Page 97 of Just A Little Magic

“Papa,myass is the only one you get to spank.”

Jakob’s indigent protest could only be soothed with a kiss. It was cute. I caught a low warning about language and how he would end up with one if he didn’t watch it. Jakob looked smug, so I couldn’t imagine he was upset about the threats of a good time.

“Punishments are important,” Gabe said with a smirk, but then couldn’t keep a straight face and started laughing. Everyone knew he never, ever punished Rory because Gabe was a complete and utter pushover for his boy.

“I gotta idea,” Rory offered.

“Yeah, what is it? You name it, and I’ll do it.”

“Uncle Barrett, you was naughty with littles, so you gotta be a little tonight, not a Daddy.”

The suggestion perked Jakob right up, his pout about his Papa spanking anyone else completely forgotten. “Rory, you the smartest boy ever.” Rory blushed and preened at Jakob’s praise. “Yeah, Uncle Barrett, you gotta make a jack-o-lanterns wit us and…and…oh-oh-oh glitter! You gotta make a sparkly ghost.”

Reed held up his hand to stop them before they went off the rails. “Hold on, guys, let’s make sure Owen thinks it’s a fair punishment.”

It was beyond me how I’d ever thought I needed to worry about protecting myself around them. There wasn’t a damn thing for me to worry about then or now. Rory looked at mefrom his Daddy’s lap and gave me a wicked smile and a slow wink. Bear’s punishment would keep him near me all night without anyone questioning why a naughty Da was doing all the little’s activities. I returned his grin.

“Let’s start with the glitter station, Da.”

EPILOGUE

OWEN

December

“My guy, you need to let me know these things in advance. Would you like to see my schedule? It’s color-coordinated. Do you know why?” The petite assistant struck fear in every crew member’s heart.

“Uh, because you like colors?” Tye, the unlucky target, answered with a weary scrub across his face.

“Is that a gay joke?”

“No! How would I know you’re gay? I just…I mean…”

“Well, they are pride colors because they’re pretty, just like me. You know what else will be pretty?” The foreman shook his head but stayed silent. “This lodge. As long as you don’t decide to change things because you’re in a mood.”

“But Gabe told Quinn it was fine,” Tye said meekly.

“Gabe said? Gabe doesn’t know a damn thing about scheduling. He designs. I organize. From now on, you put me in every email because every agreement, every change, every delay, every modification needs to betracked by me.”

“It won’t happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t because this is me being nice.”

“Nico, please stop scaring the crew. If they quit because you’re mean to them, it will cause even more of a delay.”

Nico turned his blinding smile on me. It reminded me of a shark seeking prey, and I stepped back a bit.

“Oh, he’s fine. I’ll tell him later how much I’m looking forward to his tidy demo work, which isn’t bullshit because it’s legit pristine, and he’ll remember why he puts up with me.”

Before I could answer, Nico muttered something about needing more plans and moved out of earshot.

We had months of renovations ahead, but today was about getting preliminary information for permits and whatnot. I wasn’t needed, technically or otherwise, but I told myself the best way to get a feel for the lodge was to spend the night. Truthfully, it was only a ploy to stay in Bear’s company. Since we’d gone officially official, I’d discovered I was a needy boyfriend who didn’t want to be separated from Barrett.

In any case, the exterior wouldn’t change apart from a basic clean-up, painting a few spots, and adding window boxes that would emphasize the Alpine vibe. The outbuildings were hit-and-miss and several would have to be rebuilt. The only thing we were saving from the lobby was the pretty needlepoint they’d already had hanging on a wall. I wasn’t sure where it was going, but it would remain in the lodge.

“Babe, have you seen Elizabeth?” Bear came in from cataloging the outbuildings dressed like a lumbersnack. He wore an open flannel with a T-shirt underneath, jeans, and work boots. He was sex on a stick, and unfortunately, we didn’t have the luxury of being alone, but, fingers crossed, that would change soon enough. “I didn’t see her when I came in.”

“That’s because”—I paused to cup the bump in my sweater—“she crawled in here and hasn’t budged.”

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