City planner Remy McIntosh is looking forward to spending the holidays with his lover, architect Lane Anders. For the past six months, he’s been planning the perfect getaway -- two weeks in a forest cabin at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. Remy also has a special gift he can't wait to give Lane on Christmas Day: a wedding ring. But Remy's ex-wife changes her Christmas plans at the last minute, and asks him to take care of their eight-year-old son, Braeden. Remy loves spending time with his son, but balks at the idea of taking a child along on vacation. The main problem is that Braden has never met Lane, and doesn't know his father is gay. Lane is ready to take his relationship with Remy to the next level, and has a secret Christmas gift of his own. Having a young boy along will put a crimp in their plans, to be sure, but Lane wants to be a part of every aspect of Remy's life, and that includes Braden. How will Braden deal with meeting the "other man" in his father's life? What happens when Remy’s romantic holiday for two must also include his son?

Just the Three of Us

Just to make sure, he asked Lane, “So you’re okay with eating this?”


Lane grinned over the top of his wine glass. “Sure. Everyone splurges at the holidays. I’m almost hoping that big can he wrapped up for me is a tin of popcorn. You know, the kind with three different flavors? Cheese, butter, and caramel? Yum.”


“Yeah, don’t get your hopes up,” Remy warned him. He clapped Lane’s leg through the blanket. “Come on, let’s eat.”


Dinner wasn’t as bad as Remy had feared. Braden seemed extraordinarily pleased with himself, and grinned goofily every time Lane moaned, “Mm-mm!” While his son wasn’t exactly best friends with his lover—yet—Remy was glad to see that at least Braden had left his earlier attitude in the dust. He might not be chatting heartily with Lane, but he was no longer glaring and moping around Lane, either.


Chapter 43