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Marc shook his head. “The man hasn’t seen me in ten years, and it’s like we’ve never been apart.” Then he turned his attention to the sheriff. “Good to see you again, cousin.”
Adam smiled and extended his arm. “Marcus, it has been a hell of a long time.” They shook hands, and then Marc introduced Jeremy to his brother. He held Jeremy’s gaze for a long moment then turned his attention back the sheriff. “I hear you’ve already met my boyfriend.”
Jeremy’s eyes widened slightly, but Marc looked at him straight on. His lover would have to learn that he couldn’t have things both ways. Marc had told him about Lusty, and even though he’d been here a couple of times himself, visiting his sister who was in a ménage marriage, he still hadn’t believed Marc—that Lusty was a safe place for them to live as they wanted to live. Regardless of his lack of belief, Jeremy had decided that this was where he wanted to come and settle down. Marc had warned him they’d live open and honest here—and promised that they’d be accepted, without question.
He could understand Jeremy’s reluctance, of course. While still a child, Jeremy had been wounded, betrayed, and violated by one of the two people in the world who should have protected him above all else.
Marc slid onto the bench, making room for Robbie to sit next to him.
“I have, indeed. Did Jeremy tell you that we more or less roughed him up a little on first sight, during that very first visit?”
Marc nodded. “He did, and he also told me you were in protection mode at the time and the person y’all were trying to protect was his sister, Ari.”
Robbie sat beside him, and Adam took the chair next to Jeremy. “Does Ari know you were coming to visit?” Adam asked Jeremy.
“I haven’t told her, no. The thing is we’re not here just to visit.”
“You’re here to stay?” Robert looked pleased by that news.
Marc felt a bit of his tension ease, and that was a welcome feeling. “We are,” he said.
“Then you best get eating,” Adam said. “We’ll go bug my little brother and see about getting y’all situated. I presume you’d prefer a house over an apartment? One with a two-car garage?”
Marc met Jeremy’s gaze. He liked the hope he saw there. When he raised one eyebrow, Jeremy turned to Adam. “We would, yes.”
“Welcome home, guys.” Robert’s announcement lifted the rest of the tension Marc had been feeling.
“Mom and the dads will be back tomorrow from their cruise. They’ll be happy as hell you’re home.” Robert grinned. “In the meantime, don’t make plans for supper tonight. We want y’all to be our guests.” He then put his gaze on Jeremy. “I’m looking forward to introducing you to our brother David.” Then he grinned. “And introducing you both to David’s and my wife, Jillian, and our daughter, Colleen.”
Marc could see that Jeremy had relaxed considerably. “I look forward to meeting them.”
Marc met Jeremy’s gaze. His nod was slight, but a good sign.
“And hell, I’d better call the firefighters too.” Robbie grinned.
“So, Grant and Andrew came home as well?” That was something he hadn’t known.
Robbie nodded. “And Becca, too. We’re all home now. And it looks like we’re all settled, as well. Grant and Andrew are married to Chloe, and Becca finally figured things out with Greg Benedict.”
“Shut up! I thought those two would never get together. I knew they were hot for each other, but…”
Robert grinned. “Yeah, I know. She came back from Seattle and was staying out at the cabin. Greg came back from Turkey with his lover, Cody Harper, in tow.” Robbie grinned. “I might have led him to believe the cabin was available for them to use at the time. They needed some R & R.” He laughed, a short bark of a laugh. “Actually, what they really needed was some R & R & R.”
Rest, relaxation, and Rebecca. From the way Robbie had said all that, Marc knew that Cody, like Greg and himself and Jeremy, was bisexual. “Glad to hear I’m not the only one you want to take care of, big brother.”
