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He could not believe he was sitting here discussing Costa’s wedding. The two men were both seriously single. Well, in different ways. Costa dated and borrowed Galen’s PA to make bookings and to send flowers when it all invariably went wrong. As for Galen... Well, suffice it to say there were no flowers required when it was simply sex. And while that might appear cold, both Galen and his partners would contest that assumption—not that they cared what others thought.
In fact, his phone was buzzing now.
‘I thought your calls were being diverted to Kristina.’ Costa frowned. ‘I’ve been trying to get you all night...’
Galen offered no explanation as he read the message and saw that it was one of his partners.
Catch up?
Galen fired a rapid response.
Can’t now.
He added a sad face to his message.
And received a sad face in response.
His sex life really was as delightfully uncomplicated as that.
Right now, though, he dragged his focus onto Costa, who seemed to have everything planned.
‘I’m going to offend a lot of people by keeping the reception small,’ Costa admitted. ‘But there will be a big party on the beach afterwards for everyone on the island—’
‘Pias to avgo kai kourefto.’Galen shrugged. It literally meant grab an egg and shave it, but it referred more to theCatch-22situation Costa was in. ‘It’s not your job to please everyone. And anyway, that’s an impossible ask on Anapliró.’
‘Yes, well, I need to keep the locals happy, given that I didn’t sever all ties like you.’ Indeed, Costa had both masterminded and financed the development of a lavish retreat there. Once the impoverished poor relation of the islands, Anapliró was now an exclusive destination for the extremely well heeled. ‘You still haven’t seen the retreat.’
‘I know,’ Galen said. Costa had long since been pushing for him to fly over, yet Galen, thankfully, had always managed to be too busy. Yes, a trip to Anapliró was long overdue, and of course he would not miss Costa’s wedding just because he loathed the place. ‘When are you looking at?’ Galen asked. ‘I will ensure everything is cleared in my schedule...’
‘Galen,’ Costa said, and he tapped the champagne cork on the desk a few times, ‘the wedding is on Saturday.’
‘Excuse me?’ Galen had long ago been taught not to not say the first thing that came to mind and rapidly deployed his filter rather than shaking his head and stating the truth—that’s impossible!
‘Yes.’ Costa nodded. ‘We fly to London tomorrow, the wedding is the following morning, and we go back to Anapliró that afternoon.’ Costa took a breath. ‘I know it’s short notice...’
Short notice?
There was absolutely no way Galen could be there. He had to make a major announcement regarding a partnership on Saturday. And there were vital system updates to be checked and run. Every hour between now and then was accounted for.
Even sex was being forfeited!
While Galen didn’t expect Costa’s nuptials to be arranged around his schedule, in the same vein Costa was more than aware of the importance of the coming days for him.
‘Galen,’ Costa said into the ensuing silence, ‘as God-awful as the timing is for you, believe me when I say there is a reason the wedding is so soon and it’snotthe one you are thinking—Mary isn’t pregnant.’
‘Why would I be thinking that?’
Costa laughed, but then he took a drink. Putting down the glass, he let out a sigh. ‘There’s stuff going on...’
Hearing the sudden gravity in Costa’s voice, Galen frowned.
‘Heavy stuff. But I honestly can’t discuss it...’
‘That’s fine.’ Galen was the least nosey person. Drama and gossip irritated him, and certainly he would never delve.
‘I’m really asking you to be there.’
For many reasons Galen couldn’t be, and yet...
