Page 47 of Fighting Gravity

The desire for what he’d been denied resurfaced. “No. The opposite, actually. I want you to give me the CEO position.”

Matt’s frown deepened. “Why? What does it matter what position you hold?”

“Why does it matter toyou? Do you just need the paycheck?”

“Yes,” Matt replied, surprising him. “And a way to stay connected to my legacy, and my only brother.”

Tate was temporarily stunned by Matt’s admission. “Que?”

His brother’s classically handsome face looked pinched. “Staying close with you was the plan. Didn’t work that way, did it?”

No, it hadn’t. Because of that original denial and Tate’s resulting assumptions and attitude. The knot of resentment in his gut started to unravel.

“Then I’ll step down,” Matt continued. “I’m tired of fighting with you, Tate. This position is not worth the strife.”

Joy surged through him. He’d be CEO, after the board approved the change. And he could find a new position for his brother so he could still get paid. “Thank you. Why did you say no last time?”

“You were a kid. I wanted to shield you from the worst of the responsibility. Turned out I didn’t need to.”

Tate exhaled and leaned back in his chair. “Fuck, I needed to hear that.” He stared at his brother. “I’m sorry about my anger. I didn’t know where you were coming from.”

“I should have told you. I should check in more. Are you okay,frère?”

Tate sighed. “A lot has happened this year. George was the worst of it. The newest test campaign was the best. Well, almost.”

Matt nodded. “I’m sorry about George. I know you looked up to him.”

Tate ground his teeth together. He feared the loss of his mentor would always ache.

“And the best?”

He hesitated. Sharing with his brother what he felt for Rosie was a step he wouldn’t have considered even an hour ago. But Matt had abdicated for love. If anyone understood love’s impact, especially in their family, it would be him.

“The architect.”

“For the hotel project?”

“Yes. Rosie Flynn. We’re together. I think.”

Up went Matt’s sandy eyebrows. “Oh. I see. The curse of the loveless Geiers skipped you, too? Good. Pia is the best part of my life. My everything. Hopefully Rosie is the same for you. Do I get to meet her?”

Could one meeting, one request granted, heal the decade-long rift between his brother and himself? Tate wanted his brother back, he realized. For many reasons.

“She should be here any minute.”

“Great.” Matt studied him, his forehead creased. “It’s horseshit, you know, the ‘legacy before love’ garbagemèrehas been spewing all our lives.” He paused. “Even though I know it’s crap, I didn’t want to risk it. Not with Pia. Not knowing we were going to be parents. I wanted my family to have a life as different from ours as possible. The family bullshit is why I ditched OrbitAll like I did. But maybe you can be the one to walk that line.”

“And you wanted to know what’s gotten into me? What’s with the confessions?”

“Maybe I finally see what you need from me,” Matt replied.

Tate nodded and stood, buttoning the coat of his light gray three-piece suit. He didn’t know why he’d dressed up for the meeting with Town of Victory. He knew from his Chamber of Commerce meetings that the mayor, a woman named Barbara, favored reinforced boots and flannel. Actually, he did know why he’d dressed like this. Rosie would be with him. Maybe he could convince her to stay for the weekend. It was ironic that the more ground they covered as a couple, the more reluctant she became. Tate knew he had Chad to thank for that.

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s introduce you to Vadim and Rosie.”

Tate asked about his nieces and nephew as they made their way to Elle’s office. Matt asked about the gala that Tate had invited him to. “Quinn’s taking over some of the planning,” Tate told him.

“Of course she is. Does she ever hit a wall?”

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