I’ve had generous offers to buy both since I took over when I was twenty-five, but those companies are part of my family’s lasting legacy, so until they start to bleed money, they’ll be part of my portfolio.
“They’re getting married, aren’t they?” My mother’s gaze finds mine. “That means you’re the last of your friend group to tie the knot, Harrison.”
“That knot will never be tied.”
“What?” Roxy’s head snaps to the left so she can glare at me. “You’re never getting married? Why not?”
The reason is far too personal to get into, so I give her the condensed version. “I’d make a horrible husband, Rox.”
She laughs. “Says who? You’re a good cook. You clean up the house. You aren’t too bossy, and you have lots of money. Mommy says it’s fourteen billion.”
Mommy has underestimated my wealth.
I see that as a very good thing.
“Money is not the foundation for a solid marriage,” I point out.
“Mom says it doesn’t hurt.” Roxy smiles. “You can at least give it a trial run and get engaged.”
I fight to hold in a grin. “Why don’t you focus on what you want to do while you stay with me? You have summer school how many days each week?”
She lets out a drawn-out groan. “Too many. It’s three-and-a-half.”
Summer school wasn’t necessary to keep up her grades, but as the regular term wound down a few weeks ago, Roxy wanted to enroll in a handful of advanced classes.
“You don’t like being stuck inside while your friends enjoy their time off?” Our mother asks.
Roxy shrugs. “I like it. It’s not boring or anything, but I wouldn’t mind sleeping in sometimes.”
I hear that.
I’d pay a small fortune to sleep through my alarm some mornings, but time doesn’t stand still for anything.
“Let’s leave Harrison to his plans.” Our mother tosses the end of her scarf over her shoulder as she glances at me. “You can pick up Roxy on Thursday evening. Her nanny will be available while I’m gone if you need help.”
“I won’t,” I say evenly.
That earns me a toothy grin from my sister. “I can’t wait, Harrison. We’re going to have the time of our lives.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Ava
I follow Declan into the foyer of Sean’s apartment. On the drive over in a rideshare, my oldest brother explained how Sean and his fiancée fell in love.
I had no idea that Callie lived next door to our brother and hated him at first sight before fate crossed their paths again at the offices of Wells when she started working there.
It shouldn’t surprise me that Sean found the love of his life in the most unlikely place. He’s always doing things that no one expects but makes perfect sense to him.
“What’s with the shirt, Ava?” Sean rubs his beard-covered chin. “That looks like something you wore when you were a kid.”
I hold open the front of my blazer to give him a clear view of the T-shirt with the sparkly red lips printed on the front. “I was seventeen when I used to wear this, Sean. That’s hardly a kid.”
“That’s hardly a kid,” he mimics in a high-pitched tone. “Grown-up Ava has extra attitude.”
I smile. “Is that a problem?”
“No,” Declan answers for both of them. “I like attitude. I love how independent you’ve become. I’m still adjusting to the fact that you rented an apartment in the city for two months.”
Sean turns to face me directly. “What city?”
I point at the floor. “This city. I’m staying in Manhattan for a little while.”
“You’re shitting me.”
Both Declan and I laugh.
“I’m not.” I pat Sean’s chest. “You two have ignored me long enough, so I’m sticking around to remind you how amazing I am.”
That lures a chuckle from Sean but not from Declan.
He drops a hand on my shoulder. “Ava, we messed up. Work kept us from London. It was wrong. It won’t happen again when you go back. I’ll be there for the holidays.”
I won’t hold him to that.
“I want to see this apartment.” Sean sinks both his hands into the front pockets of his faded jeans. “When is move-in day?”
“Tomorrow,” I answer quickly. “Decky is helping me move my luggage over in the morning.”
Sean laughs again, but this time, it’s louder. “I fucking love that you call him that.”
“Declan,” Decky says, exasperation edging his tone. “You both need to drop that nickname.”
“I love you.” I gaze up at him. “I’m going to the kitchen to see if I can help Callie.”
I brush past Sean, but he tugs me into an embrace. “I’m so damn happy that you’re back, Ava. I missed you, little one. I love you.”
I look up into his eyes. “I missed you too, you big jerk.”
“You love me, right?” he asks with a smirk.
“Not as much as she loves me,” Declan says from behind me. “Now, let her go before you squeeze the life out of her.”