Irish on the Rocks

by Magan Vernon

  Granddad sat in his leather chair, the smoke from his pipe wafting in the air.

  “Gracie. To what do I owe the pleasure?” He looked up from his newspaper with a broad smile.

  “Did you happen to talk to Jack Murphy today?”

  He nodded. “Ah. Did he get in touch with you?”

  I swallowed hard, trying to control the shudder rising up my spine. “I just got an email from his assistant about a position opening and suggesting that I should apply.”

  Mum clapped her hands, before flitting into the room. “That’s wonderful news. Is there an interview? Do you have anything to wear? Do we need to call a shopper at Brown Thomas?”

  I couldn’t afford a shopper. This was just a vetting process and he was being nice because he was a friend of the family. That’s all this was.

  That’s what I kept telling myself so my heart would stop beating so rapidly.

  “I’m not going, Mum. He’s just doing a favor for Granddad.”

  Granddad frowned, sitting up in his chair. “Gracie, you’re a smart girl, and we both know Jack and his brothers would be lucky to have you in the company. You two may have gotten off on the wrong foot the other night, but once he sees what a hard worker you are, he’ll call you in for an interview and hire you on the spot. And there’s plenty of room for advancement in the company.”

  “I don’t know,” I muttered. I couldn’t seriously consider this. It was a joke. It had to be. That was why Sean probably stopped by. The little bugger wanted to give me shit.

  I pulled out my phone, quickly typing in a message to him.

  When were you going to tell me about this job prank? Working for Jack? After I embarrassed myself like that in front of him? Over my dead body.

  “Jack’s assistant also tells me there is a furnished flat available, included with the weekly pay,” Granddad’s voice carried over me.

  I looked up from my phone, staring at his raised bushy eyebrows.

  This may have been a favor for my Granddad, but what if I really could get the job? I’d have a place to work on freelancing as well and not live with my grandparents. I could maybe save up to get my own place someday.

  But first I actually had to get hired for the job before any of that could happen. My phone vibrated in my hand, alerting me I had a message.

  Sean: No jokes here. Just wanting you to come join the Murphy family.

  Sean: By that I mean work. Don’t shag my brother or throw alcohol on him. Please and thank you.

  Me: Isn’t that what your brother’s assistant does? Becomes a Murphy? Think he’ll propose on the first day as long as I don’t spill anything?

  Sean: You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?

  Me: And you love me for it.

  Sean: Does this mean you’re going through the application process?

  Me: Is a fully furnished flat really included?

  Sean: Ah. You can deal with Jack for that I’d say. Just moved out of it and cleaned it myself. Waiting for his new EA: Grace Evans.

  The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end thinking about having to face Jack’s scowl every day. But I’d handled him in my childhood and teen years, who’s to say I couldn’t work with him a few months in the office? It would get me out of my grandparents’ house at least, and it could help beef up my resume a bit while I looked for something else.

  “Okay. I’ll do it. I’ll apply,” I said, quickly stuffing my phone in my pocket.

  What could it hurt? It was a job opportunity. And if it was a real one, and there was a flat coming with it, I could put up with Jack Murphy for a little while.

  As long as there was no champagne around.

  Chapter Four

  Jack

  The look on Grace’s face was a mixture of shock and something else. I couldn’t put my finger on it. By her wide eyes and slightly parted lips, she probably wished she was anywhere but in front of me.

  Was I that much of an arsehole to her? It probably was an accident after all, but I found a smile crossing my lips.

  It was fun to banter with her the other night. Maybe Fallon was right; a sit down couldn’t hurt. She was the only applicant who got 100 percent on the proofreading portion and every other test.

  And teasing her in the interview could be fun. Aileen stood in the open doorway, chewing at her bottom lip.

  “Mr. Murphy, Um, Ms. Evans is here for your two o’clock.”

  I nodded. “I can see that Aileen. I’m sure accounting will be happy to have you back if this goes well with Ms. Evans.”

  Aileen smirked, muttering something under her breath before she scampered off and shut the door behind her.

  That left just me and Grace, who wore a tight green skirt and a black blouse that was probably supposed to appear professional but instead had me thinking about the curve of her collarbone and how I wanted to run my tongue along her bare flesh.

  What the feck?

  Not only was she mouthwateringly sexy, but the smolder and sass that came with her curvy figure had me thinking about anything other than a chat to discuss the position of my assistant.

  “Mr. Murphy, first off, I just want to apologize for the other night. I shouldn’t have spilled my drink. Which was totally an accident. I swear.” She pressed her hands together, her teeth slightly clenched and bending slightly at the waist.

  Normally I would have grumbled at the apology or blown it off. But with her, something kept me going forward.

  “Thank you for your honesty, Ms. Evans. I appreciate that. And I accept your apology. Now please, have a seat,” I said with a small nod, motioning to the leather chair in front of my desk.

  She straightened her shoulders before gingerly sitting as if the chair was on fire.

  I wasn’t that bad, was I?

  “Whatever the reason you’re here, I’m glad you are, and I should apologize for my forwardness at the gala.”

  She blinked hard. Hell, if I were in her seat I would have, too. “You’re actually apologizing to me? That’s a first.”

  I cocked an eyebrow. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  She narrowed her dark eyes. How did I not notice them before? They were always hidden behind some clunky glasses, but now they were hard not to get lost in.

  Feck. Feck. Feck.

  This was an interview, not a first date. I had no reason to be staring at her and wondering if it would go against company conduct to ask if we could move this to the pub. Somewhere less stuffy.

  “Look, Jack, I know you probably didn’t want me here and you just did this meeting to discuss the position because of my grandfather. I really do need a job and a possible flat of my own for myself and my dog. I may not have experience in this field, but I’m a fast learner. And I promise not to bugger this up.”

  She let out a low breath and swore. “Shite. Sorry. I didn’t mean to use those exact words.”

  She slammed her fists down on her thighs. “Blast, I did it again.”

  I admired her cheekiness.

  I would have kicked most women out of my office at this point. But not her. I felt like I owed it to Seamus. The old man always had my brothers’ and my back, and if he was asking for a favor, I had to at least look into hiring Grace.

  Not only were her test scores impressive, her former employer raved that she wished they hadn’t downsized and they had kept her.

  This woman was fit for the position, that was for sure, but could I stand looking at her outside my office every day? Wondering what would have happened if that drink had never spilled. If I would have stopped playing her little game and just opened my mouth to say I knew who she was. That she looked gorgeous and I wanted to get her alone and see how soon we could get reacquainted.

  “Ms. Evans,” I said, before standing up and buttoning my suit jacket.

  Her gaze trailed from my face down my suit, her neck bobbing with a hard swallow.

  “Your CV says you’re freelancing which is hard to believe after looking at it. A degree in English lit
erature from the University of Zurich, student professorship with Fachverein, and even an internship with one of the biggest publishers in Europe that led to a job.”

  I steepled my fingers together. “But you don’t have any experience in this industry. Or this position. Just because I owe your Grandda, doesn’t mean I can just hire you without proper protocol, even if you’re the most qualified person.”

  I slowly stepped around the desk until I was right in front of her.

  Hell, I really did need to hire her. But I thought I’d at least give her a few moments to ponder this. If she could play with me the other night, I could throw it right back.

  “Look, this is a waste of time for both of us. I’ll go.” She stood up and turned toward the door.

  Shite. That wasn’t what I expected.

  “I don’t want you to leave.” My words were lower, huskier than I intended.

  I leaned back against my desk, crossing my arms over my chest while offering a smile to lighten the mood. “I need a new executive assistant.”

  “And you think I really can do this job? Even after everything?” Her mouth parted slightly as she took in a sharp breath.

  “Aileen wants to go back to working in accounting just as bad as I want someone who can actually handle the job. Someone who is organized and doesn’t second-guess everything. A competent human being who can think on her feet, and who isn’t afraid to speak up.

  “You had no problem playing a little game with me when you knew I didn’t recognize you at first. You’re smart and personable—that is when you aren’t giving me a hard time.”

  Her cheeks flushed crimson as she looked at her feet instead of me.

  Blast, she was cute.

  “I’d say you’re the right person for the job, even without the experience. I’m the first to admit I can be an arsehole at times. I need someone who knows me. Who can handle this position and whatever else gets thrown at them. Just be careful with the spills.”

  She shook her head, her brown curls swishing against the silky material of her blouse where her hair fell to her shoulders as she smiled and slowly looked up. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

  I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face, my heart beating in a steady rhythm just looking at her. “Eventually I might.”

  She sighed, started to roll her eyes, but then stopped as if she thought better of it. “I don’t have any actual assistant experience, as you know. I’ve been an assistant editor since I graduated uni, but that was combing through manuscripts. If you’re looking for someone to work in your marketing department as an entry-level copyeditor, I’d be more qualified for that.”

  “You can work your way up. But for now, I’m offering you this position. My assistant. For at least six months, then I can see about you moving up.” I pushed off my desk and closed the distance between us.

  She looked up at me, a few inches still between us with her in tall black heels. Her lips were slightly parted and her eyes wide.

  This wasn’t the little girl on her Granddad’s farm anymore. This was a sexy, grown woman who smelled like vanilla and coffee. She was real. My heart beat steadily with each breath. What if she said no or walked out that door? I wouldn’t chase after a girl, but screwing this up could feck up a whole lot of other things. Like my working relationship with her grandfather.

  Or the chance to see her again. Even if it was just at the office.

  “What do you say? Do we have a deal?”

  “I’ll need to earn twenty percent more than what you have as the starting salary and to move into the furnished flat as soon as possible,” she blurted, the feisty courage bubbling in her that had me shaking my head.

  “Do you even know what the salary offer is?” I replied.

  She smiled. “No, but I’d like twenty percent over. That is if you really do remember who I am, and that like my grandfather, I’d never enter an agreement without a little bargaining.”

  I nodded firmly, trying not to laugh at her bravado. I held my hand out for her to shake. “Ten percent and you can move in as soon as this interview is over.”

  She glanced at my outstretched hand then back to my face before holding her palm to me. “Fifteen percent and we have a deal.”

  Laughing, I took her hand, shaking it. “Welcome to Murphy’s Pub, Grace.”

  …

  It wasn’t more than twenty minutes after the interview that Sean and Connor burst into the office.

  “So? Do you have a new assistant?” Connor asked, shutting the door behind him.

  “Grace isn’t answering my texts,” Sean added.

  I cracked my neck, signing another document from our Boston office. “Don’t you two knock?”

  Sean stomped around my desk and whirled my chair toward him with one beefy arm.

  “What the hell?” I growled, staring at his wide blue eyes that were focused on the space underneath my desk.

  “I thought maybe since she wasn’t answering, maybe she was still here and…doing something.”

  I straightened, standing and buttoning my jacket. “And if she was?”

  A twinge of guilt hit as soon as I said the words. I wasn’t that crass to just have her under my desk like that.

  Sean glared. “Then I’d have to kick your ass.”

  I raised an eyebrow, my gut twisting at the words about to come out of my mouth. “Don’t tell me after all of these years you finally pulled your head out of your arse and are going to ask Grace out?”

  He sighed, shaking his head before running a hand through his beard. “No. It’s not like that with us. Besides, I barely have time for anything more than a night with my schedule. Practices have started and rumor has it, New Zealand is looking for a new hooker. Eyes on the prize.”

  I mentally pumped my fist, trying not to smile knowing that my brother didn’t harbor some unrequited love for his best mate.

  Not that I had any right. Thanks to what just transpired, she worked for me. There were rules about that sort of thing.

  “Is that before or after next spring?” Connor asked, stepping next to Sean and stopping my internal celebration.

  Sean raised an eyebrow, then recognition must have dawned on him because he swore under his breath. “Feck.”

  “Now you two both can’t marry Grace, but I’m sure one of you would make a great match,” Connor said, clasping Sean’s shoulder.

  “I get the urgency in us getting married to fulfill the heir clause, but don’t you think it’s a little rash to assume we’ll both go for not only the same girl, but a girl we’ve known most of our lives?” I asked.

  Connor laughed. “You barely paid attention to the bird growing up. You were always busy doing your own thing. I almost didn’t recognize her when I saw her recent photos. But then again, I didn’t hit on her at a gala and not know who she was at all.”

  I frowned. “The glasses and braces are gone and other finer assets have appeared.”

  I treaded my words carefully, not mentioning how it wasn’t just her beautiful arse but the snarky smile that kept me thinking about her long after the gala.

  “She’s definitely grown up,” Sean muttered.

  I let out a breath, raking my fingers through my hair. “I’m not going to step in between you and a girl. You two are best mates. Hell, she’s a family friend too. I don’t want her in that way. She’ll be a grand assistant. That’s it.”

  Though even as I said the words out loud, each one was like putting a knife through my chest.

  Connor tilted his head to the side, hitching a thumb at each of us. “Is this some sort of Judgement of Solomon thing and you’re both trying to take her and I have to offer to cut her in half to see who has the real interest? Or are we just talking about her as an assistant?”

  Sean and I both stared at my wide-eyed brother who shrugged. “What? I paid a little bit of attention in Sunday school. She’s grand, and I’m not trying to talk about her like a piece of meat, but let’s be hon
est, there’s the ticking time bomb of an inheritance clause so we do need to discuss if there’s a love interest.”

  Sean let out a breath, shaking his head before his eyes grew dark. “Jack, I love you as a brother, but you don’t have the best track record with women or assistants. I want Grace to take this job because I know she needs it and I know she can handle you. But I don’t want to see her get hurt in the process if you’re thinking about her as more than that.”

  My jaw clenched, and it took everything I had not to tell my little brother to piss off. “I have no interest in hurting her. She’s just my assistant.”

  Sean nodded. “Okay. I can accept that. Just be good to her, all right?”

  Connor laughed. “I think that’s the warning you should be giving her. I’ll make sure no one has any champagne around the office.”

  “Or coffee for that matter. That could be an HR nightmare,” Sean added, rocking back on his heels.

  “I’m glad you two have so much faith in me,” I muttered.

  “Hey, what kind of brothers would we be if we didn’t give you some shite?” Connor asked, putting his hand on my shoulder.

  He was right, but I wouldn’t tell him that.

  The past few months we’d really started to work together as a team. This last board meeting proved that we had it in us to run this company together.

  But if Sean and I didn’t find wives soon, our comfortable little roles would quickly be filled by one of the half-dead old men who sat in that boardroom.

  There was no bloody way in hell I was going to let that happen.

  Now I just had to get Grace off my mind long enough to find a wife. For better or for worse.

  Chapter Five

  Grace

  I applied another coat of lipstick and fluffed my hair one last time in the mirror, staring wide-eyed at my own reflection. “What are you doing, Grace? It’s your first day of work. Not a date.”

  The white blouse and black pencil skirt hugged my curves. At my old job, everyone wore jeans and T-shirts. But this was a corporate office where every man was in a suit and woman in a blazer when I went in for the job interview.