Bo better than Lucky. Not that Lucky blamed the guy; he’d have liked Bo better too.
Bo strolled into the kitchen a moment later. Damn, but the man looked good in a suit. Especially after running his fingers through his hair all day, showing a bit of five o’clock shadow, tie hanging loosely around his neck, as though Lucky had yanked him in by the neckwear for a kiss.
Next time they played wild sex games, Bo needed to keep his suit on.
Briefly.
A shiver went through Lucky at the memory of last night. Bo definitely had a way of making him look forward to birthdays.
Why the hell not put thought into action? His house, his family, his man, though he’d keep his PDAs family-friendly—somewhat. He crossed the room in three long strides and made fantasy reality, slipping his hand around Bo’s tie and bringing him in until their mouths met.
Charlotte paused mid-stir. “Aww… Ain’t that sweet?”
Then again, Lucky might need more practice with public displays of affection before he got used to his sister commenting on his love life, even though she knew full well what he and Bo got up to behind closed doors.
She often received the end result in a paper cup a few minutes later.
Bo nodded toward the bag on the counter. “Time to try again?” he whispered to her, although he didn’t need to be stealthy. Ty excelled at tuning out adults.
“Oh, no. That’s just some vitamins and such.” Charlotte waved a dismissive hand. “You boys get the table ready. Ty, put your books away and let’s eat.”
In short order they gathered around the table, Bo ladling up soup while Lucky slathered his cornbread with butter.
Real butter. From the Lucklighter farm. Damn. He’d missed homemade butter nearly as much as he’d missed his family in the years when they hadn’t spoken.
Not thinking of that now. Over and done, though Lucky’s heart still twinged at the thought.
“How was your day?” Lucky asked his partner.
Bo let out a sigh. “I was in meetings most of the afternoon. Sometimes I miss being out in the field. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the opportunity Walter’s giving me, but after handling some pretty interesting cases, sitting in meetings is dull, dull, dull.”
Interesting cases? Almost dying a few times, settling matters with his fists a few more, dancing from strings while a drug lord used him as a puppet? In contrast, dull might be a good thing.
“What did you get up to today?” Bo asked.
“Just hanging out with a bunch of newbies.” Lucky did his best not to grumble. Those “interesting” cases tended to spoil one for the mundane routine of training a bunch of rookies who didn’t know their asses from a hole in the ground.
“Have you seen or talked to Loretta today?” Bo took a sip from his spoon and smiled. “Charlotte, you keep cooking like this, and the chief cook and bottle washer job is yours.”
Charlotte beamed. “It’s just soup.”
“It’s really good soup,” Bo replied, chasing down a slice of carrot with his spoon.
Lucky scratched his chin. Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen Rett all day, not even at lunchtime. “No, I haven’t seen Loretta. Why? Should I have?” Strange she’d not been around. Maybe assignments kept her out of the office today.
“She mentioned needing your help on a case.”
