Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 8

angry expression. He half turned, gesturing between the two men as though introducing two important foreign dignitaries. "Yes, my chauffeur. He is also my gardener and all around helper… but he is also my friend." Hinata's chest swelled with pride as he said the last.
    Behind him, in the doorway, Andre nodded his head, his expression softening slightly. "Yes, Hinata, I am always your friend, but I am not waiting with the car. You forgot to add that I am also your bodyguard, and if you run away like that again, I will be forced to let your brothers and father know."
    Hinata watched Tater's face in fascination as the big man visibly relaxed with each successive word from Andre's mouth. By the end of Andre's speech his friendly look from before had returned. "Well, Andre, it's a pleasure to meet you. Peter's asked us to keep—" He broke off, a frown pulling his brows down. "Your name can't actually be Butterfly."
    Hinata laughed, and as the light, bell like tones drifted around the room, Tater and Rufus exchanged a long look. "No, my name is Hinata. Kenkyusha Hinata." He bowed carefully, making sure to make the bow respectfully deep without being subservient.
    Tater scratched his head. "Well, Ken—"
    Hinata waved his hands. "No, no, that is my family name. My name is Hinata."
    Tater shot him a puzzled look. "Why didn't you say it that way then?"
    Rufus stepped forward, bowing from the waist. "He did. Don't you remember the summer Peter tried to teach us about Japan and the way they say their first and last different than we do?"
    The light clicked behind Tater's eyes, and he laughed again, and then gave an exaggerated bow.
    "My apologies, Hinata."
    A giggle escaped Hinata. Andre's deep chuckle behind him assured him that he was not silly to find the two young men's antics amusing. "No apologies are necessary. I was not offended."
    Tater cleared his throat. "Well, Peter asked us to keep an eye on you. Would you like to have dinner with Rufus? I can't join y'all, 'cause someone's gotta stay with Peter, but I can come take you to breakfast tomorrow after Rufus spells me."
    Hinata wasn't entirely sure he understood everything Tater had just said, but he thought the gist had to do with him having dinner with one of the two, and then breakfast with the other while they took turns keeping an eye on both their cousin and him. He giggled again at the old fashioned gallantry of the gesture.
    "I think I would like that." He looked up at Tater through his lashes.
    Tater grinned wickedly, turning to look at his cousin. "I reckon this one is gonna give our Peter a run for his money."
    Hinata shook his head. "Oh, no, I will not take money from your cousin. That would not be honorable."
    Rufus laughed, stepping forward and resting a large hand lightly on Hinata's shoulder. "Let's go get some supper, Butterfly , and I'll explain what my cousin means." Hinata followed the long line of his arm up and up and up to his grinning mouth, and the force of his charisma and contagious smile pulling the corners of Hinata's lips to turn up as well.
    ****
    Hinata looked up from the iPad he used to study when travelling. The limo stood in front of a small house in a suburban neighborhood. He turned his eyes from the view out the window next to him and met Andre's amused gaze in the rearview mirror. "Where are we?"
    Rufus tapped on the window. "Hinata, we're here. You and Andre coming in for supper, or did you change your mind?"
    Andre grinned. "It appears we are having dinner at Mr. Jenkins's residence."
    Hinata gulped. "At his house?"
    Andre nodded. "Yes, Mr. Hinata. But you don't have to be nervous. I'll be there the whole time."
    Hinata nodded. "Okay."
    They opened their doors at the same time. Rufus held out his hand to help Hinata from the back of the car, and Hinata stared at the man's hand like he'd never seen one before.
    "I am capable of rising unaided." Hinata looked up at Rufus, a bewildered frown puckering his brow. Rufus grinned. The curve of his lips and flash of his teeth was that same warm, infectious smile he'd given Hinata before.
    "I reckon you can. I just don't want to give Tater or Peter a reason to be mad at me later, and Peter said to look out for you, and Tater told me to behave—"
    "I heard no one speak of behaving."
    Rufus's grin got impossibly wider. "Well, with Tater you got to listen in between what he says. Trust me, he said I was to treat you like a precious thing, and handle you with extra care 'cause of you being