many emails from people with funding requests that Gannon goes through them first and any that he thinks would interest me go into their own folder, and then I read through all of those,” I explain. “Did you just come for cuddles, or do you need anything?” I’m more than happy for a cuddle break, but considering how standoffish he’s been for a few days, I’m thinking there’s more behind his sudden interest in seeking me out.
“There’s somethin’ I wanted to talk about,” he answers, fiddling absently with the buttons on my shirt.
“I’m listening.” I slip my hand under the back of his shirt, teasing my fingers along his spine.
“I’ve been looking into it, and I found this doctor in Las Vegas who might be able to remove my birthmark.”
My fingers still against his skin. My gut reaction is to reject the idea right off. There’s nothing wrong with Sterling exactly the way he is. But I can feel the way he’s vibrating with tension, bracing for my response. He’s taken the time to look for a doctor on his own, which means this is important to him, and even if I don’t agree with the way he sees himself, I’ll always support him.
I blow out a long breath, and he bumps my chin with his head as he looks up at me. “Whatcha thinkin’, Daddy?”
“I’m thinking that you’re absolutely perfect exactly as you are,” I answer honestly. “But, if this is important to you, then you should tell me more about it so we can make a plan together.”
“Really? You’d be okay with me doin’ this?”
I frown and try not to grumble. “I’m okay with hearing more and making an appointment for a consultation. We can go from there.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” He throws his arms around my neck and hugs me tightly. After that, he pulls out his phone and starts to show me the doctor he’s been looking at.
He’s animated again, light and excited as he tells me about the procedure. I lean over and press a kiss to his cheek, and he stops talking for a second to smile at me, turning his head so I can kiss his lips this time.
I will bring him the moon if it will make him this happy. He’s my boy; his happiness is my job.
Chapter 22
Sterling
Barrett waited until we were home from Nice before dropping a bit of stressful information on me that he seemed to think was somehow good news. He’d told Kiernan and Alden about the mobile library idea, and they wanted a pitch from me and Em. Worse yet, we only had a week to prepare it, which turned out to be plenty of time seeing that we didn’t have the first clue what kind of a pitch to do other than just telling them the idea like I told Barrett. Well, hopefully not just like I told Barrett, ‘cause I don’t think I’d wana shave either of their backs if I have the option not to.
“W-why couldn’t we submit a w-w-w-. Fuck,” Em grumbles. “A p-proposal in w-w-w... On paper.”
“I dunno. I think this is how they always do it? Or maybe this is Barrett’s way of tryin’ to encourage me to be stronger or somethin’,” I answer, flipping through our notes, which ain’t much more than two pages of our thoughts and ideas scribbled into a notebook.
Barrett’s office is plainer than I expected it to be, but still nice. It’s also quiet. I guess I didn’t realize that it really is just the three of them and a few assistants running the company.
Gannon comes over to us and hands us each a bottled water without saying a word and then limps off again.
“He’s h-hot,” Em whispers and then giggles. “Big and broody does things to me.” He waggles his eyebrows, and I chuckle.
“Maybe let’s focus on this presentation first and worry about oglin’ hot guys later,” I suggest.
“Boring, but f-f-fine,” he agrees.
I offered to do the talking, but Em insisted on doing his part. So, he’s practiced what he wants to say for days on end, making me listen to our meager pitch over and over while we shelved books and in between helping customers until he could make it through the whole thing without stuttering at all.
The door to the conference room opens, and Barrett peeks his head out. “We’re ready for you two, come on in.”
I hop up and Em follows right behind me. The room consists of a large table, surrounded by