Page 120 of All Tied Up

Sebastian loved the idea of Neil starting up a new career, and the idea of him wanting to do it out of the lodge gave him a rush of pride and affection. But that should have also been something that grew over months not days.

They needed time to figure each other out.

They needed time for Sebastian to convince himself that he could be the Daddy Neil needed. That Neil would grow to love Jamie as much as he did and not make his life a living hell. That Neil wouldn’t be the perfect boy he seemed to be and then just leave them.

“I need to think about this,” Sebastian finally said.

“Of course.” Neil thrust all three folders into his hands, formal mask back in place. “It’s a big decision. I’ll be in the atrium if you need me.”

The moment he was out the door, Ty wheeled on them.

“Damn, man. Did he just offer to buy the Meadowlark?”

“A third of it,” Jamie corrected.

“Actually about twenty percent.” An astronomical amount of money.

“Right. So he could run it with you guys?”

“I think he wants his own business,” Jamie answered. “But wasn’t that the sweetest, sexiest thing ever? Even if we don’t do it… Daddy, he likes us!”

“I think he’s just trying to help us,” Sebastian tried to explain. “He likes the lodge.”

Ty rolled his eyes. “Think with your Daddy brain instead of your business brain. Who the hell makes that kind of offer?”

Jamie answered for him. “The sweetest most selfless boy ever, that’s who. We should do it, Daddy.”

“Which one?”

They both stared at him.

“Sebastián,” Jamie looked at him seriously, slipping out of their roles. “I want him to stay. He loves this place. He works well with us, and I like who both of us are when we’re with him. He was trembling while he was making that last proposal.”

“He was?” Sebastian hadn’t even noticed. He should have noticed, though. He knew that Neil’s professional facade was just that. That sheaf of papers was Neil putting himself on the line, asking for what he wanted, and Sebastian had been too caught up in his own drama to see it.

Jamie stepped around the table and into Sebastian’s arms. “He was terrified that we were going to reject him. He’s good at covering it up, but you’ve seen him do it before. This means something to him.”

Sebastian nodded. “And you… you think it will work?”

“Neil’s not Henri,” Jamie answered gently, returning his words to him. “I’m worried about getting our finances tangled up, too, but I’ll tell you that Neil’s trying to do it in the most respectful, professional way. I also think that he’s asking to be ours.”

Sebastian looked down into Jamie’s sparkling eyes, letting himself drown in the love he saw reflected back there.

“So you think I can be a good Daddy to him? To him, and to you?”

“I think that if he’s the right one, you absolutely can. And right now, I want to try. Even at our roughest times, you’ve always been the best Daddy to me. I know you have enough love in you for Neil, too.”

Sebastian closed his eyes. How could he say no to his darling boy when he put it so beautifully?

“We can try,” he allowed.

Behind them, Ty cleared his throat. Sebastian had completely forgotten he was there.

Jamie peeked around Sebastian’s shoulder. “Sorry about that, Ty. Think of us like Real Housewives: Gay Edition.”

Ty snorted, but he stepped around where Sebastian could see him. “Can I make a suggestion?”

Sebastian could still remember Ty as a self-conscious teenager figuring out his body, his identity, and his attractions, not to mention high school and then college. Now he was an accomplished hospitality manager, a confident Dom, and a member of the family. “I’ll take any advice you have.”