Chapter Forty

Taylin

One week slipped into the next and Taylin wasn't sure he could remember what his life had been like before he had mated with Hollis. His days began and ended with Hollis… mostly. He sighed once more at how his thoughts had turned to his mate and their time together when he'd seen Booker's message. Trips away—which were necessary—without Hollis, put a hitch in his perfect life.

He got up from his desk, deciding that it would be quicker to walk to Booker's office than reply to the message, which would only generate more to-ing and fro-ing. He needed to triple check that he absolutely had to travel. At his appearance, Alma glanced up from her computer, her hand automatically moving her glasses back up the bridge of her nose where they slipped when doing computer work. "Need me?"

"No. I need to talk to Booker." He paused and scratched his cheek. "If Annalise arrives before I get back, there's a file on my desk marked with her name. She can get started on running the numbers for the sales from Hales department stores over the Midwest."

"Are they as projected?"

Taylin gave her a wide grin. "Better. There's a six percent increase in sales on the fashion accessories we trialed in Hales stores. The work we did with Kodi on marketing has worked well enough that we can repeat it in the bigger department stores like Riles next."

"See, this working closer together isn't as bad as you thought it would be."

Taylin kept his thoughts on that to himself and nodded, taking his leave quickly before Alma read his concern. For him things were fine, but the alphahole group chat since the swap over of Ziggy and Wilder would suggest otherwise for Jupiter and Silas, who were at each other's throats more often than not of late.

Outside Booker's office, he found his secretary's desk empty, so knocked on the door and waited for Booker to call out.

At the gruff shout letting him know he could go in, he stepped inside Booker's office and got hit by the fresh scent of chocolate and spice. He glanced at the seats, expecting to find Frey, who often smelled of those things.

"Who you looking for?" Booker questioned, sitting back in his seat, making it creak.

"You," Taylin replied, shutting the door behind him. To test the water and the theory he'd been harboring after hearing a snippet of heated conversation between him and Silas over Frey, he added, "Although it smells like Frey in here."

Booker fired forward in his seat, his dark eyes narrowing on Taylin. "He works alongside me and what the heck do you think you're doing sniffing at him?"

Taylin chuckled and held up his hands at the angry glare that could chop a man off at the knees. "I don't sniff him. It's just impossible to ignore him when he smells of chocolate and spice, isn't it?" he asked innocently, waiting for Booker's reaction.

When Booker rose to his full height, his eyes shooting daggers, what Taylin suspected became a firmer reality.

"You've got the hots for Frey," he accused, holding back his amusement, and going to take a seat, not worried when Booker towered over his desk looking no less angry.

"Give the fuck over. ‘The hots'? What the hell kind of adult thing is that to say?"

He gave a nonchalant shrug, enjoying himself immensely now the shoe was on the other foot. He'd taken a lot of abuse over his relationship with Hollis, pay back was way overdue. "The only kind that fits with your over the top reaction."

Booker's weight when he sat made the chair groan and he didn't mask the strangled noise that came out of him. "What do you want?" he asked testily. He started to tap the pen he was holding on the arm of the chair, revealing more about Booker's agitation than he'd probably noticed.

Taylin—feeling a little bad—dropped the subject of Frey and referred to the message Booker had sent. "The trip back to the hellhole, is it necessary? "

It had been four weeks since they'd returned. Oakland and his men remained in Minnesota, along with the additional legal team Dad had flown there to work on protecting the rights of the omegas when Amatus and his men got bailed from jail.

That little tidbit of information continued to infuriate Taylin, even when he'd suspected it would happen with the divergent haters supporting those fuckers.

"Unfortunately, yes. They want us back there to go over our statements in person. Amatus' lawyer is requesting in-person meetings with me, you, and Rue," he threw the pen on the desk. It hit the computer and ricocheted off the desk, falling to the floor, unnoticed by Booker who had reached to pick up a sheath of papers and wave them at Taylin angrily, temper flashing in his eyes.

"We don't have to go," Taylin pointed out. "Legally they can't make us."

"No, they can't, or not yet. But…"

"It's the right thing to do," Taylin finished for Booker, resisting cursing when he could recall far too easily the conditions those omegas had lived in, some for years.

"I'm arranging for the jet to fly us tomorrow morning, as we have this family thing tonight."

Taylin frowned at Booker. "Family thing?" he questioned, trying to recall what Booker was referring to. "I wouldn't call dropping off some baked goods that Hollis made for Popi tonight, a family thing. Hollis could do that himself, without me." Not that Taylin would suggest such a thing when time out of work together was precious .

Booker burst out laughing. In fact, he laughed so hard his eyes streamed with tears as Taylin stared at his brother, confused as fuck. "What am I missing?" he asked when Booker continued to laugh—at him, evidently.

"Popi invited Hollis's parents over for dinner to get to know them and to talk about how cute you two are together," he choked out, continuing to roar with uncontrollable laughter.

How cute they were together, was that code for something else?

Out of the chair in a flash, Taylin didn't even bother to respond to Booker as he headed right out of the office door. He could hear his brother's laughter ringing in his ears as he marched to the stairs to go to Hollis's office, not prepared to wait on the elevator. After that unforgettable night where Popi had mentioned a wedding, the conversation had gotten dropped.

Had it?

Am I overreacting?

Had Popi said something to Hollis? He'd not once mentioned anything to Taylin. Was this panic driving him to see Hollis because he wanted to… propose? Hollis was his mate, a wedding would just be the icing on a very delicious cake.

Out of breath, he marched into Hollis's office only to come to a standstill when the group of PAs sat in seats surrounding Hollis's desk all glanced in his direction.

Hollis rose, tugging at the end of his tie, his shoulders rigid when he met Taylin's gaze.

"Is there something important you need, Taylin?" His head inclined toward the men who watched Taylin with undisguised interest. "As you can see, I'm in the middle of a meeting right now."

"Did you know we were having dinner with your parents and mine tonight to talk… about how cute we are together?" he stated distractedly, his brain two steps ahead of his sensibility with all the different scenarios running through his mind at possibilities for their future. Evidently, talking about it took precedence over an audience listening to the conversation.

Giggles from the assembled PAs got drowned out when Hollis squeaked, "What!" His cheeks paling. "When… what…" He sank into his seat and covered his face with shaky fingers. "Ugh, parents!"

"Out," Taylin stated firmly. "All of you leave now."

He didn't so much as take his eyes off Hollis, who continued to hide his face in his hands, shoulders slumped.

When the door closed softly, Taylin walked around Hollis's desk and crouched down on one knee. He licked his dry lips and released a shuddery breath when he took hold of Hollis's trembling hands and he acknowledged why he'd come in the first place. He didn't want to play pretend. Marrying Hollis would be a dream come true.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" asked Hollis, his brow crumpling and his eyes shining.

"For spouting off in front of an audience. For my interfering parents. Because if Popi is having your parents over, then Dad knows and must be humoring Popi." He blew out a breath. "And for not planning to do this in a more romantic setting, because I don't want to wait."

"Huh?"

Back was the adorable confusion looking at him from behind the red frames Taylin had encouraged Hollis to wear because he loved them. "I love you Hollis Adice. Mating with you is one of the most special moments of my life." He brushed his lips against Hollis's quivering ones. "I want a life full of adventures. I want children. I want everything. And I want it with you. I would be honored if you'd agree to be my husband. I'll love and cherish you forever, I swear." The kiss was deeper, lasted longer, so he was breathless when he stopped because he needed air and an answer.

His heart shuddered in his chest as he used the pad of his thumb to collect a tear rolling down Hollis's cheek. "What do you say?" he whispered.

Taylin toppled backwards at how Hollis launched himself at him before he could react. They landed in a heap of legs and arms as Hollis showered his face with kisses.

"Is that a yes?"

Hollis giggled and laid his cheek against Taylin's. "That's a yes. A hundred times yes, a thousand times yes. All the yeses in the world," he cooed delightfully.

Taylin's facial muscles ached at how wide he smiled up at the ceiling, wrapping his arms around Hollis and holding tight. He didn't care that he was lying on the carpet in Hollis's office and someone could come in at any moment and find them like that .

"Do you think this will make our parents happy?" Taylin asked, feeling very giddy. Like a child on Christmas morning, waking to discover a stocking crammed full of presents.

"Mom and Dad never mentioned anything about the invite for dinner tonight, either." His sigh held a world of frustration. "So we should make them wait… at least an hour tonight before we tell them the news. No matter how damn cute they think we are!"

Taylin snorted in disagreement. "Only an hour, I'd say at least two." He rolled them over and looked down at a tousled looking Hollis. "We don't want to make it too easy on them if they've been chatting about us. Who knows what else they've talked about."

Hollis dragged his head down until they were barely an inch apart, a cheekiness coming through that set Taylin's heart racing. "So… when do I get to pick my engagement ring?"