Page 41 of Adored

Gamble got it.

“Lead the way, Poe. This is your familiar territory. I will adjust.”

Somehow, he believed that. Gamble was very laid back, and he didn’t get rattled easily.

Clearly.

When they had the attention of the staff, Poe went there.

“Peter, this is my significant other,” he said, introducing Gamble. “This is Arthur Doyle. I call him Artie, and he loves it,” he teased.

Gamble stared at him in amusement. Oh, well, someone was busting ass. There was no way in hell anyone was calling him that.

He was forever Gamble.

But two could play that game.

“Oh, thank you, Poe-y pie.”

That made the man laugh as they shared a very private thing that no one else understood.

Well, at least they were going to have fun with it.

Why the hell not?

Lemons were had, and lemonade was made.

Peter carried on, not missing a beat.

“Sir, we have soup and sandwiches for lunch. Tomato soup and a cheese and pickle sandwich. Will that be sufficient?” he asked. “You said a light food day, and I was unaware you would have company. I would have made something different.”

Well, in Poe’s defense, he was not aware he was getting the gift that kept on giving.

A second chance with Gamble.

He nodded.

Then, he explained since his man wasn’t British, and the biggest thing he was going to have to adjust to was the food.

Well, and the weather.

“It’s a cheese toastie with melted cheese and what you’d call a chutney. It’s not a pickle, even if we call it a pickle.”

Gamble grinned.

He wasn’t picky about most foods. Gamble had traveled a lot as a Marine, and he ate many things. He’d had food from this part of Europe before, and it was nothing he would run screaming from.

To him, food was fuel.

His heart belonged inNew Orleansand with Creole food, but he could survive on a sandwich.

Well, and dining on Poe.

“Ah, another adventure,” he said, when the man looked nervous like he wasn’t going to like it. “Bring it on. I’m starving.”

The chef was curious.

“And you like it?” he asked, putting the toasted sandwiches on plates.