I slide off the desk, moving out from behind my fiancé in time to catch Liam rolling his eyes at his big brother. There is a strong resemblance between Seán and Liam, as the only full-blooded brothers, and, with only two years between them, they are the closest of the siblings.
“Astrid isn’t an employee, and she’s my future wife. The rules don’t apply to us.”
“Spoken like a true megalomaniac. You’re not God, Seán, no matter how much you try to convince yourself you are.”
“Funny, I was just telling him the same thing,” I say.
“Looking as beautiful as ever, Astrid.” Liam flashes me a dazzling smile. “Now my divorce is final, you should ditch the grump and shack up with me.” Liam loves flirting shamelessly with me because he knows how it riles his big brother up.
“Sorry, Liam. You’re too late.” I thrust my ring in his face. “My heart is already promised.”
He waggles his brows. “You’re not married yet. Still time to change your mind.”
I can’t help laughing. “You’re incorrigible.”
“How was Vienna?”
“Amazing,” I confirm. “We saw the opera and this amazing light show in a church, and we visited a few museums. It’s a beautiful city, and I definitely want to return when we’re not so pressed for time.”
We were there last weekend for Seán’s thirty-third birthday. I bought the opera tickets as a gift, and we stayed at the five-star Devlin hotel in the center of the city. It was supposed to be a week-long trip, but Seán is too busy managing the takeover and absorption of a smaller hotel chain and a few critical renovation projects across the US, so we had to cut the vacation short.
I’m a workaholic and very dedicated to my career, but I at least take vacation time when I need it. My fiancé doesn’t know the meaning of the word. He’s always working, always on call, and he rarely sleeps more than five hours a night. I don’t know how he does it, but he seems to have an insatiable appetite for work, an unflappable work ethic, and little need for rest and recuperation like most humans.
“Was there a reason for your visit, brother?” Seán slides his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side.
“Unfortunately, yes.” He drags a hand through his dark hair. “I was looking for you. Jean suggested I check here.”
“Father or Connor?” Seán asks.
“It’s Connor.”
Seán groans, and I don’t blame him. Their younger brother is constantly getting into trouble. “What’s he done this time?”
“Surprised you haven’t seen it online. Glenn’s bachelor party in Vegas was one for the record books apparently.” Glenn is one of Connor’s best friends, and he’s getting married next month.
“Aw, fuck. How bad is it?”
“Not as bad as some of the shite he’s pulled before, but we can expect blowback from MGM.”
“Oh my fucking god.” Seán’s body tenses beside me. “Please tell me he did not cause trouble at the Bellagio?”
“If by trouble you mean he jumped into the fountains and was arrested, then no, brother, can’t tell you that, I’m afraid.”
“That fucking idiot.” Seán sighs. “I’m sick of bailing him out.”
Running a hand up and down his back, I do my best to comfort him because dealing with Connor’s antics always stresses him out.
“I’m just grateful he didn’t drown, considering the amount of alcohol and drugs in his system.”
“Guess it’s back to rehab again, though I don’t know why we bother,” Seán says. “It never makes any difference.”
“Father is seething. He said you’re to handle it.”
“Of course, he did. He’s too busy screwing whichever gold digger is the flavor this month to bother himself with his own flesh and blood.”
“I’m coming too,” Liam says. “Figure we can bail his arse out and meet with MGM to smooth things over in person. The jet’s on standby.”
Seán turns to face me. “You’ll have to go solo tonight.” We’re due to attend a charity gala in aid of Parkinson’s disease later.
