With a frustrated sigh, I press the bridge of my nose and stare at the latest email from the board. I’ve been taking too much shit from these assholes.

“Good morning, brother dearest,” Sterling opens the heavy oak door to my office without announcing himself—or knocking for that matter.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

His dark blonde hair is tussled, and he’s wearing a raggedy t-shirt with a pair of worn out jeans. Did he just come from working? No, he probably rolled out of bed and decided to ask me for money. Not that he needs it, but he hates to contact his financial advisor. He feels like it’s asking permission from Dad even though that’s not the case. The guy is there to serve him, and Dad is no longer with us.

“Goody, you’re in a great mood today.” He grins, pleased that he’s gotten a reaction out of me.

“Sterling,” I warn him.

“Have you thought about getting laid?” His lazy smile matches the tone of his voice. “It might take the edge off.”

He walks around the office, stops in front of the bookcase grabbing one of the frames. “I heard Abigail is back in town. You should finally tap that.”

My gut churns, and I swear if we weren’t at the office … I sigh because I wouldn’t hit him even when he makes me want to murder him.

“Are you just turning in?” I check my watch. It’s eight o’clock in the morning.

My brother works at night—after partying. He sleeps all morning, sometimes he doesn’t wake up until the sun has set.

“As a matter of fact, I started early today.” He yawns.

“Anita,” he calls my assistant. “Would you mind bringing me a latte, please?”

He turns to me, arching an eyebrow. “Do you want some coffee?”

I show him my mug. “We don’t have lattes in this office.”

“You wouldn’t mind running to the coffee shop, would you, beautiful?” He walks toward Anita’s desk, handing her a bill. “Make sure it has three shots of espresso.”

Anita smiles at my brother as if he were a god and she’s happy to serve him. She promptly leaves her post without a word.

“She’s my assistant,” I growl, closing my eyes.

Fuck. I need to shed the frustration before I choke someone. I look at him and smirk, maybe I’ll choke my own brother.

“Why are you so happy today, Weston?” His sarcastic remark elevates my blood pressure.

I rise from my seat and walk around the office to settle my temper.

“What do you want, Sterling?” I stop by the window admiring the mountains and wishing I were in Tahoe, just programming without any distraction—except for Abby.

“The board requested my presence,” he sighs.

I turn around and watch him plop down on the leather couch.

“They want you at the emergency meeting?” I crook an eyebrow at him, before going back to my desk to reread the memo.

It clearly states that they’d like to meet with the members of the family. I wonder if Mom received it and if she’s planning on coming too, but that’s impossible, considering they sent it less than an hour ago. They should know that Mom lives in Phoenix and she can’t just fly in whenever they decide to hold a meeting. Dad gave the board members too much power.

“I don’t plan on attending.” He swings his legs up on the couch and rests his head back on the arm. “You have to explain to these assholes that I don’t work for the company. Actually, I’d be happy to sell you my part of the company if that would get them off my back.”

When Dad died he left the company to Mom, Sterling and me in equal parts. The board doesn’t own anything—yet. They’re pushing to go public and grab more shares than Dad originally promised. I’m just doing this because it was his last wish. If I did things my way … but I stopped thinking about that long ago. My father left me his legacy, and I must carry it.

“Good morning, Wes,” I hear Abby’s voice before I see she’s creeping into my office. “You don’t look well.”

Like you, I didn’t sleep, I don’t say. There were too many reasons why I couldn’t just close my eyes. How could I rest while I knew she was alone and hurting? She’s always let me comfort her. But not last night. Does she hate me now that she’s back —and so are the nightmares? Then, there are the unanswered questions about her past. Thinking about it kept me awake. It wasn’t only her state of mind that had me distracted, but my attraction to her too. Visions of her delicious, naked body under the shower were about the only thing I could concentrate on. The woman has me tied into knots.

This morning isn’t any different.

She’s wearing a black dress that accentuates her figure and shows off her long, tanned legs. Her brown hair is pulled back into a side twist.

She’s breathtakingly beautiful.

“Abby,” I ask quietly. “How was your night?”

“You know, the usual,” she shrugs her shoulders and turns to address my brother.

“You look very professional, Sterling Ahern.” She smirks at him.

“Well, well, well…” My brother perks up and pushes himself off the couch. “If it isn’t little Abby Lyons.”

He takes her hands, extending her arms and looking at her from head to toe. “It’s been so long. I remember the last time I saw you, you wore a pair of sweats and your glasses.”

Abby glowers at him not amused. “Give me a break, I was studying for my finals.”

“I owe you a graduation present,” he says, twirling her around.

“You’re a vision, little Abby.” He whistles. “I’d love to sculpt you—paint you. Pose for me.”

“Ha,” she huffs, moving away from his grasp. “As if that line would ever work on me. I can’t believe so many women fall for your charm.”

Sterling grins. “You can try to pretend that you’re immune to the Aherns.” He looks at me. “But you’re not. You dig us.”

“You’re a conceited jerk.” She scrunches her nose.

His jaw drops. “If my mother were here, she’d be disappointed with your language, young lady.”

“Whatever.” She waves her hand. “The receptionist told me to come to see you right away.”

Abby narrows her gaze, walks around the desk and squeezes my hand. “What’s going on, Wes?”

She’s beautiful, smart, and a great listener, but what I love the most about her is that she knows my moods. I don’t have to say much for her to understand that I need her to comfort me.

“What did you do to him, Slugger?” She crosses her arms narrowing her gaze.

“Dudette, it’s not my fault that he needs anger management.” He pretends to wash his hand. “I’m an innocent bystander.”

“The board called an emergency meeting,” I say resting my head against the back of the chair and closing my eyes.

“We should just dismiss them all and then sell this joint,” Sterling suggests. “It’s not like you love working for this company.”

“That’s not how it works.” I rub both hands down my face.

It’s not that simple. They represent the future shareholders of the company. That’s what Dad was working on, making the company public, and as his successor, I’m continuing his work.

Sterling looks at Abby and says, “Tell him, Abbs. You and I both know that this isn’t what he wanted to do. He listens to you.”

“You’re exaggerating, Slugger. But what’s your idea?

“We sell this shithole and he can start his own company.”

“Oh my God, I should document this day,” Abby takes a pen and scribbles on her hand. “Sterling used his brain for something other than throwing out a pickup line.”

“I haven’t had my caffeine, Abigail, but wait until I do. You’ll be crying uncle.”

“Whatever,” she says rolling her eyes. “What happened to the software you were developing?” she asks me.

I stopped working on it and all the other projects. As much as I love developing apps and games and creating new software, I don’t have time to dabble in that while I’m trying to keep up with my father’s company. My goal is to keep my father’s legacy alive for Mom.

“I don’t have any free time.”

“You could, if you delegated,” Sterling says challenging me with his gaze.

“Where’s the Wes Ahern who makes things happen?” Abby asks, drinking some of my coffee.

“She’s right, Weston.”

These two are friendly, but when it comes to teaming up against me, they are one in the same.

My phone buzzes; I glance at it and see that it’s my mother.

Mom: Wes, I woke up to a message from the board. What happened?

Wes: I’m wondering the same thing, Mom. I’ll take care of it.

Mom: Good, because I’m busy this week. We decided to cancel the trip to Italy and head to Alaska instead. It’s lovely during the summer. Take care of yourself. Call me on Sunday.

Sterling and Mom insist that I should sell the company if it doesn’t make me happy. We have enough assets to buy out the board before we sell it. If it were mine, maybe I wouldn’t mind opening a software subdivision. The current organization of the company doesn’t allow for much free time, or give me room to delegate like my father used to do. If the board feels like I’m not doing enough, they’ll try to kick me out as the CEO.

“Hey, I’m here,” Abby says reassuringly. “We’ll figure it all out.”

I believe her. We always solve our problems and work through any complications that arise—together.