Page 11 of The Merger

“We must have different senses of humor.” I pause to study last month’s payroll numbers. “Is this what you called for? To tell me you’re heading to Ireland and will only come back home to see Arlo? If so, noted.”

“No, you little shit. I called to check on you. To see how you’re doing.”

“Same shit, different day.”

She sighs. “Gannon, please humor me.”

“What do you want from me?” I sigh, setting down the report. “I had an omelet for breakfast. Traffic was congested on Franklin Avenue this morning, so I was six minutes late for a call. My favorite socks didn’t come back from the dry cleaner last week, and I’m still pissed about that. But now I have to stop there on my way home and drop off my suit because one of Tate’s friends spilled a drink all over me this afternoon.”

Though I fight it, a grin slips across my lips.

“Do you want to see my cleavage?”

Carys Johnson, you little minx.

I’ve had my eye on that woman since the first day I saw her. Tate was home from college for the weekend and brought Carys along. I happened to pop by Mom’s while they were there—and then went straight home to jack off.

She has curves that I want to sink my hands into. Lips that I want to kiss. I want to devour every part of her body and then do it over and over and over again.

That’s why I don’t go near her. And precisely why she’s not touching our plants … or anything else.

I adjust my cock and refocus my attention on the call.

“The fact that you have nothing else to tell me—ever—besides work, food, and transportation says a lot, Gannon.”

“It should tell you that I’m in charge so Bianca can stay happily married in Florida, and you won’t have to come back to town to save the company from the helm of Tate or Ripley.”

She struggles not to laugh. “That’s not funny. Your brothers are perfectly capable of running … okay, you’re right.”

I chuckle.

“But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t expand your horizons,” she says.

There’s only one way out of this conversation. “Mother, I expand my horizons routinely, but I suspect you don’t really want to hear the ins and outs of my extracurricular activities.However, if you’d like to know how I?—”

“Don’t you dare start discussing your sex life.”

“Oh, but I thought you were worried about me expanding my horizons?”

“You really are a turd.”

I make a face. “Turd? Who have you been hanging out with?”

“I suspect you don’t really want to hear the ins and outs of my?—”

“Okay, okay.” I chuckle. “Well played.”

“Thank you. And on that note, I’m going to go pack for Ireland and call Renn to check on Arlo.”

“Be safe, Mom.”

“I will. Please take care of yourself, Gannon.”

“Always. Talk to you soon.”

“I love you.”

A soft smile touches my lips. “I love you, too, Mom. Goodbye.”