Capture & Surrender (Market Garden, #5)(47)

“That was amazing.” Brandon stretched on his chair.

“Well, thank you, Brandon.” Emily smiled. “It didn’t offend your Yankee palate?”

“No, definitely not.” He patted his stomach. “In fact, I think we should pass around some feathers so we can all start over.”

Frank snorted.

Mike cocked his head. “Do what now?”

“You know.” Brandon made a gesture like he was tickling the back of his throat. “Feathers.”

Geoff grimaced. Rolling his eyes, he sipped his wine. “Mike, if you don’t get it, don’t ask.”

Emily threw Brandon an indignant look. “Just for that, I think you should have to wash the dishes.”

“Me? What? It was a compliment.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Brandon looked at Frank. “Do I have to wash the dishes now?” He put on an innocent face, but there was a wicked sparkle in his eyes. Go ahead. Tell me to do it. I dare you.

Frank swallowed. He gestured with his wineglass at Emily. “Don’t look at me. She makes the rules when she cooks.”

“That’s right.” Emily had a triumphant grin. “Into the kitchen with you.”

“Damn it.” Brandon stood, but paused. “Mike, you’re helping me.”

Mike blinked. “Huh?”

“Helping. With the dishes.” Brandon snapped his fingers and pointed at the kitchen.

Mike was on his feet so fast he almost knocked Geoff’s wine out of his hand. As the two of them went into the kitchen, Geoff’s jaw dropped.

“The f*ck?” He turned to Frank. “Did that just happen?”

“Mm-hmm.” Frank shivered. “It did.”

“Is that a Gay Conspiracy thing I’m not getting?” Emily poured herself more red.

“Have you ever seen Mike obey an order?”

“Usually involves showing him a boning knife, but he follows mine fine.” She rolled her eyes. “God forbid, I used ‘boning.’ Remind me to never have children or at least strangle the male ones.”

Geoff chortled into his wine.

Frank laughed. “God, I love you guys.”

Emily lifted her wineglass. “And cheers to that.”

Frank took his. “To friendship.” And absent friends, too.

Something clattered in the kitchen. Emily put her glass down. “If they break my stuff I’m going to cut a bitch.” She headed into the kitchen.

Frank chuckled and saw Geoff look at him fondly. “What?”

“Don’t mind me saying this, Frank, but you look happy. That’s a good look on you. I like it.” Geoff nearly saluted him with his wineglass. “Getting serious with him, are you?”

“I’ll cross those bridges when I get there. Right now, I’m just . . . enjoying myself.” Butterflies and snakes and all. “Uh. Thanks for everything you’ve done for me. You and Mike. I don’t think I ever told you . . . how much that meant to me.”

“You didn’t have to tell me, Frank. Anybody with a hint of empathy saw what you were going through. It’s fine. That’s what friends are for. Mike went through it, too, and he wasn’t Andrew’s partner, just a friend. But believe me, even he suffered a great deal.”

“Yeah, they were close.” Frank glanced over into the kitchen. “You guys okay with him?”

“I am.”

Frank felt another weight lift off his chest. “Mind you, it can all still go horribly wrong.”

“Always can.” Geoff glanced at him over the wine bottle as he topped off their glasses. “But things can work out even if the start’s a bit rocky. Look at Mike and me. That was a bit of a running battle, but it worked out.”

Frank grinned. “Yeah. It’s never smooth.”

Geoff winked. “Half the fun. In hindsight.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

“And, oh, Frank.”

“Hmm?”

“In case you’ll have need of a best man again . . .” Geoff looked straight into his eyes. “I see how fond you are of him. You guys make a good team, too. So, if that matter comes up, I’m claiming that best man spot before Mike snags it.”

Frank, struck speechless, merely nodded.

“At least I now know better than to get pissed before the speech this time.” Geoff grinned and winked.

“It’s not. It’s not come up.” Yet? Bloody hell, Frank. Still counting the time in days and weeks, not months.

“Well, it would also deal with his visa issues. You did say he’s struggling to get one, right?”

“Um, well . . .”

Geoff waved the hand holding his wineglass. “Get him a civil partner visa, problem solved.”

Frank drew a breath against the weight on his chest. Like his pecs had suddenly turned to lead. “I’m not going to marry anybody for a visa.”

“Of course not.” Geoff dinged his wineglass with his own simple gold band. “Just saying. I’d be affronted if you asked anybody before me.”

“I’ll bear it in mind.” Frank smiled, terribly touched. “Thank you.”

They cleaned away the rest of the food. Emily wrapped it all up and filled Frank’s fridge with the leftovers, which would tide him over at least another two days. Then they finished off the wine. They could have all stayed up, drinking and carrying on, until well into the night, but with Emily on a merciless schedule in her own tiny restaurant and Mike working on some patches for the latest release of a big client, they scattered shortly after midnight. Once Emily’s Mini had driven off, and all other goodbyes had been said, with promises to meet up for paintball next Saturday, Frank closed the door behind them, emphatically ignoring Brandon’s unspoken offer to leave, too.