Page 218 of Sin Bin

They both laughed.

When the humorous moment passed, Logan said grimly, “Getting back to our deal-breakers, you know another thing I really dislike in women? Cattiness and jealousy.”

“Oh, hell yeah,” Hunter said vigorously. “Catty, jealous women are the absolute worst.”

“Definitely,” Logan agreed. “That’s another reason I could never date a bunny. Classic mean girls.”

“Seriously.” Hunter shook his head. “I don’t think women realize how unattractive they look when they’re bitching and snarking about other women or scheming against them. Tabarnak,” he swore in disgust. “That behavior is so damn ugly to me.”

“I know, right? I don’t care how hot the chick is. When I see her acting catty and jealous, it’s an instant boner killer.”

“Absolutely. Doesn’t matter if she’s a bunny or a biologist. If I even sniff those character traits in a woman, I’m running in the opposite direction.” Hunter picked up his glass. “My nonna says that jealousy is a sign of a shallow mind and weak character. She says a woman who’s always jealous of others will never be satisfied with what she has. That means nothing you do for her will ever be good enough.”

“Exactly. Fuck that.”

They clinked glasses with gusto and tossed back their drinks, then shared a grim chuckle.

“What’s for dinner?”

Logan and Hunter glanced around and laughed as Reid and Viggo came sauntering into the kitchen with big grins.

“I was wondering when you clowns would show up,” Hunter teased.

Reid sniffed the air and grinned broadly. “Is that Ossobuco I smell?”

Hunter grinned. “Si, signore.”

“Awesome!” Reid and Viggo chorused.

Boisterous chatter and laughter filled the kitchen as Hunter made the gremolata and risotto and reheated the focaccia bread he’d baked earlier. When the food was ready, he plated everyone’s dishes, garnishing each with a chef’s flourish.

They carried their wineglasses and steaming plates to the elegant dining room that Hunter enjoyed putting to good use. They seated themselves around the long table and dug into their meals, groaning at the first bite of the meltingly tender veal shank.

“So fucking good,” Logan mumbled around a savory mouthful.

“Fuck yeah,” Reid and Viggo grunted like starving savages.

Hunter grinned, enjoying their appreciation of his cooking. No one talked for a few minutes, too busy stuffing their faces.

Viggo was the first to lift his head from his near-empty plate. “By the way, what were you guys having such a serious convo about when we got here?”

Logan chuckled, cramming bread into his mouth and chewing. “We were talking about catty broads being a relationship deal-breaker.”

“Oh, most definitely,” Reid agreed.

“I don’t do catty women,” Viggo said emphatically. “Big fucking turnoff.”

“Yup.” Reid ate a forkful of risotto. “That’s something that really struck me when I started getting to know Nadia. She has the sweetest personality. Seriously. It’s like she doesn’t have an evil bone in her gorgeous body. I didn’t realize how much I valued that quality in a woman until I met her. I mean, I know I can be pretty amped up at times—”

Viggo gasped. “You? Never.”

Laughter rumbled around the table as Reid flipped him the bird before continuing.

“Nadia really balances me out. It’s hard to explain, but when I’m with her I feel calmer. Totally at peace. Like all is right with the world, you know?” He smiled. “Grandma Holden says we’re perfect for each other because Nadia smoothes my rough edges and I rough up her smooth edges, and it works beautifully.” He chuckled and forked up more veal. “Her sweet personality is just one of the many things I love and appreciate about her.”

Warm smiles went around the table.

“I feel the same way about Jupiter,” Logan said softly. “She’s a real sweetheart. Warm and caring and generous as hell. And she loves kids as much as I do. Seeing her with them gets me every damn time.”

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