him reevaluate his own role in their departure. Regret and guilt weren’t Lucas’s exclusive domain.
“And if I hadn’t been buried in work, in trying to maintain control of the empire dropped in my lap, Merideth might not have walked out. Our arguments might have been fewer or nonexistent.” And there’d been some horrendous arguments. “But then there were better opportunities for the two of you in New York.” He took a long sip of coffee. “You both excelled professionally there.”
“Thanks to you.”
Oliver wouldn’t deny it. “Clearly I wasn’t as ambivalent as I led you to believe.”
Lucas laughed. “Ya think?” He swung around to face him. “Oliver, when we lived together, you wiped my mother’s medical expenses off the books. Paid for her funeral. You didn’t think I’d know who my anonymous benefactor was when I got to New York?”
Oliver had used the strings and power his grandfather bequeathed him to help the people he most loved at the time survive. But he’d been too proud and stubborn to go after them. He’d stopped tracking them because it hurt too damn much to admit he’d fucked up.
“The question becomes…” Lucas continued. “Did you do it out of the goodness of your heart, or because you wanted us to have so many ties to New York that we’d never darken your doorstep again?”
He didn’t give Oliver a chance to reply, which was fine, because Oliver didn’t have any answer.
“I always figured it was the latter, since you’d made it pretty clear how you felt when we left.”
“If you walk out that door, don’t ever bother coming back.”
“Yet here you are.” Oliver somehow managed to stay cool and remote when he felt anything but.
“Yet here you let us stay.” Lucas edged closer, resting his elbows on his knees. “Unlike you, I’ve kept tabs. I know you don’t do anything without a reason. So what’s in this for you?”
Oliver finally looked his way. This wasn’t the Lucas he once knew. This was a strong, powerful man. Maybe not Dom material, but certainly not one to be lied to or fucked with. “I have no agenda here. I’m merely helping two old friends find their way back to leading full and productive lives as soon as possible.”
“At least you’re referring to us as old friends and not your mortal enemies.” Lucas smiled.
“I admit I had a role in our parting, but it’s a bell that can’t be unrung. The past is in the past. Let’s leave it there.”
“That implies a future.”
“It implies nothing,” Oliver quickly replied, stomping out any embers before they lit hope. “You asked for my help. I’m giving it to you. Don’t make it more than is it.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Lucas clapped his thighs. “I’d like to do some exploring today while the two of you are busy. Any suggestions?”
Oliver pointed to a pebbled path leading into the brush at the far side of the patio. “If you follow that, it’ll lead to a small oasis. There’s a waterfall flowing into it. Help yourself to whatever you need. Backpacking supplies are in the pool house around the corner.” He jerked his thumb to the right. “You know where the food is.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
Lucas shoved to his feet, towering over Oliver. Oliver resented his attempt to dominate.
“We appreciate the time you’re taking from your busy schedule to accommodate us.”
“Sarcasm still does not become you, Lucas.” Oliver rose to his feet, meeting Lucas’s cold gaze with deadly precision. “It would seem Merideth isn’t the only one who requires retraining.”
Lucas’s eyes glimmered. “Another ship that’s sailed.”
Oliver tilted his head to one side. “My bad. I thought you wanted to help her recover. No matter. I’ll find someone else for her to practice with. I have a very large pool to pull from. I’m sure she’ll find something to her liking.” Lucas’s gaze smoldered now. No hint of the previous humor remained.
“She said
“And if I hadn’t been buried in work, in trying to maintain control of the empire dropped in my lap, Merideth might not have walked out. Our arguments might have been fewer or nonexistent.” And there’d been some horrendous arguments. “But then there were better opportunities for the two of you in New York.” He took a long sip of coffee. “You both excelled professionally there.”
“Thanks to you.”
Oliver wouldn’t deny it. “Clearly I wasn’t as ambivalent as I led you to believe.”
Lucas laughed. “Ya think?” He swung around to face him. “Oliver, when we lived together, you wiped my mother’s medical expenses off the books. Paid for her funeral. You didn’t think I’d know who my anonymous benefactor was when I got to New York?”
Oliver had used the strings and power his grandfather bequeathed him to help the people he most loved at the time survive. But he’d been too proud and stubborn to go after them. He’d stopped tracking them because it hurt too damn much to admit he’d fucked up.
“The question becomes…” Lucas continued. “Did you do it out of the goodness of your heart, or because you wanted us to have so many ties to New York that we’d never darken your doorstep again?”
He didn’t give Oliver a chance to reply, which was fine, because Oliver didn’t have any answer.
“I always figured it was the latter, since you’d made it pretty clear how you felt when we left.”
“If you walk out that door, don’t ever bother coming back.”
“Yet here you are.” Oliver somehow managed to stay cool and remote when he felt anything but.
“Yet here you let us stay.” Lucas edged closer, resting his elbows on his knees. “Unlike you, I’ve kept tabs. I know you don’t do anything without a reason. So what’s in this for you?”
Oliver finally looked his way. This wasn’t the Lucas he once knew. This was a strong, powerful man. Maybe not Dom material, but certainly not one to be lied to or fucked with. “I have no agenda here. I’m merely helping two old friends find their way back to leading full and productive lives as soon as possible.”
“At least you’re referring to us as old friends and not your mortal enemies.” Lucas smiled.
“I admit I had a role in our parting, but it’s a bell that can’t be unrung. The past is in the past. Let’s leave it there.”
“That implies a future.”
“It implies nothing,” Oliver quickly replied, stomping out any embers before they lit hope. “You asked for my help. I’m giving it to you. Don’t make it more than is it.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Lucas clapped his thighs. “I’d like to do some exploring today while the two of you are busy. Any suggestions?”
Oliver pointed to a pebbled path leading into the brush at the far side of the patio. “If you follow that, it’ll lead to a small oasis. There’s a waterfall flowing into it. Help yourself to whatever you need. Backpacking supplies are in the pool house around the corner.” He jerked his thumb to the right. “You know where the food is.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
Lucas shoved to his feet, towering over Oliver. Oliver resented his attempt to dominate.
“We appreciate the time you’re taking from your busy schedule to accommodate us.”
“Sarcasm still does not become you, Lucas.” Oliver rose to his feet, meeting Lucas’s cold gaze with deadly precision. “It would seem Merideth isn’t the only one who requires retraining.”
Lucas’s eyes glimmered. “Another ship that’s sailed.”
Oliver tilted his head to one side. “My bad. I thought you wanted to help her recover. No matter. I’ll find someone else for her to practice with. I have a very large pool to pull from. I’m sure she’ll find something to her liking.” Lucas’s gaze smoldered now. No hint of the previous humor remained.
“She said
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