Reese went to collect their bags. Hodges helped, and Mati was left scowling at all of them. “I can carry something, you know.”
Reese looked at her pointedly as he took the bags from David, leaving him empty-handed, too. “How about you show David the kitchen and around the rest of the first floor, and Hodges and I will handle these?”
“Fine,” Mati conceded and took David’s hand. “The kitchen is my favorite room in the house,” she explained as they stepped through the front door and veered left, while Reese and Hodges went toward the stairs.
David looked around curiously as they disappeared down the hall.
Reese jogged up the stairs, eager to drop off the bags and catch up with Mati and David. He walked into his bedroom, but Hodges hovered in the door.
Reese turned back to face him. “In case it wasn’t obvious, we’ll all be sleeping in here.”
“Yeah, I guessed as much.”
“Any objections?” Reese asked, holding his breath. Not that it would stop them, but holy crap it would hurt.
Hodges scowled. “Fuck you for asking, frankly.”
The tension slipped from Reese’s shoulders. “Okay, fair enough.”
Hodges was still staring at him.
“What?” Reese asked, failing not to sound defensive.
“You look at him the way you’ve looked at Mati for years.”
Reese smiled. “Yeah, I do.”
Hodges dropped his bags and pulled Reese into a tight embrace.
“Good for you, kid.”
Reese hugged him back. Fiercely.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
David sat tucked in the window seat in the kitchen with Mati while she and Reese plowed through a mountain of data on Viveiros and Sons. Mati was sorting it all into a system that David was certain would result in a set of color-coded files and folders he would find utterly charming.
He’d fed them a decent lunch and had an idea of what he could do for dinner from what he’d found in the house, but they were going to have to go shopping soon. The trick was, they were in the middle of nowhere.
It was nice, though. The woods behind the house led down to the ocean, which David was hoping they’d have a chance to explore at some point. For now, he could still see the footprints in the snow, left by some unknown intruder, and wasn’t in any rush to take Mati and Reese out there.
He wasn’t one of those guys who felt naked without his gun. He never had been, which had made him an anomaly on the force and among Chance’s crew. Today, here, he’d really like to have something.
Eyeing Hodges, he wondered what he might have that David could borrow. It would be one hundred percent illegal, but if it meant Mati and Reese were safer, David didn’t give a fuck. He suspected Hodges wouldn’t either.
When Mati moved to get up, David put his hand on her knee.
“What do you need?”
“I’m going to pop into my office for some folders, paper clips, stickies…”
David was unsurprised. “Let me get them.”
“You have no idea where you’re going.”
He ignored that. “What color? Green for personal?”
She pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “I can’t believe you remember. And yes, one green folder for my parent’s finances, some of everything in red and orange, and a dark blue binder for Viveiros and Sons.”
David stood. “Got it.”
“I’ll show him where it is,” Hodges announced, rising to his feet from his seat across the table. He had his own laptop open and had been poking at it with his index fingers. “I need to stretch my legs.”
Nobody believed him. Hodges hadn’t been subtle about sizing up David over the past couple of hours. He didn’t think he’d been found wanting—yet—but he’d bet his car the interrogation would begin the moment they set foot outside the kitchen.
Hodges held the door. David smiled as it swung shut behind him.
“Do I need to give you the shovel talk?” Hodges asked, getting straight to the point.
“Kieran Morrison already took care of that.”
Hodges stopped in the front hall and David tried not to gawk at it openly. His tour of the first floor had been brief, but he’d quickly realized that the video footage he’d seen in Boston hadn’t helped him understand how freaking huge this place was.
“That was kind of him,” Hodges said. “I’m surprised, though. He called to tell me you were one of his favorite people on earth.”
David smiled, his chest filled with warmth. “Did he? I feel the same way about him and Chance.”
Hodges nodded thoughtfully and led the way to the offices. “How’s this going to work?”
“The folders, the sleeping arrangements, or the relationship?” David asked, doing Hodges the favor of being equally blunt.
Hodges opened a drawer in Mati’s office and revealed a veritable mother lode of office supplies, sorted by color. He cocked his head. “Relationship, singular?”
“That’s right,” David said as he loaded up with what Mati had asked for. “It’s both of them. Not one or the other, or one and the other. Both. And it doesn’t work without either. At least, that’s how I see it.”
Hodges nodded, his eyes narrowing on David’s face. “And how’s that going to work when you go back to Boston?”
David swallowed hard. “I get my heart broken, and they get to build a life together.”
Hodges pursed his lips. “Okay.”
It wasn’t, but David understood that he wasn’t Hodges’ concern.
“Thank you for being honest,” Hodges said, then grimaced. “And please don’t mention sleeping arrangements again. My brain cannot be sufficiently bleached for that.”
David chuckled and followed Hodges back to the kitchen, their arms full of office supplies. It was a good thing Hodges didn’t know one of the bags he’d carried into the house earlier had been packed with sex toys and accessories—like that damn harness. Hodges would probably threaten to dip his whole body in bleach if he ever found out.
David took his seat next to Mati, helping her sort things into various folders and the binder. His laptop chimed with a new email.
“Chance reports that Chaz’s office claims he’s still out of town on business.”
Hodges pulled his own laptop closer. “Did he send someone there?”
“No, I think they called. It sounds like whoever answered the phone was pretty tightlipped.”
“That would be his sister, Muffy. She runs the office for him,” Mati said.
“Chaz and Muffy? Are these people for real?”
Reese rolled his eyes. “Charles and Miriam, technically. Their father was always concerned with appearances. I think he believed the nicknames sounded high society or something. Money was very important to James.”
David scanned the email. “Well, they do have a lot of money. No one can find any financial reason Chaz would need to break in here. Their father left them a heap of cash and some properties, and the law practice seems to be doing well. Could Chaz or his sister have a gambling problem? Some big debt that’s not on any official record?”
Hodges shook his head. “I doubt it. Neither of them travels much and there aren’t any big games around here. The internet can be enough, I suppose, but I’ve never heard anything about either of them gambling. I’ll have our guys look into it.”
David nodded. “Did you ever figure out what someone was searching for on the property?” He’d been avoiding the subject while Mati had been working through the shitstorm with her family, but every time he looked out the window, he got an itch to chase down whoever had left those footprints.
“No. The shed they went to holds the mower and a bunch of lawn equipment. I doubt that was what he was after. And I really can’t imagine why Chaz would have any interest—if he was in the country, which we’re pretty sure he wasn’t.”
“Did they ever figure out where Chaz was staying in Boston?” Reese asked.
“No, they lost him on th
e subway, unfortunately.” David would be giving a colleague shit about that for, approximately, forever. “They checked the hotels and he’s not registered. At least, not under his name. Maybe he has family in the area?”
“I don’t think so,” Reese said. “I can’t remember him or James mentioning any, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”
Hodges shook his head as he read something on his screen. “No, if you keep reading, they haven’t found a family connection.”
David sat back and sighed. “Crap. Why would Frankie break in here? And why was Chaz in Boston?”
“Let’s ask,” Reese said.
Everyone looked up.
“What?” David asked.
“I’m not saying we talk to Frankie, but why not go to Chaz’s office and ask? I’ve known Muffy as long as I’ve known Chaz. We all went to school together. I’ll ask her where he is and why. It’s hard to fathom what the hell he’s up to, but I really can’t believe Muffy is in on it, too. She doesn’t put up with her brother’s shit, and she’s always been the more honest of the two.”
“She’s a lawyer?”
“No,” Mati said. “She’s his office manager. Chaz treats her like just any staff in front of his clients.” She smiled at Reese. “Sometimes we talk while you two meet. Maybe I should ask her.”
“Okay, let’s do it.” Reese glanced at his watch. “Unfortunately, it’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
It was only four o’clock, but since they were on the east end of Jesus’s butt, David supposed they wouldn’t be able to get into town before most offices closed.
David rose from his seat and stretched his arms above his head, aware of at least two sets of eyes running over him. He tried not to bask. Or to groan. After a day in the car, the thorough working over Reese and Mati had given him the previous night, and now a day primarily made up of paperwork and driving, David needed to move.
“I don’t suppose there’s a gym I could go to out here in the sticks?” he asked. He could go for a run, but the dark, winding road and high snow banks wouldn’t be a particularly safe route. He could always go through his stretches and some calisthenics.
“Come, city-boy. I’ll show you how civilized we are out here in the sticks,” Hodges said with an epic eye-roll.
David kissed Mati and Reese’s cheeks, and ignored Hodges pretending to stick his finger down his throat as he did so. He followed Hodges upstairs to what David assumed was the master suite, where their bags were piled at the end of a big bed. Hodges waited in the hall, obviously amused when David came out of the bedroom in a tank top, shorts, and sneakers. He led David downstairs and through the living room to a door that David had only noted long enough to ensure it was locked on his tour of the house.
A blast of freezing cold air assaulted David when Hodges opened the door.
Hodges grinned when David shivered. “Welcome to Nova Scotia.” He handed David the key that hung by the door and gestured grandly at what looked like a massive greenhouse about a hundred yards away. The path between was well lit and clear of snow. “Knock yourself out.”
David eyed Hodges, trying to decide if this was a test. Or a prank. Or what.
He couldn’t tell, so he made a run for it and hoped for the best.
Mati tucked the last of the paperwork into its proper folder and stacked it all next to her laptop, which held yet more evidence her brothers were fucking idiots.
Reese slipped his hand over hers. “We can fix this.”
She sighed. “Yes, we can.”
He slid closer to her. “You have to tell me what you want me to do. You know you can have whatever you need. I want to help.”
“Thank you. I’m going to need and want your help. Your advice. Your thoughts on every step in the process.”
“I hear a but…” Reese observed wisely.
“I’m not going to let you use your money.”
“But! Businesses need investors.”
“It’s a family business. And a small one, at that. I don’t want—”
“Not that small!” Reese dove in, his enthusiasm shining from his eyes. “I had no idea their reach was so wide. They’re all the way out to Moncton and Fredericton, and up on PEI. In fact, if you’d allow me, I’d love to share some ideas about centralizing some of the physical aspects of the business more concretely in Moncton—”
With a fond but exasperated huff, Mati pressed her hand over Reese’s mouth, laughing when he bit at her fingers playfully.
“Sorry,” Reese said with a shrug. “I get excited.”
“I know you do. And those ideas are exactly what I want to talk to you about. I want you with me every step of the way.”
Reese nodded. “Of course. I want that, too.”
“And what I was going to say is that it’s a family business, and because you’re family, I want you to be part of it. But what I don’t want is to have the first thing you do, as a member of my stupid, fucked-up family, be to give them money. That’s not why I love you. And it’s not why they’re going to love you, okay?”
Reese looked shocked, then a huge smile overtook his face. “Okay.”
Mati laughed, and Reese practically climbed over the table to kiss her. They both ignored Hodges’ long-suffering sigh.
When Reese pulled back, he grinned. “Shall we go find David?”
Mati stood, delighted Reese was on the same page.
Reese bounded out of the kitchen, while Mati trailed after him more slowly. She stopped by Hodges, noting he was still smiling, for all his exasperated sighs and huffs of annoyance.
She hugged him. He stiffened for a second, then bent to gather her close.
“You’re family, too,” she said. “You have been, to me, for a long time.”
Hodges squeezed her tighter, his voice rough when he whispered, “You, too.”
David was floating on his back in the middle of the pool when Reese and Mati found him. He’d been gone for an hour and, based on the state of the workout clothes crumpled in a heap by the edge of the water, he’d already availed himself of the weights, and possibly the treadmill.
“Why is he wearing underwear?” Mati asked curiously.
Reese shrugged. “Hodges, if I had to guess.”
Mati stripped off her clothes, clearly not nearly so modest.
For the sake of Hodges’ sanity, Reese texted to suggest Hodges steer well clear of the pool house before stripping off his own clothes.
David hadn’t noticed them yet. His ears were submerged, and his eyes locked on the early night sky above him, visible through the frosted frames of the glass ceiling. There was a slight frown on his face, and Reese wanted it gone.
He and Mati dove in together, announcing their presence with a splash and more than enough wake to draw David’s attention. He met them in the middle of the pool, laughing when he realized they were naked.
“This is a nice end to my work out.”
Mati’s hand slipped into the elastic of his waistband. “It could be even better.”
David stripped off his boxer briefs, wrung them out, and hurled them to the pool’s edge, where they landed with an undignified splat.
Then his hands were on them, warm in the cool water. Reese kissed him while Mati’s hands fluttered over them. Her clever fingers curled around Reese’s shaft. The pool would have to be a hell of a lot colder for that not to draw his blood south. His cock filled eagerly against her palm.
“God, keep doing that,” Reese gasped, trying to swim toward the edge of the pool and tow them with him.
“Where are we going?” David asked, his fingers digging into Reese’s ass, distracting him.
“The pool deck. The towel hamper. I don’t care,” Reese groaned, scrabbling for purchase on the pool’s edge. “Anywhere I can blow you and not drown or have to explain to Hodges why I have to take over pool maintenance for a week.”
Mati laughed and let go of Reese’s cock, which wasn’t what he’d been hoping for. He was relieved when she hois
ted herself out of the pool and sat on the edge.
Reese and David avidly watched the water stream off her body.
“Fucking hell,” David muttered, heaving himself out of the pool and hauling Reese after him. They scooped up Mati and staggered toward the row of chaise lounges between the pool and the hot tub.
“I have a plan,” David announced as he pushed Reese down onto a lounge chair. Reese landed hard, his cock bouncing against his belly.
“You always do,” Mati said, shoving David down beside Reese.
“Hey!” he cried, indignant, which was absurd since neither of them could move him an inch if he didn’t want to be moved. He grinned up at Mati. “I didn’t have a plan last night,” he reminded them.
“And that worked out just fine,” Reese observed.
Goosebumps popped up across David’s neck and shoulders and he shifted against the chaise lounge. “Yes, it did. I think about it every time I sit down.”
Mati took a step closer while Reese sucked in a shaky breath.
“It was amazing. You were amazing,” Mati said softly, cupping David’s face and running her thumb over his cheekbone. David’s cheeks turned pink, but he looked pleased and maybe a little embarrassed, but in a good way. He drew a hand down over her belly and petted over the strip of soft hair before dipping his thumb to her clit.
Mati bit her lip, her eyes fluttering. She clamped a hand on David’s shoulder, visibly fighting to hold her focus, and asked, “What’s your plan for now?”
“I was thinking I could blow Reese. Take the edge off for later.”
A shiver ran down Reese’s spine. “For later?”
David cupped Reese’s skull in his hand and drew him into a long, hot kiss. “It’s your turn tonight,” he murmured, a dark promise that made all the muscles in Reese’s ass clench with anticipation.
“I have to admit, your plan has merit,” Mati said, her voice low. “Only no harness. You should be the one.”
David looked at Reese. “Yeah?”
Reese held his breath and nodded.
David smiled. “He’s so sensitive, it’s better if he comes first. Now.”
“And again, while we prep him,” Mati agreed.
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