Page 121 of All Tied Up

“I’d suggest a fourth proposal: do everything in the third proposal, but make it temporary.”

Sebastian felt his forehead wrinkle. “How would that even…?”

“Listen. Have Neil make Henri that offer and get him the fuck out of your business. That’s going to turn everything around, isn’t it? Only set up an agreement that it’s temporary, like a trial basis. Then, take out the loans that you need for… I dunno… a year. That’ll give you time for the insurance to come through, figure out the new financial situation, and not have to rush anything. Then you can either use the payment to buy Neil out, renegotiate, or make it more permanent. The thing is, you don’t have to decide everything today. Deal with Henri, deal with the cabin, claim your boy, and then figure everything else out later.”

“How’d you get so smart?” Sebastian ribbed Ty, but he could really see it working out.

“Learned from the best,” Ty grinned at him.

“What do you think, Jamie?”

Jamie picked up his coffee mug and took a sip while he considered. “What I hear you saying is that we can never have to think about Henri again, fix our financial crisis, and keep Neil, all without you freaking out? I’m in.”

“I’m still freaking out,” Sebastian pointed out dryly.

“Yeah, but you’re excited again. It could work, couldn’t it?”

“If Neil agrees. And if… if Neil wants us.” He still wasn’t completely convinced.

Jamie rolled his eyes. Ty snorted.

“Go get your boy, Bas. I’ve got breakfast covered and I don’t want to see you for… at least two hours. I can close off the basement for you, too. In fact, better make that three.”

“When did you get so bossy?” Sebastian shot back at him.

“Learned that from the best, too. Now shoo.”

20

Neil

Neil paced back and forth across the lobby, grateful that it was empty. The sky and trees were as breathtaking as always, but they barely registered today.

Something yellow fluttered at the edge of his vision. A meadowlark swooped down to the parking lot and pecked at a bit of bread someone had left there.

Neil felt almost sick looking at it. Whatever happened today, he’d never see the cheerful little bird the same way again.

When Neil had shared the third proposal, Sebastian had just… shut down.

Neil hadn’t even intended to share it, given how quickly Sebastian had rejected the second one.

He’d tried, really tried, to come off as a professional guide and friend, but he’d clearly crossed the line. Jamie had given him a sympathetic look when he left, but the last thing the two of them probably wanted was someone else intruding on their business and relationship.

They’d invited him to their bed last night, but all of them were so tired that they’d done nothing but sleep. Neil had carefully pulled off his sweater and his t-shirt together, not daring to reveal the Daddy’s boy message below. It was probably good that he hadn’t. They’d both kissed and cuddled him before they slept, but he had no idea what they usually did with their hook-ups.

Sebastian's voice interrupted his pacing. “Neil? Can we talk in the office?”

“Of course,” he answered. Now he just had to keep it professional. He didn’t want to influence them in any way, and he certainly didn’t want them to see his response if they rejected him.

He followed Sebastian to the office where Jamie was already waiting in the armchair. It was hard to look at that cushion without remembering how he’d settled it under the desk and knelt at Sebastian’s feet.

Neil took the less comfortable chair as Sebastian settled behind the desk and steepled his fingers together. “We have a fourth proposal for you.”

Neil nodded. That was good.

“We would like to give this all a trial run.” Sebastian spoke slowly, choosing his words with care. “What if we… tried out having you as a partial owner for a few months, just to see how things go. When we get the insurance money back we could either pay you back or… extend our agreement.”

Neil’s head felt fluttery and light. “You want to share this with me? I mean, I’m happy to just give you the loan. I probably should have thought of that. So if you want to just…”