10. Austin

CHAPTER 10

AUSTIN

"Are you ready for all this?"

I looked out the window at the lush green jungle landscape. Much to my surprise, as we descended from the clouds and caught sight of the crystal-clear blue waters off the northern coast, I found I actually was happy to be here. Costa Rica was known for its biodiversity and conservation efforts, and I wanted to see and experience it firsthand.

There were a lot of things that could help Carter change the way Wentworth Industries did business. I'd been after him for years to seek ways of branching into more environmentally friendly fuel sources. It was time we looked into greener endeavors. But I couldn't show all my cards to Greer, so I acted like a dick.

"Ready as I'll ever be. Babe." I tacked that on at the end for dramatic effect. I'm sure he probably wished he'd asked for Dreamboat instead of me, because I was having difficulty controlling my mouth and my emotions where he was concerned. No one had ever affected me like Greer had. Like a fucking teenager, my unresolved feelings had me wanting to give him a piece of my mind, then fuck him out of my system.

Of course, Mr. Charming tried to hide his smile at my delayed term of endearment, as if I'd said it with heartfelt affection. I hadn't. Again, I was being a dick, and I knew it. Even though I had lost myself in some of our conversation today, I was as bitter today as always when it came to him.

I should probably see a therapist.

When the pilot taxied up to a small terminal, I unbuckled my seat belt and stood to stretch. We'd spent the last ninety minutes gathering intel, like how he took his coffee, how I liked my steak cooked, and which races were our favorites in a triathlon. Turns out, we both preferred running, then swimming. And then there were the intimate details.

"Have you ever been here before?" he asked as I opened the storage compartment to retrieve our luggage.

"No, can't say that I have."

I passed him his bags before gathering mine. His high-end rolling suitcase and hanging bag matched, while I was still using my dark brown canvas duffle I'd had for years. Looking at him, the differences between us couldn't have been more obvious.

Greer's eyes stayed fixed on the closet, so I took another look inside to make sure I hadn't missed something. But when I looked back at him, his eyes met mine with an expression that looked wistful. "I think you're going to love it. There are so many things to see and experience."

For just a moment, I allowed myself to really look at Greer as he went on about the things we were going to do this week. Every time he smiled, or described something he was excited about, the soft lines around his eyes made him even more handsome than he already was. I could easily get lost in him if I wasn't careful.

Looking at him like this was dangerous, so I reached into my bag and took out my sunglasses. Sliding my mirrored aviators into place, I turned for the door, nodding in acknowledgment that I'd heard him. I couldn't let Greer see all the dumb things I still felt for him, because if he looked hard enough, he could read me like a book.

"And the coffee," he groaned as he followed me out of the plane. "I swear there is nothing like it in the world. When those aromatic flavors hit your tongue, it's heaven." His little groan sent a shot of lust straight to the flagpole in my pants. I'd had it since we left Portland.

When we reached the bottom of the steps, I walked a few paces away and waited for him. He'd stopped in the doorway to talk to his crew.

Powering on my phone, it buzzed repeatedly with incoming texts. And I knew they were from.

Dreamboat: You mother fucker!

Dreamboat: You sent him to me, didn't you?

Dreamboat: You just wait.

Dreamboat: Goddamn you. He's so fucking sexy.

I tilted my head back and laughed. I could just imagine how he reacted when John Langdon walked in the door and found him flirting with Caleb.

Me: Serves you right, asshole.

I pocketed my phone and turned to look for Greer. As I watched, he handed a white envelope to each of them. His generosity and the way they looked at him chipped away at the walls I'd built around my heart. And when Sandra leaned in and hugged him, I knew he'd done something else really nice for her. I found myself hoping it was a spa day.

Looking away, I gave him his moment with them. We were here during the rainy season, but it was actually more pleasant. But the longer I stood there, the more I needed a long run on the beach to release some of the tension in my body.

"Thanks for waiting."

I frowned. "What did you think I was going to do?"

"I don't know," he sighed, before walking a few steps ahead of me. "I realize I coerced you into coming, but I'm glad you're here."

As I followed him and assessed our surroundings, it was easy to see this was a popular landing spot for tourists. And that got me thinking.

"When do we have to start the boyfriend thing?"

He glanced over his shoulder as we entered the small terminal. "Probably wouldn't hurt to start now. I don't know when the guests are arriving, but I'm sure most of them will recognize me, thanks to my sister."

His eyes met mine, and I knew I was scowling. But what he didn't know was my scowl wasn't about being his boyfriend. It was jealousy.

Greer stopped suddenly, then leaned closer to my ear. There was no mistaking the aggravation in his tone. "Maybe try not to look like you hate me, Austin. That's all I'm asking."

He stepped back, putting space between us. We stared at each other for a long moment, neither of us knowing quite what to say. Greer chuckled to himself humorlessly, then ran a hand through his thick hair. He was exasperated with me.

"You know what? Let's make it easier. I'll come clean and tell everyone we're just friends."

Before he could walk too far away, I reached for him with my free hand. His skin was warm to the touch, reminding me of that night so long ago. My pulse rate picked up as he turned and looked at me in confusion. I knew I was on unsteady ground, because my feelings about him were like ping-pong balls bouncing around all over the place.

Still, no matter how much anger I had toward him, some fucked up, jealous part of me wanted everyone to think we were together. And no matter how much I denied it now, I'd always wanted to be with him. I guess that's why I felt blindsided.

"No. We're not deviating from the plan. We just spent eight hours preparing for this. I'll try not to be an asshole when everyone is around, but I can't make any promises when we're alone."

"You could pretend I never fucked up."

I shook my head. "Not likely. But it doesn't matter now, anyway. We're not the same two people we were back then, so let's just stick to the plan."

Without thinking about it, I released his arm and then held out my hand. Greer looked down at my upturned palm waiting for his, then back up to me.

"You don't have to do this," he murmured.

I gave him a single nod, immediately relieved that he couldn't see my eyes. "I want to. I agreed to come do this for you, and I will. But it'll be up to you to explain why we broke up when we get home."

With a hint of a smile, he slid his free hand into mine. We both looked at where we were connected. Twenty-two-year-old me would have been over the fucking moon right now, and all it took was the feel of his hand in mine.

I twisted my hand to lace our fingers together, ready to do battle with all the women who wanted my man. My breath hitched as the emotion rose at the realization of how long I'd wanted Greer's attention like this.

"Thank you," he murmured.

I nodded and pulled him toward customs. We held on to one another until we had to hand over our passports.

A little part of my heart began thawing behind the iron bars I'd encased it in all those years ago.

Half an hour later, we'd cleared customs and headed out to where a driver waited. Greer spoke to him in Spanish and gave him the address of where we needed to go.

"I'm surprised you didn't rent a car," I said, slipping into the back seat next to him.

"We just need a ride to where we're staying. We'll get one when we need it."

The driver pulled out of the parking space and headed toward the main road.

"A word of caution for you," he said, looking over at me. "If my memory serves me correctly, you like fast cars and pushing the envelope. Hence the call sign."

I scoffed at his memory and rolled my eyes behind my glasses.

"So, if you drive while we're here, it's imperative that you don't speed and always keep your eyes on the road." He leaned closer to me and motioned me to follow. "The drivers here are aggressive, and if you get stopped, you'll be paying a hefty fine to the police officer."

I shifted toward him. "I know how to handle aggression."

Greer sighed, then moved back. "Yes, I am aware, Daredevil."

"Good. Babe."

He sighed. "If you keep saying it like that, no one is going to believe we're together."

I smiled. "Like what? How do I say it?" I knew exactly how I was saying it.

"I don't know, but it's not pleasant."

"Fine," I grumbled. "I'll try to do it better."

"Thank you."

Before we landed, we'd come to a tentative agreement on how things would work. I would play the attentive boyfriend. If I put my hostility aside, I could probably win an Oscar for my performance, because I wouldn't have to act. But that would tank my revenge plan, and I wasn't sure how much I cared about it anymore.

I took in the epic beauty around us as Greer started typing on his phone. We passed through a small town that offered bars, restaurants, and grocery stores.

"Do I have my own room?"

Glancing at him, my dick went to full mast. The fucker was wearing reading glasses again and looked at me over the rim. God damn, he was sexy. "I've already explained this to you, sweetheart. We're boyfriends. We sleep together and you hog the covers."

I scoffed, trying to think of anything but how damn hot he was with those dark-rimmed glasses and graying beard. "That's a lie. I run hot as fuck, and never sleep under the sheets."

Greer raised his brows. "Okay, good to know."

"And naked," I added for effect. "I sleep naked. Not one stitch of clothing." I never slept naked. Couldn't stand for my balls to be all loose and flopping around.

He stared at me, then took off his glasses. He bit down on the arm, then slid his gaze down my body to my crotch. I put my hands over my junk as if I could shield it from him.

"I see you objectifying me over there, Mr. Rowan."

He laughed. "Just sizing you up, Lieutenant Wentworth. And it won't be a problem for you if I sleep in the buff?"

I shook my head, looking out the window as he drove. "Nope," I said, popping the p. "Not one problem."

I was such a liar, and I had to force myself not to look at him for a moment.

As we rode along the scenic twisty road toward the coast, it occurred to me we didn't have an origin story.

"What's the story about how we got together?"

"Well," he said, glancing at me. "I suppose we could tell a version of the truth. It'll be much easier than trying to keep up with a lie."

I frowned, thinking back to almost twenty years ago. "What version would that be?"

Greer propped his elbow on the window and rubbed his beard with his fingers. I couldn't keep my eyes off him. "Even though we'd met when you were a teenager, we ran into each other in Chicago before you left for the Navy."

That was true.

"We had major chemistry, but I was so much older than you. And you're Carter's younger brother." Greer sounded pained to talk about this, but someone was going to ask. It was a given.

"And?" I waited for what he would say.

"And you went into the Navy and became a SEAL."

I rubbed a spot on my chest. "And you got married."

My tone caused Greer to look away, but I shifted my gaze back to the window. I was definitely getting a counselor when I got back to Portland.

"Austin," he said, but I raised my hand to stop him.

"That's fine. That'll work. And we met again in Portland when my firm relocated and joined forces with Aidan Hayes."

"Yes, that's right. We have Jesse and Dominick to connect us again."

I nodded. We didn't talk much after that. I tried to lose myself in the scenery, but he'd already made himself at home in my head.

Was that what really happened? Did Greer have a crisis of conscience back then because of Carter? Or was he already engaged to be married?

The longer I thought about it, the more I was convinced I didn't want to know. Either way, it was going to fucking hurt.