“Last I saw, both of his eyes were turning black and his jaw was an amazing shade of purple. I never did hear what he said to provoke you.”
“Called us fucking fags.”
Justin cringed. “Then you landed an excellent shot. Ten points for you.”
The limo slowed as they got stuck in traffic. Max watched as Justin looked out the window. “You’re gay too. Right?”
“Yes.” It was said matter-of-factly, but Max suspected it wasn’t something Justin shared often.
“Does Mr. Barnes know?”
“My sexuality isn’t any of my employer’s concern.”
“I know.”
Justin shifted in his seat. “Yes, he knows. It was one of the reasons he hired me to watch over Grady after their mother passed away. He thought I’d be able to relate to him better than most.”
It was that simple sentence that turned the light bulb on in Max’s head. “You’re in love with him.”
Justin’s gaze flicked to him. “What makes you think that?”
“It explains a lot. The way you were disappointed the night you tried to buy me off and I wouldn’t take your bait. The surprise when I kissed him on the sidewalk. How annoyed you become every time we’re in the same room together.” What a mess. If Justin was in love with Grady, this entire fake-relationship thing was going to make matters even worse. “Why have you never told him how you feel?”
“He was a child when I started with the family. I hated the position I’d been forced to take. Mr. Barnes had changed things on me at the last minute. I was supposed to be a manager in charge of a team, not an overpaid babysitter.”
Max leaned forward. “It’s not like Grady makes it easy, either. But love has a tendency to sneak up on a person.”
The limo started moving again. Justin sucked in a breath. “There are conditions for your release, Mr. Tremblay.”
Ah. Max should have known that Justin would lash out if things got too personal. Eli was exactly the same way. “Those are?”
“I’m well aware that your engagement is fake. Of course I can’t prove it, but I know.”
Max was able to keep his poker face, despite his inner turmoil. “The conditions.”
“As I said, Mr. Barnes will ensure that Kevin won’t press charges. However, he wants you to break the engagement. He wants it to be done publicly, and he wants you to break Grady’s heart.”
Max’s breathing hitched. “No.”
“Then you will be facing assault charges. And with a room full of witnesses, family members of the defendant, you will lose. Just think of the damage this will do to your reputation. Not to mention that Mr. Barnes has more than a few contacts in Toronto. Your precious Frantic and your Ringside Gym will be the targets of some of the most aggressive business takeovers a person has ever seen. By the time Mr. Barnes is done, he’ll own them both, and you and your friends will be left with nothing.”
“Why would he do that? Be that cruel?”
Justin didn’t respond right away, his gaze drifting to the window. “He wasn’t always this harsh. When he was at the office in those early days after his wife passed, he was more sad than angry.”
“What changed?”
Justin turned back to face him. “People deal with grief differently. It’s my understanding from Lincoln that Mr. and Mrs. Barnes’s marriage had gone downhill quite badly toward the end. That can change a person.”
“So much so that he wants to destroy his son’s happiness?”
“That would imply that you make Grady happy.” Justin cocked an eyebrow before shaking his head. “As I said, a public breakup. He wants it as messy as possible.”
Max thought he was going to be sick. “I can’t hurt Grady. I’ll end things, but I won’t do that.”
“Mr. Barnes insists.”
“That’s cruel. Why would he want me to do that to Grady?”
“Grady has pushed his father for years. Apparently, he’s a lot like his mother in that regard. He needs to know, needs to learn that his father has his best interests in mind. If that means Grady has to marry a man he doesn’t love, then that’s what he will do, because Grady doesn’t know what he truly needs.”
Max hadn’t felt this stunned since the last time he’d been knocked out in the ring. “Do you believe that? That Grady isn’t man enough to know what will make him happy?”
“I never said that.” Justin picked something from his pants. “As much as I care for Grady, I’m still nothing more than an employee. My livelihood is as much at stake as yours.”
“God, this family.”
“Everyone’s family has their battles. You and your father don’t have the best relationship.”
Max jerked. “What the hell do you know about it?”
“An investigator paid your parents a visit. They were quite surprised to learn about your engagement, couldn’t believe that you never said anything to them. I’m sure you’ll be getting a call from your mother sooner or later. I believe she wanted to give you a little time to get up the courage to mention it. Lovely lady. Your father has a bit of a temper, I’m told.”
“You stay the hell away from my parents. I mean it, Justin. Back off.”
“There won’t be any need for me to ever speak with them. You’ll do what you need to do.” He pulled an envelope from his coat pocket. “Your ticket back home, paid in full. First class, even. It was the least I could do.”
“I’m not doing this.”
Justin held it out for a long time before finally setting it on the seat beside himself. “I’ll make sure you get it before you leave. Remember, your flight leaves tomorrow night at 10 p.m., and you’ll be in Toronto by the following morning.”
Max was trapped. There was no way he could do to Grady what Justin and his father wanted, but neither could he put Frantic and Ringside in harm’s way. The livelihood of too many people were at stake, not to mention how destroyed Zack and Nolan would be if anything happened to the gym. They’d put their hearts and souls into that place, and he would be damned if he’d let anyone intentionally put it at risk.
But Grady.
He couldn’t break his heart. He wouldn’t embarrass him, publicly or otherwise. He couldn’t bear the thought of seeing Grady hurt, to see Grady hate him in any way. While they hadn’t been together long, Max knew that given enough time, he could develop feelings for Grady.
He had developed feelings.
Though he wasn’t brave enough to put a label on them quite yet.
For the first time in his life, Max didn’t know what to do.
Leaning against the seat, he closed his eyes and prayed he’d come up with a solution.
Lincoln had pretty much locked Grady in his room, insisting that anything he was likely to say or do would only serve to make matters far worse for Max than what they already were. He had promised Grady that he’d talk to Justin and find out exactly what was happening and would report back.
That was hours ago. Now, Grady stood in front of the window, looking out over the lush gardens of the property and watched the sun rise. He hadn’t even bothered to try sleeping, knowing that there was no chance of it happening with Max stuck in a jail cell. Kevin had that punch coming to him for years, and there were several family members who’d approached him afterward, congratulating Grady for finding a man who wasn’t afraid of the Barnes family.
When Grady finally saw Max again, he’d tell him as much.
Then he’d punch him for making him worry.
Followed by a kiss.
Grady couldn’t remember ever being this worried about another person. Sadly, he’d been a kid and hadn’t recognized how hurt his mother had been before her suicide. If he had, he would have done everything in his power to make things right. But as an adult? Everyone else seemed to be fine, to place him in the role of needing to be cared for, rather than looking to him to help.
He didn’t like to think he’d been that immature, and yet everyone in his family didn’t think he could handle li
fe on his own.
Everyone except for Max.
God, he’d been to university, he had a degree. Just because he’d chosen to walk away from the family business, that he recognized that it wasn’t going to work for him, that didn’t prove he was a flake who couldn’t make up his mind about what he wanted from life. His father, Justin, simply saw it as him having a temper tantrum.
Idiots.
The click of the door opening had Grady spinning around to see an exhausted and defeated-looking Max. All previous thoughts vanished as he crossed the room and pulled Max into a fierce hug.
“Are you okay?” Grady squeezed him hard. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m fine. And you have nothing to be sorry for. I was the one who lost my temper.”
“But I knew what Kevin was capable of. I should have pulled you away the moment he came over.”
“I’ve apologized to Lincoln downstairs and will do the same to your father when I see him.” Max dropped his chin to Grady’s shoulder and sighed. “How is Kevin?”
“Bruised. Uncle Connor laid into him with the most epic tirade I’ve ever heard. I think one of the cousins recorded it and put it on YouTube if you want to see.”
“Maybe later.” Max straightened, before pushing a lock of Grady’s hair away from his face. “Right now I want to go to bed.”
“Come on.” Grady took him by the hand and led him over.
Without giving Max time to think, he turned and began to unbutton his shirt for him. It was businesslike, and strangely felt far more intimate than when they’d had sex. Grady was looking after his man, caring for him much the same way Max had stood up for him at the party. He pulled the shirt down first one arm, then over the second, careful to avoid his bruised knuckles.
“God, that must hurt.” He gently ran his thumb across the abused skin.
“I’d forgotten how much it did. It’s been a while since I’ve hit anyone without gloves.”
Grady lifted Max’s hand to his mouth, taking time to kiss each of his knuckles before turning his hand over and placing a kiss to the center of his palm. “My hero.”
Max cringed.
“Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
“No.” The single words came out rough, and Max shook his head as an afterthought. “No.”
It was strange. Normally when Grady was with a man, all he wanted to do was have sex. He’d never been interested in the softer side of relationships, never cared for quiet conversations, the moments post-sex when you lay entwined and spoke of your hopes and dreams. Max was the first man who treated him like a regular person, and as a result, Grady found himself wanting to do normal couple things. He wanted to give Max coffee in the mornings, go out on the town with him to parties and clubs. He wanted to be able to bring him home, show his father, Look, I’ve found someone who loves me for me. I’m worthy of this.
Grady wanted to be loved.
“What’s wrong?” Max cupped his face with his good hand. “You’re crying.”
Was he? “I feel guilty, I guess. I dragged you into my freak show of a family and you ended up getting hurt. I never wanted that for you.”
“You never forced me. I was the one who told Justin that we were engaged in the first place.”
“Two weeks ago you were happily living your life. You can’t say you’re better off for having come out here.”
Max smiled, though his eyes didn’t sparkle the way they normally did. “I am. You see, my life has been good, but I hadn’t realized that I’d fallen into a rut. I went from the bar to the gym, trying my best to look after everyone and everything. I wasn’t unhappy, but I wasn’t living my life either. I was existing. Nothing more. I’ve been looking for something, but for a long time I didn’t know what that was.”
When Max slipped his hands over Grady’s hips, he was again struck by the intimate nature of the touch. “You’re a good man. You deserve so much more than what I can offer you.”
“That’s the problem.” Max pulled him closer. “You’ve been treated so poorly by people who claim to love you that you don’t know how to accept kindness. Lincoln and Serena are wonderful, but they have their own lives. Your father . . . I don’t even know what to think. And Justin—”
“Fuck Justin.”
“He cares for you too.”
“Lincoln always said he had a crush on me.”
“What if he did? What if things were different and I wasn’t here?”
“Would I suddenly fall in love with Justin? Are you insane?” It had nothing to do with Justin’s personality or looks, and everything to do with how he’d treated him over the years. “He could have been kind to me. He could have shown me that despite the harshness my father inflicted upon the world, that he was there to help. He always took Father’s side. How could I possibly love a man who sees me as a pawn?”
Max nodded.
“You never treated me that way. Even when I gave you no reason to like me, you chose to see the good in me. You didn’t have an angle, didn’t want my money or my fame. You liked me, Grady the person. How could I want anything more than that?” Max looked away, and Grady knew there was something else going on. “Tell me.”
“Your father wants me to break up with you. Publicly. As loud and messy as possible. He wants me to break your heart into a thousand pieces and walk away.”
“Fuck.” He was too stunned to be angry.
“Justin said that your father would not only go after Frantic, but the gym as well.” Max chuckled, though it lacked humor. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you.”
“What. The. Fuck.” Rage flared in him, making his body shake. “How dare he do that to you.”
“To me?” Max shook his head. “I was more concerned with hurting you.”
“Don’t be.” Grady slowed his breathing and unclenched his fists. “I’m used to being on the receiving end of his . . . schemes.”
Yeah, he should be furious. What business did his father have interfering with Grady’s life at all? Why?
What was it about him that encouraged his father to do these things? He licked his lips, tasting the remnants of the beer he’d had while waiting for Max to arrive. “You know I worked for him once?”
“Your father?”
“Yup. I quit because it just wasn’t for me. I never felt like I was doing the right thing for me. When I told my father, he was furious. He said I’d never accomplish anything, that I’d sit around until some man came along and simply looked after me.”
Max gave his hand a squeeze. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting someone to care for you.”
“But there is something wrong with letting another person run your life. I push back against Father, but it’s always an emotional knee-jerk. I can’t remember the last time we had a talk.”
“Maybe this is the time. To tell him what you really want.”
With Max sitting on the edge of the bed, shirtless, Grady was in charge. Cupping Max’s face in his hands, he tipped his head back and kissed his mouth, infusing as much passion as he had into it.
Every time they did this, it felt as though it was the first time. In every relationship he’d had in the past, Grady hadn’t bothered to look below the surface of his partner. They’d never felt real, permanent, so he never bothered to try.
Max’s personality was as solid as his body. He was a pillar who could survive the hardest of storms and still be there to offer support. With him, Grady knew he’d be cared for, and also treated as an equal. He deepened the kiss and prayed that Max would understand how he felt.
He pulled back and looked down at Max. “You’re amazing.”
He wasn’t at all surprised when Max yanked him down so they fell onto the mattress together. This wasn’t about sex, not for Grady at least. He needed to communicate how much Max had come to mean, not caring how insane the whole thing was given how short a time they’d known one another.
Max rolled them so Grady was on top and continued to kiss him. “I want you inside me.”
Air caught in his lungs for a moment, causing his head to spin and his heart to pound. “Really?”
“What, you thought I wouldn’t?”
“I don’t know. You just seem like a hard-core top.”
Max rolled his eyes, and for a moment the world felt right again. “I’m not that bad.”
“You totally are.” Grady was many things, but he wasn’t an idiot. There was no way he’d pass up the opportunity to feel Max, to push inside to his core. It was the closest two people could get, and he wanted to know every inch of this amazing man’s body.
Ignoring the way his clothing stretched awkwardly, Grady straddled Max, continuing to kiss him the entire time. He’d never been a sentimental person, had purposely kept his distance from people as much as possible since his mother’s death. But, right then, Grady knew that no matter what transpired between them in the future, tonight would always be special to him.
Max would always be special.
Time lost its meaning to Grady as he took great effort to explore Max’s body. He cataloged the small imperfections: the too large mole on his right side, the scruff on his neck that made the skin rough and raw, the distinctly male scent coming from him as his deodorant wore off.
“You’re too handsome for your own good.” Grady kissed just above Max’s nipple, breathing him in.
“That’s what all the boys tell me.” But the tone of Max’s voice didn’t match the teasing nature of his words.
Something was wrong, though clearly Max wasn’t at a point where he was willing to discuss it.
Fine. Grady might not be the most perceptive of men at times, but he knew when not to push. Sex first, talking second.
Sliding to the side, he deliberately went to work on opening Max’s pants. His arousal strained beneath his briefs, reassuring Grady that Max did in fact want this as much as he did. Without removing the shaft from its cotton prison, Grady gave it a gentle squeeze, his gaze locked on Max’s face.
Max sucked in a breath through his nose as his eyes slipped shut. That wonderful pleasure-pain expression that Grady loved to see on his lovers washed over Max. “I’m going to take your pants off now. Lift up.”
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