by Palmer Jones
“Katie asked me to go back out to the bar with her.” Selena continued even though Brogan crossed his arms and started to speak. “And she was joking about you showing up and driving me home last time. Because Cathal drove her home.”
The muscle in his jaw jumped, but his shoulders relaxed by a fraction. Good.
“I would caution you against relying on others for a ride home.” He held her gaze a beat longer than was probably normal. She looked away. If he didn't want to let everyone know, then he needed to get his emotions under control.
“Get back to work.” He left, without a second look back, stalking to his office.
The door shut harder than necessary.
“Damn,” Katie started, “you are so going out with me Saturday night and finding a guy. Screw him for making us feel like crap.” She stuck her tongue out at Brogan's closed door.
“That's mature,” Cathal said. He pulled out a chair and sat down with his cup of coffee. “And probably deserved.”
Katie smirked. “I am going to get back to work.”
Cathal didn't move. “What did I miss?”
“A misunderstanding that can't be discussed.”
Brogan acting like a jerk again.
Every inch of Selena wanted to reassure Brogan that Katie was joking.
The restaurant door opened. Rian stalked through the dining room, moving quicker than usual. He scanned the room, his eyes landing on her and Cathal.
Cathal sipped his coffee. “Well, he looks a little upset.”
“That's an understatement.”
Rian dipped his chin in acknowledgment and then walked to Brogan's door and walked right in, shutting it behind him.
Strange.
“Let me go fix whatever is the problem now.” Cathal left, following Rian's lead and walking into the office.
Katie bumped her. “All three bosses have now witnessed you standing around. Go do something, Selena.”
She moved then, bussing tables and asking various customers if they needed anything for the next hour without any O'Keeley emerging from the office.
Cathal's voice behind her made her jump. “I need to put in a lunch order.” He didn't flirt or wink. “And you need to bring it in when it's ready. I don't want to deal with anyone else at the moment.” He shook his head. “Whatever happened earlier put Brogan in a massively shitty mood.”
She pursed her lips for a moment before pulling a pad of paper from her back pocket to take his order. “He's my boss. I get that. But he's going to have to trust that I'm not going to run my mouth.”
“You should tell him that. But not right now. We have some planning to do and need nourishment. Three fish and chips. Three Guinness.”
“Three?”
“Believe me. Between you and the bank shit, Brogan needs one or else we really will kick him out of the O'Keeley's this time.”
She smiled.
“Ah. I can see that it makes you happy.”
“No.” Not happy. A little pleased that he had reacted to her. He flipped so quickly between being the boss in the Armani suit without a heart, to the man that brought wine to her to cheer her up and seduced her in supply closets. “I'm not happy he's upset.”
Cathal set his hand on her shoulder. “Despite him being an arse most of the time, he is a good man.”
“I know that, too.” She looked up and met Cathal’s gaze. “We're just trying to figure it all out, I suppose. He thinks this is one-sided. I'm flat out lying to one of my best friends. It sucks all around.”
Cathal nodded. “Right. I get it.” He tapped her pad with their orders. “One thing at a time, mavourneen.” He walked back to the office, leaving her wondering what he'd just called her.
She scooted around behind the bar to put in the orders and pour the drinks. If Cathal thought it was one-sided, Brogan probably did, too.
She hated to do this, but if he wanted it to remain a secret, then she had no choice but to go out with Katie. She'd go to a bar. Have fun. Not flirt and not go home with anyone. Easy.
But he couldn't get mad. Like he'd done with Jacob. She wouldn't expect him to just stay locked inside if the situation was reversed and he had to appear as though he was still single. Besides, as she told him before, a title like VP of Advertising didn't earn him exclusivity rights over her.
Jacob had hidden her away before. And she'd let him. Brogan would never have that power over her.
She took the tray of food and drinks to the door of the office. She knocked twice and waited.
Brogan opened the door. His serious face faltered a moment when his eyes locked with hers. Yes. She threw a massive wrench into his perfect life.
“Come in,” he said, stepping back. After a half-second hesitation, if that, maybe only a breath of a moment, he took the heavy tray.
She stood there, empty arms, as he carried it across the room and sat it on the coffee table.
As soon as Brogan's back was turned, Cathal grinned and gave her two thumbs up. Rian shook his head and snagged a fry off of a plate.
“I need to talk to you,” he said and motioned toward the bathroom in the back she'd never been in before—the one he used to clean up after his workout each morning.
She turned on her heel and walked into the room, hearing the door shut behind them. It wasn't large. About the size of her bathroom in her small apartment. Clean. Nothing on the counter. One drawer on the side. Absolutely the opposite of the current state of her own bathroom with her blow dryer sitting in the sink and makeup everywhere.
The air smelled fresh with the hint of the aftershave she'd learned he used.
“Selena—”
“No.” She held up her hand. She didn't want to fight. Not with him. Not over this. “I told you the truth. Katie has always teased me about you.” Facing him, she was a little shocked to see the aggravated look on his face. “You're hot. I didn't just form that opinion about you in the last forty-eight hours since we kissed. You see the way she acts about Cathal. She always jokes about it.”
He slipped his hands in his pockets.
“And it's put me in a crappy situation. I'm lying to her, swearing we aren't whatever the hell we are or aren't, and then hoping you believe me.”
“I believe you.”
“Great. Then?” she asked, pausing a moment and holding her hands out. Why had he wanted her in here?
He stalked toward her. She held her ground until he pushed the back of her thighs against the edge of the counter next to the sink. “I thought, when I first walked up, that you'd told her.”
“I know.” And it pissed her off, but she kept her silence. He had to work through something in his mind. His eyes scanned over her face, searching for an answer.
He stepped closer, his hips pressing hers until he picked her up by her thighs and set her on the counter. This Brogan she could handle.
He gripped the back of her knees, pulling her as tightly against him as possible. He tilted her face up but didn't kiss her. He looked at her like he tried to see inside. She didn't hide anything from him. Never had. Never would.
She cupped his face, skimming her fingers along his temple. “What is it, Brogan? Just tell me.” She kissed him lightly, trying to ease his frustration. Maybe to ease her own.
“I don't want you to go out to the bar.”
She wanted to smile, really, at the small amount of insecurity he'd shown. Brogan, literally, the hottest guy she'd ever seen, had her legs wrapped around his waist, holding her. He was scared of her going to a bar with Katie.
“I don't know how to get out of it, now. I told her I would just to cover for her thinking we were together.” Selena straightened his already straight tie. “I didn't know what else to do. I think it would look worse if I didn't go at this point.”
“I don't want another man touching you.” His hands squeezed her thighs, tugging her closer. “I don't think I could stand it again.”
His breathless intensity almost made her come unhinged. She kissed him hard a
nd deep. This was what she wanted from him. Commitment even if he couldn't say the words.
She broke it off just as quick. “Is that a request for your VP of Advertising to work exclusively for you?”
“Absolutely.” His lips twisted to the side. “So what are you going to do about Katie.”
“I'm going to go to the bar with her.”
“But....”
“Going out with a friend doesn't mean I'm going to go home with another man. We might need to keep this under wraps for a little bit, I'll try to understand that, but I'm not going to hide-out at home, waiting for you to decide when we can see each other. I did that once before.”
“With Jacob?”
“Yes. I'm not doing it again.”
“What will you do if you're not there to pick up guys?”
She smiled and slipped her hands into his perfect hair. “Watch Katie hit on guys—or girls. I'm not sure what bar we're going to yet. And think of you.” She nipped at his bottom lip. “And wish you could be there, in public, with me.”
“I don't know if that will ever happen.”
Ever? Would she forever remain his secret girlfriend? She ignored the deep ache growing in her stomach from the thought. He couldn't have meant it like that. She'd just told him about Jacob hiding her. Why would he think she'd ever go back to playing the role of a secret girlfriend?
“We need to get back to your brothers.”
“I'm pretty sure they know about us.”
“Well, I know I'm wasting your time.” She needed some air. Space. He'd easily announced that he'd keep her hidden in the closet, away from the world, forever. She deserved more than that. She'd watched her mom be used, tossed around by men growing up. And, after Jacob practically did the same thing, she'd sworn she wouldn't ever chase after a man that way again.
But she wanted Brogan. She'd try to understand for a little bit longer.
“No. Never a waste of time.”
“Well, you at least have more important things to do than wrap me around your waist.” She held up her hand. “Okay, bad example for both of us.” She pushed him back with a little nudge and hopped down. “Go figure out how to save your restaurant. They're here to meet with you. You can wrap me around you anytime.”
“Is that a promise?”
She draped her arms around his neck, putting on a happy face even though her heart hurt. “Absolutely.”
12
Hell.
Brogan read the purchase agreement from the owner of his property. A full five hundred thousand higher than the original offer.
“And he increased the price, because?”
Brogan passed the contract back to Cathal, his jovial brother quiet for a moment.
“Simmons came in with a higher offer. He said it was hard not to accept the offer right then, but he wanted to give us a chance.”
“But another five hundred?” Brogan ran a hand over his hair, not caring how it looked. He stood in his condo, staring out over the Atlanta skyline. For fifteen years he'd lived in Atlanta. For the past ten operated the bar. Everything he had was wrapped up on the bar.
“I know. It was that shit Simmons pulled with Selena and our reaction. It's a power play.”
He glanced over his shoulder, Cathal slowly shaking his head. They didn't have to say it out loud. Neither one of them would have done a thing different. They'd both want to beat the bastard to a bloody pulp. They'd both resisted.
Their Ma would be proud of that.
As it was, both he and Rian were very proud of Cathal for only snatching him away from Selena and not going further. Cathal's aggression, when it came to men like Simmons, wasn't controlled.
“We ask the bank for more.” Brogan knew that was an impossible request.
Cathal tossed the paper onto the kitchen table and leaned back in the old, wooden chair. The sky rise condo building was modern, but not the furnishings inside Brogan's home. He'd brought over the table and chairs from his parents' house back in Ireland. Several pieces of furniture, in fact. Warm. That was how he wanted to live.
Rian lived with hardly any furniture. Everything chrome, black or white, and sparse.
Cathal was lucky his cleaning lady didn't quit.
“I already called Jacob Peters. He didn't say ‘no’ but he wasn't optimistic. I had half a thought to see if Selena could ask him for it.” He held up his hands at Brogan's sharp look. “Hey, she's not my girl, and I hated seeing him make a fool of himself over her that way. He tried to cut up her steak.”
“I think Rian was more appalled that he asked for ketchup to dip his in.”
Cathal grinned. “By the end of the night, Rian hated his face more than you, if that was possible. Did you notice Rian left, without even saying goodbye?”
“No. Where is he now?” Brogan couldn't keep up with the restaurant and his brother's travel schedule.
“Not with a woman.” Cathal shook his head. “He could wine and dine any woman on this planet, and instead, he lives like a monk.”
Brogan chuckled at his brother's analogy. “You know he's not a monk. He doesn't feel the need to share the women he's interested in because then we'll want to meet them.”
“Great.” Cathal threw his arms up. “Our own brother is embarrassed by us.”
“Probably.” He motioned to the paper sitting on the table. “What are we going to do about that?”
“I've given it a little bit of thought. What about raising it through the restaurant? We have five more weeks before the owner needs a decision. Let's do something unique that draws in a crowd.”
Brogan partway smiled. “We'd have to pay for someone to come in and plan the event. None of us know how to do that.”
“What about Selena? You did give her that fancy title.”
Brogan turned back to face Cathal. “What about her?” He checked his watch. “She's probably getting ready to go out to a bar with Katie.”
“You have to trust her, Brog.”
“I know.” It didn't mean he had to like it.
“Do you want me to head out later and check-in with her?”
Brogan hesitated. “Does it make me an odd person if I said, 'yes,' and had you do it?” Because he did want to make sure she was safe. He trusted her not to be with another man. He didn't trust the other men out there. Selena was beautiful. Simmons and Jacob confirmed that she was attractive to everyone else as well.
“Yes. It makes you very sad.”
“I'll take sad. Text me that she's alright.”
Cathal nodded once. “I will. Do you think she could plan an event like that? You said yourself she's smart.”
He took a breath and pulled out the chair opposite his brother and sat. “She is smart. I don't know if she'd do it, though. I could ask her. But what kind of event?”
“I'd say stick to our strongest qualities.”
“Fighting?”
Cathal's quick smile eased some of the tension between them. “Better. I don't know why we don't make Rian do something. He just had an interview with Food and Wine magazine. He's slated to be featured at their festival in Monaco this year. Let's play it up. Charge people a flat rate for food. One of his creations. Maybe a flat rate for a specialty drink.”
It might work. “We won't raise the full amount, probably.”
“There are other banks out there. We never sent that paperwork back to Jacob. I'll reach out to others first thing Monday.” He drummed his fingers on the table.
“What is it?” The pensive look didn't suit Cathal's face.
Cathal pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “Who's going to tell Rian?”
* * *
Going out had been a mistake. Katie didn't take her to only one bar. She took her to five. Five bars from ten to almost one in the morning. Her feet ached, like usual, and she was over-wearing a strapless bra. Again, she'd tried to go out in something less revealing, but Katie refused to be her friend. Said she'd never find a guy who wanted a girl in a pair of jeans and flip flops.
It'd been all she could do to tell her that she'd snagged Brogan that way.
But Katie was out to prove a point. Ever since becoming single, Katie had replaced the pain with the fleeting excitement of meeting new people. Flirting. Kissing. Selena understood the sensation. She'd done the same thing after breaking up with Jacob. But that'd been a long time ago. And Katie was still in her early twenties. Something switched in Selena's brain last year when she took over caring for Mimi. Maturity, maybe?
Katie stood near the bathrooms with a girl, whispering, giggling, and making out, while Selena sat at the bar with a Diet Coke that tasted flat. She might love her friend, but this might, officially, be the last time she goes out with Katie.
“Well, this is my lucky night.”
Simmons.
Shit.
“Is this seat taken?”
“Yes.” She snapped out the words, trying to be tough.
Simmons sat down anyway. His hand immediately patted her knee, and she stood up. “Leave me alone.”
The bartender, a cute, tall woman with red hair, immediately pounded on the wood top of the bar. “You okay?”
“We were just getting reacquainted,” Simmons said, his eyes lingering on Selena's chest.
“I was just leaving.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “You don't have your Irish bodyguards around to threaten me. But I'll have the last laugh. You know I made the owner raise the offer on the bar, right? They barely squeezed enough together for the first offer. No way they can add another five hundred thousand to it.”
Five hundred thousand. The number didn't seem real. Brogan didn't have enough sitting around without having to go to the bank. She could always appeal to Jacob for them, but Brogan wouldn't want her near him again. Not on behalf of the pub.
“Did you need something to drink?” The bartender knocked on the bar again. “You.”
“Kettle One. Straight up.” He reached out to touch Selena's hip, but she moved two seats down.
“No touching at my bar,” the bartender snapped. “She doesn't want you around, so I suggest you move along.”