“You’re coming, right?”
Not that I want to go, but I know it’s important that I be there. Grady sometimes gets a little too focused on the details. If I’m there, I can keep him from pissing everyone off. I’m the buffer.
“Yes. We’re flying out early Monday morning. Carter and Gavin are coming with us.”
This is a family business and his brothers are as excited about this new network as Grady. The only brother who doesn’t have anything to do Hawthorne Enterprises is Quinn, who is a graphic novelist. Gavin splits his time between New York and San Antonio, and Carter is always flitting around opening clubs and drumming up publicity. Grady is always here. Like ALWAYS. There is no taking a week off and giving your staff a break.
“Good. And the car?”
“Yes, the car will pick all of us up.” Thankfully, the company has a Learjet to use. We didn’t until about three years ago from what I understand. His father had crunched the numbers and realized they would save money by using their own jet.
He nods and then turns on his heel and leaves Jared and I alone.
“Well, that was nice,” Jared says with a smile.
“You know what he’s like. Plus, this Adventure Network is a big deal.”
“Syd, my love,” Carter, the youngest and by far the sluttiest of the Hawthornes, says as he walks into the room. All of the Hawthorne brothers are attractive. They’re all tall, but there is no mistaking any of them as their personalities are different. Where Grady is rigid in his schedule, Carter is the opposite. He plays it fast and loose, knows just how to charm the panties off any woman—except me—and he’s always smiling. His hair is brown with auburn highlights, and his eyes are a shade greener than Grady’s.
“Good morning, Carter.”
“How is the mon frère this morning?”
“Same as usual.”
“Well, damn.”
I laugh at his constipated expression. The two brothers are on the opposite ends of the spectrum and it shows when they have to deal with each other.
“I got those reservations taken care of at Stallions for Thursday night.”
“Oh, thank you.” One of the things that keeps the Hawthornes as solvent as they are is diversification. Their main focus is their home improvement network, but they also have several clubs and a couple of restaurant chains. The newest club is Stallions, an elitist kind of place in downtown San Antonio that caters to the wealthy and infamous. I totally used my connection to the family to get Allison Brady’s bachelorette party into the VIP section of the club. I might not be wealthy, but I know rich people.
“So, is this the kind of bachelorette party that needs some help from a young, attractive man?”
“Yeah. Do you know one?”
He gasps, completely over the top but nothing new. “You wound me, Syd.”
“Yeah, sure. I think it would take a lot to wound the ego of a Hawthorne.”
“Good to know you have such a high opinion of us,” Grady says from behind me.
Normally, this would make me nervous, but for some reason, I’m all about poking the bear this morning. I glance over my shoulder. “What? You know it’s true.”
Yeah, I am in a bit of a mood but remember, it’s been NINE FREAKING MONTHS. I’m not someone who jumps into bed easily, so I can normally go a long time between men with the help of batteries. My dry spell has my temper frayed and when I have to deal with Grady Hawthorne and his stupid pretty face and his ability to make women lose their inhibitions with just a smile, I get agitated. I don’t want to even think about what that means, so I push the thought aside. I just need to have sex at some point.
“Patterson will be calling in soon, Carter. We better go over some of the figures to make sure we are on point.”
“Of course,” he says just as Gavin, Grady’s fraternal twin and head of legal for Hawthorne Enterprises, strides into the outer office.
“Morning, everyone,” he says. He looks a lot like Grady—they are twins—but his hair is light blond and his eyes are green like Carter’s. He’s a bit leaner more like a swimmer, and the only married one of out the bunch. He and Oliver have been married three years.
“Let’s get ready for that meeting,” Grady says, turning and walking back into his office. He doesn’t even hesitate to make sure his brothers will follow.
See, butthead.
Once we’re alone, Jared laughs. “I love when you come in cranky.”
I shake my head and settle behind my desk and get to work. We have a full week of work before we head out to Denver, including the bachelorette party. I also need to make sure I contact my doctor today. I need some more migraine meds. A trip with Grady will definitely give me a headache. Add in that it’s in Denver and I always get altitude sickness, this is going to be so much fun.
Before I can get very far, my phone buzzes with a text from Nancy.
Nancy: Is everything set for Thursday night?
She barely knows Allison but for some reason she was really keen on this night out.
Me: Yeah. Carter just confirmed we will be able to get into the VIP section.
I mentally make a note to ask him if we have a table.
Nancy: *dancing emoji*
I roll my eyes and set my phone down. I have fifty million things to get done before Thursday, half of them need to be taken care of today.
Monday can suck my lady balls.