I swallow, dab my lips with a tissue, and reach for the crimson lip stain in my handbag, running my tongue over my teeth. ‘Unlike my hot-headed brothers, I appreciate an opportunity when I see one.’
‘Good. Do they know that you accepted the contract yet?’
‘No.’ I sigh. ‘It’s going to cause war, but maybe they’ll stop speaking to me long enough for me to take a pee without someone checking up on me.’
‘Have you seen Hartmann’s picture, by the way?’ Nico tosses his empty salad pot into the recycling bin.
‘No. Unlike you, I don’t have time to stalk people’s LinkedIn page.’
‘I didn’t. He was on the front of last month’s Forbes magazine. Seemingly every single woman in America wants to lock him down, yet despite briefly being photographed with some beautiful women, he’s never been in a serious relationship.’
‘What’s that got to do with anything?’
‘I suppose I’m just wondering what the chances are of Hartmann being gay, horny and camper than Christmas?’ He waggles his eyebrows at me. ‘I’m not above running away with a sugar daddy.’
My eyes narrow. ‘You’re going nowhere, Nico.’ I fluff my hair and stand, running a hand over my bump. ‘Not only are you my PA, fashion advisor, therapist and friend.’ I glance pointedly down at my swollen stomach. ‘You’re about to be a godfather.’
‘I am?’ he gasps, clutching his chest.
‘Of course, who else would I ask?’ There’s no way I could choose between my brothers.
‘I’m honoured, Z, really, I am.’ He reaches out to squeeze my hand. ‘I suppose if Hartmann does come on to me, I’ll turn him down. For you.’ He blows me an air kiss.
‘Good. While I’m on the subject of asking important questions,’ I grab my handbag and strut towards the door. ‘Will you be my birthing partner?’
I’m joking—obviously. Nico is the last person I want on the labour ward with me. But teasing him is too tempting.
The look on his face is priceless. He visibly pales as he scurries across the room behind me. ‘Z, you do know I’ve never seen a vagina in my life, sweetie? I’m not sure I need to be introduced to one now.’
I can’t hold back my laughter any longer. It bursts out ofmy mouth and reverberates around the room. ‘Sorry, I couldn’t help it.’
‘Bitch,’ he sniggers. ‘I almost had heart failure. If you didn’t pay me so well, I’d sue you for emotional damage.’
Tate and Felstead are waiting for us outside the office door. They step in line with us as we head for the elevator—two silent mountains in suits who look like they could pacify a national uprising before breakfast.
There’s still been no sight or sound of Jack O’Connor since he entered those woods. Personally, I’m certain Jack has been worm food for weeks, if not months. But when my brothers hear I’ve accepted the Hartmann contract, having two burly bodyguards instead of one might prove useful.
My brothers have always been intense.
Their women don’t mind them being possessive and controlling, but me?
I very much do mind.
Today is the day I do something just for me.
Something that will start WWIII if my family finds out. Not if—when.
Nico clasps his iPad to his chest as we step out of the lift into the sunshine. ‘You ready to meet the man who’s bulldozing into your family’s territory?’
I shake my head. ‘I know it came as a shock to my brothers, but they don’t own the entire city. If they’d have boxed clever, instead of letting their egos takeover, they could have formed some sort of allegiance with one of America’s most powerful families. Avery told me Hartmann reached out to Killian for hotel security initially. Naturally, he saw it as an insult instead of an opportunity. If his men had excelled in Dublin, Elite Security might have been offered the security contract for the entire chain of Hartmann Casinos.’
‘Beckett boys have too much testosterone.’ Nico’s greeneyes flick towards mine, and he winks. ‘I’m sure it’s a better trait in the bedroom than it is in the boardroom.’
‘Eugh.’ My nose wrinkles. ‘Don’t! I might be past the first trimester, but I’m still liable to puke on you.’
‘Just don’t puke on Hartmann,’ Nico warns.
Hartmann.
