"So what do you think? If we moved my assets from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory to Captain Hook's Pleasure Palace, would the dividends cover a pleasure cruise to Atlantis?" Houston leaned around to get a better view of my laptop screen, startling me from my thoughts.

Wait. What the fuck had he just said? "I'm sorry, brat. I was wool gathering. You're going to have to repeat that because I'm pretty sure I didn't hear you correctly."

"No, you heard me exactly right," Houston huffed as he reached over and gently closed my laptop. His expression gentled as he pushed it quietly aside. "Listen, we can go over my portfolio another day. I figured out several minutes ago that your body might be present, but your brain was checked out." He leaned back as he studied me. "What's going on with you today? Is everything not working as smoothly as we'd hoped with Owen?"

I shook my head. "No, if anything, it’s going too well. He sleeps in my bed now; did I tell you that? In fact, he's even moved into my bedroom. But…" My voice trailed off as I tried to find a family-friendly way to explain what was bothering me.

"Y'all were sleeping in separate bedrooms all this time? Damn, you really did have a rather inconvenient marriage of convenience. I thought for sure you were at least hooking up, the way you’ve been so much looser lately." His face sobered as his sass dropped for a moment. "Hey. You can talk to me, you know that, right? Go ahead and spill whatever's got you so distracted, honey."

"It all started on New Year's. We admitted that we loved each other before we finally ended up in my bed for the first time." I paused, not sure how much of that I was allowed to share—or Houston would want to hear.

The brat's face lit up. "So what I'm hearing is that Kyle and I didn't waste our holiday. If you got laid after we worked our butts off, then it was well worth the time and effort."

"That's just it," I mumbled. "We haven't actually… I mean, you know." I huffed out a breath while Houston motioned for me to continue. "Fine. If you really want to know what's bothering me, today is his six-week follow-up with Dr. Hunt and he'll probably be cleared for—" I glanced over my shoulder to double-check that my office door was still closed.

When I looked back, Houston was obviously biting back a laugh. "You mean your boo's gonna get cleared for sex? Is that what you were trying to say, tin man?" He leaned forward, putting his elbows on my desk so he could rest his chin on his palms. "So what's the dealio then? Honestly, I'm surprised you're not out getting your balls waxed or something. I know that's what I'd be doing right about now if it were me."

I stared at him, completely aghast at the suggestion. "Do people really do that?" I was doubly horrified as a follow-up thought hit me. "Do you think Owen would expect me to do that?"

Houston giggled. "I don't know, you tell me. Has he polished your knob yet? If he’s willing to suck on your hairy balls, then I'd say you're probably fine."

I wrinkled my nose in distaste. "Really, brat? Must you always go there with the raunchy?"

Houston nodded solemnly, his eyes wide. "Oh, I really must." He flashed me a wink then sat back in his chair again. "Look, obviously something about this whole upcoming night of carnal pleasure has your panties in a bunch. Talk to me, tin man. Tell little brother what’s wrong and maybe we can fix it."

As much as I didn't want to talk about it, my bratty little brother was probably the best one to talk about it with. He might tease and push, but he was a vault when it came to private conversations—and more importantly, he never judged. Unless you were a walking fashion disaster; now that he would judge you on in a heartbeat.

"Okay, promise you won't laugh?" I took off my glasses and set them aside, rubbing the bridge of my nose while Houston nodded his agreement. "I just keep thinking, what if I'm not what he's hoping for? I'm not a tough soldier like Josh was, and I’m definitely not a bulked-up muscleman. I'm a nerd who lucked into some money and was able to buy himself a decent education so that he could keep that money. And grow it all into more money. But at the end of the day, I'm just me. What if I'm not enough?"

Houston bolted from his seat, moving around the desk to wrap his arms around my neck, practically choking me as he hugged me, rocking back and forth with his chin resting on the top of my head.

"You listen to me. Yes, you’re a nerd. You're a stiff, tin man with OCD tendencies to boot. But you know what else you are? You're a Logan. And an alpha, might I add. You're not a beta, you're an alpha, presumably with a knot to back it up. You may not have the brawn and muscles that our twin brothers do, but you have your own gifts—primarily that big, beautiful brain of yours."

He finally let go of my neck and moved his hands to grab my face and tilt my head back so he could stare into my eyes as he finished his thought. "I have no doubt that you can do whatever it takes to please your man. Just grab him and bend him over your desk… or the couch… or the bed… basically whatever piece of furniture suits your fancy. But you do that, you hear me? Bend him over and shove that big, fat alpha knot so far up his ass that he sees stars. That's all you have to do, and he'll be your cumslut for life. Trust me, honey. Baby brother knows best.”

He bent forward and smacked a wet, noisy kiss on my forehead before releasing me and leaning back against the edge of my desk, crossing his arms over his chest as he grinned at me.

I shook my head and picked up my glasses, wiping them on the hem of my shirt while I gathered my thoughts before putting them on and wagging a finger at my brother. "Houston, you're a fucking nasty little brat and you damn well know it."

A peal of laughter bubbled up from Houston's throat as he shook his head. "No, honey. I'm real. Just like Owen. Be honest, be yourself, and be vulnerable with him. Do all that, and you will be just fine. Remember, he likes you."

I smiled as I thought of my husband. "No, he doesn’t. He loves me. Remember I told you we admitted that we love each other on New Year's?"

"Well, damn. I must've glossed right over that because of the mush factor. Seriously though, if you already know he loves you, then you’ve got nothing to worry about." Houston moved to grab his things, turning back to blow me a kiss as he headed for the door. "Just remember what I told you; bend that ass over the nearest piece of furniture and feed him some knot."