Free Translucent by Erin Noelle

made her specifically for me and dropped her into my life—a reward of sorts for putting up with Easton and his tiresome, ridiculous antics, as well as Emerson and her increasingly smothering behavior.
    Most of the other single females I’ve encountered in my life have had hidden or secondary agendas when it comes to dating. I’m no twenty-six year old billionaire that has ladies lining up to accommodate my every wish and desire, but I know I’m a good-looking guy that takes care of himself, managing a rapidly growing company with a nice cushion in the bank. A natural-born leader, I’ve always been a bit of a control freak, but only one other person in my life has made me feel the need to dominate and protect them in the way Blake does. Unfortunately, my relationship with her ended ugly and had me questioning my sanity on more than one occasion. All the others were just a way to pass the time; I never cared much if they came or went, Emerson included. There were a few crazies mixed in over the past few years, direct results from my lack of good judgment and over-indulgence of alcohol, but I’ve kept that to a minimum recently as I’ve concentrated on expanding the company.
    “Easton is on his way in to see you.” Caroline’s voice pulls me from the daze I’m in as I sit at my desk after lunch.
    “Thank you,” I reply seconds before the door swings open and my younger brother strolls in.
    He’s dressed in some outlandish golf outfit—a bright orange shirt, with orange and turquoise plaid pants—and based on the burned area at the bridge of his nose, I’m assuming he just got off the course, instead of heading to it. The happy-go-lucky smile he always wears is in prime form. It must be nice to not have a care in the world.
    “How’s my favorite big brother?” he asks spryly, walking to the mini-bar and pouring himself a glass of scotch.
    “I’m your only brother, Easton,” I reply, unamused, “and yes, please, help yourself to a drink.”
    Strolling lazily over to my desk, he sits down in the chair across from me, pretending he didn’t hear what I said. He looks around at the papers on my desk and crinkles his nose in disgust. “You work way too much, Mad. You need to relax or you’re gonna end up having a heart attack like Dad.”
    Sometimes I can’t believe we’re from the same genes and grew up in the same house. Both of my parents have always been determined, hard-working people, and they instilled those same qualities in us as kids—well, at least they tried to. Easton, from the time he was a small child, has always been a carefree soul who’s never worried about anything except what made him happy, and unfortunately, my parents babied him and allowed him to act that way. Now that he’s thirty-two, he still acts like he’s twenty-two with no responsibilities or obligations.
    “You don’t work enough,” I say deadpan as I turn to face him. “What do you need, Easton? I’ve got quite a bit to do before I can get out of here, and believe it or not, working until eight on a Friday night isn’t my idea of a good time either.”
    “I’m glad you brought up having a good time; I want you to come with me to a charity event tonight. It’s a poker tournament, and the proceeds go to some national battered wives group or something—I’m not really sure. There’s going to be some good contacts there.”
    I shake my head and ask, “What kind of good contacts? People who are interested in investing in Decker Enterprises?”
    “Professional athletes who could promote the new video games,” he offers with raised eyebrows, like I’m supposed to jump at the opportunity now.
    Sighing, I realize there’s no hope with him. “Sorry, man, I can’t. I have plans, but you go ahead and see if you can talk to some of them. I’d love to get backing from the players; maybe once we get the games ready, we can get them in to test ‘em out.”
    “Plans? With who? Emerson’s going as my plus one,” he