THEO SNUGGLED closer to Morris and into the warmth of the tartan he had draped around both their shoulders. The Renaissance Festival had been interesting, with so much to do and see. He’d had more fun than he thought he would. Granted he didn’t get into it at the level of Felipe and Morris. Those two ought to go into theater, but it had been fun. He’d actually felt far less self-conscious in costume than out of it, and Felipe’s promises to make sure he was properly outfitted next year no longer filled him with wariness. Just as long as they didn’t put him in a short shirt and tights, he’d be good.
Raucous singing filled the night air, and torches guttered at the corners of the outdoor tavern as the diehards gathered to send off the Faire for another year, which seemed to involve a lot of bawdy songs. Not that Theo minded a good bawdy song one bit. It was all in good fun.
Morris slipped his arm around Theo’s waist and took advantage of the fact that they were sitting on the fringes of the tavern in the dark to steal a kiss. He tasted like the hard apple cider the tavern served, and if Theo wasn’t the designated driver for this outing, he’d probably ask for another glass himself. But really, all he needed was Morris.
“So what do you think?” Morris asked as he pulled back. “I told you it would be awesome.”
“I think you need to kiss me again.” Theo rubbed his cold nose against Morris’s cheek. “I still have numb extremities.” Once the sun set, the temperature dropped. The wind had picked up, sending occasional gusts that cut right through the clothes. At least it was warmer here, huddled among the crowd.
“Come on, no hedging.” Morris nudged his side. “Did you have fun?”
“You want me to say it, don’t you?” Theo gave a dramatic, long-suffering sigh worthy of Lincoln. “You were right and I was wrong about the Faire and the dressing up.” He supposed that if he managed to get Morris to give up most of his processed food, he could admit to enjoying a bit of geekery now and then.
Morris beamed his broad-cheeked smile but didn’t gloat more than that. “So, what do you think about them?” Morris jutted his chin out to where Trask was returning to the portion of the bench he shared with Felipe, carrying another round of hand pies and coffee. The couple sat in front of them, curled in almost as close as Morris and Theo.
Theo studied Trask and Felipe as they talked with their heads near, though given the way the rest of the day had gone, Theo was sure that Felipe was doing the talking while Trask got by with the occasional comment. “I think with the both of them wearing all black like that, we’ll never see them leaving when they opt to slip away to make out in the back of a car.”
Actually, Theo thought that sounded like a wonderful idea, and he wondered what his chances were of getting Morris back there so he could get his hands under that sexy kilt. Every once in a while his fiancé still got shy, and Theo loved to witness those moments.
Morris made an exasperated sound and nudged Theo’s ribs. “For real? That’s all you have to say?”
Theo gave Morris a mystified look as the band of singers launched into another song that had most of the crowd joining in. He leaned in closer so Morris would hear him without giving away the fact that they were sadly gossiping. “I’m lost. What’s got you so agitated about Felipe’s date? They seem like they mesh pretty well. They definitely have the same fashion sense.”
“You’re impossible.” Morris worried his lower lip. “And I’m overanxious. I just don’t want to see Felipe get his hopes all wrapped up again. I can’t deal with Felipe’s sad puppy eyes.”
Theo turned his attention back to the couple in front of them. Felipe’s face turned in profile to them as he laughed at something Trask said. He looked happy. “Felipe never struck me as the kind of guy who listened to advice unless he asked for it or wanted people butting in. Well-meaning or not.” He paused a moment and gave Morris a significant look. “Like your family.”
Morris grimaced. “I hate it when you’re right. Maybe I just feel guilty about the situation with Dakota. I could’ve issued a stronger warning. Though he surely didn’t listen to that one either. Which just proves your point.”
Theo didn’t know Felipe that well, but he suspected a stronger warning would’ve had the opposite effect. “You, Morris Proctor, are a mother hen. You know that, right? Always fussing over people and details.”
“So says the man who tries to single-handedly feed the world, starting with me,” Morris retorted. “Don’t think I didn’t see you trying to mooch some recipes today.”
Theo decided that comment didn’t even deserve a response. He’d just wanted to know what the ingredient ratio had been in those spinach pies because they’d been delicious.
“And who personally examines every plate that leaves your kitchen to make sure all the details are right?” Morris continued, and Theo could only nod to that as well, though he’d argue that Morris was just as picky over his own details.
Theo watched Felipe and Trask, trying to see them from Morris’s point of view. They looked good together. Trask seemed laid-back from what he could tell from hanging out over the day. Definitely not as volatile as Dakota and Felipe had been together. The first time he’d met them, Felipe had threatened to throw a plate at Dakota’s head.
“You know how you were convinced we’d never be more than a fling,” Theo reminded Morris. “Because we had such different interests?”
“You were kinda set on the fling idea too.” Morris chuckled in a low rumble. “Too busy, remember? I hear what you’re saying. There is a lot more to us than on the surface, so shut up and give it a chance because there may be a lot more under their surface.”
Theo rubbed his fingers over the soft wool of Morris’s kilt. “You know how to speak Theo.”
Morris settled down and joined in on the next song, singing in an off-key baritone. When it was over, the remaining crowd called for an encore, and Theo realized that this group could probably go all night long if the drinks and food kept flowing.
“Felipe was asking if we’re going to have capes and canapés at our wedding,” Morris confided. “I laughed it off, but I kind of like the idea.”
Theo closed his eyes with a shake of his head. “Scottie would murder me and hide my body in the walk-in freezer if I tried to put him in a cape.”
“Yeah, so would my sisters.” Morris sighed. “It would be cool, though.”
Theo heard that underlying note of nervous tension in Morris’s voice. He supposed it would make another man anxious, like Morris was having second thoughts, but Theo didn’t think that for a second. It was just the idea of a big event that got him so antsy and the desire to please everybody. Theo’s thoughts whirled as he looked at the people around him, the people who made up Morris’s world. The world that his family didn’t entirely get. “You know, I’m having a crazy thought.”
“Just as long as it has nothing to do with extending the hours of the bistro until after the honeymoon. Things are going to be insane enough as it is.”
The honeymoon. Wow, Theo could not wait for that, for real. It had been years since he had a vacation. The thought of it being just him and Morris at Disney and Universal Studios for a whole week of crazy fun. No work allowed. None. May couldn’t get here fast enough.
“No, I was thinking of your capes and canapés idea.” Theo turned toward him and lowered his voice. “What if we did both, had the big celebration that fits our families’ idea of weddings and something small, zany, and fun earlier? Just us and the handful of people closest to us who can keep a secret.”
Morris turned toward him, his eyes widening with hope. “Are you asking me to elope with you before our wedding that our sisters are going mental over?”
“Yep.” The more Theo thought about it, the more he loved the idea. Jill and Morris’s troop of sisters had taken over. Which was probably partially their fault for letting them in the first place.
“Didn’t I warn you that we would have to face the gauntlet of the sisters if you talked me into a plan like this?” Despite the warning in Morris’s voice, Theo could tell he was considering it.
“That’s only if we get caught.” Theo hugged Morris’s waist. “They wouldn’t even think we’d do such a crazy thing in the middle of planning a wedding with a couple hundred guests.” The size and scope of it was part of what had Morris so on edge.
“I can’t even believe I’m seriously thinking about agreeing to this,” Morris muttered.
“We can clear off the tables one morning on the bistro deck or go down on the waterfront with just a few people. We can have all the crazy silliness we want. It’ll be our secret. And then whatever tizziness our families get into, it won’t matter because the important part, you and me and to death do us part, will be done. The rest is just dressing, and we can have fun.” The more Theo thought about it, the more he wanted to have that quiet, crazy day just for themselves. They were getting married. Who said they couldn’t celebrate that twice?
Theo felt the tension drain out of Morris’s body. “You had me at capes and canapés, for real.” He brushed his lips over the top of Theo’s head. “I love it, especially the thought of doing it at the bistro. Just a few of us, right? Felipe, Scottie, Laila, and Lincoln? Lincoln can be trusted not to tell our sisters, right?”
Theo pondered that a moment. It touched him that Morris had thought of Lincoln too. He weighed Lincoln’s desire to be a part of the secret against his ability to hide anything from Jill. Lincoln had a pretty good poker face and great instincts for survival. “He’d probably blurt it out a decade from now at some family function, like ‘Hey, guys, remember when you eloped,’ but by then it won’t be such a big deal. What about Laila? Can she keep it quiet?”
“Oh hell yeah, she’ll tease us, but no threats would ever get that info out of her.” Morris nodded, his broad brow creased, and then he grinned at Theo. “When do you wanna?”
Felipe turned around and eyeballed them. “What are you two scheming about?”
Theo bit his lip to keep from laughing as Morris attempted to shoot Felipe an innocent look. It lasted for all of two seconds before Morris grinned. “Capes and canapés.”
Felipe’s eyes narrowed. “How come I get the feeling you’re not just talking wedding planning?”
“We’re eloping,” Theo confided in a conspiratorial voice. “Before all the planning makes us certifiably crazy.”
“Yeah, I want to enjoy the moment. Not be dying of nerves because something isn’t planned perfectly,” Morris added. “We’re taking your idea. You and I can wear capes. Theo will make nibbles, and we’ll get hitched on the down low at the bistro.”
Trask turned around, a smile tugging at his lips. “Congrats, you two.”
“Does this mean I get to be a best man twice? I can wear a cape and a kilt?” Felipe’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “I’m in.”
“You have to send me a picture of both. Are you going for superhero capes or something that would fit in more with the Faire?” Trask asked.
Theo hoped superhero. Hell, if they were going with the zany theme, they might as well carry it the whole way. They would look back on the day of the big wedding and laugh while everybody else ran around in circles.
“Oh, superhero all the damn way,” Morris said, and Felipe nodded eagerly. “I’m thinking Superman. I love Batman, but he’s moody. I don’t want moody. I love Superman’s blues and reds. Laila can wear a Wonder Woman getup. She’ll freaking love it.”
“Good plan. I’ll make something for us and Lincoln too. He’ll want in on it. The capes can be souvenirs.” Felipe gave Theo a crooked grin. “Which I guess leaves you and Scottie out of the fun.”
“Oh, don’t you worry. Coming up with the cocktails and finger foods for the theme will be superheroic for us. We won’t feel left out,” Theo assured him. Then he considered Morris’s earlier question. As tempted as he was to suggest eloping as soon as possible, he didn’t think they’d get away with it now. “We should probably do it at least within the same year as the big wedding, huh?”
“Probably, though this means we can celebrate two anniversaries. That will be fun.” Morris said with a laugh. “I say we rule out the winter months. I’ll still be nervous, and I don’t want to worry about slipping on a patch of ice and sailing off the deck into Back Creek. I can’t really fly like Superman.”
Only Morris would consider that a worry. “Let’s aim for March. The ladies will be in full-tilt mode and easily distracted. We’ll be in the middle of moving, so it’ll be a nice break, and if we come across acting weird, they’ll figure it’s because of the move and the wedding planning. They’d never suspect an elopement.”
“You are devious.” Morris tapped his finger against Theo’s lips. “I think I love that about you.”
“And now you just took a turn down sapsville.” Felipe snickered.
“Oh, we haven’t even started getting sappy,” Theo warned and flicked his hand toward Felipe. “Go back to torturing Trask’s ears with your yapping.”
“It’s not torture,” Trask protested. “I like hearing Felipe talk.”
“See.” Felipe stuck his tongue out at them, hooked his arm through Trask’s, and turned back around to catch the end of the song.
Theo glanced around at the thinning crowd, then leaned over to Morris. “I say we slip away, leave Felipe and Trask to get into whatever trouble they want, and you and I go and celebrate in the back of your little car.”
Morris laughed nervously. “You wouldn’t really….” He gave Theo a long look. Theo smirked back and slid his hand under Morris’s kilt, moving up along his thigh. Morris stood up, capturing Theo’s hand before he could go any further. “Night, Felipe, night, Trask. Gotta go.”