Page 45 of Greed

The birth of Callie and Sean’s daughter is different. My brother needs me close, which is why I just spent the last hour pacing a corridor in this maternity ward.

Sean finally emerged from Callie’s room moments ago with a beleaguered look on his face and disappointment etched in the tone of his voice.

The baby will arrive when she’s ready. Until then, Sean can take his fiancée home, and I’ll head back to work.

I step aside to let a woman in a white lab coat pass us by.

“They’re a prelude to the real thing,” my brother tells me. “The doctor said this is a trial run. Calliope will probably feel more of these contractions. When the real thing hits, they’ll come closer together.”

I nod. “Good to know.”

“She’s hungry and exhausted.” He glances toward the door of the room she’s been in. “We both need a meal and a nap when we get home.”

“I’ll send some food over to your apartment.” I glance at my watch. “Is delivery an hour from now good?”

“Great,” he says with a weary smile. “Make it pasta, okay?”

“Yeah,” I grin. “You handled yourself well, Saint. When the time does come, you’ve got this.”

Sean doesn’t look to me for compliments, but I know him. He’s eager to meet his daughter, and the disappointment that taints his expression tells that story.

“I do,” he agrees. “Calliope is the strongest woman I’ve ever met. She’s going to be a fantastic mom.”

The crack in his voice is expected. My brother loves Callie fiercely.

“I know it.”

“Speaking of women,” His eyes widen. “Is the Abby I met today the princess you almost took home with you the night of the gala? Is she the woman Ava mentioned?”

I thought Hailey’s birth would save me from this conversation.

I was sure that he’d completely forget Abby’s name once he saw his daughter for the first time.

I nod. “Yeah.”

“Yeah?” he repeats as a grin slides over his lips. “Seriously?”

“She’s a competent lawyer.”

“I’m sure she is.” He laughs. “She’s also someone you want to fuck.”

“Sean,” I bite out his name as a warning. “Don’t.”

He takes a step back. “That ship has sailed, hasn’t it? You slept with her.”

Hiding that fact from my brother and business partner doesn’t serve me well, so I own it. “We’re enjoying getting to know each other.”

“Frame it however the hell you want.” He glances at the door to Callie’s room again. “You hired her to represent us in the Llura deal.”

“Yes.” I rake a hand through my hair. “She’s already hit it off with Kalina, so I made the right choice.”

“In every aspect.” He pats my cheek. “Mark my words, Decky. You’re going to fall in love with this woman.”

I swat his hand away. “What the hell, Saint?”

He steps closer to rest both his hands on my shoulders. “You light up when you talk about her. You had the biggest, goofiest grin on your face back at the office when you introduced us. I have never seen that before. Ever.”

I don’t argue with him because I feel a spark of something inside of me whenever I’m around Abigail. I want to feel it more and more.

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