Grady’s back and legs were thankful for the first-class seats. He’d made the flight from Toronto to Vancouver more times than he could count, and it always felt longer than it was. The drinks helped ease the way, as did getting to sit beside Max.
Max, who had caught him off guard with the kiss in the limo. Sure, Max was hot and clearly a passionate man, but when Max had leaned over him, Grady had thought his body would combust. The smell of aroused male had slammed into him the moment before Max’s greedy mouth had consumed his. Jesus, his cock had still been hard when they’d passed through security. And, he’d been randomly selected for a pat-down.
Because of course he was.
Thankfully, Max wasn’t much of a chatter on the flight. They talked a bit, but Max slept a lot, giving Grady more than ample time to figure out exactly how he was going to spin this when he saw his father.
Despite trying to brush off the significance with Max, there was no way that him bringing a fiancé home—fake or otherwise—was going to be anything less than an earthquake through his family. His father would be furious that his plans were thwarted, and Lincoln and Serena would be supportive while no doubt remaining skeptical about letting Grady handle things on his own.
He didn’t even want to think about Justin and what he’d end up doing.
It was hardly fair of him to have put Max into this situation, and yet, for the first time in a long time, Grady wasn’t filled with dread by the thought of having to stay in the family home. With Max by his side, he knew there was at least one person who’d be there for him no matter what. A partner in crime he’d be able to count on.
One he was more than happy to make out with.
Max woke up a few minutes before they began their descent into Vancouver. Grady’s breath hitched as Max glanced at him with sleep-strained eyes. Shit, he was sexy, still cocooned in the lazy warmth that crept over a person when napping. God, those lips were so full, it would take nothing to lean over and suck the bottom one into his mouth, to tease the flesh with his tongue.
Instead he looked past Max to the flight attendant doing her final cabin check. “You snore.”
“Nope. Just breathe heavy.”
“Snoring is a deal breaker.”
Max rolled his eyes and pulled the thin airplane blanket from his body and adjusted his seat into the upright position. “You couldn’t tell me that before we flew for five hours?”
“Well, you’re here now, I guess we’ll figure something out.”
The natural banter between them was something Grady had grown to enjoy in their short time together. Max didn’t treat him like a trust-fund kid, didn’t try to suck up to him, or seem to want anything at all. Despite his offer to invest in the gym, Max didn’t appear to care at all about Grady’s status or bank account.
No doubt that would change when Max came face-to-face with the realities of Grady’s world. Then, like every other man who’d ever shown an interest in him, Grady would be forced to keep Max at arm’s length.
He’d be alone again.
They disembarked and made the trek to the baggage claim. Grady loved how Max raced to the moving sidewalks only to spend the next few minutes playing.
“I can do the moonwalk.” He spun around to face Grady, moved his feet in the worst Michael Jackson impersonation and grabbed his crotch.
“Jesus, you’re too fucking white.”
“Hello pot, meet kettle.”
He snorted. “Lincoln promised to meet us and drive us to the house. That will give us a chance to talk before Father enters into the equation.”
Max sobered, even as he leaped from the sidewalk onto solid ground. “Your brother is okay with this whole arrangement?”
“It was his idea.”
Max shrugged. “Fine. I just don’t want to be held responsible for screwing up someone’s wedding.”
“Serena is also on board. She probably sees it as a challenge, or some way to piss Father off. She’s a good person.”
Max gave him the oddest look.
“What?”
“Your family is fucked up.”
“You don’t know the half of it.”
They made their way to the limo service area outside of the airport, and he pulled his phone from his pocket. “Shit.”
“What?” Max came up behind him, his face close enough that his breath tickled the side of Grady’s neck.
“Lincoln’s called and texted a few times.” That wasn’t good.
Before he even had a chance to check his voice mail, the family limo pulled up and Justin got out of the back. “Hello, Grady. Mr. Tremblay. I hope you had a good flight.”
Fuck Justin. “Why are you here? Lincoln was supposed to get us.”
“Your brother is out at a business meeting. I took the liberty of informing your father of your arrival and ensuring your transportation. No sense in adding any more burden to your brother.”
It didn’t matter that his help wasn’t wanted or needed, Justin just had to get involved. Grady couldn’t stop from grinding his teeth. “You didn’t have to come. A car would have sufficed.”
“And miss the opportunity to welcome Mr. Tremblay to Vancouver?” Justin’s smile was far from friendly. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“You must have been on the flight ahead of us.” If Max had been thrown off by the sudden arrival and change in plans, he certainly didn’t show it. “Impressive that you were able to do all of that with little time.”
“I’m a master of keeping this family organized, Mr. Tremblay. Something I’m sure you’ll discover soon enough.”
Instead of engaging, Max ignored Justin, side-stepped the driver, and lifted the bags into the back of the limo.
Yeah, the next two weeks were going to be a huge pile of laughs. Grady stepped into Justin’s personal space so close that their noses nearly touched. “If you do anything to upset him, make him uncomfortable, anything, I will beat the ever-living crap out of you.”
Justin smirked. “Nice to see that a few weeks alone and a fiancé hasn’t done anything to dull your sparkling personality.” If he was intimidated, he never showed it. “Now it’s time for me to make something clear. If your fiancé does anything to disrupt this wedding, or does anything to throw your father’s business into disrepair, your threats will be meaningless to what I’ll actually do. Are we clear?”
Grady had been on the receiving end of Justin’s guard-dog tendencies more than once, but there was something different in his voice this time. An edge that had never been present and one that Grady knew would be bad for all involved.
“The bags are all put away.” Max sauntered over to stand beside him. “Are you two done pissing on one another? I’m hungry and need a shower.”
The tension that had threatened to explode dissipated the moment Max pressed his hand to the small of Grady’s back. Air whooshed from his lungs and the knot of muscles in his neck loosened ever so slightly. While they might not actually be engaged, for the first time in ages Grady wasn’t in this alone—Max was here.
“Get us a table at Chambar, Justin.” He turned to give Max the biggest smile. “They have the best mussels and Belgium beers. You’ll adore it.”
Ignoring the flash in Justin’s eyes, Grady wrapped his arm around Max’s waist and led him to the back of the limo.
“Everything okay?” Max kept his voice low enough as to not be overheard.
“Nope. We’ll talk at the house.”
“House? I assumed we’d be in a hotel.”
“Father wouldn’t allow me to stay anywhere but under his watchful eye. We’ll talk later.”
If they were given time, that was. With Justin now on alert, things were about to get interesting.
Grady had done his best to avoid his father’s Shaughnessy Heights home whenever he was in town. The white horizontal boards that lined the heritage home might as well have been prison bars, the lush green hedges tall prison barriers, and the ornate gate that kept passersby from entering the driveway unannounced a three-foot thick wall. The very sight of the place turned his stomach.
“Wow, this place is beautiful.” Max turned in his seat to have a better view of the estate as the limo rolled its way to the front door.
“The home has been in the Barnes family for well over a century.” Justin gathered the papers he’d been reviewing and neatly tucked them away in his briefcase. “Mr. Barnes has other residences, of course, but this will always be the family home.”
Max turned and gave Grady a look that clearly showed how impressed he was. “My place is a dive compared to where you grew up.”
“Never.” The lie slipped from him easily. He’d yet to see the inside of Max’s place. Hell, he didn’t even know if Max was a slob or a neat freak. Yet another bit of information he’d have to glean if they were going to pull this off. “Though we can work on your decorating skills later.”
The limo rolled to a gentle stop by the front steps. Grady, who had never been one to stand on ceremony, opened the door and climbed out. “Come on.”
Max took his hand, their fingers entwining in a natural way. Strange how, with so little time to prepare, they were able to fall into this farce as easily as they had.
The large wooden front doors swung open, and Serena came bounding down the stairs. “Grady! You asshole. Why didn’t you tell us about your man sooner?” She threw herself into his arms and gave him a squeeze.
“I didn’t want to take away from your day.” God, she was too good a person to marry into this family. “Serena, this is Max Tremblay, my fiancé. Max, this is Serena Lynch, the lovely woman who is attempting to make my brother into an honest man.”
“It’s so nice to meet you.” Max leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Congratulations.”
Serena blushed as she tucked her long hair behind her ear. “Oh, you’re a sweetie.”
“And you’re not from around here. England?”
“Cornwall. I just got my permanent status six months ago. I wanted to do that before we got married, even though Lincoln kept after me that it was easier once everything was official between us.”
“That’s because he wanted to be the knight in shining armor.” Grady looked around. “Speaking of the jerk, where’s Lincoln?”
“Your father sent him on a business venture. Something about meeting prep for the Chinese investor group coming next month. He should be back in time for us to go out to supper.”
Justin walked past them, ignoring the trio and disappeared into the house. Serena waited until he was safely out of earshot before leaning in and giving Max a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you so much for doing this for us. I can’t imagine what you’re thinking right now.”
Max shook his head, a smile brightening his features. “Hard to pass up an all-expenses-paid trip, even if the circumstances are odd. I promise, I won’t do anything to ruin your wedding. I’ll do my best to keep to the background.” Max’s gaze slid toward the house. “I think your guard dog is still on watch.”
Before Grady had the chance to ask what he meant, Max took his face in his hands and kissed him softly. The contact was only brief, a mere brush of lips and the quick caress of tongue, but it was more than enough to supercharge his libido.
“I’ll help with the bags.” After a wink, Max wandered back to the limo.
Serena’s mouth had fallen open. She quickly snapped it shut. “Now I know why women watch gay porn. That was fucking hot.”
“Piss off. Justin was watching from the house. Max was just playing his part.”
“If that’s pretend, then I’d hate to see what he’s like when he’s really in love.” Serena let her gaze drift over to Max’s ass. “He’s gay, right? Like he really is on the market and would be totally available for you to date?”
“Nothing is going to happen between us.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Yes, he’s actually gay. He’s helping me out here, and I’m going to invest in his gym back in Toronto. Nothing more than a business transaction. As long as I can convince Father not to cut me off completely. In that eventuality, I don’t know what I’m going to do to thank him.”
Even as he said the words, they rang a bit hollow. There hadn’t been many men who Grady had been interested in beyond a quick fuck. It was the way he liked it: being free, unattached, and able to go wherever life took him. Having responsibilities grated against every fiber of his being.
And yet . . .
Max hadn’t seemed the least bit interested in Grady’s bank account. He’d seemed genuinely happy to help him out. He was different from most of the other men who’d drifted into—and out of—Grady’s life.
“Well, if you change your mind about the two of you hooking up for real and need a hand, just let me know. It would be nice to have another non-Barnes around from time to time.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.” The last thing he needed or wanted was to put Max in a position where he felt that their arrangement was anything more than what it was. Ignoring Serena’s pointed look, he reached for one of the suitcases from Max when he got close. “Give me that.”
Max frowned, but handed it over. “Sure.”
“Welcome to my home.” Turning his back on them, Grady started up the front steps.