Page 61 of Treasure and Tarot

Now Bastian frowned. “I wasn’t?—”

“I know. I just mean I’ll probably have to have some meetings. Not just Zoom. That way we wouldn’t have people tromping in and out.” Colton was still learning, and so was Bastian. The only one who had adjusted immediately to him “moving in” was Abby.

She loved having them both there as well as having them mostly to herself. Although she had gained a whole herd of uncles.

“What about at the house the guys are thinking of renting?” Sebastian asked. “There’s bound to be space on the ground floor there. It’s a Craftsman house, not a company store shotgun like this one.”

“Yeah. There’s a nice study on the ground floor in that house…”

“Well, if Gent really does intend to buy something instead of renting it, when you needed a real office, you could go there. And we can set you up a corner of the front parlor or the dining room for a workspace like mine.”

“You wouldn’t mind?” Colton asked.

“Nope.” Sebastian gave him a bright smile. “I just want you to be happy and comfortable. I know the stairs…”

“Twice a day, three tops if I take Abby up for her nap? Not a problem. I mean, the real family room is up there, right? But trudging up and down to do Zoom calls and all? Might be good for me in the long run, but not right now.” He grimaced.

“I just want you to be happy, you know? Here. Like you’re at home. Did Gent get settled into the hotel with the guys?”

Colton nodded. Gent had driven in from Glenwood late last night and had gone to the hotel and crashed. “He did. He’s doing good. He sent me a text this morning saying, don’t call, we’ll talk about lunch instead. How’s your day going?”

He wrapped one arm around Sebastian and drew him in. He loved this—just spending time with Sebastian, touching him, connecting.

“Good. I met with a client earlier, and then I worked on one of my podcasts, recording my readings, you know? I have one more client this afternoon, and then I’m done for the week. Unless someone calls with an emergency.” He heard singing from upstairs, and Sebastian smiled. “Abby sure is glad to be home.”

“Yeah, she seems to be such a cheery little girl.” It was fascinating to see her in her own milieu. She played constantly with her babies and with her little doll house, or coloring and Play-Doh and went up and down and up and down and up and down. He wasn’t sure how Bastian had managed it all those years by himself.

“Yes, she’s pretty good. I’m so glad that the terrible threes are almost over, because she seems to be way more subtle than her brain has let her be recently. She’s so glad to have her babies back. Are you going to be home in time for supper? Are we going to have company?” Sebastian gave him a glance. “It’s weird, huh? I don’t know how this works. Like I know the guys are here a lot, but I don’t know how much to cook or even if I should cook. Or am I a good cook? I mean, I’m all right, I think. I like to cook.”

“I bet you are. I know you like to feed people.” Colton smiled. “You’re very nurturing. I would bet that Gent ends up here for supper, and if he does, the guys will too. Do you need me to shop over in Secret Springs? I think Gent is craving David’s pizza.”

“Well, we could go there tomorrow, have a long lunch instead?” Sebastian sounded hopeful, as if he just wanted to be home.

“Hey, that’s a good idea. That way, he can just rest this afternoon and come to supper. Let me text him.” He liked the idea of not having to leave the house today.

“Sounds good to me. What do you want me to cook? Chicken spaghetti or lasagna?”

“Chicken spaghetti. I’d never had that until you made it for me, and I think the guys will love it. Lasagna we can do one day when we can let it sit overnight. It’s better that way.” Colton wanted to rub shoulders with Sebastian and make his granny’s sauce when they did lasagna.

“Sounds good to me. I have all the ingredients here too.” Sebastian came and sat on his lap. “Do you think Gent will like us?”

“I know he will. He seems gruff, but he’s a family guy at heart. He mother-hens the crew all the time. He has twenty-three nieces and nephews.”

“No shit?” Sebastian slapped his hand over his mouth. “Sorry!”

“Hey, she’s not here.” Colton winked at Sebastian. “But I get what you mean. Yeah, he has six brothers and sisters.” He shook his head. Gent came off as an island, but he did holidays at his family’s place outside of Telluride. Gent spent most of his time in California right now, but he was in a rental.

Colton would bet it would take no time for the man to come back to Colorado.

“That’s great. I always wanted brothers and sisters. What about you?”

“I didn’t.” Colton swallowed hard. “My folks…well. You know how they are now. They were harsh when I was a kid. Pushing me to do what they wanted, not what I did. Belittling me if I did things wrong. I didn’t want a brother or sister to suffer that.”

Shit, that sounded so damn whiny. But it was true. And now? He wanted family. Lots of it.

“Oh, my family life was good. Seriously. I felt so lucky.” Sebastian pressed one hand on his chest. “I feel lucky right now.”

“I do too.” He bent to kiss Sebastian’s lips. “So, let me text Gent real quick to tell him dinner tonight, lunch tomorrow, and then we can go check on our girl?”

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