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“I thought I heard the dogs.” He smiled and ushered them inside. Blue and Pepper scampered over and followed.
Logan looked around curiously as they crossed a vestibule with a glass roof. It branched to the west and east wings of the mansion before opening out into an airy space that took about half the width of the building. A floor-to-glass ceiling made up the back wall of the open-plan living and dining room.
It offered breathtaking views over the terrace and the pine forest rising beyond the creek.
A giant Christmas tree decked with lights and baubles dominated the left side of the room. Flames crackled in an open hearth ringed with a fireguard in the middle.
Tristan was drinking coffee on one of the couches. James sat with his legs on Tristan’s lap and talked quietly on the phone. He smiled and waved a hand at them.
Maisie looked up where she was coloring a picture book at the coffee table. She beamed. “Blue! Pepper!” She jumped to her feet as the dogs dashed over to greet her, their tails wagging a fast beat.
“Where’s everyone?” Miles asked curiously while Finn took their coats.
“Carter only got back from his shoot yesterday so I’m pretty certain he’s molesting his husband in their bedroom,” Finn said drily. “Drake and Roman aren’t here yet. Izzy and the rest of the guys are in the kitchen.”
Alex came down a curved, glass and steel staircase. “I’m glad you put Carter and Elijah at the end of the corridor,” he told Finn with a frown. “Let’s hope they’ll abstain from full on debauchery this weekend.”
Tristan narrowed his eyes and indicated Maisie with a sharp tilt of his head.
“What’s debau—cherry?” Maisie asked curiously.
Tristan sighed.
“It means your daddies are sharing lots of smoochies,” Alex told Maisie without batting an eyelid.
“Babe,” Finn mumbled.
“Oh.” Maisie wrinkled her nose. “Are they having private time?”
Logan stifled a snort at everyone’s shocked look.
Tristan put his coffee down. “Where did you learn that word, sweetie?”
“School,” Maisie replied innocently. “Timmy said his daddies have lots of private time. He said he’s not allowed to disturb them unless he’s sick or the house is on fire.”
Logan wheezed. James bit his lip hard, his shoulders trembling.
“Timmy sounds like a peach,” Tristan said thinly.
Drake and Roman arrived just as Finn finished giving Logan a tour of his home and his artist studio. They followed the sounds of voices and laughter to a modern kitchen where everywhere had gathered, included a flushed Elijah and a smug Carter. Wyatt served them mulled wine from a punch bowl while Izzy placed a paper hat on their heads.
“Now you’re officially part of the gang,” she told Logan with a smile.
Logan touched his hat. “I’m honored.” He raised an eyebrow as he observed Izzy and the men gathered in the kitchen. “So, are we changing our name to the Terrible Fifteen?”
Hunter’s face fell. “That’s an awful name.”
“I don’t know.” Theo shrugged. “I kinda like it.”
“Let’s vote on it,” Roman suggested. “Since it’s Christmas, the winner gets a no-questions-asked wish from the losers.”
Drake’s expression turned predatory. “Does he, now?”
Roman’s ears reddened at his lover’s hot stare.
Logan stole a glance at Miles. Miles’s face was relaxed in a genuine smile as he sat watching the couple, Maisie on his lap.
It seems he’s really over Drake.
