Chapter Nine

Taylin

"Have you packed my tablet? I can't seem to find it," Taylin asked Bessie from his position bent over the bedside drawers, where he was sure he'd put it last night.

"It's in your computer case with your laptop, where you asked me to put it not half an hour ago."

Bessie's reply held a wealth of amusement that didn't require him to turn to see her face to know that she was smiling at him. "Sorry, I'm just a little het up and trying to make sure I remember everything I need."

The reason for double and triple checking what he could usually do blind folded with one hand tied behind his back was Hollis. Since their meeting about this trip, his mood had shifted into…well, it was hard to put into words. Equal parts overly excited and terrified seemed to fit. Both were perplexing and left Taylin struggling with how to decide what, if anything, he should do to find out why .

Hollis appeared to have developed a tick at the side of his left eye, along with lips that curled up slightly at the edges. Was it a smile? A grimace?

It was pathetic that at one point, Taylin had convinced himself Hollis smiled at him like they were more than friends, more than boss and employee—and it was freaking Taylin out not knowing if it was real.

Was he reading too much into it? His brothers had been no help—again! This left him floundering, once more getting a feeling he was playing catch up with Hollis over whatever this was they had going on between them.

Now the trip was upon them, and they were leaving this evening and the out-of-control nerves were having a party in his belly and gathering momentum with every second that ticked down.

What should have been a simple trip was now more complicated. They were having to make an additional stop to pick up Rue and his PA in New York where they'd gone for a two day urgent trip to have meetings to sort out a few problems that couldn't wait.

Taylin didn't know the ins and outs, but it sounded like a ball ache for Rue, who'd been exceptionally grumpy in their group chat.

"You're worse than when you got wolf pox and couldn't focus for more than a minute. What's up, Master Taylin?"

Blinking rapidly, he brought his stare to Bessie, seeing an expectant look. It was hard to hold back the sigh of confusion, having possibly missed some of what she'd said. A state he appeared to live in these last few weeks. "Did I miss something, or are we still on the same topic?"

She laughed heartily. "You got a case of ‘up inside your head'. I don't suppose it's got anything to do with that nice young Pygmy Loris I've met several times, does it? He's such a polite young man. Handsome too."

Nothing got past Bessie. He twisted to look back at the drawer he was rummaging in, blushing harder than a virgin getting naked for the first time. Or that was how he remembered it when he'd taken that plunge.

"What have you heard?" he mumbled, his hand going inside the drawer and plucking out random stuff while paying no attention, waiting for Bessie to answer.

"Now you know I'm not one to gossip, Master Taylin."

He sensed her ‘but' as she paused for dramatic effect and drew his attention to the mischievous housekeeper's twinkling eyes. "But," he supplied, knowing her game as she giggled like a young girl.

"Silas and Booker might have mentioned that you have a particular fancy for Hollis and that you were pining after him."

He choked on his own spit at how she'd phrased it. "Pining! I'm not pining."

"Master Taylin, there is nothing wrong with a little pining over a love."

He blanched at her words. "I never said I loved him!" His voice was several octaves higher than normal, and as if the universe was lobbing bricks at him, Popi chose that moment to come into the room. His brows arched as he looked at Taylin with that knowing stare that suggested he'd heard their conversation and was aware Taylin had out right fibbed.

Popi had a built in bullshit radar, which he'd often put to good use when Taylin had been growing up. He didn't cower or hunch his shoulders, but it was a close call. He was a thirty-five-year-old man, for pity's sake!

"Popi, do you need me for something?" He offered an absentminded smile, aiming to deflect what might come his way. "I'm in a bit of a rush."

Taylin chose then to look at what he was holding and squirmed with embarrassment at the large box of condoms he'd plucked randomly out of the drawer.

Why me!

He dropped them into the open bag on the bed, purely as a reflex to hide them.

Popi chuckled at the move but thankfully didn't bring attention to the box peeking out. "Your car is here. I just came up to say Booker and Kodi are already downstairs and ready to go."

"Shit!" Taylin exclaimed, checking his wristwatch and seeing the time had gotten away from him. He hated to be late.

He eyed his travel bag, rifling through to check he had what he needed, zipped it, and reached for his computer carry case. "Sorry about the mess, Bessie. I'll tidy up when I get back."

"It's fine." She gave him a broad wink. "I like clearing up after my boys. "

She bustled about the room, setting it to rights faster than he could as he headed to Popi to give him a kiss on the check. Taylin inhaled the scent of earth and flowers. The familiarity of it settled a little of his nerves. "See you when I get back."

"Make sure and have some fun," Popi murmured so quietly that for a second, when Taylin stepped away, he thought he'd misheard him until he got a load of the goofy grin.

"Work, Popi. I'm going on a working trip."

"Whatever you say, my sweet boy. Whatever you say."

Taylin made a quick exit to escape whatever innuendo Popi was getting at because it caused an inner tension to creep in. Had his brothers been feeding Popi and Bessie gossip about Hollis?

God, he hoped not. None of them were very good at holding their secrets around Popi, including him.

In the car minutes later, he tuned out of the bickering between Booker and Kodi. He'd had to relearn over the last couple of weeks to block it out. Hunting for an apartment was on hold because the mere mention brought a sad look to Popi's eyes, but he wasn't sure living with his brothers long-term was the sane thing to do.

Taylin rubbed at his temples and closed his eyes, running through the list of things he needed to do over the next few days. A separate car was collecting Hollis, Lennon, and Frey. Monty was already with Rue, so it meant the jet wouldn't be as full for the first part of the journey. However, what that meant was that he'd be in close quarters with flirty Frey, which he'd avoided since the coffee lounge incident, not wanting to give the man any more wrong ideas .

Taylin sent up a silent wish to get to the jet before the omegas so he could make sure he sat in a position to avoid Frey. The additional hours of the trip gave Taylin more concern than he liked. With how things seemed to have improved—if that was the right word—between him and Hollis, he didn't want to upend the apple cart. But knowing his luck, he'd end up flat out knocking the cart over, tripping on the apples, and ending up on his ass.

"Did you get my email containing the updated designs for the leather pieces for the fashion show? The Native American designer has come up with a whole concept to tie in the clothes and accessories. They are a little more detailed than the last ones, but boy, are they stunning." All enthusiasm, Booker's question sank past his thoughts, and it took a moment to reply.

"I did. But we need to see if either of these business recommendations fits with what you need. The designs might need to be adapted—"

Booker shook his head vehemently. "Those leather designs tie into the whole of the spring collection. We can't change them!" His growl was all bear. His jaw set rigidly as he glared at Taylin, as if daring him to argue.

Taylin sat forward, not intimidated in the slightest. "If we can't find someone to do the level of detail you need, it'll be a moot point. Then you'll have to compromise and switch out the shoes, bags, belts, and any other accessories that tie the collection together and go with something else or consider canning the whole spring line. "

They wouldn't do that as it would cost them a fortune and the impact on fashion week would be a catastrophe for Jupiter with the hype he and Kari had been working on for months.

Booker's scowl spoke volumes. The deep lines etched around his eyes and bracketing his full lips said he wasn't budging on this. Tension radiated from his enormous frame, making the confines of the car shrink. "I'm not having this discussion now!"

Taylin didn't point out Booker was the one to start the conversation. Instead, his attention turned to the window when the car slowed and the sign for the private jet entry appeared.

A disheartened sigh escaped at seeing his evening was carrying on in the same vein when he saw another company car parked in the bay near their jet. There was no sign of the PAs which meant they were already on board.

"Lennon better get that no one else wants to listen to his incessant chatter," Kodi bitched as they pulled to a stop.

Booker's lips twitched. "Lennon never was a chatterbox with me. What about you?"

For the first time since he'd got in the car, Taylin grinned. "Nope."

"This is gonna be fun!" Booker hustled out of the car, following Kodi as Taylin rolled his eyes heavenward, realizing he was going to be limited to his seat choice because he'd gotten distracted and was now last getting on the plane.

Out of the car, he grabbed his bags from the driver and gave chase. Inside the jet, Thomas, their air steward, met him with a polite smile. Dressed smartly in a black shirt with the company logo adorning the breast pocket, and some smart trousers, he looked every bit the alpha he was. "Evening, Mr. Starling. May I take your bags?" He held out his hand, only Taylin's attention had switched to the seating arrangements.

Hollis was sitting in the seat Taylin would have picked and Frey was sitting on the other side of the aisle, one seat down, leaving a seat on either side of him. The wide aisle allowed plenty of room between the opposite seats, which could swivel to face each other at an angle so you could hold a conversation, if needs be.

Booker sat next to Hollis, whereas Kodi opted to take the seat next to Frey and not spare a look at where Lennon sat in the booth section they used for working, as it had a table to hold laptops. Lennon's eyes were downcast and he fiddled with the laptop in front of him. But there was a droop to his shoulders that wasn't his usual posture, which suggested something was amiss.

Problem was, Taylin, for now, was more concerned about avoiding sitting next to Frey and inviting three hours of flirty conversation. Seeing his best option was to sit across from Lennon, Taylin went and sat down in the booth, which unfortunately was furthest away from Hollis.

Booker's hearty laugh got him lifting an enquiring brow as Taylin dropped his bags down next to him on the empty seat. Booker gave a pointed look at Thomas, who appeared to have followed him, and was wearing a look of expectation .

Taylin eyed his bags and gave an internal groan at why Thomas had followed him.

Bugger it to all hell!

Taylin picked up the bag containing his clothes and stood to offer it to Thomas. "Thank you," he murmured, not looking at anyone as he retook his seat, cheeks glowing with warmth. He reached for his computer bag on the pretense he needed something inside it.

Dork!

You absolute dork!

There was a cough and Taylin glanced over at Lennon, who gave him a timid smile. "How's your fish doing?"