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“Oh boy, I’m not sure I like that look in your eyes, Mother Dear,” I said when Murphy left the room. “Go ahead, tell me what you want from me.”
“I just need you to wear a little costume for me for about thirty minutes,” Mom said. “Nothing to it.”
“I should’ve known you had something planned behind all that talk. Where? When? Why?” I asked hesitantly.
“This afternoon when Parker and Mia arrive. Here at the house. No big deal, just the family. Because I want to do something nice for Mia’s niece,” Mom said. “What do you say? The costume is in the study if you want to look at it first.”
“You already had this planned,” I said on a sigh. “I’ve been duped by a master.”
“Trey, not duped,” She replied soothingly, placing a kiss on my cheek. “Just a good son who loves kids. And Mia’s sister and niece are visiting from Australia. I wanted to do something special for the little girl.”
“I’d love to do that, Mom,” I said. “It’s a great idea and very thoughtful, as always. Does that maybe now mean you’ll owe me a favor?”
“Are we keeping tabs now on favors?” Mom asked, still in the doorway. “You do remember how good I am at keeping records of everything.”
“No way,” I said in disbelief. “You haven’t kept track of that all these years.”
“Are you sure?” She walked away laughing. “I’ll be down in a few minutes, but your brothers are about to walk in the front door.”
She left me standing in the kitchen, trying to think back and work up a tally, when I heard a commotion in the foyer that could only be the twins.
“That’s not what I said,” was all I heard. It had to be Asher and August arguing. No matter how old they were, there was always arguing, mostly because of something Asher did or said. I braced myself for whatever their problem was and walked into the foyer to greet them.
“Well, Happy Easter to you two. I kinda thought this nonsense would end once you got married, August.” I walked toward them. “Where is that lovely bride of yours, Asher? Oops, no, I meant August. That is who ended up with her, right?”
“Oh, shut up,” Asher and August said in unison without looking in my direction.
“Shut up? Did you both just say, ‘shut up’?” I stepped in between them and what promised to be another long-winded twin argument.
“Stay out of it, Trey,” August said through gritted teeth.
“Come on now, August. Why are you letting this punk get you this mad?” I placed my arm across his shoulder. “Let me handle him today. Where is that beautiful wife of yours? The one he didn’t get…”
On that comment, Asher turned and walked away. The front door opened again and in came August’s new wife, Imogen, and a huge scary-looking man that looked like he could break me into small pieces. August turned to me with a warm hug, then went to help Imogen with the Easter baskets she was carrying.
“Imogen, you look as beautiful as the last time I saw you,” I said, embracing her. “Come on in the library and relax for a bit. I turned to her guest. My name is Trey, and you are…?” I put my hand out to the giant.
“Oh, sorry. I forgot you hadn’t met my bodyguard.” Imogen went to stand next to the man. “This is Bond.Don’t let him scare you, he’s actually a teddy bear.”
“Aw, come on, Solitaire, you can’t keep telling people that.” Bond frowned and put his hand out to me. “The name is G…”
“Bond. Yes, I already told him.” Imogen hooked her arm through his and pulled him with her to the library. “Come with me.”
I took that moment to slip into my mother’s office to put the bunny suit on, then I returned to the library, bunny head in hand. I posed at the door, but no one noticed.
“Really? No one is going to say how I look in this?” I threw my hands in the air.
August was setting up the Easter baskets they’d brought. I sat the head on the coffee table and went over to help him.
“So, Bond?” was all I said.
“Yeah, it’s a long story, but he’s a great guy.” August grinned at my outfit. “Why don’t you have a Bond, by the way?”
“Why would I need one?” I frowned. “Why do you need one?”
“Well, you’re in the public eye all the time, and when they catch wind of this get-up the stories will go crazy.”
“I kinda like the outfit. It’s very soft.” I rubbed my fur arms. “Plus, I could sleep inside and no one will know.”
