19. Declan
DECLAN
"Dude, you're fast. Are you running from something?
" Travis asked as I jumped off the treadmill. I’d gone with him and Luke to the gym.
I preferred jogging outside more, but these two busted my ass until I gave in and signed up with them.
It was in our office building, so it was convenient, and we all came down during an afternoon break.
It was mostly empty then, so we could talk openly as we worked out.
"I have a lot on my mind," I replied.
"And what, when you run fast, you process it better?"
“Yes.”
Luke and Travis looked at each other. They’d finished their own warm-up on the treadmill.
"Is it just me, or does he seem even more Declan than usual?" Travis asked.
"He does."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Travis pointed at me. "You know, brooding forehead. Serious expression. Lighten up, brother. Don't take life so seriously."
"I do have a reason," I said. "Malcolm."
"What are you talking about?" Travis asked.
"He served me papers," I said as we walked to the back of the room to the weights section. "For defamation."
“ He was the one who caused Tyler problems," Travis replied through gritted teeth. Luke said nothing.
"And after that, I talked the Halsey Group into firing him. And he claims to have an email from them as proof."
"Wait, you did what?" Travis asked. He looked comically identical to Sam when he’d asked the same question.
“You think it’s true?” Luke inquired.
I shrugged. “Even if he does, it's not a strong case for defamation."
“Wait, I'm still stunned,” Travis said. “What do you mean? Why would you do that? I mean, that's something I would do, not you."
"He hurt Reese," I replied simply. “And I bet he planned to continue to use his position at the Halsey Group to do even more.”
"I'm seeing you in a whole new light, brother, and I approve," Travis said. "You’re actually human."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked for the second time today.
"I don't know. You were always such a stickler for rules and keeping us all in check. I thought you were adopted or something."
"Anyway,” I drawled, “I told his lawyer to schedule a court date."
Luke narrowed his eyes. "Why?”
“I'm calling his bluff. This isn’t what he wants. And I want to know what he does want. I can’t fight something I don't know."
Luke patted my shoulder. "Dude, you've got balls. Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
Travis held up his hand. "Hey, stop giving him shit. I'm proud that he told us anyway. That he didn't do the whole 'I am Declan, the head of the family. No need for the younger peasants to know.'"
“When did you even have time to reply?” Luke asked while I started pressing weights with my legs. Travis was at the arms station. Luke was doing nothing at all.
“I found out last week.”
Luke’s eyes bulged. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“Wait, you knew?” Travis asked.
Luke ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah. I introduced him to the Halsey Group.” He turned back to me. “So, why didn’t you call me the second you were served?”
“I was with Liz,” I said as I worked out. "She wanted us to bake to take my mind off it."
Travis put down his weights, then sat up. "You baked? I need details. Vivid details, because I’m trying to picture it and failing.”
"Fuck off," I said good-naturedly.
"I'll talk to Liz," Travis went on.
"Does she have something to do with the fact that you’re openly talking about it and not just sharing it with me?" Luke asked.
"Way to rub it in, brother," Travis said. "Thanks for not including me. After what Malcolm did to Tyler, I wanted to bash him.”
"Don’t do it," I said. "That will get you a lawsuit."
Travis rolled his eyes, looking at Luke but pointing at me. "Has it ever occurred to him how hypocritical he is? That he tells us to behave but he runs his own show?"
"That's the privilege of older brothers," Luke replied. "We get to lecture. I mean he gets to lecture. I wouldn't know how to do it. But we don’t have to follow the rules ourselves."
"That's a bullshit rule," Travis declared.
"Anyway, after talking to Liz, I've decided to tell Reese as well. The last time we tried to keep things from her, it didn't work. I don't want Malcolm to blindside her."
"Look at you," Travis said. “Keep on like this, brother, and soon I won’t recognize you.”
I scoffed at him. “I'm going to invite the family to my place. It's high time I gave a housewarming party too."
"When? I need at least a few days’ notice," Travis said.
"Why? You're suddenly busy?" I teased.
"Don't be a jerk. I am, actually. And I'm still not giving you details."
"Details about what?" I asked.
"Dude. I thought telling you that I've got stuff in the works would get you off my back. You've been nagging at me ever since I sold the company."
"Just looking out for you," I said.
"Yeah, I know. Anyway, I started to get restless."
"I rest my case," I said. “It’s gonna be on a weekend. Probably this one.” It was Wednesday, so that gave me plenty of time to pull things together.
“I can make that work,” Travis said.
“Now, how about we focus on the workout and stop gossiping?” I suggested.
“Great idea,” Luke chimed in. “Otherwise, I’ll never get anything done. Just one question: What do we have to do to get photographic evidence of you baking?” Glancing at Travis, he added, “We need to get Liz on our side.”
“Don’t bother Liz,” I said. “She’s busy setting up the bakery.”
“Already?” Travis said. “That was fast.”
“She’s very determined and hardworking,” I said with pride. “She found a spot.”
She even got the lease price down to where she wanted it. My woman was a spitfire.
“And thanks, Luke. That inspector was very helpful.”
He nodded. The guy he had look at the place gave Liz some leverage in the negotiation.
My brothers were both silent, which made me suspicious. My family didn’t know how to be silent. At all.
I stopped pressing weights, turning to look at Travis. He was still lifting. Luke stood in the same spot.
“What?” I asked.
Travis put the weight bar down, flashing me a shit-eating grin. “I don’t know about Luke, but I, for one, am wondering if you’re still our brother or a stunt double who looks like him.”
“Nah, it’s still him. He’s got too much insider info,” Luke added.
I groaned in response.
“When is she opening the shop?” Travis asked.
“A couple weeks, give or take,” I replied. It was the beginning of May now, and she wanted to open at the latest by the end of the month.
“I’m gonna be first in line for those donuts.”
“Finally we’re on the same page.” In more ways than one, it seemed. I couldn’t deny that I was happy Travis was moving forward with plans of some sort. I knew it was ridiculous to worry about him. He was a grown-ass man. But I couldn’t slip out of big brother mode easily. Or at all, it seemed.
I’d groomed that side of me for years, and it was here to stay.
And now I had one more person to add to my watchlist, the most important one—Liz.
Over the next week, I split my time between work and checking all of Liz’s permits and the contract. One permit in particular needed renewal.
“I can ask a lawyer to take care of all this stuff. You’ve got like a gazillion cases to take care of,” Liz said the morning my assistant informed me that Malcolm had requested a meeting. We were in my kitchen, eating breakfast at the counter.
I put an arm around her waist, bringing my mouth to her ear. “Babe, you’ve got the best lawyer in Chicago. If I were you, I wouldn’t let him go. Besides, he’s free.”
“And humble.” She laughed, shimmying her hips right against my crotch.
I groaned. “Always. I’ll pull all the strings to get the permit for you as soon as possible.”
She turned around, and I noticed she was biting her lower lip. “Declan, are you sure you want to handle all this?”
“Hell yes.”
“Thanks.”
“What are you going to do about the meeting with Malcolm?” she asked.
“I’ll get to the bottom of what the fuck he wants.”
“That’s my shark lawyer,” she replied with a grin. “I can’t believe Richard already found a replacement for me.”
She’d put in her two weeks’ notice at the catering company and the bar a couple days ago.
“That’s good. Means you’ve got some time to breathe.”
“Too much,” she said. “The new bartender is starting tonight. He’s got a trial shift today and tomorrow, so now I’m completely free.”
“What? Why didn’t you say so?”
“Because Richard literally texted me just now saying I don’t need to come in anymore.”
"That's good, babe. Means you have time to be with me." I winked.
She smiled, then said, "Yeah, I honestly thought they wouldn’t find replacements till next week, so I didn't plan on doing anything at the bakery today and tomorrow, but this opens up a world of opportunities. I can start by cleaning."
I had another idea. I was certain she’d throw herself into the bakery with all she had, and I was proud of her. But I wanted to spoil her first.
Liz
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Declan said. We were in his gorgeous living room. I was sitting cross-legged on the couch, and he’d been leaning against the table but now rose and strode my way.
He sat down in front of me and put both hands on my shoulders, "I have a proposition for you."
"Okay."
"Let's take today off. You said you have no shifts today and tomorrow, right?"
"Right," I said slowly, "but you’re not free."
"I'll make time. I don't have court. I can move everything else around. You're going to have a very intense period ahead of you. It’s good to take a break first and recharge.”
"I never thought about taking a break at this point," I confessed, though maybe he was right. I could use some downtime to regroup.
He moved in closer, wiggling his eyebrows. "I bet I can talk you into it."