Sebastian narrowed his gaze. “I guess I’ll have to take that.”

It was as much as he could give his brother considering Ethan couldn’t possibly tell his sibling that he’d fucked their biggest client’s little sister and couldn’t get her out of his head.

“Are we ready to deal with Ian?” Sebastian asked.

“Yes.” Ethan inclined his head. Business always came first in his mind, and everything he needed, specs included, was front and center. And if he forgot, he had his iPad filled with information.

At Sebastian’s second concerned look, Ethan narrowed his gaze. “Have you ever not been able to trust me where business is concerned?”

Sebastian shook his head.

“How’s Ashley?” Ethan asked, changing the subject. He glanced out the jet window and realized they were descending.

“Good. I think…” Sebastian paused, his expression carrying a heavy weight.

“Talk to me.” Ethan might have had his head up his ass, but he was always there for his brother. “What’s wrong?” he pushed when Sebastian didn’t answer immediately.

Sebastian gripped the armrest between them. “Ashley wants kids.”

“Better you than me,” Ethan said, then glanced at his brother and realized how serious this was.

Ethan blew out a long breath, knowing firsthand what kids or at least teenagers demanded. He’d stepped up when his father fell apart and helped with his siblings. Babies, children, were the last thing on his agenda.

But this was Sebastian they were discussing and he was married with a wife he adored, who obviously wanted kids. “And you don’t?”

This was a subject never discussed amongst the brothers, although Parker and his wife, Emily, were expecting a baby, as were Sierra and her husband.

“What if I fuck it up?” Sebastian asked. “After all, look at the example I had. Pay for it and it’ll get better,” he muttered resentfully.

Sebastian was an interesting case. When he was a kid, their father had bought him out of a lot of problems, choosing to throw money at any given situation instead of being a parent. As a result, Sebastian had thought he could charm his way through life. He’d recently learned otherwise and reunited with Ashley, who’d lived with them for a brief time during one of his father’s even briefer marriages. After screwing up big-time when they were kids, Ashley had returned after Mandy died and Sebastian had had to make it up to Ashley before she’d even give him the time of day. He’d manned up and they’d been happily married ever since.

But Ethan could understand his brother’s fears. “Just do the opposite of what Dad would do,” Ethan said. “That’s how I stepped up and helped raise all of you.”

A wry smile twisted Sebastian’s lips. “You did, didn’t you? Not even two years older than Parker and you were everything to us.”

Ethan’s chest warmed at the appreciation in his brother’s tone. He hadn’t done it for the accolades. His siblings had needed him but it was nice to be appreciated.