only said, “Don’t sulk,” which made him fume even more.
He was also sick of soup, and said so.
Craig shrugged. “Tell me what you want to eat, then.”
Louis said nothing, because of course soup was about as much as he could manage.
Craig grunted and sat down next to him. “Just eat something, okay? It’ll get easier. Another week and you’ll be back on solid food.”
“I hope so,” Louis said with feeling, and Craig laughed.
Even though he’d never admit it to Craig, Louis was feeling much better after his sleep and awake enough to check in with Jamie while Craig made coffee.
“I’m fine. The club’s fine. Your customers are fine. Go away,” Jamie intoned.
“Fuck off,” Louis laughed. “I’ll be back tomorrow. You’d better give me the same answer then.”
“Not before eleven. I need to sleep in.”
“Uh-huh. What appointment have you got?” He grinned as Jamie spluttered.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Jamie, I know you. You never sleep. You’ll be back in by nine. So what appointment are you not telling me about?”
Silence.
“Jamie?” He could wait all night if necessary.
“Joseph Holden.”
Louis sat up as Craig came into the den bearing a tray. “Nine o’clock you say?”
“Yes. I can handle him, boss.”
“I know you can, but I want to sic Craig on him.” At Craig’s eyebrow raise, he mouthed “Joseph Holden.”
“At the club?” Craig murmured.
Louis nodded as he said to Jamie, “See you tomorrow.”
Jamie sighed. “Can I talk you out of this?”
“No. See you tomorrow. Don’t burn down the club.”
He disconnected on Jamie’s heated “Fuck you.”
Craig raised another eyebrow. “Does Jamie make a habit of burning down the club?”
“Only once. But I’m never going to let him forget it.” Louis exchanged his phone for a cup of coffee. “I need this. Wait, this is hot chocolate.”
“You need to sleep. Coffee will make you buzz. I’ve got hot chocolate too.”
“You remember I’m used to being awake all night?” Louis pointed out.
Craig sipped his hot chocolate.
“Jesus, you can be infuriating.”
Louis sipped his own hot chocolate and moaned at the taste of cinnamon. “You remembered.”
“Of course I did,” Craig said quietly. “I’ve never forgotten anything about you.”
Craig
They’d had a brief squabble over whether they should call a car or take bikes.
Louis had won the battle, and now he grinned as Craig climbed off his bike. "I bet you wish you’d slept on the bed now."
"I'm fine," Craig said, trying hard not to show that he ached from head to foot. He could tell when he looked into Louis's smirking eyes that he'd failed. “You bastard! Is that why you insisted on the bikes?”
"You’re not twenty-five anymore. The next time I suggest you sleep in a bed, why don't you listen to me?"
Because the only way I want to sleep in a bed with you around is next to you.
That's what he wanted to say. There was no way he was sleeping in the guestroom until he knew Louis was out of danger. Call him overprotective? He didn't care. Louis was his charge, and it was up to him how he ran the operation.
"Let's get inside," he suggested, completely ignoring Louis’s question. It had started to rain, and he didn't think aching joints and damp clothes were a good combination.
Four bikes were parked outside the club, Padraig and Jace as Craig’s back-up. It was now nine-thirty in the morning. Louis had wanted to arrive after Joseph Holden. He wanted to see the man who was causing him headaches, but Jamie was holding the meeting. Craig didn't care, he just wanted to meet the man. Craig relied a lot on first impressions and he wanted to know whether Holden was just an idiot or whether he was dangerous.
They went inside. The club was eerily dark as it always was first thing in the morning. Unless they had a daytime event, the place didn’t come alive until late evening. Louis had told Craig he'd contemplated getting a suite of offices when he started taking on additional interests, but the club was his first love and there was enough office space to run all his businesses from there. Besides which, his staff had complained bitterly when he’d mentioned it again, because they liked being fed by Vera. Happy staff and happy chef, it was a win-win situation. Craig was looking forward to meeting Vera again.
Louis led the way to the offices. As Louis was in front, Craig wasn't able to see his face. He didn't realize until the two of them were in Louis's office that Louis was holding himself together