Full Domain (Nice Guys 3)

“We don’t want to intrude.”

“I think Aaron’s past the point of caring,” Mitch said with a laugh, nodding toward the kid. Aaron had taken one of the two empty chairs at the table, his attention on the food, eyeing one of the steaks while placing his napkin in his lap. No question, the guy had good table manners, but after all these shared meals between them, he understood that was more for respect of the dining experience than anything else. Aaron loved food.

“Smart boy can eat. You might not have enough here for him,” Kreed joked. It was a large table, easily seating ten to twelve comfortably, but the shear bulk of muscle took up most of the room. Tall and well-built, Aaron was the leanest man there and Kreed had to squeeze in beside him. The move caused him to brush against Aaron and he held back his groan at the touch. He liked physical contact. Kreed glanced over to Aaron. The kid didn’t move, actually didn’t even seem to notice Kreed entering his personal space, so Kreed didn’t adjust his chair, he just stayed right there next to Aaron.

“I don’t know where he puts it,” Mitch answered, reaching across the table to place a T-bone on each of their plates. That was just Mitch’s way.

“I didn’t expect all this. I’ve listened to Mitch complain about Jace not letting Colt eat… Wait. Whoa.” Aaron stopped in the middle of what he was saying, even throwing out a hand to help stop his words. A blush ignited across his cheeks. Kreed had just picked up a plate of foil-wrapped baked potatoes when an awkward silence fell over the table. Kreed’s eyes shot to Mitch’s who was looking between Colt and Jace with a giant grin plastered across his face. He then turned his gaze toward Aaron.

“Oh, damn! Aaron has no chill. Why you blasting Knox like that?” Kreed teased, he couldn’t help the smile he gave at the huge lack of judgement of Aaron’s words. With a thud, he dropped the wrapped potato on Aaron’s plate.

“No, I said that all wrong…” Aaron started, but Colt stopped him.

“No, go ahead, I think I’m gonna love this,” Colt said, encouraging Aaron to continue.

“I didn’t mean it like that might’ve sounded, and I’m pretty sure I can’t finish that thought without possibly making some of the table angry,” Aaron reasoned, looking apologetic.

“You won’t piss me off,” Kreed added. He so wasn’t going to let the opportunity to give Aaron shit slip through his fingers.

“You aren’t helping,” Aaron shot back.

“No really, keep going, Aaron. I think it’s probably about the same conversation we have now just about every day,” Colt added.

“Why’re you putting him on the spot?” Jace asked Colt from across the table.

Uh oh. This just became a little more serious. Kreed and Aaron both glanced back and forth between the couple to make sure Aaron hadn’t started a fight between the hosts of their dinner. Jace’s smile was too big and Kreed cocked his head toward Colt, who looked positively ready to burst from wanting to say something.

Ah, man, they were cute together.

Not even here for fifteen minutes, and he got why Mitch was so taken with the lives of these two men. Their joy was contagious. In these few short minutes of being inside this house, Kreed now understood why Mitch had started to believe in fairytales.

“I’ll say it, to save our guest the embarrassment,” Jace spoke up as his gaze fixed on Colt’s. Probably for dramatic effect, several seconds passed in their little showdown before Jace finally spoke again. “Aaron, last year when Colt came back into my life after dropping me on my ass and leaving me for ten long years…”

“Okay, I don’t like the ugly turn this conversation’s taken,” Colt interjected, interrupting Jace. Colt held the steak knife in the air, pointing the tip in Jace’s direction. Jace sat there with his mouth open, clearly waiting to continue, and Mitch was laughing hysterically now. Kreed wasn’t sure exactly what was going on at the moment, and judging from their looks, Cody and Aaron weren’t either.

“He was so kind and considerate while trying to get his foot back in my door. I would tell him my eating habits were my own. He didn’t have to eat what I ate. But I’ll have you know, the very same man that picked out several hundred dollars of grade A prime beef for this evening, the same guy who is stupid crazy for bacon… Yes, Colt Michaels insisted he would eat vegan with me. And he actually still does most days.” Jace smiled a telling grin at Colt as he spoke.

Mitch pulled out his wallet and placed five one-dollar bills in front of Colt, tapping the center of the stack with his index finger. “That’s my portion of dinner.”

“Whatever. You know I worried about your protein intake, Jace,” Colt said without missing a beat or the chance to pocket Mitch’s money.

“I’m not finished. Even though we eat about the same, that refrigerator in there is always filled with meat—all sorts of meat. And most we just throw away because no one eats it.” Jace made a show of lowering his brow at Colt. Kreed relaxed a little, deciding this wasn’t turning into some earth-shattering fight. With his eyes still drawn to the scene unfolding in front of him, he slowly picked up his silverware and speared a broccoli floret, placing it in his mouth, waiting for Colt’s explanation.

“No, our refrigerator’s filled with yogurt and fancy fufu tofu that doesn’t ever seem to last until expiration. Have I told you I don’t really like tofu? It feels like a sponge in my mouth.” The knife was back in the air, pointing directly at Jace as Colt spoke. “Now, bacon… That’s the good stuff.”

“Colt’s also trying to move away from vegetables. It’s hard to be a vegetarian and not eat vegetables.” Jace lifted a glass of water, taking a drink, his eyes still on Colt. Wow, the Montgomery-Michaels duo provided entertainment with their meal. Kreed reached over and handed Aaron the condiment tray for the baked potato, encouraging him to eat.