“What…happened here?”Emmett asked.“What have you two done to my filing system?”
“Well, well, well,” Bryn drawled, crawling back to his beanbag where he leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head.“Look what the cat dragged in.”
Emmett flushed.“Good morning to you too.”
“Good morning?It’s past nine-thirty.Where have you been?”Bryn narrowed his eyes in gleeful suspicion.“Wait a minute.Is that the same bow tie you wore yesterday?”
“You didn’t see me yesterday, so how would you know?But no, it’s not,” Emmett said too quickly, setting down a container on his desk.“I brought cookies.”
“Homemade cookies?”Gunnar asked, looking up from his work with interest.He sniffed.“They smell good.There’s something else…oh.”He grinned.“Someone’s been having a fun time.”
“I like…baking.”
“You’re deflecting, Emmett,” Bryn accused.“And since when do you bake?”With a heroic effort, Bryn scrambled to his feet.He sauntered over to Emmett’s desk then levered the lid off the cookie tub.
“I’ve always baked, but I don’t get a lot of time,” Emmett replied.“And I thought you might appreciate something sweet.”
Gunnar came to stand next to Bryn and reached for a cookie.“They’re soft.”
“Because he just made them,” Bryn said, grabbing one for himself and taking a large bite.“The question is, whose kitchen did he use?”
Emmett busied himself with organizing papers on his desk, his flush deepening.
“Oh my god,” Bryn said around a mouthful of cookie, crumbs tumbling down his shirt.“These are great.You were at Warden’s place, weren’t you?You went there after you got back from New York.You and Warden are…”
“We have a meeting in the conference room in fifteen minutes,” Emmett interrupted, avoiding eye contact.“I’m going to set up the presentation materials.”He fled the office with remarkable speed.
Gunnar shook his head.“You’re relentless.”
“It’s part of my charm,” Bryn replied.“Something happened there and I need details.”
“Don’t embarrass him, he can’t defend himself like you can.”Gunnar stretched and his plaid shirt rode up, revealing a strip of tanned skin that drew Bryn’s attention.“See something you like?”
“Maybe.”Bryn moved closer, slipping his fingers through Gunnar’s belt loops.“Have I mentioned how glad I am that we don’t have to hide this anymore?”
“Only about a dozen times.”Gunnar’s hands settled on Bryn’s hips.“But I don’t mind hearing it again.”
“Get a room,” came Giles’ voice from the doorway.“You two make maple syrup seem sour.”His gaze swept the office, lingering with distinct disapproval on the beanbag and the surrounding chaos.“What in God’s name have you been doing in here?”
“Paperwork,” Bryn said.“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Did Emmett tell you to get your butts to the conference room?”Giles asked.“Or did you traumatize him with this mess?”
“He’s fine and of course he did.He also brought us cookies.”Bryn said.“What did you bring?”
“Some much needed sartorial style and a bad attitude.”Giles turned on his heel and left.
“There’s nothing wrong with my style,” Bryn muttered as he and Gunnar followed Giles down the stairs.
“You can’t go wrong with black.”Gunnar grinned.
“Whereas plaid…”
“Makes me look like a lumberjack.I know.But as you seem to enjoy climbing me like a tree…”
“Oh my God…” Bryn had to adjust his jeans.“You had to say that now, didn’t you?”
Emmett had already set up at the head of the table, and Warden stood nearby, reviewing something on a tablet.Bryn caught Emmett stealing a glance at Warden when he thought no one was looking.Don’t say anything, Bryn.Be good.
