Page 62 of Hot Zone

Roxy rolled her eyes. “It’s not like they’d be getting busy in the middle of the day with company coming.”

I looked over at Mars, and our eyes met. His cheeks were flushed, and he was chewing on his bottom lip. It took everything in me not to laugh. My sweet boy couldn’t have been more obvious if he tried.

Steven looked back and forth between the two of us before saying, “Nope, no, no, no. I don’t want to know.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I was just making mashed potatoes. Oh, are those for the shop?” Mars rushed over to where Roxy stood, holding a bag that was filled with what looked like little gingerbread men.

“They are. I have snowmen and gingerbread men. I don’t know if they’ll be as popular as the bats, but they’re pretty cute.”

“Let me see.” Mars took out one of the snowmen and one of the gingerbread men. “These are adorable, Roxy.”

“Thanks, Mars. They’re fun to make, and I appreciate you putting them in your shop.”

“My customers loved the Samhain ones, and I’m betting they’re going to snatch these right up. I need to go check the food, but you can just set those over on that table, and I’ll put them in my car later so I don’t forget them when I go to the shop Monday morning.”

“Do you need any help, Kitten?” I asked.

“I’ve got the food under control, but if you could set the table, that would be great. I meant to do that earlier, but someone distracted me.” He grinned at me and gave me a wink, naughty boy.

“I’ll get right on that,” I said with a chuckle. My kitchen table was a little small, so it looked like we would be eating in the dining room. As I’d told Mars the other day, we really only used it for the holidays, but if we were going to have people over for dinner on the regular, it might start getting more use.

Speaking of the holidays… “Steven, have you talked to your mom about Thanksgiving?”

“No, I just assumed we’d have it here like always.” He looked between me and Mars. “That’s what we always do. Is that not okay?”

“It’s fine with us, isn’t it, Mars?”

He shrugged. “Sure. I assumed that was what would happen.”

Steven looked at Mars. “You’ll be here, though, right? You aren’t going to the ranch?”

“I really haven’t thought about it,” Mars said with a sigh. “I don’t want to hurt Dahlia’s feelings, but I really don’t want to go there. I’d rather stay here and eat normal Thanksgiving food instead of her tofurky and chia seed pudding.”

“It could be worse. Remember that time she made you a vegan chocolate bean cake for your birthday?” Steven asked.

“Oh lord, don’t remind me.” Mars laughed. “That took horrible to the next level.”

“Exactly, and that’s why you should join us. Then I can have some of your yummy pecan pie.”

“Yeah, I’m on to you, Steven. You just want me for my baked goods.”

I looked over at Roxy, and our eyes met. She gave me a reassuring smile and a little nod. Steven had had horrible luck with girls before Roxy, but she was good for him, and I was really glad they’d found each other.

She came over to where I was pulling plates down out of the cabinet, holding out her hands. “Here, let me help.”

I handed her the plates, and we left the boys in the kitchen talking about all the horrible food Dahlia had fed Mars over the years.

As soon as we were in the dining room, she smiled at me. “He’s going to be fine, Samuel. I know he didn’t react the best when you talked to him about things, but he’s adjusting.”

“I didn’t mean for this to happen, but Mars”—I took a breath and shook my head—“he’s just special.”

“And Steven knows that, and as you might have noticed, he’s a little protective of Mars. I get the feeling he’s been like that since they were kids.”

“Yeah, he always has been. He basically dared anyone to give Mars a hard time after he came out. I was always so proud of him for that.”

She chuckled. “You should have seen them when Mars showed up at our house to tell Steven to butt out of his business.”

“Is that what he did? Mars didn’t give me any details.”

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