The Grand Pact (The Grand Men #1)(59)

“Stop staring at me like a creeper.” She sucker punches me in the stomach, and I fold. I lift my eyes and glare when Mason sniggers in approval. “You heard much from Luce?” she asks.

“A little.” I shrug, righting myself. I don’t know how much Lucy would want me to share.

“She seems happy. It’s good.”

I try not to wear the smirk that’s threatening to break. “I agree. She does seem happy.”

“Hmmm,” Nina hums.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She rounds the desk, and Mase turns, leaving no room for her to decide for herself how it will go. Still, she tries to go in for a quick kiss, but the second their lips touch, the room calms, a brief moment of something that feels fated, and in the next second it deepens, and he stands, sliding his hands over her face and into her hair.

“I think I might get the Caesar today.”

They break apart, with only Nina smiling.

“Let’s go, asshole,” Mason grumbles, grabbing his jacket and pocketing his phone. “You okay to pick Ellis and Ave up today, angel? Scar is working late.”

“Yep. I’m good, you get going. Charles is probably waiting.” She ushers us out and towards the elevator.

“I’m going to cut the grass tonight, don’t you or Scarlet go doing it.”

“Alright, bossman. I’ll have Ellis ready when you get in.”

Mase nods, and we step in through the steel doors.

“You cut the grass now?” I ask after a beat, trying not to laugh.

“Me and Ellis cut the grass,” he huffs. “You know what they’re like about paying people to do the shit we can. And Ellis loves it on the ride on.”

“Fair.”

A comfortable silence settles as we descend, and my mind drifts to Lucy, wondering what she might be up to.

She’ll be at work.

“Look at my wife’s face for five seconds too long again, and I’ll do worse than a fist to your gut.”

I crack up, laughing despite his serious face. I know he isn’t mad about it. “What you gonna do, bossman?”

“I’ll run your fucking face over with my lawn mower.”

“Alright, Dad.”

“Cunt,” he retorts, striding out of the elevator and towards the exit of The Montwell.

“You love that she loves me really,” I shout, making heads turn, including Masons.

He shakes his head in disbelief and carries on ahead.

When we get to the restaurant, Charles is in fact waiting for us. He’s sat in a private room with paperwork scattered around him. He’s calm and controlled, sipping his coffee while reading the document in his hand.

“Fuckers are late,” he remarks, looking up with a smile.

I pull out a chair and sit back while Mason goes to stand at the window. “Lowell was boning his wife.”

Mason looks over at me, and I smirk. I enjoy winding him up too much.

“You all good?” Charlie asks, his question directed at Mason. He nods and then comes to sit down, his jaw clenched and his hands clasped.

“What is it?” Charlie asks, watching him closely.

Confused, I glance at Mason.

He sighs. “I’m worried the surgery Nina had is stopping her from getting pregnant.”

Fuck. I look at my best friend of thirty-four years and then back to Charlie, who’s wearing a matching expression to mine.

The fuck do we say to that?

When it’s obvious I’m not going to say anything, Charlie jumps in.

“You’ve not been trying all that long, though, right? And the doctors gave her the all clear?”

I don’t say a word. Last I heard, they were waiting, so this is news to me.

“That’s what Nina said, and she’s so fucking stubborn over it, but it happened so fast with Ellis. And look at the Waverley situation. Dr Sarnmer said that my mother conceived both me and Scarlet quickly. It just feels off that it’s not happening for us.” He scrubs at his face, and I know this will be the reason for his outburst before.

It’s bothering him.

I look at Charlie and shrug.

He sits forward, silently asking for Mason’s attention. “You can’t compare between Ellis and Ave—it’s different. You’ve got ways to investigate this if you need to. Give it some time, and then get specialist help when Nina’s ready.”

“Yeah, I know.” He scrubs at his face again, shaking it off.

“Enjoy the office sex,” I tell him, clasping a hand on his back and making him laugh. “I know I would be.”

“I am, boys, I fucking am.” He finally grins, readjusting his cuff links.

“Let’s eat. I have some shit to run by you both.” Charlie nods at the menu on the table and then goes back to his work whilst me and Mason order.

Twenty minutes later, we’re eating our lunch, and Charlie is filling us in on the charity event he needs us to attend.

“I’ve already donated and secured the tickets, so you don’t have much of a choice. I think it would be good publicity if you want to take over the Reynolds account. Would help if you happened to make a substantial but anonymous donation on the night, of course.” He wipes his hands in his napkin and waits.

“Seems decent,” I tell him, nodding.