Priest, with his dominating presence that was larger than life when he turned his full attention on you, and Julien, with his easygoing personality and compassionate nature. They were a potent combination, a force to be reckoned with, and now Robbie had to somehow act normal around his family while both of them stood there looking all sexy and kissable.
Sure, this is a great idea. Nothing could possibly go wrong.
“Eleven seventy-six. Is that right, Robert?”
Priest’s voice cut through Robbie’s musings, and he nodded and pointed to the white two-story Craftsman off to their right. There were several cars parked in the driveway, and when Priest pulled up to the curb, Robbie shut his eyes and took in a deep breath.
This is crazy. I’m out of my mind. Why did I agree to this again?
“Princesse?”
Robbie’s eyes flew open, and he knew he must’ve appeared slightly manic, because Julien undid his seatbelt and reached for his hand.
“Breathe, mon cher petit. Everything’s going to be okay.”
Robbie licked his lips, not sure if he wasn’t about to faint as he looked out at his childhood house again. “Umm… Shit, I just… Give me a second. I’m trying to remember how I was going to introduce you two. It’s not like I can just walk in and say, ‘Hey, everyone, this is Julien and Priest, they’re married, but we all live and sleep together and I’m in love with them.’”
“Why not?” Priest asked with such a straight face that Robbie felt close to apoplectic.
“He’s joking,” Julien said, and shook his head.
Robbie pinned Priest with a murderous stare. “Not the right time, Joel.”
Priest’s lips twitched. “You and Julien, you both tend to use my first name whenever you’re—”
“Pissed off at you?” Robbie suggested.
“Yes. I like that,” Priest said, and then shoved open the car door and got out.
“He likes— Of course he likes that,” Robbie said. “And where does he think he’s going? I still haven’t worked this out yet. Tell him to get back in the car.”
Julien laughed. “Oh, princesse…”
Robbie blinked a couple of times before focusing back on Julien.
“Everything is going to be okay. We’re going to be right there with you. We’ll go inside, you can introduce us to your mother and father, and then see how you feel. If you want to leave, we have the hotel booked down the road and can check in after three. Okay?”
Robbie rubbed a hand over his face and nodded. Julien was right. Everything would be fine. And if it wasn’t, well, they had a backup plan. “Okay.”
“Bien. Then let’s go,” Julien said, as Priest walked around to their side of the car. “It’s been years since we’ve been around a happy family. This is going to be a real treat for us.”
No pressure, Robbie thought, as Priest opened Julien’s door and then reached for Robbie’s. He just hoped that a happy family was what the Bianchis delivered—not an insane one.
Priest looked inside the car when Robbie didn’t move. “Are you coming? I know you think this is going to be awkward, but it might be even more so if two strangers knock on your parents’ door and tell them that their son won’t get out of their car.”
Robbie squashed down his nerves and climbed out of the Range Rover, and when he saw Julien looking over at the house with a smile on his face, Robbie decided that if Julien and Priest were looking forward to a happy family get-together, then that was what they would get.
The Bianchis might be crazy, but that house had always been full of love, and no matter how damn nervous Robbie might be, he had to believe that wasn’t about to change now.
Chapter Eight
Four nosey Italians and a kitchen?
We’ve got this ~ Julien & Priest
JULIEN STARED UP at the home with the blue shutters. It was the quintessential family home, one you would see on TV or in a movie, where kids ran around in the front yard with a dog yapping at their heels.
It was cozy and inviting, unlike the palatial mansion where he’d grown up that sat on several acres and was surrounded by a gate to keep those less fortunate away.
Oui, this place was like a warm hug, and he had a feeling that whoever was behind that door would welcome you with one of those, should you need it.
When the three of them reached the front door, Robbie went ahead of them and then paused and looked over his shoulder. Julien smiled, trying to be encouraging.
But when Priest flashed him a grin, Robbie’s eyes widened and he whispered, “Don’t do that. You look like a wolf at Grandma’s house. Just…I don’t know, be normal.”
Julien scoffed, and then looked at Priest, who said, “I’m not sure normal is achievable in this situation, sweetheart.”
Robbie was about to say something when the front door opened wide and Sofia Bianchi came into view. With her hair styled into lovely brown and blonde waves, her face lit up with joy when Robbie whirled around to face her.