“Oh, don’t worry, it’s always free.”
Brant let out a rough exhale just as Cole made a beeline in his direction. “Oh, hell.”
He braced himself for a punch.
Words. Fighting. Broken chairs, glass, possible drowning.
But when Cole stopped in front of him he didn’t throw a punch, he didn’t as much as blink. Which was slightly more terrifying.
“Your better half just checked in with his better half and the entire Wellington and Titus families.”
“I don’t know what to do with any of the information you just gave me.”
“Miraculously, we have a big enough suite for all of them.”
“I’m not going to like the direction of this conversation, am I?”
“But we had to connect it to the presidential suite to make sure there was a bathroom for everyone, because according to Nadine, she doesn’t share.”
“There it is,” Brant muttered.
Cole’s mouth twitched into a pleased smile. “I also took the liberty of cleaning up the broken glass, the lamp.”
Brant winced.
“The torn sheets, the shattered mini bar.”
Behind them, George whistled.
“And the blood in the sink.”
Brant sighed. “Don’t ask.”
“Wasn’t gonna,” Cole snapped.
“So as far as they’re concerned…” Brant shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to find the thank-you that was getting caught in his throat. “No nervous breakdown this morning?”
“Nope.”
“Why would you do that for me?”
Cole shook his head sadly. “It’s because I love a girl who’s in love with a complete dick. A man who sure as hell doesn’t deserve to see her naked and yet did, for the last twelve hours, and then had the fucking nerve to send her blindly away as if she knew how to work the damn elevator without running her hands along every single button in order to find the lobby!”
With every word, Brant felt sicker and sicker.
Cole’s features softened. “Just…do everyone a favor and stay away from her, all right? Finish off the rest of the week. And leave.”
“Fine,” Brant snapped. “You know…” He lifted the glass of soda water off the bar. “If you weren’t in love with Nik, I could probably respect you a little more.”
“Should we come back at a better time?” Nadine strutted into the bar area in the tallest red heels Brant had ever seen.
Bentley chased after her and made a strangling motion with his hands while his wife followed behind with Jane.
“She needs a bell,” Bentley said tightly.
“Read my mind,” Brant added with a glare. “Was it completely necessary to bring every last family member with you?”
Bentley pointed at his wife, Margot, who pointed to Brock, who pointed to Jane, who rolled her eyes and pointed at both Grandfather and Nadine as they ordered drinks.
“Right.” Brant nodded. “So nobody’s taking responsibility for any of this?”
Bentley held up his hands. “I tell Margot everything.”
“And I was texting Jane,” Margot admitted sheepishly.
“And I was in the longest board meeting of my life listening to Grandfather and Nadine argue over toilet paper—they picked the two-ply, by the way.”
“Wait, then how did they end up knowing about this little mini vacation if they were in the meeting?”
Brock snorted. “How do you think? I was tracked. I think they like us to believe they don’t know how to use technology, but I could have sworn my phone made a beeping noise the entire drive to the resort only to have them honk their horn behind me and yell out ‘Surprise!’”
Brant shuddered.
“Thanks for squeezing us in, Cole.” Bentley held out his hand to Cole.
“Yeah,” Brant said tightly. “Thanks.”
“Just doing my job.” A self-satisfied smirk settled over Cole’s face. “I’m needed elsewhere.” He eyed Brant and added, “Remember what I said.”
“Like I could forget,” Brant muttered under his breath, as Cole gave him one final look of disgust and walked away.
“Making friends, I see.” Bentley slapped Brant on the shoulder. “Is that the guy who pushed you into the pool?”
The whiskey went sour in Brant’s stomach. Hell, he was a complete jackass. A complete and total dick. He’d just wanted her to hurt, but in trying to hurt her, he’d hurt himself. He hadn’t been able to get her out of that hotel room fast enough; he couldn’t let her see him break.
And then he’d screwed up again by lashing out.
That seemed to be what they were known for now. Arguing. Fighting.