Page 2 of Boss of Attraction
“We’re here with you.” Morgan hugged her mother. “We love you.”
Ryan nodded, his face tearstained as well. “You’ve been the best mom anyone could ever ask for.”
As I listened to my children shower their mother with love, I couldn’t help but feel a wide range of emotions wash over me. Proud of the incredible individuals Ryan and Morgan had become, shaped in no small part by Melinda’s guidance. And sadness because, in just a short time, they would be forced to say goodbye to the woman who had been their anchor throughout their entire lives.
Several hours went by as we reminisced about all the wonderful times we shared, but eventually, Melinda took her last breath, surrounded by the people who loved her more than anything, and I knew nothing would ever be the same.
A week later,I was in my living room with my best friend and former law partner, Patrick Donnelley, and his wife, Mary. Melinda’s funeral and reception had ended, but I’d asked them to come back to my house for drinks.
Patrick and I had met at the first law office we worked at after graduating law school twenty years prior and became instant friends. At the time, Ryan was two-years-old, Melinda was pregnant with Morgan, and Mary was expecting their triplets—Fallon, Faye, and Finnegan. Our wives bonded right away as young mothers with husbands who worked long hours trying to jumpstart their careers, and the four of us practically raised our children together. We even spent yearly vacations together until the kids were in college.
Eventually, Patrick and I started our own law firm and we continued to work together until he left to enter politics a couple of years ago. Still, we had all remained extremely close, and they had been a tremendous support while Melinda was sick.
We sat in silence for a little while, all of us grieving in our own way. Patrick sat next to me on the couch, his fingers wrapped around a glass of whisky. His usual boisterous laughter and quick wit were absent, replaced by a solemn expression on his face. Mary sat across from us in an armchair, her eyes filled with sadness.
“Sean, I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now,” Patrick said, his words gentle. “But please know Mary and I are here for you and the kids. Whatever you need.”
I nodded, grateful for his words because I knew they would do whatever they could to help me. “Thank you. I appreciate that more than words can say.”
Mary reached across the coffee table and squeezed my hand. “We’re family, Sean. And family is always there for each other.”
Amid the warmth of their comforting words and the quiet chatter of our children in the kitchen, I realized how important the bonds we shared with others truly were. Those connections gave us strength to carry on even when it seemed impossible.
2
DECLAN
Three and a HalfYears Later
It wasn’tevery day I had the Secret Service in the car behind me. But ever since last month when my friend Fallon’s dad had won the U.S. presidential election, Fallon had Secret Service agents shadowing him. Since we wanted to go to the nightclub Chrome, we had a car full of agents following us as Fallon drove us, including two of our friends, Marco and Luca. It was cool, to be honest.
“Why are you so quiet?” I asked Fallon. It wasn’t like he was stressed about school; we were on winter break.
He glanced over at me and then back at the road. “Am I?”
“Um, yeah. Usually, you’re talking our ears off.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Trying to think of a way I can get laid with all these Secret Service agents around.” He looked in the rearview mirror.
“Can’t you go to someone’s place and have the agents wait outside?” That hadn’t been the case several weeks ago when I’d gone to his place a few days after the election. Fallon and I were good friends, but also fuck buddies, plain and simple. We normally hooked up on Friday nights after a long ass week at law school just to let off some steam, and to, well, get off. But that night, we had ended up not fooling around because an agent had been stationed inside Fallon’s condo. We hadn’t been together since, but I wondered if Fallon had worked out some sort of deal to scratch that itch. Or maybe if neither one of us found someone to hook up with at the nightclub, then he could work it out so we could fuck.
“Maybe. I haven’t had the chance, but if I find someone tonight, I can talk to Agent Bernard.”
“Can you imagine not getting laid for the next four years?” Marco chuckled in the back seat.
“Hell, no,” Luca and I said at the same time. The thought made my dick want to cry.
“There has to be a way,” I wondered. Since the Secret Service knew who I was, maybe they would give me and Fallon time to be alone. They could frisk me to make sure I had no weapons, and I wouldn’t mind Agent Davis, who attended class with Fallon, running his hands up and down my entire body. Maybe we could talk him into a threesome.
Ten minutes later, Fallon pulled his Mustang up to the front of the club. We stayed inside the car while the agents went inside to do whatever it was they did to make sure things were safe. Once they gave us the all-clear, we stepped out. People looked at us like we were famous, so I winked and played the part, scanning the line for any cute guys I might want to talk to later. But there was no time to gawk as they ushered us inside, and we made a beeline for the bar.
We ordered our drinks, Fallon paid, and then we turned to watch the dance floor.
After several minutes, Luca asked me, “Anyone catching your eye?”
