Page 84 of Treasure and Tarot

“’Night.”

He heard Sebastian’s breathing even out into sleep almost right away, and he grinned into the darkness. “Now, if you guys really want to make yourself useful, stack Abby’s Christmas presents down by the tree on Christmas Eve.”

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

“Isure hope he likes it.” Sebastian put the last touches on the charcuterie board that he’d made for Valentine’s Day, grinning at the heart-shaped ring of pepperoni.

When they’d done raclette at Christmas, he’d found out Colton loved ridiculous platters of fruit and cheese and meat, and that was what they’d done for New Year’s Eve with Abby, if one thought of pigs in the blanket as charcuterie.

He’d insisted on chili for the Super Bowl, so now he was rewarding Colton with more weird, fun food.

Abby swung her legs, her tongue sticking out as she carefully placed a grape on the board. “Of course he will, Daddy.”

“Well, you’re the expert on Papa Colton, baby girl.”

She giggled. They had drawn the line at having the whole crew over for Valentine’s Day, but they had decided not to get one of them to babysit Abby.

They wanted to have charcuterie and heart cupcakes together.

“When is Papa coming back?”

“He just went to get the cupcakes from Mrs. Donovan.” Cara Donovan had set up a great little commercial bakery in her kitchen, so they didn’t have to go to Secret Springs, even thoughthe weather would have been okay for it. They’d had a chinook blow in yesterday, and while the snow was piled high, the roads were pretty darn clear.

Colton breezed into the house about a minute later, proving he had perfect timing. “Hello, my loves. I come bearing cupcakes.”

“Yaaaaay!”

“Hail the conquering hero! Someone has been very patient waiting for you, love.”

“And I appreciate it very much.” Colton winked at Abby. “How’s it going, my sweet girl?”

She beamed at Colton. “It’s good. I like Valentine’s Day. I got chocolate from Uncle Xavi, and I got a heart stuffy from Uncle Gent.” All of her uncles spoiled the fire out of her. It was so sweet.

“Yeah, what about you? Daddy, what did you get for Valentine’s Day?”

Sebastian rolled his eyes at Colton. That remained to be seen, he supposed. “Uncle Xavi let me smell the coffee?”

They both chuckled, because for the longest time he couldn’t even smell coffee without being sick, and now he wanted it, but he couldn’t have it. So of course that’s what he wanted to smell.

They chatted as they finished the charcuterie board, adding chocolate-covered strawberries and some M&M’s for color.

Sebastian’s phone rang, startling him. He glanced at the phone. The Grand Hotel. In Secret Springs. Weird.

“Go ahead and get sat down. I’ll see who this is.” He only waited one more ring to answer. “Hello?”

“Hey, Sebastian?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s Charlie from the hotel. There’s some people here asking questions about how to get up to the Junction.”

He tilted his head. “Okay…do you need directions?”

“No. No, I just, um. Maxwell. Their last name is Maxwell. Sort of hoity-toity people. Grumpy looking.”

“Oh.” Oh fuck a doodle goddamn do.

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