“You two going to hang out in the hallway all night?” Callum asked.
Reese put his hand low on David’s back and urged him forward. “Callum, this is David Zapetti.”
“I know,” Callum said. “We’ve met.”
“You remember?” David said, taking his hand.
“Of course. You stood up for Chance at the wedding.”
David laughed. “While Kieran had all five of his brothers standing up with him.”
“Eh,” Callum said with an easy shrug, “if it helps, you looked hot in the kilt.”
David threw his head back and laughed. “Thanks.”
Reese cleared his throat pointedly.
Callum grinned, unrepentant, and threw his arm around Reese’s neck for a long, hard hug. “Nice loves bites,” he murmured.
Reese chuckled and hugged Callum back.
“I’m so fucking proud of you,” Callum added.
Reese tried to say “thank you,” but he couldn’t get the words past the lump in his throat.
“Honestly, Callum, would you please unhand Reese so he and David can come inside?” Rupert asked.
Callum did, shrugging innocently as he ushered them into the apartment and closed the door.
Rupert thrust out a hand. “I’m Rupert. Welcome to our home, David.”
David shook his hand. “It’s beautiful. Not what I was expecting from the outside.”
“Thank you. You’ll find that’s true of a lot of things around here.” Rupert turned to the room. “I see you’ve met Oliver and Alexei. Let me introduce you to the rest of the family. This is Mike Erdo.”
Mike came over to shake David’s hand. If David thought it was strange a grown man with no visible resemblance to anyone else in the room was family, he didn’t show it.
“And this is Christian, who is holding Eleanor.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” David said, smiling at the young man and the baby. He looked back at Rupert and Callum. “You have a beautiful family.”
Rupert grinned, his cheeks pink with pleasure.
Alexei laughed from the kitchen, bumping hips with Mike. “You hear that? He thinks we’re beautiful.”
Mike rolled his eyes, but Reese also caught his furtive glance in David’s direction. Reese was well aware Mike and Alexei were not opposed to adding a third to their party for a night.
Not this time, boys.
Reese slid the bag from David’s shoulder, hefted it over his own, and collected the handles to his and Mati’s suitcases. “I assume we’ll be in the guest suite?” he asked Rupert.
Rupert’s smile got wider. “If that’s what you want.”
Itwaswhat he wanted. The king bed would hold them perfectly.
He also wanted to make sure his claim was staked. He leaned in and gave David a lingering kiss.
The normally noisy household went silent.
