Part 10 (1/2)
”Sit down,” Sean said, waving a fork with a sausage on it at them. Once everyone was seated he sipped his coffee, looking at them. ”I don't want to have to do this, but someone's got to go to Australia. We'll finish out the retreat, but as soon as it's done, we're headed home. Vahid, you need to make sure every part of this retreat continues to go off as it is supposed to. When it's over, I need you to ensure that not one of these problems leaks out.” Sean paused and took a few more bites of his breakfast. ”Emily, you're going home to pack.
Declan and Holden are too. I'm sending the three of you to Australia to fix this mess. I want that G.o.dd.a.m.ned company. I no longer care what it takes to get them. You bully them. You f.u.c.k with them. You shove them up against the wall and rape them a.n.a.lly. I don't f.u.c.king care,” he growled, smoke coming from his nostrils. ”No one tries to pull the wool over the eyes of an Antaeus. They could have been taken over nicely. Now they've lost the right to an easy takeover. This is beyond hostile. This is flat out war. We will conquer them until they all run home to mommy wearing American made panties.”
Garret's eyes widened. He'd seen p.i.s.sed off CEO's before but Sean Antaeus went into a whole new realm of p.i.s.sed off. As soon as Sean stopped talking, Declan began. He went over every detail, making sure that each of them knew what they needed to do, what information they needed to gather, and who would do what while the three executives were gone.
When Vahid began going into details of the flights that his a.s.sistant had booked, Garret realized that not only would he be walking into the office as the head of the finance department on Monday morning, since Emily would be out of the office on her way to Australia, but he would be without Holden too. A separation so soon in their relations.h.i.+p wasn't a good thing. Fear stabbed deep within him in the place where his doubt lived. Holden's trip would be the biggest test of their new relations.h.i.+p and Garret wasn't sure what the outcome would be.
Chapter Ten.
Unhappy didn't describe how Holden felt. He wanted to shoot Sean. He'd just found Garret and now he had to go to f.u.c.king Australia. All because Declan and Sean had initially chosen to be nice to the Australian corporation they were taking over. They'd gone up to Declan and Sean's suite, leaving Emily and Garret with Vahid to work out the details of running the finance department in Emily's absence. Sean and Declan were arguing about the Australian company's executives. Holden just wanted to grab Garret and go home. Already his head pounded with frustration.
”What are you so p.i.s.sed about?” Sean barked suddenly.
Coming out of his angry thoughts, Holden looked up at his older brother. Strangely, the expression in Sean's eyes seemed worried.
Holden frowned. ”What would you know about me being p.i.s.sed? And when did my emotions and feelings ever matter when it came to work?” he snapped.
Sean's eyes flared, but it wasn't with heat. Holden couldn't figure out exactly what his expression meant. ”You're my brother and I care about you. If something is wrong, tell me so we can try to keep work from interfering too much,” Sean replied quietly.
Holden turned his head and looked at Declan who shook his head infinitesimally. So Declan hadn't said anything to Sean about Garret. Holden's gaze returned to the head of the family. Sean seemed to know something was going on in Holden's life but if Declan hadn't spilled the beans, Holden had no clue how Sean could know anything.
”Why are you saying this to me, Sean?”
With a little growl, Sean sat down in a chair, his gaze settling on Holden. ”You've been different since we've been here. Something's up. You said you had something to tell me but weren't ready yet. You're out of time now. Tell me what's going on and how Garret Renquist fits in the picture,” he said coolly.
Startled, Holden blinked in surprise. ”He's my mate.” The words came out boldly. Holden had wanted to ease into the explanation when the time came to tell Sean, but somehow, the stark words just slipped out.
Expecting some kind of stupendous reaction from Sean, Holden watched as his older brother just nodded, his expression unchanged. ”And you don't want to leave him yet. I understand,” Sean replied quietly. ”I remember feeling the same when Careen and I first got together.” A wry expression settled on Sean's hawkish features. ”h.e.l.l, I still hate being away from her.”
”You hate being h.o.r.n.y without an outlet.” Declan's deep voice, tinged with wry amus.e.m.e.nt entered the conversation.
Holden looked up as Declan lowered his tall frame to the couch. Sean laughed, a short self- deprecating laugh. ”It's true. I've been mated so long I think I've forgotten how to m.a.s.t.u.r.b.a.t.e.”
With a groan, Holden covered his eyes. ”Oh, G.o.ds. First Declan and his p.o.r.n and now you and the masturbation remark. Way too much TMI, brothers,” he complained.
Sean and Declan laughed. ”d.a.m.n. And I was going to ask you about the whole prostate erogenous zone thing,” Sean joked. As Holden uncovered his eyes about to snap out a retort, Declan muttered, ”It's true. Just don't ask how I know.”
Eyes widening, Holden stared at his older brother. ”You and...?” He broke off, unable to even fathom the idea that Declan was bi-s.e.xual.
Declan shook his head. ”Not a man, Holden. And I think that's about all I'm willing to say on this subject. You're the one who howled TMI, remember?”
Sean heaved a sigh. ”I'm sorry, Holden. There isn't much I can do. Declan needs you on this.
However, when the two of you have things pinned down to the point that Brian can take over for you, by all means come home and take a few days off. Meanwhile, we'll keep an eye on your mate for you.”
”Please don't take him to strip clubs,” Holden groaned. ”I know he'd probably love it, but just...don't.”
Sean laughed. ”I can't get Alfred to go to one. What makes you think I can get Wonderboy to? No one will go with me.”
”No one wants to risk the wrath of Careen if they do,” Holden said with a grimace.
The rest of the afternoon was spent preparing for the trip to Australia. By the time Holden made it back to his suite, he was exhausted. He found Garret stretched out on a lounger on the balcony in a pair of shorts and nothing else, a brown bottle of ale on the table at his side, soaking up the last rays of the late afternoon sun.
Holden stripped all his clothes off and tossed them on the couch before joining Garret on the balcony. He stretched out on the other lounger, feeling the sun's warmth seep into his naked skin.
”That lounger is not very sanitary, Holden.”
”Don't care. Sun feels good,” he muttered.
”Does that mean I get to sanitize your a.s.s so you're not covered in dirt and germs from that thing?” Garret asked with a chuckle.
”Sure.” Holden turned his head and looked at his lover. Garret's body was relaxed, but there was a hint of anxiety in his deep green eyes. ”We have some things to settle before I leave for Australia.”
The green eyes suddenly became hooded. ”We do?”
”Yeah.” Holden reached out and took Garret's beer, taking a sip before putting it back on the table between them. ”You're staying in a hotel right? Until you can find somewhere to live?”
Garret nodded cautiously and Holden smiled. ”Not any more. As soon as we get back, we'll pick up your things and go to my place. You don't need to find a place. You're my mate. You'll live with me. My penthouse condo is everything you said you wanted in a place, ocean view, but close to the office. It's perfect.”
Garret's expression stayed closed off. ”Okay.”
Holden c.o.c.ked an eyebrow up at him. ”I like the idea of knowing that while I'm gone your naked a.s.s will be in my bed.” He shot Garret another smile. ”You can drive my car while I'm gone.
Go car shopping. This is California, baby. You need wheels.”
”Okay,” Garret said again, this time with a little sigh. Holden sat up, his gaze holding Garret's. ”What's wrong?”
For a long moment, Garret didn't reply. Finally, three words burst from him, ”I'll miss you.”
Holden's heart felt as if it somersaulted in his chest. ”I'll miss you too,” he said softly. ”Look, I'm done with this f.u.c.king retreat. How about we order up some dinner and watch a movie?”
Holden didn't want to tell Garret what kind of movie, he just thought he'd put the idea out there and explain later. When Garret flashed that brilliant smile, Holden's stomach dipped as it always did, but now, he welcomed the feeling in a way he hadn't the first couple of days. What had happened between them in the past twenty-four hours-both between him and Garret and his own discoveries-made all the difference to Holden.
They soaked up the sun until it grew dark then ordered room service. Holden pulled on his jeans as a concession to the room service waiters and began packing to go home. He knew that mentally, they were both exhausted. What had happened to them had been swift and overwhelming. Now, work and everyday life intruded on their discovery.
In Holden's mind, he had accepted Garret as his mate. However, he needed time before actually mating him. His logical brain wanted all the roadblocks removed before he bathed Garret in his fire and accepted his fire in return. They needed to settle into daily life and let their families and co-workers become accustomed to them as a couple. They needed to let their feelings ferment and grow so that speaking of love had no hesitancy or uncertainty about it.
The fact that Holden had to leave for an unknown number of days, threw a monkey wrench into his plans. He didn't like the fact that almost as soon as he and Garret got home, he would have to leave. All the things he'd thought about doing with Garret when they got home wouldn't happen now because of the mess in Australia, and Holden was beyond disappointed.
By the time dinner arrived, they were both packed and ready to leave in the morning. Holden knew that Garret had ridden up to Gargoyle Lodge with Emily so there were no obstacles to them leaving together. They got along so well that Holden actually looked forward to the drive, antic.i.p.ating they'd spend the time getting to know each other better. He was eager for Garret to see his condo and wondered what he would think of it. Holden sucked at decorating so he knew there would be some work ahead of them to actually make the place look like someone with a personality lived there. He knew Garret was a bit of a clothes wh.o.r.e but didn't know if his sense of style extended to furniture.
Over dinner and a bottle of wine he discovered that Garret didn't have any talent for fixing up a bachelor pad either. They made a list of furniture they would need and what would need to go. Garret worked from home often and preferred to have a comfortable desk. They decided that since they both sucked at figuring out how to put a home together that they would ask Sean's wife Careen for help.
Holden could tell that Garret seemed nervous about Declan and Sean knowing the truth about them, but he wasn't worried. His brothers would love whoever he loved. It was really that simple.