Page 33 of The Devil’s Detail (The Greystone Family: Greystone Brothers #2)

Jackson

I’m saved by the bell.

“Hello, anyone home?” Ash calls through the house.

“Ash, no way.” I stand and shake the man by the hand, offering a tentative back slap and looking him over. “They let you out? Hope you’re feeling good?”

“I’m fine, Jackson. I thought I’d come back to work.

Carter will surely be missing me.” He turns to Carter, who tries to look happy, but fails miserably.

Ash raises a brow at him. “You haven’t thrown me over for Jackson, have you, Carter?

” He’s joking, but I can see him side-eyeing me. Trying to read the situation.

Well good luck there. I think I’ve just been proposed to, not even propositioned. And him turning up is the best distraction. I can extricate myself with ease. Carter can’t throw him out, and we can’t get together. This buys me thinking time.

Who am I kidding? It gives me an out, and I’m taking it. I can see Carter drooping minute by minute, and I feel a little ashamed of my behaviour. But I just didn’t expect him to be so full on and forward thinking. It’s a total shock.

We get drinks and play up the small talk as I watch Carter disappear behind his facade of fun and flirty. But in the silences between, he looks like he’s sinking.

I’m mulling it over, running different scenarios in my mind. What the hell do I do now?

I thought when he finally pulled up the courage to say something, he’d be all about the fun, the frivolous, the sex.

He spouts off enough about it. But no, he’s blindsided me.

Because he’s had enough of that, is looking for something else.

Really wants a full-blown fucking relationship. An exclusive one at that.

I need counsel and decide to retire to bed and ring Jonno.

I shower off the day, and as I’m getting changed, my phone rings. CAshO lights up on the screen. Hell. No way!

“Hi, Mr Stone.” My heart rate picks up at the name. I know it’s the administrator from CAshO. His voice is a recognisable squeaky one. Oh my God, it’s Bonney. That’s the only time I was Mr Stone. If it wasn’t about him, they’d have called me Greystone. They know who I am.

“It is,” I state, playing along, but curt and to the point.

“We’ve been contacted by Mr Jameson Bonney. He’s requested a meeting. At Twenty One Hotel in Westchester.”

My mind blanks out. Bonney, after five months. It’s bloody August. The man certainly knows how to play a game. So unpredictable. Maybe he’s just back in LA and wants a rematch?

“He’d like to meet tomorrow,” the administrator advises me.

“I know it’s short notice, but if you’re free, he’d very much like to see you again.

The same arrangements as before. But we can’t accommodate you here at the club,” he states, as if he’s reading from a script.

“I’ll be there at Twenty One to get all the paperwork signed and then show you up to the room. ”

I can hardly breathe. Bonney, after all this time.

And on the back of Carter’s almost marriage proposal.

My mind dithers, but then I remember what it felt like with him.

How amazing it was. Oh, fuck it. I haven’t agreed to anything with Carter.

Maybe I ought to go and put Bonney to bed good and proper. I smirk at my own pun.

“Yes. I’ll meet him. I know the hotel. What time?” I’m all business. Full of confidence.

“Come at eleven in the morning. The paperwork may take a while.” He sounds happy. Probably on a commission.

“See you then.” I hang up. What the hell. How can this happen? On the day Carter Maywood asks me out, my past comes and clobbers me. But what a past, and what a clobbering. But Carter?—

I need Jonno.

I don’t care about the time difference to Ireland. I dial him.

“This better be good, brother. Do you know what fucking time it is?” His groggy voice means I’ve woken him.

“I’ve had a proposal,” I say casually.

“Well I hope it was a fucking indecent one. Any other sort is just not worth it.” I feel the smile in the words. “FaceTime me, I need to see your face.” He’s weird at times, but I hang up and redial the phone. “Ahh, there you are. Fuck me, it really was indecent.” He grins. “Spill, brother.”

“Carter wants to date me.” I look directly into the camera. His face doesn’t change. Then he starts to laugh.

“You, date? Has he lost his mind?” He shakes his head, and I nod in amazement.

“I know, I just wanted to fuck. But he wants candlelight dinners for two, walks on the beach at sunset. Whole nine yards. Just us.” I’m giving him mock incredulity.

“Exclusive, like just you two?” His brows are getting a serious work out. I nod. “Wow, the man's deranged. Does he even know you? Or have you just shown him fluffy Jackson?” He smirks now.

“I’ve been nice. No need to scare the man to death.” I smirk back. “He was serious about the exclusive. He’s all in.”

“Is he, though? It’s his speciality making everyone feel special. You’ve seen him in action. He can’t help himself.” Jonno is on point as usual.

“Well, he better help himself. ‘Cos if I say yes, then he’s touching up other men, they’ll be… Well…” Carter is a lot to consider for anyone. “I wouldn’t be happy, let's put it that way.”

“Have you told him that?”

I nod. “Yeah, he knows it would just be us. But I’ve watched him enough to see how he operates.

He’s like a heat seeking missile. Zeroes in on your likes, and runs the fuck away with them.

” I know I’m smiling now. “You like chocolate, he’ll whisk you off to Switzerland for the best there is.

You like flowers, you’ll be jetting to Amsterdam with him.

He’s so generous, with himself, money and time.

” I know I’m gushing about his personality. And Jonno can see it.

“Jackson, what’s the problem really? If you told him to tone down the flirting with guys, he would. He just likes the attention, nothing serious. If he’s getting it from you, he’ll have no reason to look for it elsewhere.” As usual, he’s spot on.

“I know he would. Most of it is just an act, the same as Kell and Xan. They all have to put on a show. Carter has to be Carter Fucking Maywood. A-list Hollywood heart throb,” I say resignedly.

“Exactly. Carter in public is not Carter at home. So again, what’s the issue?”

I acknowledge that truth, but I sigh. “He wants me by his side. Right in the thick of the action. He wants me totally involved.” I can hardly believe he wanted that.

I shake my head. “It’s unbelievable, really.

I was only looking for a hookup.” I start to laugh.

“Men are proving more hassle than women. I’ve got one, who is full-on in the glare of publicity, wants me to come and stand next to him, kiss him on the red carpet for all to see.

And the other one is hiding behind blindfolds and NDAs. ”

There’s silence on the line as he watches my face.

“He’s contacted you, hasn’t he? Bonney.”

I nod solemnly. “Just tonight. Fucking hell. Not one indecent proposal, but two.” My voice rises slightly. I can’t believe it.

“You said you’d go, didn’t you?”

I nod again, slower this time.

He sighs, and it’s a big one. “Fuck, Jackson, you’ve got some serious thinking to do.

If you go meet Bonney, you’ll end up in a full-on fucking session.

You know it, and so does he.” He looks up at the ceiling.

“Is he still on your mind, Bonney? Is that why you don’t want to go exclusive with Carter, in case you like what Bonney offers? ”

I give out a huge sigh. “I don’t fucking know anymore. A few months ago I would have jumped at the chance of a rematch. Now, with everything that’s happened, with Carter asking me to be with him. Getting to know him…” I shrug again. “What should I do? Would you go?”

My brother is a good barometer. He might be slightly more bonkers than me in some ways, but we’re on the same page in most others. His face sharpens, and there’s a look I’ve not seen before in his eyes.

“Like you, a few months ago, it would have been a definite yes. But I’m in Ireland, and as you know, my Queen Bee is here, with my baby.

Evie is here with the kids. Jude is coming the day after tomorrow.

My life is about more things than sex now.

So, no, brother, I won’t validate your actions. You have to decide.”

He’s serious. Wow, never saw that one coming.

“Can’t I have both? How would Carter know?” I smirk, and half playfully shrug.

And he lasers me back a ‘get a grip’ look.

“Jackson, you know you wouldn’t be able to do it.

I know you’ve been a halfbaked fuckboy for years.

But you’re honest with it. It’s one or the other, or none.

” He eyeballs me, then grins. “Come here to Ireland, join in the fun. We’re still hunting the thief.

” His expression shifts, pain written all over it now.

“I’m scared shitless it’s my Queen Bee.”

“Fuck, really?”

He nods and squeezes his eyes shut. “Yep. So if you fancy a little getaway, come here. Fuck them both off.” And he’s back. “You’ll make the right decision. Now fuck off, I’m on Rio duty. I’ll ring you when she’s up in the middle of the night and you’re in LA.” He smiles widely, and I return it.

“See you, brother,” I say and hang up, blowing out a long breath.

What am I going to do? I can’t think here surrounded by all things Carter.

So I shove my belongings into a bag and skulk out without a word, like a thief in the night.