“The worst part was my father. My mother was complicit. My father believed in the spare the rod scriptures. He felt like my ‘defect’ was his fault for being too lenient.”
“Defect?” Greer asked.
“Yeah, it’s what he called it. If I didn’t get over it, I wouldn’t have a home. I was taken from my bedroom and given the sofa to sleep on. To this day, if I sleep in their house, that’s where I sleep. But if I didn’t get a hold of my defect, they’d put me out.” Dallas gave a dislodging shake of the head, hoping to dispel the memories. No good would come of rehashing his past. “It was half my life ago. I thought I’d gotten past it. Occasionally, I’ll think some guy is attractive, but I ultimately decided I was asexual.”
Greer’s sad smile made Dallas give one of his own. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ve had to come to terms with it all since I met you.” Dallas lifted his glass, swallowing the rest of the watered-down whiskey. “I’m not normally this erratic.”
“I suspected. I’m not close to my family. But my sexuality is the least of their problems with me.” Greer stayed close, but turned, anchoring his ass against the railing. He crossed his arms over his chest. “So what’re we going to do?”
Dallas eased away from the rail, staring Greer directly in the eyes. “I’ve been manic about it all week. Sometimes bold, sometimes cowering. When I thought you and I were done, I decided I still wanted to live my life in the best way for me. Then I began worrying about StreamTrainer. You’ve spent your time and money…”
Greer lifted a hand, stopping Dallas from saying anything more. “Your company’s a concern, one I’ll handle. You leave it to me. What would your brothers say about us?”
Dallas stared silently at Greer, assessing him. How could he reasonably drop this truth after all the time and money Greer had spent on their company?
“Let me guess to make it easier on you. Ducky’s good. Donny’s a younger version of your father.” Greer had summed it up quickly and concisely.
Dallas nodded. “Donny thinks I’m a nutcase. He’ll want out or for us to sell or he’ll try to push me out. Probably want to push me out. He feels like you’ll make us millions and millions of dollars.”
Greer gave another small smile and pushed off the rail, nodding his confirmation. Most likely to the money comment. His love paced a circle around the furniture on the balcony.
“Here’s my truth,” Greer said, lifting his head to make sure Dallas was listening. “I want you with me. We need time together so you can see what I see…” Greer’s feet clearly did his thinking for him. He never stopped marching. Even when Dallas interrupted him.
“We barely know one another. I cover my and Ducky’s rent…”
Greer lifted a hand, stopping him from saying more. “Let me finish. For your company, we have one of two options. We can buy Donny out or we can push forward, go nationwide, and put some heat on the heels of your biggest competitors. At some point, we’ll put enough pressure on them that they’ll want to acquire StreamTrainer.”
“Sell?” Dallas asked. Greer nodded. His shrewd calculating expression softened.
“For a substantial profit,” Greer added. “Donny’s not wrong about that.”
“What if I wanted to keep the company? Could Ducky and I buy Donny out?” Dallas paused before deciding he might as well lay it all out. “Donny and I have already come to blows. I won’t be able to hide this thing between us forever.”
“All I care about is you being with me. We’ll play it however you want. I’ll adapt and we’ll adapt. But ultimately, this investor team holds the cards on StreamTrainer. Donny causes a problem and he’s out.”
The pressure on Dallas’s heart eased. The uncertain future of his dream company had added a heavy load to Dallas in an already dire situation. As long as Ducky was taken care of, nothing more really mattered.
Dallas went to Greer, needing a kiss and maybe one of Greer’s expert healing touches. As he leaned in, Greer put a hand to his chest, stopping his descent. “Promise me, Dallas, whatever happens, we’re together. We’ll figure it out. No more cutting me out.”
“You aren’t the kind of guy to go on the downlow—” Dallas started, but Greer cut him off.
“You might’ve been right about that a month ago, but not now. I was a wreck last week. You’ve changed me. I honestly believe this is love between us. I can’t imagine what else it would be. The pride I had with you by my side tonight…” Greer’s fingers drifted over Dallas’s chest as he stepped in, closer to him. “Dallas, I’ve lost my free will. I have no other choice but to protect you and us.”