Chapter Forty-One

Hollis

How he'd finished the meeting that Taylin had disrupted, Hollis never knew.

"Why are you grinning like that?" Frey looked at Ziggy. "He never smiles like that when he's talking spreadsheets. I mean, does anyone else think it's odd?"

Frey glanced at the other men, and Hollis rolled his eyes heavenward. "Can't someone be happy at work?"

"There's happy… and then there's happy. " Ziggy's chuckle quickly became matched by Bowie's and Lennon's.

Hollis pointedly looked at his watch. "Haven't you all got more important things to do than sit here and gossip… like work ?"

The tug to the cuff of Frey's sleeve as he eyed Hollis showed he wasn't about to give up. "I wasn't gossiping, I was making a valid point about you giving a happy vibe over spreadsheets. "

Hollis's sigh held a depth of acceptance because secretly he wanted to talk about Taylin's proposal. He'd been wrong about the romance of it. It was pretty perfect for Hollis. The place didn't matter, the intention behind his words did.

Love.

He was loved.

We're loved.

Semantics.

"I'm getting married," he announced excitedly before getting into it with his animal side.

Frey bounced on his seat right along with Isley.

"I told you guys, didn't I," said Isley, who was now out of his seat, wiggling his tiny butt.

"Alright," Wilder grumbled. "You got it right. But I said first that Taylin bursting into the room meant something epic was about to happen."

"You thought they were gonna get naked and do it on Hollis's office desk," Bowie supplied, blushing as he grinned shyly at Hollis. "You wouldn't do that, would you!"

The way he said it was more a statement than a question and wasn't something Hollis was going to touch with the longest stick in the world, especially given how he had become disappointed that the kissing and hugging on the floor had stopped.

"When are you going to go ring shopping?"

Frey's question brought about more enthusiasm as the conversation steered in a direction Hollis was happy to talk about .

Then Monty got out his cell phone. "Ohhh," he cooed, "let's look for jewelers in town!"

Hours later, Hollis's gaze traveled to the back seat of the car where he'd placed the apple cobbler, tarts, and Danishes he'd made the night before, then back to his hand. His stomach did a weird flippy thing when he stared at the platinum band, inlaid with pink diamonds.

When the shop assistant had laid several trays on the counter for them to look at, Hollis had known in that very moment that he wanted it. When Taylin had slipped it on to his finger and it fit perfectly, it was all the sign that Hollis needed. A whole ten minutes after entering the shop, they'd left with Hollis wearing the ring, categorically refusing to take it off his finger.

It winked in the overhead light and Hollis glanced out the window, realizing they'd come to a standstill and Taylin had opened his car door.

Taylin's laughter said he'd caught him once more daydreaming over the ring. "I suppose making them suffer for a little while is out of the question when it means taking off your pretty?"

Lane's call the previous night came with a story of how he was jealous of not getting some of Hollis's baking efforts. He'd played Hollis, he could see it now when Lane would know that Hollis would offer to drop some off. The invitation he'd accepted for this evening definitely had included no information about his parents coming for dinner. He had to give it to Lane, he really wanted them all to be one happy family. When he'd then rung his parents this afternoon on the pretense of organizing lunch to see if they'd mention anything, his Mom had been very enthusiastic about the evening.

Hollis had to acknowledge he was impressed with Mom wanting to meet Lane and Derick when she was normally a little more reserved. Was that because she'd talked about grandchildren and was looking for an ally who would be on her side? Lane would definitely be that, Hollis was sure.

As he admired his ring, he decided that how he felt about all that could take a back seat to the overwhelming merriment at Taylin's proposal. He was a traditionalist. He was raised that way and although he'd never actively push for marriage, delight came at the prospect nevertheless and he'd never be able to conceal that. The spontaneity of the proposal made his heart so fucking happy.

"I take it that's a definite no then?" Taylin's voice pulled him from his thoughts and back to the fact he'd not answered him.

He stared at his parents' car parked on the driveway. The scent of spiced apples, some of the ones he had cooked and frozen—after admitting that he had indeed collected too many from their trip to the orchard—filled his nose when he inhaled to stem the bubbly feelings. "I'm not taking my ring off, not for anyone."

"Love, that's fine with me. I want the world to know you're mine."

"You know that sounds very macho possessive?" Hollis outright laughed at Taylin when he shrugged and gave him a ‘do I care' look .

As Taylin got out of the car, Hollis noticed that the front door was open and Lane was making his way towards them, Mom right on his heels.

He didn't hear what Lane said to Taylin while he watched Mom smile at him. He got out more slowly, his facial expression neutral, and put his hands on his hips when she came to him.

"So… are you and Lane best friends now, Mom?" he asked sweetly, titling his head, his eyes narrowed on her. "Because if I hadn't rung you today I'm guessing you wouldn't have told me you were coming here tonight?"

Lights poured from the windows behind her, casting a shadow around her, but Hollis didn't miss how color crept into her cheeks, staining them a deep red. "Lane called us at the last minute to invite us over and I thought isn't that nice. I get to see my son, who I've not seen in weeks, and meet Taylin's parents at the same time. I told you this afternoon how excited I was," she said with a hint of defensiveness.

"You were seeing us on Sunday, Mom," he pointed out, not letting her off the hook quite yet.

"Yes, but I wouldn't have met Lane and Derick, now would I?" She looked in the open door. "Oh, you have been busy. Did you use the new cook book I bought you?"

One look at her guileless expression and Hollis shook his head, huffing loudly. "Mom, you really need to work on your diversion tactics. You suck at it."

"This is all your mom's idea," Dad said, appearing with Derick, clearly having heard what he'd said .

Dad strode to Hollis and gave him a hard hug that made his woes always feel a little less weighty. "Don't be too hard on her," he whispered in his ear.

Hollis held on for another second, then his excitement got the better of him with his parents right here. As they separated, he lifted his hand, saying nothing, just waiting for the reactions. He didn't have to wait long.

"Oh Hubert, look!" Mom sniffed loudly, snatching Hollis's hand. "He's engaged!"

She said it so loudly, Hollis wasn't in the least surprised when Silas, Booker, Kodi, and Laken came rushing out the door in a pile of bodies and crunching gravel, vying to get closer.

Taylin stood next to Derick, grinning foolishly at everyone. "You need to thank Booker"—he looked directly at him—"for spilling the beans about tonight."

"Jackass," Booker grumbled when Lane spun towards him, tutting and wagging his finger.

"Were you trying to cause trouble, young man?"

"He always does," Kodi supplied, laughing.

"Shut up." The look Booker cast at Kodi held the threat of violence.

Lane stepped between them and hooked his arm through Booker's as if to hold him back. "For that naughtiness, you can help me bring in what Hollis made, which you won't be getting any of."

"What?" spluttered Booker, doing as Lane directed without quibbling .

Hollis heard him arguing when they walked back into the house carrying the trays and boxes he'd brought. "Isn't it supposed to be a celebration? I mean, maybe I pushed Taylin to pop the question, isn't that what you've been angling…"

"As Booker has finished setting the cat amongst the pigeons, shall we all go inside and eat?" Derick suggested, his normally hard features softening when Taylin rested his head on his father's shoulder.

"You were humoring Popi, weren't you? I expected better of you, Dad." If he aimed for grave, he failed when his amusement danced in his chocolate eyes.

"Me too," he replied, and everyone laughed, even Hollis's dad. "But none of us are any better at resisting Popi. He just wants one big happy family. However it comes."

"That's the truth!" Taylin laughed.

Fawned over and the ring discussed in great detail by Lane and Mom, along with the proposal over dinner, Hollis was a little relieved when he could escape to the kitchen to plate up dessert at Lane's suggestion.

Mom and Lane came with him into the kitchen. They had bonded over their love of a fashion designer that they both insisted would be perfect for making the wedding outfits.

There was no sign of Bessie, the housekeeper, who'd made their delicious meal.

"It looks like Bessie has set everything up for us," Mom said, going towards the platters laid out on the counter. "She's a veritable treasure, Lane."

"I don't know what I'd have done without her with eight boys to feed and care for. "

"How long has she been with your family?"

"She's a gem."

Lane nodded at Mom, his eyes revealing his emotions. "She is, and I could never repay her for what she's done for my sons. All of them. She's more a mother to them than those that birthed them…" A small gasp for air came from Mom, and Lane turned his full attention to her. "It's the truth. Some families don't deserve the precious gifts they're given."

"But you do," Hollis said, stepping closer to Lane. "They are the men they are because of the love you gave them. You and Derick. Your adopted sons aren't the sum of their pasts. They've become so much more than that. Anyone can see it. They are brothers in every sense that counts," Hollis murmured quietly, a little embarrassed by his own outburst, but feeling compelled to say what was on his mind. Taylin was an amazing man, and Lane and Derick contributed to that.

A gentle hand squeezed his shoulder, and he turned slowly, already knowing who was there by the subtle fragrance Taylin wore.

Love. It sparkled at Hollis, lighting up his insides as the hand touching him moved and fingers teased down the side of his face until he reached his chin where Taylin pinched gently, holding his gaze. "This is why you're my temptation." He brushed their mouths together and Hollis let out a breathy moan. "My love, how could I not be tempted by you?" His mouth lingered longer on the second kiss, making Hollis's toes curl in his shoes before he heard Mom.

"Don't they look cute smooching? "

Hollis pulled back in alarm, his eyes widening on Lane and Mom. "Mom," he exclaimed. "Really!"

"What, you are cute," she answered, not sounding at all concerned, looking directly at Taylin.

"Give in, protesting is futile. I learned from the pro there, looking just a little too satisfied with himself."

Lane jiggled his arms, plates clicking together as he clutched at them and did a poor job of hiding his quivering lips as he looked away, in Hollis's opinion.

"Is it too late to change my mind about the wedding?" Hollis asked tongue in cheek, deciding if you couldn't beat them, then he'd join in.

"Yes," Mom was quick to say.

"Of course," Lane supplied, not sounding as confident as he eyed Hollis, searchingly.

"Too late now." Taylin tapped at the ring on his finger. "Didn't you read the terms and conditions?" The wicked smile got Hollis's blood pumping. "That ring is legally binding. Non-returnable. I'm also sold as seen, no refunds." His nose touched Hollis's, and he beamed. "You're stuck with me."

Hollis held back his grin for all of two seconds before it slipped free. "I can live with that."

Read on for a snippet of what's coming next for the Starling brother!