Rialto (Unbreakable Bonds 8)

“I’m thinking of having some kind of splashy Christmas party here in December. Maybe even serve some turkey specials through Thanksgiving. Something to give the restaurant a bump. Play up the holidays.”

Lucas looked around, his gaze settling on the line of people still waiting to get in. “Looks like it doesn’t need the bump.”

“Gotta keep things fresh, you know. Keep people coming.”

Lucas watched him closely, and Ian decided to change the subject before he lost his cool and started rattling off all the real worries he had about the restaurant. Those green-gray eyes probed like Lucas could tell he was holding back.

“How close are you to moving into the new place?” Ian asked.

“We’re about two to three weeks out.”

Ian looked up as Johnny dropped off their coffees. “Thanks,” he said before picking up his mug to take a sip. The strong roast burst over his tongue and he sighed in pleasure, realizing it was his first cup of the day. He’d been so busy, he’d forgotten. And that would explain the slight headache he’d been dealing with. Well, other than the stress of the health inspection.

He looked back at Lucas. “Did Andrei show you the furniture we picked out?”

Lucas nodded. “It’s nice. I like it. But I’m more interested in what’s going on with you. You can say different all you like, but I can tell something’s wrong. You’re…agitated.”

Ian sighed. He should have known he couldn’t get anything past Lucas. Even with a husband and a baby, Lucas was all about taking care of his family. “We had another surprise health inspection this morning and apparently, there were complaints of food poisoning. I’m upset because one, I haven’t heard any of those complaints myself, and two, we just had an inspection a few weeks ago. So, that was just one more thing on top of all the other things I have going on.”

“So we were right to keep you from planning Snow’s wedding. I knew you had a lot on your plate right now. In Good Time is what? Months from opening and you still pull full hours here.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin and set it next to his plate. “You do know that when there are children involved, hectic becomes a way of life, right?”

“Of course! I’ll scale back by then. Just like you have.”

“It’s worth it. None of my businesses matter nearly as much as Andrei and Daciana. I know you, Ian. You’ll fall in love with the first kids you foster.”

“Don’t tell me, there’s a pool going on that.”

Lucas cracked a grin. “Of course. Rowe started it.”

“So, who thinks I won’t fall in love with the first kids?”

“None of us—the pool is about how long it’ll take. My money is on twenty-four hours.”

Ian’s laughter felt good. And Lucas was probably right about how long it would take him to get attached. He loved kids. He reached out and laid his hand on Lucas’s arm. “Thanks for coming by today. I know you’re supposed to come over Thursday with Snow for dinner, so it’s a treat getting to see you twice this week.”

Lucas patted his hand. “The treat is mine.”

Ian relaxed back in the booth with his coffee and worked to shove his worries aside. It would all be okay. It had to be.Chapter SixHollis was reading the most recent reviews of Rialto when Ian returned home that night. The clock on the far wall said it was nine p.m. He should have made dinner, but he’d gotten distracted by the reviews, which were truly awful. Some held a sort of vicious glee he couldn’t get past. Anger simmered inside him as he read another that was outright false. It was as if someone was just throwing out every complaint he could think of. Even though all the reviews came from different posters, they felt too much like a calculated move. The attack felt personal.

Worry for Ian gnawed at his stomach. This had to be hitting him so damn hard. He’d sounded defeated on the phone earlier, so Hollis planned to give him a nice evening at home with lots of cuddles.

The front door shut, and the keys hit the bowl before his husband walked into the kitchen where Hollis sat at the breakfast bar. Ian’s shoulders, in his white button-down, were slumped and his hair was disheveled. Hollis set his phone aside, turned, and held open his arms. Ian set some sacks down on the counter and walked into them with a heavy sigh.

“Now that’s what I’ve needed all day,” he said into Hollis’s neck as he wrapped his arms around his husband.

Hollis smelled his hair, taking in the familiar scent of food and coffee. He loved the way Ian smelled after a day at Rialto. And as usual, there were good scents coming from the bags on the counter. Something with a rich sauce. He nuzzled into the soft strands of his hair, then kissed his ear. “You doing okay, GQ?” he whispered.