It was more likeBryce had simply been leaving on time, but since that was such a huge change,Grant didn’t feel bad for exaggerating a little.
“Bullshit.” Brycesnorted. “I just haven’t been putting in lots of extra hours.”
Garrett leanedback in his chair and cocked his head. “Care to tell us what has you workingsuch reasonable hours lately?”
Bryce glared atBrent like he’d snitched, but Brent just gave his head a little shake like hewas denying whatever he was being accused of. Interesting. Even Garrett noticedthe interchange, because he frowned. “You told Brent?”
“Lord, this familyis nosy.” Bryce slumped back in his chair. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s something ifyou were mad at Brent for telling. So what’s the secret?” Grant knew they allhad a good guess, but it was time for Bryce to fess up.
Bryce sighed andlooked up at the ceiling, his head falling back to rest on the back of thechair. He waved his hand at Brent. “Brent, you do it.”
Clearing histhroat, trying not to laugh at the drama coming from Bryce, Brent looked overat Garrett, Calen, and Grant. “Bryce met someone…two someones, actually, andhe’s afraid—”
Bryce growled out,“Not afraid, just concerned.”
“Excuse me.” Brentrolled his eyes. “Bryce isconcernedthat his entering into arelationship with two people—”
Bryce interruptedagain. “Dating. We’re not entering into anything.”
Calen laughed atthe unintended sexual innuendo. “Do you want to tell the story?”
“No.” Bryce sighedagain.
“Then sit thereand don’t talk, drama queen.”
Trying not tolaugh, Brent started again. “Bryce isconcernedthatdatingtwomen who are already in an established relationship may not be as discreet as weagreed to be.”
It was quiet for amoment, then Garrett looked at Brent. “Is it serious?”
Grant thought itwas hilarious that Garrett was asking Brent about Bryce’s love life, but hemanaged not to make an ass out of himself. Brent nodded and looked over atBryce before speaking. “Yes. I’d sayvery.”
Bryce didn’tdisagree with him.
Grant had a fewmore questions. “Are they in the lifestyle? Where’d they meet?”
“Yes, and at theclub a few months ago. The last time we were all up there, evidently.” Brentanswered without even looking at Bryce. “They’ve been testing the water, butBryce is nervous about getting serious with a Dom and a sub and how it will look.”
Bryce had dated avariety of people. As a switch, he was drawn to Dominants and submissives, buthe’d never dated both at the same time. Grant could see that being difficultalready without adding in the worries about what clients and friends would say.
Bryce was stillstaring at the ceiling, ignoring them all.
Looking around athis family, Grant wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about. “We said we weren’tgoing to do anything stupid to draw attention to ourselves. We never said wewouldn’t fall in love and date who we wanted to. You morons are taking thatconversation too far.”
Calen’s snickeringturned into gasps of laughter. Brent frowned at him, but when that didn’t getthe desired response, he balled up a piece of paper and threw it at him. Thatgot Calen to stop laughing, but it was easy to see he was planning hisretribution. Brent blushed, but ignored him.
Brent cleared histhroat. “That’s basically what I said, just nicer. There is no reason for himto chase away people he really cares about.”
Even Garrett wasnodding. “We just want you to be happy. We’ll deal with anything that comes up,but I think most clients won’t care. We might lose a few, but not enough for meto be worried. Other areas, like the number of new customers we’ve picked upfrom the club, are growing, and I think that will more than make up for anyonewho might have a problem with it. But let’s face it. Most people see their insuranceperson once a year, tops, and don’t care who he’s married to.”
“Agreed.” Grantwas glad that was settled. Maybe if Bryce got serious quick enough, it woulddistract his mother from his relationship with Carter. “So who is it?”
Bryce managed tofind his voice with that question. “Troy and Oliver.”
The names werefamiliar, but Grant couldn’t place them. Everyone else seemed to be in the sameboat until Brent spoke up. “The guys with the sounds.”
“Oh.” Now Grant couldpicture them. The demonstration had been—
