by Palmer Jones
Fillet of beef was their second option. He kept it to himself that the dish included a small sample foie gras. Selena didn't seem like she'd enjoy knowing she ate duck liver.
“How are the cooks doing with the menu?”
Rian shook his head.
Brogan's nerves shot up the longer he remained silent.
“Great. They got it down. Saturday night should run without a hitch.”
Brogan shifted to face his brother. “Then why do you sound annoyed?”
“Because that means we're actually going through with this.” His lips pressed into a thin line, and he crossed his arms. “I could always come back here. You know, back to Atlanta when the rest of the world became too chaotic. The menu at O'Keeley's is my creation, but it was never labeled as that. The restaurant is hardly mentioned at all in the articles that are written when I do competitions or demonstrations. I suppose it might have helped us, but I enjoy the anonymity. The break in the pace.”
“I get it. I appreciate you putting yourself out there for us. Selena said the ticket sales have been incredible. She's even sold drink tickets for the specialty drink.”
“Who let Cathal be in charge of that? I told him what we were having, and he picked a damn whiskey cocktail.”
Brogan chuckled. “He had to have some input. And we all knew it'd be whiskey he picked.” Cathal had proved himself much more involved when asked. He showed up when told. He handled the loan at the bank and Selena's granny's situation. He still didn't have day-to-day responsibility, but Brogan might find a place for him.
“Irish Redhead. He picked the drink in honor of the bartender at the bar where he assaulted Simmons. Her testimony cleared his name.”
“Is that all he did for her?” Rian's question was met with another round of laughter.
“I think so. He tried to talk to her, but she didn't want anything to do with him.”
Rian’s shocked expression matched his own when he'd found out. “I didn't know such a woman existed. We should take her picture and hang it on the wall as it's equal to a picture of the Loch Ness Monster, I'd wager. A fictional character that you don't think it exists until you see it with your own eyes.”
“He was very disappointed, I think. I suspect he'll try again in a couple of weeks. You'd think he'd just move on to the next pretty face, but the way she declined his date intrigued him. She told him that she didn't date violent men.”
“Violent,” Rian said the word, probably hating it the same way Brogan did. “He does have that tendency, but only in very peculiar situations. And until your Selena found herself in trouble, he'd not acted out since we left Ireland. Fifteen years. I wouldn't call that a violent man.”
Brogan had thanked Cathal dozens of times, but he'd brushed it off and thanked Brogan in return for saving his arse both times he'd found himself behind bars for the same situation.
He patted Rian's shoulder. “Tomorrow will go smoothly. Selena has driven herself short of mad with all her lists. I even have a list.”
“Oh, she gave me a list to cover my lists,” Rian said.
“See. After the event, you can crawl back into trudging around Europe, discovering new food and women. Your happy place.” Because Rian hated staying stationary. Always had. The middle O’Keeley needed to ramble around the world. It kept him from remembering his own painful past.
“I thought about sticking around this fall. Traveling the United States.” He motioned to the ten cooks prepping the food for tomorrow. “Seeing how I can improve this. I realize I prepare traditional Irish dishes, but they aren't always authentic. Americans aren't used to some of those flavors. I'd like to find a way to merge our culture with theirs. A new fusion. Something unique.”
“Have at it. I'll be here, buying a multi-million-dollar piece of property, leaving every night hoping a pretty golden-haired woman lets me see her one more time.”
Rian nodded. “Yes. Try not to mess that up, please. Cathal and I both like her. She's not afraid to call you on your bullshit.”
“Thanks. You should put that in her birthday card come November. It's a nice sentiment.”
They both chuckled, and Brogan left Rian to his preparations. He had just enough time to find that pretty woman and sneak a few kisses before things in the restaurant became too busy.
19
Selena shouted at the bartender over the music. “I need my order.” He shrugged and pointed at the back up of tickets. She moved behind the bar to help. The fundraiser had turned into near chaos. Controlled chaos. And if she were in charge completely, she'd have already fired this bartender, whoever he was.
“Miss?”
Selena glanced over her shoulder. An elegant woman, with blunt-cut bangs, raised a finger to get her attention. She reminded her of a model, like Naomi Campbell. Only prettier, if that was even possible.
“Just one second.” She set the two beers on her tray and grabbed the ice scooper, tossing some ice into the martini glass to let it chill. “Yes. What can I get you?”
The model held up a menu, pointing at Rian’s name. “Is Rian actually here?” Her accent was French, maybe. Hard to tell over the noise.
“Yes. He'll be around soon so everyone can meet him. Did you get to try his food?”
Her red lips pressed together. “Not tonight, no.”
That was an odd way to answer. “Do you know him?”
“Yes. I'd hoped to see him. He's a hard man to track down. Do you know where he is? I had something important to discuss with him. I'm an old friend.” After a beat, she added, “It's really important.”
Intrigued that such a woman would want to see the quiet, aloof Rian, Selena motioned her toward Brogan's office. “Why don't you follow me?” She flagged down Katie to deliver the drinks to the table before slipping through the crowd to the office door. The tall, gorgeous model made Selena feel more like a high school kid in jeans and sneakers than a woman. This was the type of woman she pictured Rian dating. The tabloids always had him linked with some leggy model. A beautiful woman like the one following her, with amazing ebony skin, fit that description.
Selena reached for the doorknob.
“You don't need to knock?”
Since Selena wanted to say, “I'm sorta sleeping with the boss,” but she couldn't, she simply smiled and opened the door.
“Hey—” Brogan started before he schooled his features. “Who's this?”
Cathal and Rian were leaned over Brogan's desk looking at something and laughing. All three wore dark suits, looking impossibly handsome.
“I never got your name.” Selena turned back to the woman, but her attention was latched onto Rian. Sexual heat, mixed with anger filled her expression. Selena suddenly regretted barging into the office without getting more information. Rian didn't need anything stressing him out.
“Camille Dufour.”
Rian's head snapped up. The smile dropped from his face as it'd never existed.
Brogan's eyes snagged Selena's. “Was there a reason she needed to see Rian?”
Selena shrugged, hating the way Brogan looked at her like a mean school teacher. “I didn't ask.” She held up her hand when he opened his mouth. “Don't start with me. I'm about to pull both you and Cathal to come to work the bar. The new guy you have back there has a backlog the size of Stone Mountain. The woman said she wanted to see Rian, and, well, look at her.”
“Camille,” Rian said, moving from around the desk. Slowly. Warily. Like she might strike. The heat in her eyes had disappeared completely. Now, only anger sizzled.
The backlog of drinks could wait. This was better than Mimi's soap operas.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. Did his voice crack like a ten-year-old kid?
Camille crossed her arms, giving him a sexy as hell smile that looked more like she wanted to tear his head off instead of his clothes. She rattled something off in French.
Rian’s face turned instantly red.
Cathal's mouth dropped open. “Shit,” he mum
bled.
Rian stuttered, in several languages, not making much sense for a moment. “I did not!” he shouted.
Camille started yelling at Rian again, louder. Her red fingernails, matching her red lips, flashed under the overhead light as she spoke with her hands as much as with her quick words.
Brogan held his hand up, and she stopped, turning an icy glare his direction. Good thing nothing intimidated Brogan.
“He needs to go out into the crowd for a few minutes. You can wait here and resume your tongue lashing then or schedule another day to assault him verbally, but right now is not that time.” Brogan barely glanced at Rian. “Go. Outside with Cathal.” He looked to Selena. “You, too.” Brogan was in charge and let everyone in the room feel it. At that moment, Selena appreciated him figuring out what to do. Getting out her phone and trying to translate whatever insults Camille threw at Rian was her next plan of action.
And if Rian wouldn't tell her, she'd squeeze it out of Cathal.
Camille cocked her head to the side. “Do you boss everyone around, sir?”
“Yes,” all three of them said in unison.
Brogan rolled his eyes and buttoned his suit. “I run a business. This business. Now, you are welcome to wait at the bar. I'll charge your drinks to Rian's tab since this appears to be his fault.”
A flash of humor lit her brown eyes. “I hope his pockets are as big as his ego.”
Selena patted her on the back, guiding her out into the hallway and toward the bar. “Bigger. Have at it.”
Outside, Rian waited across the hall in the employee break room. “Are you hiding?” Cathal asked.
“No.” He stepped outside. “But I don't have to worry about her running up a tab. She doesn't drink anything but wine. Most of the types she likes we don't stock.”
“How closely did you know that woman?” Brogan asked.
Cathal chuckled. “Close enough for her to, well, call him a few creative phrases, compare him to the size of a snail for slinking out of her room in the middle of the night, after stealing her recipe for something that sounded like a sex position. Clafoutis?” Cathal imitated Camille. Even Brogan laughed.
“You didn't!” Selena's eyes shot to Rian. Not the quiet, reserved one.
He was flustered. “I would never steal a recipe!”
Selena gave him a shove that didn't even move the big guy. “No, you goofball. I meant about sleeping with her and then sneaking out. That's so trashy. It's something I'd expect Cathal to do.”
Cathal nodded in complete agreement.
“It would have been very awkward. I assure you. Neither one of us planned to end up in bed together.”
“How long ago was this?” Brogan asked, his hand skimmed along Selena's lower back, resting on her hip, out of sight of the crowd. The intimacy of the touch caused her breath to hitch.
“About six months.”
The amusement faded from Brogan's face. “In Europe or here?”
“Paris.”
Brogan had that disapproving dad-look down pat.
Selena gave Rian a small nudge in the direction of the dining room. “Go mingle. For all you know, Katie will hit on your lady and make her a better offer than you ever could.”
Brogan's frown deepened. “I don't know if I approve of Katie hitting on customers.”
“It was a joke,” Selena said, following Rian. The night was a success, and not even Brogan's hot and cold emotions could bring her down. “Cathal. Bar.”
“You created a monster,” she heard Cathal mutter.
Yes. Being the boss was a little addicting.
* * *
“We're going to make it.” Selena clapped her hands and spun in a circle in the middle of Brogan's office. Her excitement was contagious, and Brogan smiled.
All three of the O'Keeleys watched her. “Do you think she nipped the whiskey when we weren't looking?” Rian asked.
Brogan watched her face shift from joy to annoyance, glad for once it was aimed at Rian.
She planted her hands on her hips. “No. I just pulled the real-time numbers from the cash registers. We'll make it for the money you need to buy the building.” She launched herself at Brogan.
He caught her, tight around her waist. “That's great!”
Cathal and Rian had equally broad grins. “I'll be right back.” Cathal left.
Selena's lips pressed against the spot right behind Brogan's ear. Yes. He wanted to haul her back to his apartment and keep her there for the rest of the weekend, but they still had a restaurant full of guests. Except Rian's angry one-night stand had exited the building already. She'd told him off two more times before stomping out of O'Keeley's and not looking back. Apparently, she needed some closure.
It was close to midnight, and none of their patrons looked as though they were close to leaving. They'd decided to have a two o'clock last call, with closing by two thirty. Hopefully.
“Here we are.” Cathal returned with the best bottle of whiskey in the house.
“You're paying for that,” Brogan said.
Selena pulled away, leaving him feeling empty. He wasn't sure exactly what he'd do about her yet. But if they'd resolved the building issue, he'd figure it out first thing after they signed the paperwork purchasing it. She might laugh at the title, but with the success of the event, he might have to make her VP of Advertising and something much more permanent.
“A toast,” Cathal announced.
“Keep it clean,” Brogan muttered. He'd not subject Selena to some of Cathal's more creative toasts.
“Here's to women's kisses, and to whiskey, amber clear; not as sweet as a woman's kiss, but a damn sight more sincere.”
Selena giggled and tossed back the whiskey. She pointed at Cathal and then Rian. “Now. It's time to give them a taste of who you are.”
“I already cooked for everyone in the dining room, Selena,” Rian said. He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked disgruntled. “And talked to them.”
“Brogan said you played the fiddle.”
Rian shot an accusatory look to Brogan. But Cathal interjected first. “It'll be fun, Rian.”
“The band you have out there might not be up to it.” Rian's lips twisted to the side in a smirk. Oh, he would definitely play. Brogan did not doubt that.
Selena waved them toward the sofa. “Brogan brought these over.”
“They were taking up space in my closet anyway.” Brogan had to hunt to find them in his apartment. “Go play. And play well. Selena said she's putting it on the internet.”
They grabbed their cases and opened them, both grinning like two kids. He'd missed being with his brothers this way. Selena had brought that back to them.
He and Selena needed more time together, but the more he thought about it, the more he agreed with his brother. They both wanted to adopt Selena into the family.
He could make that a permanent addition by asking her to be his wife. The idea didn't scare him. Not nearly as much as losing her did. He'd screwed up so many times with her. Why hadn't she upped and walked out already?
After they'd tuned their fiddles, Brogan followed them out of the office. People watched them as they passed. Mostly, their attention stayed on Rian. They'd turned him into a sort of celebrity for the evening. A title that Rian hated when around his family. He didn't seem to mind being the world-renowned chef on the covers of magazines, but when he was at his restaurant, when he was back to being nothing but Rian O'Keeley, he wanted nothing to do with the fame. He'd said it himself earlier.
But now, watching him climb onto the makeshift stage with Cathal beside him, Rian looked happy. Truly happy.
Brogan crossed his arms and took a deep breath. His ma would be proud.
The band cut their current song short. The din of the restaurant took over the brief silence. “Should I make some type of announcement?” Selena asked as she stepped up beside him.
Brogan shifted her in front of him slightly, wished he could wrap his arms around her shoulders. “N
o. Cathal will get their attention.”
She leaned back, her shoulder brushing against his chest. “You sound excited.”
He shrugged. “I guess I am. It's been a while since I heard them play.”
Cathal pulled up the fiddle and started. No preamble. Nothing announcing him. The music in the room drew the crowd’s attention.
Swallowtail Jig.
He knew it well. It was the first song Cathal learned to play. Light. Quick. Lively.
Rian took over partway through, causing the crowd to cheer. Yes. Their chef could fiddle and do it well.
The band sat there, stunned.
Cathal spoke to the band for a moment before turning back to Rian.
Brogan barked out a laugh.
Selena seemed amused. “What is it?”
“Dueling fiddles. Cathal treats it like a real duel.” Their ma used to shout about how hard he'd end up playing, losing all his technique. He'd even ended up smacking Rian upside the head once with his bow.
They started slow, building up until everyone in the restaurant clapped along. He took Selena's hand and twirled her in a circle, bringing her back in close. Laughing. He loved her laugh.
Dozens of people started to dance to the music with them. They shifted from song to song, the band picking up and looking as though they enjoyed the change in routine.
At close to one in the morning, Cathal and Rian finally gave up.
Trevor walked up with an arm draped over the shoulders of a waitress named Susie. They both looked tired but excited. Trevor pointed at Selena, standing to the side. “So, Mr. O'Keeley, I thought, since you and Selena are a thing that it meant I could finally let everyone know that I’m dating Sue. I mean—” Trevor grinned and pointed at Selena, "You two look good together.”
A hot flush ran over Brogan's skin. This was what he’d avoided. Since the lawsuit that almost destroyed everything, he'd vowed to never put the business, his brothers, at risk again.