Henri – 6

 

 

Henri was having some of the same thoughts as Ransom, wondering if Taegan was the sort of man who flirted with everyone—well, every man, if he was gay—who caught his eye.

 

"What looks good to you?" Taegan asked Henri when they arrived at the long row of barbecue pits, each one manned by a server wearing a bright red apron.

 

"Everything?" Henri admitted, as he tried to surreptitiously scan the crowd in the area for anyone who might be a bit too interested in him.

 

Taegan chuckled. "I'm not certain the plates are large enough. You can come back for seconds though."

 

"We all will, I'm sure," Miranda said, as she looked over the offerings. "At least twice."

 

John rolled his eyes. "She eats like a…a horse, and never gains a pound. Me, I look at food and have to work out for a week."

 

 "As if." Miranda patted his stomach. "All muscle and not an inch of fat."

 

The group, including Allyn and Ransom by then, bantered about what to select from the varied choices. Henri did fill his plate, then started toward the pavilion, looking for a vacant table. He felt a hand on his elbow.

 

"If you don't mind eating at my table…" Taegan said, gently steering Henri to one at the far end of the pavilion. "There's room for all of us."

 

"Surely you have a ton of friends you'd rather be eating with."

 

"Most of the people here are clients from my gallery. The barbecue is my annual thank you to them. My friends…? I see them often enough that their feelings won't be hurt if I don't invite them to join us."

 

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Allyn said from behind them.

 

Taegan chuckled. "Not certain I'm a horse, but he's right."

 

By then, they were at the table. It seated six, which seemed to Henri to be somewhat strange, considering that the rest of the tables were long enough to hold a dozen people each. But then, he is the host.

 

"I like being able to actually hear the people I'm talking with, without shouting," Taegan said, smiling at Henri as they sat.

 

"Am I that easy to read?" Henri asked.

 

"You have a very expressive face." Taegan studied him for a moment. "There's something you're afraid of, and it's not me," he said quietly. "At least, I hope it's not me."

 

Henri tried to shrug casually. "I'm just not big on crowds."

 

"I see. Then why are you here? Surely Miranda told you this was going to be a big bash."

 

Miranda, who was seated on Henri's other side, leaned in, saying to Taegan, "I did, so he knew. Do you mind if I tell him, Henri?"

 

"I guess not," Henri replied hesitantly, after glancing around to be certain no one was within hearing distance.

 

"Henri's one of us," Miranda said very quietly. "Someone is looking for him because of that—or at least we're presuming he still is."

 

"That's doesn't sound good," Taegan replied, frowning deeply. "Is this someone able to…to sense what we are?"

 

"I wish I knew," Henri said. "He managed to capture me a few months ago. I think—although I can't prove it—he might have seen me shift. Still, he has to know we exist since he took me to a lab to experiment on me. A lab that was already set up for that purpose."

 

Taegan drummed his fingers on the table before saying, "We should talk more about this, but not now. Let's enjoy ourselves, eat excellent food and just relax. That is, if you can relax, Henri."

 

"I'm trying to."

 

"Just stick with me and you'll be safe. I promise," Taegan told him.

 

"Surely you have other things you want to do. After all, it is your party. I'm fine staying with Miranda and Allyn."

 

"I should be hurt you'd pick them over me," Taegan replied with a laugh. "Still, I understand. If you change your mind, I wouldn't mind having a handsome man keeping me company while I play the gracious host."

 

"Henri," Miranda whispered, amusement in her expression, "you're blushing again."

 

He swallowed hard, replying to Taegan, "I guess, if you need a buffer…"

 

"Great. Now, as I said a while ago, let's eat."