“She’s a powerhouse,” I say of the twenty-seven-year-old founder. “She’s branching out to other products, and looking to sell this division.”
“You’ve tested these, haven’t you? Or are you just jumping in dick first because you’ve always wanted your surname on a condom package?”
“Asshole,” I snap with a grin on my face. “I saw an ad for them online. The comments were positive, so I bought a box.”
“And some woman helped you test them out?” He perks a brow. “Or should I say women?”
I had used a few Llura condoms before I met Abby, but the experience I’ve had with her is next level. I can’t contribute that to the condoms. It’s all her.
“It’s a good product,” I say, ignoring his last comments. “Thin enough to offer a great experience, but you’re not going to end up regretting the decision to use one.”
“So, no leaks?” He laughs. “You didn’t break one yet?”
I scrub a hand over the back of my neck. “I’m going to bring in outside counsel to help with the negotiations.”
“It makes sense.” He smirks. “Since Rook was there when you bought your first box of condoms, I can see why you’d want him steering this deal.”
“He wasn’t there when I bought my first box.”
I was sixteen and alone. I’d had my share of oral up to that point, but when I knew I was about to fuck for the first time, I hit up a bodega far from where we lived and bought a box of a brand I heard some of my friends raving about.
Two weeks later, I headed back to boarding school with a summer conquest behind me that I never forgot or spoke to again.
She was my first lover, and although I haven’t seen her since, I remember the encounter for what it was — rushed, awkward, and full of missteps.
“Our legal department is swamped at the moment.” I glance at my phone. “Bringing Rook’s office in will guarantee that this deal has the attention it needs.”
“Sure.” Sean waves away the conversation with a flick of his wrist in the air. “You’re still on standby to head to the hospital at a moment’s notice, aren’t you? I need you in the hallway outside the delivery suite when my daughter is born.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Good.” He moves to stand. “I want the first person she meets after her mom and me to be her godfather.”
That hits me like a punch in the middle of my chest. “What?”
“Calliope is asking her sister to be Hailey’s godmother, so you’re her godfather if you’re up to it.”
I push to my feet. “Damn right, I am.”
I have no idea what that role entails, but I’ll do my best to embody it.
“I knew you’d be on board.” He glances at the condom package again. “Maybe one day you’ll meet a woman, and you can ditch those and give me a godchild.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” I tilt my chin. “You worry about your daughter. I’ll worry about condoms.”
He huffs out a laugh. “That says it all. Keep me in the condom loop, Decky.”
I shake my head as he wanders out the doorway. He may piss me off more often than not, but there are moments when I’m damn glad he’s my brother. I count today as one of those.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Abby
I glancearound the conference room. On any other day, at this time, I’d be wading through a sea of contracts for Mr. Thorsen to ensure that every ‘t’is crossed and every ‘i’ dotted.
It’s an important job that I don’t take lightly. I’ve grown accustomed to the almost daily ritual since it’s a pleasant way to wind down after absorbing everything I’ve witnessed in meetings or court.
Every other junior associate with the firm is required to take on certain tasks as well, and this is, by far, not the worst on the list.