by Palmer Jones
“I might not have a choice but to take off today without a nurse. I'll need to go to the hospital in a couple of minutes and wait there until I can bring her home. I have the company’s laptop. I'll work on the party once I get her settled.”
“You don't—”
She held up her hand. “Please. It will give me something to take my mind off this,” she said as she motioned around her apartment complex. She didn't want to live like this, scrapping every penny possible to take care of Mimi and never getting ahead.
Never giving Mimi everything she needed.
Never having a future with Brogan.
She wiped away the tears that'd formed again before they could fall. She hated crying. Between her love for Brogan leaving her exposed and the fear for her grandmother, Selena hated the overwhelming feelings threatening to bury her whole.
Brogan pushed off the railing and took a step to stand in front of her. He held onto her shoulders, his hands as firm as his tone of voice. “I know you can handle your granny, but let Cathal help, Selena.”
She swallowed over the lump in her throat. Her grandmother's situation was only partly to blame for the tears, burning her eyes. At the moment, she would focus on that situation and ignore her love for Brogan and the big mess that came along with that.
“I feel selfish. Like I shouldn't want all this freedom.”
“You are not selfish.” He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing along her temple. “You're human.” He pressed his lips to hers, gliding her into a slow, steady kiss. He cared. That much she'd wrap around her for the moment. He was the only stable thing to hold onto, if only for a fleeting minute.
He lifted his head, a small smile on his lips. “Go grab a shower, as you mentioned. I'll drop you by Katie's to get your car as I go into work.”
She kissed him one more time. Last night had been wonderful. Back to reality today.
* * *
Brogan stood up as Selena walked into his office. She closed the door and sagged back against it. “Since when is coming to work supposed to feel like a vacation?”
He'd not seen her for two days. Two miserable days that'd left him feeling empty and disoriented. In an attempt to gain back a shred of control, he'd oversaw her shift personally, staying on the floor and running the dining room.
And his employees hated it.
But she was here now, and that made the chaos in his mind settle. Her dark circles, lightly visible underneath her makeup, matched her tired expression.
He walked to her, debating on how to greet her. Because once they opened the door and their workday began, he was back to square one with treating her like an employee. The way she absolutely hated.
He'd considered calling a big meeting with his staff and laying out the relationship for them, but that seemed partly ridiculous since he didn't even know what to call her. Girlfriend?
That sounded dumb at his age.
“Another bad night?” he asked.
She lifted a shoulder, watching him with her golden eyes. “Not as bad. The medicine helped her sleep. Tina is finally recovered from the trauma.” She reached out and tugged his tie, bring him closer. “Kiss me and make this a good morning.”
He'd do that every morning if he had any clue on how to get to that point with her. She shifted their kiss immediately. He wouldn't push her. Not with everything going on in her life.
But Selena's teeth grazed his lower lip, her hands gripping his shoulders, and, suddenly, there wasn't anything else in the world but the two of them.
It was his only explanation for reaching around her and locking the door.
She pulled his tie off his shirt and began to unbutton. “I want skin,” she mumbled against his lips.
He gripped her hips tighter. “Do I get skin, too?”
“As much as you want,” she said as she untucked his undershirt.
“No. Not that much.” He slid his hands underneath the back of her shirt, caressing the smooth skin of her lower back. “Once I start, I won't stop.”
“I probably won't say 'no' Brogan,” she said, a smile in her voice.
“I'm not a teenager that runs around with a condom in their wallet, Selena,” he replied.
Her hands slowed down then. “Oh.”
He laughed. “Sorry. I'll be sure to carry one around for us.”
“No. It's probably for the better.” She leaned back, resting her head against the door as her hands ran along the length of his chest. “That would make it hard to concentrate on work. All I'd do is try and figure out a way to be alone with you.”
If she stayed with him, they'd have that time in the morning together before they had to work. Which, unfortunately, they had to do.
“Speaking of that, you know we still have to keep all of this low key. It won't be forever, but please, let's get past the purchase of the property.” He smoothed her hair away from her face.
Her eyes narrowed and lips pursed. “How is it so easy for you to flip it on and off?”
He leaned his body into hers, pinning her against the door. “Don't think for one moment that I want this any less than you do. Cathal's livelihood. Rian's name. Everything I've worked for since coming here might be erased if I don't handle this right. Like O'Keeley's never existed.” He kissed her with a rough edge he tried to control and ended it just as quickly. “But I want you, Selena. All I'm asking for is a couple more weeks.”
He shifted, needing air.
Space.
Selena drove him to lose his mind. The thought of her walking away because he couldn't figure out how to be her boyfriend and her boss, made his head pound. And scared him. For the first time, he found someone worth giving up everything. But O’Keeley’s wasn't his to give up.
She began to button his shirt, keeping her eyes averted. “I'll play this your way, for now, Brogan.” As she buttoned the top button, she lifted her eyes to meet his gaze.
How had he ever thought anything between them would be simple?
Because based on the way she watched him, she was about to make his life hell. And damn it if he wouldn't enjoy every second of it.
“So what are the rules?” She lifted an eyebrow. “I assume I don't get to slap your ass as you walk by.”
He laughed, enjoying the playful way she ran her finger along the edge of his neck. “No. You don't. Nothing that lets anyone know we see each other outside this office.”
“Then I'll only slap your ass while we're in the office.” She held up a finger. “With the door closed, obviously.”
“You're going to make this difficult, aren't you?”
“Did you have any doubt? I don't like feeling hidden like I'm not good enough for you.”
How could she ever think that? Jacob, the snake, had put that insecurity into her mind. “You're more than I deserve, Selena.” He slipped his tie behind his neck and tied it for a second time that morning.
She straightened his tie. “The only hope you have right now is that I'll sneak you into my bedroom after curfew.”
He smiled at her small laugh and dipped his head, bringing their mouths in line. “As long as that can happen tonight—”
Brogan’s head snapped up when a knock sounded at the door.
“Mr. O'Keeley? Sir?”
“Crap! It's Trey,” Selena whispered. “What's he doing here this early?”
Brogan shifted to the side. If he were behind closed doors with Selena, this early in the morning, it wouldn't take someone even as dense as Trey to figure things out.
“Go. Hide in the bathroom.”
Her mouth fell open. “You're actually hiding me now!”
“Yes.” He tucked in his shirt.
Selena shook her head with a mischievous look in her eyes that Brogan didn't trust. “Payback will be hell, Brogan.”
“I accept my punishment. Just go!” He waited for her to shut the bathroom door before opening the office door. “Trey? You're here early.”
“Yeah. I'd hoped to talk to either you or Selena
. I saw her car out back. It's about my shift.”
Her car. The staff knew she was working extra hours in the morning, but no one except the kitchen staff had actually arrived while she was still in his office. And never behind closed doors.
And now Trey had nearly caught them.
Brogan pretended to look confused and stepped to the doorway, glancing around the dining room. “I don't know where she's run off to. Maybe the supply closet?”
Trey shrugged. “It's alright. I didn't know if I could get moved back to the second shift? My little brother just started a new job, and we have to share my car.” He scratched the back of his head, looking down at his shoes.
Brogan never remembered being that awkward in life. But, by the time he was fourteen, he was a significant source of income for his two younger siblings and mother. That didn't give him a chance to be awkward.
“Was there something else, Trey?”
“Yeah.” After a long pause, he finally made eye contact again. “Can I get some advice?”
Brogan crossed his arms. The longer Selena stayed in the bathroom, the worse the revenge. “What is it?”
“It's about a girl I like. Katie thought I should ask your brother's opinion.”
“What's your question?”
“Good morning!” Cathal appeared in the doorway. “Am I interrupting?”
Everyone was interrupting.
“Trey, this is my brother. I assume he's the one Katie suggested you consult with your woman problems.”
Cathal patted Trey on the shoulder. “You need to learn that women are the sources of all problems and all solutions. The solutions are much more fun, though. Speaking of women problems....” He raised his eyebrows, subtly glancing around the office. “How's yours coming along?”
Trey grinned, goofy and gap-toothed. “Wow. We all have women problems. Cool. Like male bonding.”
“It's not cool. And I do have things to do,” Brogan shot back.
Cathal glanced down. Selena's purse set on the bench just inside the door to the office. His eyes trailed around again, lingering on the closed bathroom door.
“Trey. I'm afraid Brogan can hardly handle his own problems at the moment. And by the looks of things, they are mounting by the second. I'll pour us both a coffee, and you can spill.” Cathal sent Trey toward the bar and then stuck his head back inside the office. “Please tell me you didn't hide her in the bathroom.”
The bathroom door swung open. Selena. Her eyes darker than usual and aimed his way in a death glare.
“Now who's the idiot?”
He shoved Cathal back out of his office but kept the door open.
She held up her hand when he started to speak. “Payback, Brogan.” Her shoulder skimmed his chest as she moved past him.
She paused at his office door, taking a brief look in the direction of the bar before she hurried across to the employee break room.
Watching her all day and then waiting until he could sneak into her apartment later to touch her would be payback. God knew what she had in store for him.
17
How did he not get the message that she wanted him to leave? Selena had listened to Jacob ramble on for the past thirty-two minutes and fifteen seconds based on the digital clock on the bank sign just down the street from her apartment complex. It was also eighty-one degrees outside, and they offered a 1.2% interest rate on their car loans. It meant something that the billboard at the bank was more interesting than her ex-boyfriend's ramblings.
She wouldn't invite him inside. Her Southern grandmother, asleep, would have killed her. She'd expect Selena to invite him in, offer him something to drink and eat, and then listen to him with polite attention.
But she didn't care. She wouldn't have answered the door at all except she'd expected Brogan. But, knowing her behind-the-scenes boyfriend, he'd take one look at Jacob, throw a very quiet fit about her talking to him, and not even venture near her apartment until he left.
Help them all if the banker knew they were dating.
“I think the next movie we watch we should do it together.” Jacob smiled and pulled out his phone. “What are you doing next weekend?”
She almost replied with ‘I'm washing my hair’ but managed to hold it in. “I don't know yet. I don't know if I'm working.”
“Do you work every day of the week?”
“If I'm lucky.”
He reached out and set his hand on her shoulder. “I hate seeing you so run down like this.”
“Then you can leave any time,” Brogan's voice replied from the end of the balcony.
She snapped her head his direction. When had he shown up? And he'd actually shown himself in front of Jacob.
“I didn't expect you here.” Jacob didn't drop his hand. Instead, as if they had something more between them, Jacob moved closer, his hand sliding to rest at the back of her neck.
Selena was trapped. Her next step would put her back inside her apartment. Her position, standing firm at the threshold, was the last line of defense before etiquette forced her to offer him a glass of sweet tea.
Brogan's eyes lingered on Jacob's hand. “Is this a bad time, Selena?”
“No.”
“Yes,” Jacob answered. “We were setting up our plans for next weekend.”
He crossed his arms, towering over both of them. “Ah. You've a mind to go on a date next weekend?”
“Yes.”
“No.” Selena glanced at Jacob, suddenly hating how close he stood. His eyes were soft. His chin was weak. He wasn’t Brogan. “I'm not dating you again, Jacob. I've told you that at least a dozen times.”
“But—”
“No.” She moved his hand from her shoulder. “Look. I've tried to be friends with you, but I can't do that if you're only here because you expect us to pick up where we left off.”
Jacob motioned toward her apartment. “Things could have worked out so differently for you, for both of us, if we'd pushed through our problems back then. You're not the least bit curious if we still have a connection?”
“No.” She might not live the life he did, nice car, an apartment with hot water, but she busted her ass to get what she'd had. Brogan had never once offered to swoop in, pay for everything, insinuate that she wouldn't live in this lifestyle if she allowed him to take care of her.
She appreciated that. Pride meant something to her.
“I guess there's nothing left to say.” Jacob stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned. His eyes held Brogan's for a brief moment before he scuffed his feet all the way down the stairs. Extra slow. As if he gave her time to change her mind.
They waited, in silence, until his car drove out of the apartment complex.
“Look, I know you have a dozen questions.”
He stalked toward her, his expression unreadable.
She backed up and into her apartment. Was he mad? If she’d shown up at his condo with a woman touching him, acting as though they were “together” she’d be mad as hell right then.
He closed the door. “No.” He held her chin lightly with his fingers. “That idiot is the last person I want to think about.”
His kiss confirmed why he'd come to her apartment. “Tell me now if you don't want this,” he murmured against her lips. “Turn me away. Kick me out.”
“But I promised you revenge.” She tugged at the t-shirt he'd worn, pulling it over his head as they stumbled down the narrow hall.
“Is this it?” He did the same to her, dropping her shirt in the floor of her room as he shut the door behind him.
She shook her head. “No. I was going to tease you. Make you want me.” She smiled against his lips. “Wear something short and skimpy and make you drool. And hold out as long as I could.”
“And now?” His fingers nimbly unfastened the button of her jeans. “Are you turning me away?”
“Jacob bored me so bad I'd rather have the action over revenge at the moment.”
“Thank the Lord,” he murmured against her neck a
s her head dropped back. He trailed his lips back up and kissed her again.
He tasted of whiskey, a flavor she knew now from Cathal. “Why were you drinking?” Because he didn't.
“Because I changed my mind two dozen times about coming over here.” He pushed her jeans down her hips.
She laughed as she began to unfasten his jeans. “If you have to drink to sleep with me, we might need to reevaluate this entire situation.”
“I had one drink, and it was to get out of my own damn way and stop coming up with excuses not to drive over here. Believe me,” he said, softly cupping her cheek. The blue of his eyes felt magical for a moment. His voice was rough when he spoke. “I plan to memorize every, single, inch of your body tonight.”
Revenge would definitely have to wait.
* * *
Cathal worked alongside Selena at Brogan's dining room table. He sipped on his beer and typed into a laptop that cost more than three months of Selena's rent.
And he tried to find a solution to her grandmother's situation.
He filled out form after form on her behalf. It'd take her an entire week to do as many as he had. But he understood things like that. She didn't have the patience to figure it out. Instead, Selena threw everything she had into planning the party.
Part of her was nervous that after declining Jacob's offer, that he'd somehow pull back on the loan. But the loan was still firmly in place, if Jacob had even tried.
Five hundred thousand was their new goal.
Selena priced out the tickets and estimated the number of people who would come. It gave her a general guess at a profit from the bar.
The best she came up with was three hundred and fifty thousand. They were still short.
She sat back and rubbed her temples.
Brogan's strong hands rested on her shoulders, kneading them. “Oh my God, this might be better than sex,” she mumbled.
Cathal's head whipped up. “A neck massage? I obviously need to have a long talk with my brother.”
She giggled at his mock outrage. “Your brother is just fine.”