Page 23 of Paradise

“He doesn’t have to know.”

“Gare—”

Garrett slammed his hand down on the desk between them. The noise startled both of them. “I’m coming to you with this because I need this, Robbie. It’s ugly, and it’s stupid, and it’s unworthy, but surprise! That’s me sometimes. I can’t sink any lower in your estimation of me, you’ve known me for too long, but I’m trying to preserve Jonah’s illusions for just a little bit longer, so please, help me with this. Or I’ll risk what’s left of my reputation by asking around on the open market.”

Robbie looked honestly bewildered. “What … Gare, I don’t think badly of you.” He narrowed his eyes. “You’re sweating. What’s really going on? Are you sick?”

“I’m fine.” And he was. Completely fine, except for this strange, tugging ache inside of his chest. It felt like someone was hammering, very gently, on his heart, trying to pry it loose from its attachments.Anxiety. It was just anxiety. “Are you going to help me or not?”

“Fucking hell.” Robbie made a face, then stood up and turned to one of the in-wall cabinets. One touch opened the drawer, from which he took a small plastic container. He pulled something out of it, resealed the drawer, and came back to sit on the desk beside Garrett. “Slimdisc,” he said, putting the transparent circle in Garrett’s hand. “The transponder number can be read by and synced to your com. It’s got a very limited range, and it’s very fragile, so don’t get it wet or run it into anything. Take the tab off the back, and it’ll stick to his clothes.”

“Thank you,” Garrett said fervently. He stood up and hugged Robbie, enjoying the way it made the hammers in his heart slow down for a moment.

“Just don’t make this into a slippery slope,” Robbie grumbled. “And if you hear anything about buggingus, I want to know about it immediately. That’s the justification for me giving you this tech, got it?”

“Got it.” Garrett pulled back and tried not to wince as his chest began to hurt again. “I’ll be good. I promise.” He left and tried not to let the irony of his last statement get the better of him as he brushed his com against the slimdisc, then went to find Jonah so he could attach it to him before his meeting.

Jonah and Cody were at the family breakfast table along with Miles and Claudia and Renee. Cody was eating, but all Jonah had was a cup of coffee in his hands. He stared at it pensively, brows drawn together, but he perked up when he saw Garrett.

“Hey, darlin’.” He reached an arm out and pulled Garrett into a kiss.

It was almost too easy to slip the slimdisc under the hem of the front of his shirt, and as soon as he did, a wave of guilt racked Garrett, so strong that he felt weak in the aftermath. He covered it up by sliding onto Jonah’s lap and turning their kiss into something deep and long and almost overpowering. Distantly, he heard Claudia giggle and Cody make a gagging sound, but he didn’t care. Everything was fine as long as Jonah didn’t push him away.

The kiss finally ended, and Jonah looked at him starry-eyed. “What brought that on?”

“Oh, nothing in particular,” Garrett said easily, waiting for his legs to stop trembling so he could stand up. “Just indulging a whim.”

“Try to hold off on indulging like that until you’re in the bedroom,” Miles said dryly from across the table. He had Renee in his arms and was feeding her a bottle. “The rest of us are trying to eat.”

“You’ve seen worse.”

“Oh, I know. That doesn’t mean I want to relive your teenage years.”

“You’ve done worse yourself,” Claudia reminded her husband, coming in on Garrett’s side. “I think it’s sweet. And hot.”

“Ooh, naughty step-mommy!” Garrett grinned. He felt his legs steady and got to his feet, resolutely not staring at the spot where he’d left the slimdisc. “What are you two doing today?”

“I’m talking to the caterer at three,” Claudia said. “Will you be here?”

“I should be. I’ve still got a ton of work to catch up on, though.”

Cody’s face fell. “Does that mean you still can’t come look for salamapedes with me and Thérèse?”

“Sorry, Cody.” Garrett squeezed his shoulder gently. “But you’ve got the container I made you to put one in, right?” Cody nodded. “When you guys get back, we can look up the taxonomy of it together, okay? Your teacher will be so impressed with your biology study when we get home.”

“Can Daddy help too?”

“If Daddy is home by then.” Garrett arched a brow at Jonah.

“I should be,” Jonah said. “Can’t imagine my meeting with Kilroy’ll last more than an hour or so.”

“Lovely. And you’re taking Kelly?”

“I’m taking Corporal Kelly,” Jonah agreed, rolling his eyes. “Anything else?”

“Not a thing.”

They went their separate ways after breakfast, and Garrett retreated to his ship, where he did all of his work. Also, from there he could copy the transponder onto the ship’s com, which would make for easier listening.

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