I figured if I had to spend most of my life here, I might as well make it comfortable and worthy of my status.
My brother in his traveller-of-the-world garb didn’t quite fit in. From khaki cargo pants to denim shirt to brown leather vest with pockets everywhere, he might as well put on a safari hat and say he’d been in the depths of Africa or floating the Amazon.
“Mind removing your boots from my desk? The lacquer on the zebrawood is sensitive. And where are you resurfacing from? A jungle expedition?” I tossed the day’s Wall Street Journal on the desk as he vacated my Pininfarina luxury office chair. Before sitting, I inspected it to make sure he had left not a single tear in the Dynatec fabric or Technogel cushioning. Been through that with Atlas once before.
“Seattle. And hello to you too, Grif. How’s Theo?” With his thumbs in his belt loops, he faced me. Like looking in the mirror, we were almost twins, only eleven months apart. When he made an effort and dressed up, the society papers often got it wrong when they spotted him out with a celebrity model or wealthy heiress, thinking it was me. Three-quarters of my playboy reputation had more to do with the mix-up than with reality.
“He’s fine. He has a game tonight.”
“Perfect. I’d love to see him play.” He ambled over to the windows.
“What the hell is in Seattle?”
“A fishing operation I bought. Yep, you’re looking at the king of King Salmon Industries right here. You should take some time off and come on a charter with me out to sea. You look like you could use some fresh air.” He visibly shivered, his shoulders shrugging. “How can you stand to breathe this office air day-in and day-out? I must be allergic.”
I made a grand show of inhaling and exhaling. “Ah. I live for this shit.”
Marianne knocked on my door and stuck her head in. “Sorry to disturb the reunion, but Sam and the team are on their way for the briefing.”
“Send them in when they get here.”
“Good old Sam still works for you?” Atlas asked.
“Yes, and it’s a rather busy time, so…”
“That’s my cue to leave. Shortest family reunion yet. We really should do this again.” Atlas saluted me with all the sarcasm he possessed, heading for the door.
“Wait.” I sighed and massaged my forehead. “When do you head back to Seattle to run this little operation of yours?”
“Oh, I’m not running it. I bought it only so I could fish whenever I want to. And because the father of this woman I was dating wanted out of the business.” He scratched his neck. Just like he’d bought that hunting operation in Canada, and the helicopter touring company over the Alps. That was Atlas, chasing adventures around the globe. Women, too.
“I’m sure that’s a tale for another time.” I rushed over to usher him out the door, hearing Sam’s team approaching down the hall.
Atlas must have thought I was coming for a hug, and he held his arms wide open. I wasn’t affectionate with my brothers, butI stood there and let him put his arms around me and pat my back twice before I backed a step.
“Mind if I crash at your place? I have some cool King Salmon gear I brought for Theo.”
“He’d love to see you, but I know you can afford a hotel suite.”
“Of course I could, but it doesn’t come with the warmth of brotherly love and an adoring nephew. Besides, I was hoping we could all take a weekend away to Steele Valley and see Holden’s skiing operation. See how much he’s in over his head with that.”
“Can’t. I’m in the middle of a huge deal. Barely have time to breathe the stale air in my office.” I smirked.
“Which means poor Theo isn’t having any fun lately.”
“‘Poor Theo’ is fine. He has a… a new nanny.”
“Ahotnew nanny?” He quirked a brow. My fists formed balls.
“Don’t you dare make moves on Jessa. She’s off-limits.”
“Jessa? Pretty name. Can’t wait to meet her. Will she be at Theo’s game?” He chuckled and headed toward the door once again.
“I mean it, Atlas. She’s off-limits.”
“Which means you’ve staked your claim?”
“It means I don’t have time to hire another nanny. Between you and Theo, you’ve run off more nannies than I can count. The agency put me on notice.”
