“What about the other one. Your keyboardist?”
Some things even a musical genius like Sebastian couldn’t fix. “He’s a lost cause, vocally.”
Sebastian lay back on the bed, tracing the rose on Henri’s chest. After a moment he smiled. “He won’t be if he listens to me.”
Hallelujah!
They curled up in the bed. Never before had Henri been so comfortable in this room. He sifted his fingers through Seb’s chest hair. A chime brought the foreplay to an early end.
Seb jumped. “What’s that?”
“The gate.” Damn the timing. Henri punched a button by the bed. “Yes.”
“Dude, open up. We brought you Christmas dinner.”
Oh shit. Jake.
* * *
Of course,Ms. Ethereal herself didn’t even slow down at the front door. She nudged past Henri and beelined for Sebastian. “Hi, I’m Tessa, and, oh my God, Henri, the house looks awesome!”
Henri couldn’t recall ever being so outmaneuvered. No choice but to face fate. “I’d like you to meet my… friend… Sebastian.” He should have worked out details a few minutes ago, before the band walked in. Was Seb his friend? Boyfriend? Significant other? Henri sure as hell wouldn’t settle for “fuck buddy.” No way, no how. The fact that the larger Seb now wore some of Henri’s too-tight clothes spoke volumes.
Tessa squealed and bounced up and down. Colton saved a vase from her elbow with a lucky grab. “Oh my God! You’re Sebastian Unger. I loved you as Rodolfo inLa Boheme.”
Tessa loved opera. No surprise there. She loved everything.
Michael nudged Henri to the side. “Coming through.” He carried a foil-covered pan. “Kitchen or dining room?” The scent of turkey and dressing trailed in his wake.
“Dining room.” Might as well finally get some use out of a table for twelve.
“Hi, I’m Maggie. You have a lovely home.” A pretty blond followed on Michael’s heels, carrying a cardboard box. Looked like Michael had a girlfriend.
Jake stepped through the door. “Wait up, Mags.” Okay, Michael hadn’t gotten lucky.
Colton steadied the vase before following the others, a bulged-out bag hanging off one shoulder.
Colton stepped through the front door. “I’ve got green bean casserole.” Huh?
Henri did a double take, eying the Colton in the doorway and the one now entering the dining room. Oh shit. Someone had perfected cloning and hadn’t told him.
“Yo, Parker,” green bean casserole Colton bellowed. “Did you meet Henri?”
The first Colton turned around, shouted, “Hi, Henri,” and resumed his march through the house.
No one but Tessa dwelled much on Sebastian’s presence, too busy hauling food from the cars to the dining room.
“Tessa!” Michael called. “Find plates and silverware.”
“Oops. Duty calls. See you guys at the table.” She scrambled away. Sebastian grabbed the wobbly vase she hit before it fell. He examined the bottom and rubbed a finger across the marble table. “Velcro. I’d suggest Velcro.”
The band had met Sebastian. Sebastian had met the band, and the world hadn’t stopped spinning. Meteors hadn’t destroyed the earth. Yet.
Clinks, clanks, acrashand one “Oh shit! I hope that wasn’t real china,” summoned Henri to the dining room. Having never cared to own such a thing, he certainly wouldn’t miss the brown ceramic bowl lying in pieces on the floor. Good riddance.
Sebastian responded to a tearful Tessa before Henri. “Here, I’ll get it.” Sebastian knelt to pick up the pieces.
“I’m sorry, Henri!” Tessa scrambled around on the floor beside Seb.
